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Recap / Beast Wars S 1 E 10 Gorilla Warfare

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One of Scorponok's cyberbee viruses turns Optimus into an overly aggressive fighting machine, with lethal consequences if removed.


Tropes:

  • An Aesop: There is no reason to stop learning new things.
  • Aside Glance: Megatron and Scorponok stare directly at the camera just before the cyber-bee explodes.
  • Bad Boss: Upon learning of Scorponok's screw-up, Megatron stomps him.
  • Barrier-Busting Blow: Optimus takes out Waspinator through a corridor wall.
  • Batman Gambit:
    • During Scorponok's attack, Optimus and Dinobot take cover and return fire. Scorponok largely ignores Optimus and focuses his fire on Dinobot, ultimately pinning him by dislodging a large boulder. Once Optimus steps out in the open to help Dinobot, Scorponok sticks him with the cyber-bee.
    • Megatron's original plan is based around Optimus being turned into a coward, and knowing he would not want to stay that way, he would lead the Maximals into a foolhardy attack on the Predacon base that would get them all killed, as being a coward would render him useless as a leader. Optimus turning into a berserker throws a monkey wrench into that plan, however.
  • Be Careful What You Wish For: Before storming out, an enraged Optimus says he's only doing what Dinobot has always suggested: respond to Predacon aggression in kind. Dinobot sheepishly shrugs in response to this.
  • The Berserker: Optimus becomes aggressive and bloodthirsty thanks to the virus.
  • Big "SHUT UP!": Dinobot proposes sending the berserker Optimus out against the Predacons, but he's rather flippant when Rhinox and Rattrap point out the possibility of Optimus getting killed as a result. Rattrap shouts this at Dinobot in response.
    • An enraged Optimus also yells at the alarm system to shut up after he accidentally sets it off.
  • Big "YES!": When rejecting Megatron's Join or Die ultimatum, Optimus shouts this.
  • Brainwashed and Crazy: Optimus' programing changes thanks to Scorponok's virus. It was supposed to make him into a coward, but instead it makes him into The Berserker.
  • Bring It: Optimus demonstrates his new berserker personality by shooting his way out of the CR Chamber.
    Optimus: All right, who wants some?!
  • Chekhov's Gun: The way the flower attached its seed to Dinobot is how Optimus attaches the explosive mine to Megatron at the end.
  • Everyone Has Standards: Dinobot is always championing direct, brutal assaults on the Predacons, but when Optimus does so under the influence of the cyber-bug, Dinobot is concerned because Optimus isn't thinking properly under the virus, acting irrational and trigger happy.
  • Finger Wag: After catching the dart, Optimus does this to Tarantulas before moving in on him.
  • Friendship Moment: Dinobot watching over Primal as he recuperates in his quarters and (implicitly) leaving a potted specimen of the plant from earlier on his nightstand.
  • From Bad to Worse: Rhinox determines that removing the cyber-bee without an anti-virus would kill Optimus in less than a minute and then trigger a massive explosion.
  • Gone Horribly Right: Megatron wanted a cure for the virus, as he anticipated that Optimus would respond to the infection by trying to lead an attack on the Predacon Base. That part happens more or less, but because Optimus is a berserker instead of a coward, multiple Predacons get trashed and a big explosion goes off in their base.
  • Gone Horribly Wrong: Scorponok's virus was supposed to give Optimus, as Megatron puts it, a "cowardly yellow stripe". But thanks to his sheer incompetence, it gives him a raging red stripe instead.
  • Hair-Trigger Temper: It takes all of Optimus' will power to assert control and the slightest thing can still set him off.
    Optimus Primal: Stupid slagging circuit systems! *growls* SHUT UP!
  • "I Can't Look!" Gesture: Waspinator covers his eyes right before getting shot by Optimus.
  • Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Tarantulas gets his own weapon run through him, courtesy of Optimus.
  • Implacable Man: Optimus, under the effects of the virus, just plows into the Darksyde and then walks through Tarantulas' fire.
  • Jerkass Has a Point:
    • Dinobot complains that he and Optimus are making themselves targets by going out and observing plant life. He's proven right as Scorponok shows up right afterwards and infects Optimus with the virus.
    • Dinobot advocates for using Optimus in his berserker state against the Predacons, which Rhinox and Rattrap object to. His idea proves the correct choice.
  • Join or Die: Holding the anti-virus, Megatron demands this of Optimus. He is stunned that Optimus would go as far as to rip the cyber-bee off his chest in a play for the anti-virus.
  • Mook Horror Show: The episode pays tribute to slasher films, with Optimus stalking and attacking the Predacons like Jason Voorhees.
  • Oh, Crap!:
    • After getting knocked onto a tree log, Scorponok upon noticing he's now drifting towards a waterfall.
    • Tarantulas when he realizes what Optimus intends to do with that dart.
    • Waspinator was fine with being sent after Optimus, only to panic when he heard the guy screaming nearby in a rage.
  • Pet the Dog: An early example from Dinobot, when he leaves a flower for Optimus and keeps vigil over him while he regenerates.
  • Pinned to the Wall: Optimus pins Tarantulas to the wall by stabbing Trantulas' own dart through his torso. He's fine though.
  • Pun-Based Title: Using Optimus's beast mode to do a pun on guerrilla warfare. Though ironically, he cannot transform into his gorilla mode while under the cyberbee's influence.
  • Race Against the Clock: If the cyber-bee is ripped off his chest, Optimus flat-lines in less than a minute. When that happens during the climax, Cheetor just barely manages to get Optimus the cure.
  • Reckless Gun Usage: Optimus shoots wildly while at the Maximal Base.
    Rhinox: We've got to stop him before he hurts himself!
    Rattrap: Him?! Try us!
  • Screw Your Ultimatum!: In response to Megatron's Join or Die offer, Optimus rips the cyber-bee off his chest and throws it at him.
  • Shapeshifter Mode Lock: Optimus can't transform while the cyber-bee's attached to his chest.
  • Suddenly Shouting: Optimus is prone to this in his berserker state.
    "I don't fear you. I DON'T FEAR ANY OF YOU!"
  • Take a Third Option: Megatron offers Optimus a Sadistic Choice: swear allegiance to him in exchange for the anti-virus or perish. Optimus suggests another option.
    Optimus: Oh, yes! Then why not end this here and now, Megatron?! [rips the cyber-bee off his chest]
  • Underestimating Badassery: A rare example of the heroes underestimating THEIR own badassery. Dinobot suggests unleashing the rage-fueled Optimus on the Predacons, but Rhinox and Rattrap shoot this idea down, saying there's no way Optimus would survive such a head-on attack. After he is released by Cheetor and attacks the Predacon base, Optimus actually manages to defeat everyone he runs in to while incurring minimal damage.
  • Unstoppable Rage: Though not without damage, Optimus makes it all the way to the anti-virus.
    Megatron: Guerrilla warfare suits you. The old Optimus would've never made it this far.
  • Villain Respect: Megatron is admittedly impressed that Optimus made it all the way to Scorponok's lab.
  • When He Smiles: Dinobot's default facial expression is an angry scowl so it's particularly touching to see him give Optimus a warm, earnest smile at the end.
  • You Fool!: Megatron's reaction to Optimus ripping the cyber-bee off his chest and triggering the bomb's countdown.

 
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The Cyberbee

Optimus Primal has the option of joining the Predacons or death. He instead rips Scorponok's Cyberbee off his chest and throws it at Megatron, and the device explodes in both of the Predacons' faces.

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