‘OPTIMAL SITUATION’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

This is the first episode of Season 3 of ‘Beast Wars’! It resolves the cliffhanger ending that happened at the end of ‘The Agenda’ with Megatron blowing off Optimus Prime’s head in the Ark. Technically, this should be ‘Part 4’ of ‘The Agenda’ story if we’re to be truly honest.

I saw this episode after seeing the rest of Season 3 on official VHS tapes. Season 3 of ‘Beast Wars’ was never shown on GMTV, which is a real shame. I got to see ‘Optimal Situation’ on its own VHS tape when I bought a ‘Beast Wars’ toy from Toys ‘R’ Us in Cardiff.

In ‘Optimal Situation’, Megatron is confident in the belief that he’s achieved victory over the Maximals by destroying Optimus Prime of the Autobots. But unlikely help comes from Blackarachnia, who locks Megatron out and she and Silverbolt team up to restore reality.

They manage to stop the time storm for a bit, but reality is still in flux. Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Rhinox and Rattrap turn up to see the damage Megatron has caused. To save Prime’s life, Primal takes his spark out of his body to put it into his own, which is very risky.

Whilst repairs are being done on Optimus Prime, Primal mutates and upgrades to become ‘Optimal Optimus’ – a pretty massive Transmetal form. I recall playing with the Optimal Optimus toy a lot over Christmas in 1999 before seeing Season 3 of ‘Beast Wars’.

Having managed to keep Megatron away from the repair work being done on Optimus Prime and out of the Ark, Optimal Optimus orders his Maximals to accompany him in stopping him and the Predacons from reaching their base, as it happens to be unguarded. 😐

Despite their best efforts, the Maximals’ base ended up being destroyed and falls into the river below the waterfall. Optimal Optimus returns to the Ark to give Optimus Prime his spark back once repairs are finished. Optimus Prime is okay and is back in normal stasis.

Reality is also restored. With their base destroyed, the Maximals set up a new base around the Ark, as they move in to forever protect their ancestors. Blackarachnia also joins the Maximals, especially as she and Silverbolt have formed their bond in the series.

‘Optimal Situation’ rating – 9/10