Recap / Beast Wars S 1 E 5 Chain Of Command

After a strange alien probe kidnaps Optimus, the other Maximals have to operate without him.

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Tropes

• Ancient Astronauts: The first real allusion to the Vok is made in this episode.
• Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Dinobot's main argument for justifying why he should take over Optimus' position- he is the most skilled fighter in the team, therefore he is the most qualified to be leader.
• Badass Arm-Fold: Dinobot, when the Maximals assemble behind their returned leader.
• Bring It: During their one-on-one fight outside the Maximal Base, Dinobot waves Megatron in.
• Butt-Monkey: Waspinator gets slagged by Rhinox's chainguns-notably, it is this episode where Waspinator, previously portrayed as a semi-competent warrior, takes up his role as the universe's whipping boy, and maintains it until the end of the series.
• Captain Obvious: Hit with an energon surge, Rattrap tells the others it's an energon surge and that they need to transform back to beast mode. Cheetor lampshades how that didn't need to be said.
• The Chains of Commanding: Rattrap gets a taste of command and all the headaches that go along with it, such as his orders being ignored and getting lip from subordinates. When Optimus is restored, Rattrap gladly steps aside, saying, "Command's a pain in the tail."
• Circle of Standing Stones: The Standing Stones that are secretly an alien device.
• Continuity Nod:
  • The Standing Stones were introduced in the second episode.
  • Both sides observe the probe entering the atmosphere and initially think it's one of the stasis pods from the first episode.
• Democracy Is Bad: When the Maximals try to settle the leadership dispute with a secret ballot, they end up with a tie (2 votes each)
  Rattrap: What!? Which one of you traitors voted for the Predacon!
  Dinobot: Ha ha ha. Great system your "democracy". No mechanism to break a tie.
• Didn't See That Coming: When the energon at the Standing Stones is exposed, everyone expects a big explosion and clears out. However, the site instead sends an energy beam into deep space, which Rhinox muses was a signal.
• The End... Or Is It?: Optimus is fully restored, but the probe just vanishes into thin air. The Maximals suspect it fulfilled its purpose of gathering information, but they still have big questions about the aliens that sent it and what comes next.
• Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Averted. Megatron correctly anticipates that the remaining Maximals would be so distracted by Optimus's apparent death that they'd be vulnerable to a sudden attack.
• Flipping the Table: Dinobot when Rattrap suggests he killed Optimus.
• Foreshadowing: Rhinox mentions that the Energon deposits on the planet don't fit with its geology, implying it was seeded by someone or something, a fact confirmed at the end of the season.
• Gatling Good: Rhinox's Chainguns of Doom make their first appearance. Waspinator gets seriously wrecked in the process.
• Genius Bruiser: Up to now, Rhinox didn't get much in the way of action to go along with his smarts, as he was never shown with a weapon of his own. Now having his Chainguns of Doom, Rhinox gets his first real example of ass-kicking by totaling Waspinator at the Standing Stones.
• Headbutting Heroes: Dinobot and Rattrap's feud makes its first real appearance here, as the two compete over who is to be leader in Optimus's absence.
• Hulk Speak: Scorponok does this, after Megatron and Waspinator are repaired.
  Scorponok: Megatron back! Megatron back! Scorponok alone with Tarantulas and Terrorsaur! Very bad!
• Improperly Paranoid: When Dinobot explains what happened to Optimus, Rattrap eyes him suspiciously. He later outright suggests Dinobot killed Optimus.
• Meaningful Background Event:
  • If you're paying attention, it's rather easy to tell that Rhinox voted for Rattrap and Cheetor voted for Dinobot.
    • When Rhinox is tallying the votes, his reaction to each vote tells all. He fully expected Rattrap and Dinobot to vote for themselves, and nonchalantly announces the next vote for Rattrap. When he gets to the next vote for Dinobot, however, he lets out an exasperated sigh, indicating that he didn't expect Dinobot to get a second vote.
    • When Rattrap demands to know who voted for Dinobot, Cheetor turns his head away guiltily.
    • When Optimus puts Rattrap in command, Rhinox smiles and pats him on the back, while Cheetor looks visibly annoyed.
  • As Megatron and Waspinator are about to double team Dinobot, the probe suddenly starts lighting up.
• Not Quite Dead: Optimus is seemingly vaporized, but his body is merely in the probe.
• Out Of Body Experience: Optimus's mind is separated from his body while the probe studies it.
• Pet the Dog: For all the scrap he gave him throughout this episode, Dinobot genuinely shows Rattrap some respect after he saves the day.
• Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: The restored Optimus delivers one before shooting every Predacon in sight.
  Optimus: Look who's back and feeling prime!
• Revealing Reflection: While looking at the probe, Rhinox sees Waspinator sneaking up behind him. Rhinox plays it cool while reaching for his Chainguns of Doom.
• Tactical Withdrawal: With the attack on the Maximal Base going badly, Tarantulas advocates doing this in order to properly secure the probe at the Standing Stones.
• You Are in Command Now: When a disembodied Optimus briefly makes contact with the Maximals, he settles the leadership dispute by putting Rattrap in charge.