‘DARK VOYAGE’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

I first saw this ‘Beast Wars’ episode when it was shown on GMTV. I’m not sure if it was in December 1999 or January 2000, but it was definitely during the Christmas holidays at that time. I also watched this episode after checking out Season 2 of ‘Beast Wars’ in 1999.

In the episode, four of the Maximals – Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap and Dinobot – are collecting Energon deposits for their base. They’re attacked by Scorponok and Waspinator who fire at the Energon and cause a huge explosion that blinds the Maximals.

It was quite unnerving to see Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap and Dinobot with white blank eyes to indicate that they’re blind. The four Maximals must embark on a journey through the darkness and they must rely on each other in order to make it back to the Maximals’ base.

They must journey in beast mode to prevent the speed-up of contamination, according to Rhinox. Along the way, they encounter dangerous obstacles, such as encountering a terrifying snake in a jungle. That snake could’ve easily been the Mara from ‘Doctor Who’.

Cheetor is weakened from being attacked by the snake, and Rhinox carries him on his back to reach the Maximals’ base. They manage to get to the waterfall that’s close to the Maximals’ base and they make to cross a bridge made from a huge log, found by Rattrap.

Unfortunately, Waspinator finds the four Maximals and blows up their bridge, causing them to end up falling into the water below. Terrorsaur turns up to help Waspinator and it transpires that Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap and Dinobot managed to survive the huge fall. 😀

Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap and Dinobot try to fight off Terrorsaur and Waspinator but are literally firing blind. Rhinox then tells Cheetor, Rattrap and Dinobot to picture a targeting grid in their head and this, thankfully, helps them to gun down Terrorsaur and Waspinator.

The four Maximals are saved by Optimus Primal, whom he, Tigatron and Airazor have been looking for them. Sadly, we don’t get to see Airazor in this episode, which is a shame. I’m glad this story concluded with Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap and Dinobot getting their sight back.

‘Dark Voyage’ rating – 9/10