‘PROVING GROUNDS’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

I saw this episode after seeing the two-part story ‘Feral Scream’ on the Volume 2 UK VHS tape of four VHS volumes containing episodes of Season 3 of ‘Beast Wars’. This episode is about Blackarachnia, and her faith is challenged concerning her place with the Maximals.

After overhearing a conversation between Optimus Primal and Rhinox about her future, especially concerning the possibility of removing the Predacon core that’s preventing her from being a Maximal, Blackarachnia decides to leave. She’s unaware she’s being followed. 😐

The Transmetal II version of Dinobot is stalking Blackarachnia. It’s later revealed that he’s attempting to obtain the access codes to the Autobot Ark for Megatron. This ‘Beast Wars’ episode is unique. It doesn’t have Megatron, Waspinator, Inferno and any other Predacons in it.

The only Predacons featured in the episode are Dinobot II and Blackarachnia, though shouldn’t we be considering her a Maximal by this point, as she is with the good guys? Whilst Blackarachnia gets into a fight with Dinobot II, Silverbolt becomes worried about her. 😐

Silverbolt asks Rattrap to cover for him whilst he goes out to try and find her. When flying out to find her, Silverbolt soon picks up her scent as well as Dinobot II’s. Optimus and Rhinox become aware of Silverbolt and Blackarachnia’s absence and Optimus goes out to find them.

Eventually, Silverbolt finds Blackarachnia, only to be attacked by Dinobot II. Just as Dinobot II is about to blow Silverbolt’s head off, Blackarachnia shoots at her lover in order to get him away from Dinobot II. She also makes out that she wants to ally herself with Dinobot II.

Unfortunately, Dinobot II doesn’t agree to her offer to form an alliance, and he paralyses her. Just as he’s about to make the final blow on Blackarachnia, Silverbolt saves her by using the holographic technology, which was used earlier by Dinobot II. Dinobot II ends up defeated.

After an argument between Blackarachnia and Silverbolt about her place with the Maximals, Optimus soon turns up. Blackarachnia explains why she left the Maximals, and Optimus emphasises that it’s her decision on whether she wants to be reprogrammed or not.

‘Proving Grounds’ rating – 8/10