‘MAXIMAL, NO MORE’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

The first time I saw this ‘Beast Wars’ episode was part of a double bill on GMTV in the morning of Spring Bank Holiday Monday in May 1999. I saw ‘Maximal No More’ and ‘Other Visits – Part 1’ on that same day. 🙂 I greatly enjoyed checking out the two episodes in a row.

In the episode, Dinobot switches sides, as he decides to return to Megatron and be a Predacon again. This is part of a journey that Dinobot goes on in Season 2 where his loyalties are tested, especially concerning Megatron’s grand agenda in the Beast Wars. 😐

However, his return to the Predacons isn’t plain sailing. Despite him changing his activation code from Maximal to Predacon, none of the Predacons are willing to accept Dinobot is on their side again. Thus, it’s decided to put him through a Predacon challenge.

Dinobot fights himself fighting against Quickstrike. Fortunately, Dinobot wins, but he still has to win Megatron’s approval when he demands the return of the two golden discs he stole in ‘Coming of the Fuzors’. Apparently, Dinobot gave the aliens’ golden disc to Rhinox.

But he’s able to hand over the golden disc that Megatron stole from Cybertron, which was the reason why the Maximals pursued the Predacons in the first place. They go to where Dinobot hid the other golden disc and he hands it over to Megatron. But that’s not enough.

Rattrap turns up to save Dinobot, only to be shot by him to prove to Megatron he’s back with the Predacons. But Megatron isn’t satisfied, as Dinobot must make a choice to destroy Rattrap to prove his loyalty. This leads to a tense moment in the story’s second act.

Fortunately, Dinobot doesn’t go through with it and spares Rattrap’s life. He ends up returning to the Maximals whilst Megatron flees. Optimus Primal and Silverbolt turn to find out what’s been happening, and Rattrap relates to them that Dinobot betrayed them.

I like that the last scene is dedicated to Optimus, Silverbolt and Rattrap coming to terms with what Dinobot had done and agreeing to let him rejoin the Maximals. I found it funny when the episode concludes with Rattrap giving Dinobot home in his vehicular beast mode.

‘Maximal No More’ rating – 9/10