‘TRANSMUTATE’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

I first saw this episode on the Tuesday of the October half-term week in 1999. This is quite an unusual ‘Beast Wars’ episode in the series that has more leanings to science-fiction as opposed to containing ‘Transformers’ history and lore, which I found really fascinating.

In the episode, the Maximals and the Predacons come across a damaged stasis pod, which soon unveils a strange, deformed and monstrous robot. The robot is eventually named Transmutate, though the reveal of its name is very confusing in terms of build-up.

You see, Ramage, who seems to be very enamoured with the robot, called it Transmutate after it knocked out Silverbolt, Cheetor and Rattrap. Later when taking it away, Ramage deduces that the robot is a ‘Transmutate’ before asking its name, which I found quite odd.

When Megatron, via hologram, turns up to examine the robot, he asks it its name, and it answers “Transmutate”. I know this sounds nitpicky, but frankly, Rampage calling it ‘Transmutate’ before asking its name does reek of somebody not proofreading the script.

Megatron demands to see what Transmutate can transform into, but it doesn’t seem to have a beast mode. Disappointed, Megatron initially decides for to be destroyed before Rampage pleads that it’d be given a chance to proof itself. Megatron agrees to the plea. 😐

Transmutate, as a character, seems benign and innocent. This is especially when Silverbolt and Rampage cultivate a friendship with it on both sides. However, according to Optimus Primal, Transmutate happens to be ‘a danger to itself and everyone around it’.

Incidentally, Transmutate is voiced by Susan Blu, who voiced Arcee in the ‘Transformers’ 1986 film and ‘Transformers’ TV series, and is the voice director for ‘Beast Wars’. I don’t think there’s a specific gender for Transmutate, although it might be considered a female in the episode.

Sadly, Transmutate ends up destroyed in the episode when the conflict between the Maximals and Predacons tears it apart. Silverbolt and Rampage witness its demise after firing missiles at each other. It’s quite sad how Transmutate’s death turns out in the story.

‘Transmutate’ rating – 8/10