Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising Part 2!!

THE EPIC REVIEW CONTINUES!!!

A series is only as good as the people who write it and the character are only as good as the people portraying them. Let’s take a look at the cast of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising. John Noble is truly terrifying as Unicron, who was introduced in the three-part season one finale “One Shall Rise”. His control over Megatron in “Predacons Rising” is more torturous than in the regular series and the original animated movie where he dominated over Galvatron. Will Friedle, best known as Terry McGuiness in “Batman Beyond”, voices Bumblebee. Given the spotlight in Prime’s absence and due to Ultra Magnus being injured in a fight with two cloned Predacons, he truly shines as he takes on the role of leader after being overlooked for so long. Arcee may not be the strongest of Team Prime but she more than makes up for her shortcomings with her expert combat prowess. Sumalee Montano brings out Arcee’s stern sense of nobility which has helped her in completing many missions and makes her a worthy asset to Team Prime. Though he was voiced by the late Robert Stack in the original movie, Ultra Magnus is still the courageous Autobot Commander he is known to be and Michael Ironside brings that same sense of duty to the “Beast Hunters” series. Daran Norris is the emotionless Decepticon scientist Shockwave. He channels the cold calculating tone of Shockwave as one would expect from the sympathetically detached Cybertronian. Bulkhead best quality is breaking things so it’s no wonder he is the heavy hitter for the Autobots and the Wreckers. But behind that hulking exterior beats a spark that is kind, caring and mindful of his comrades well-being be they Bot or human. Kevin Michael Richardson brings out both the tough and gentle sides of Bulkhead that make him loveable. Just like his counterpart in “Transformers Animated”, Ratchet is the oldest member of Prime’s team. The crotchety field medic is the only other Autobot knowledgeable in the history of Cybertron besides Optimus. Voiced by Jeffery Combs, Ratchet is ill tempered and a bit of a grump who at first is against the idea of humans in the Autobot base but he soon grows accustomed to their company.

Once again, Frank Welker and Peter Cullen give an amazing performance as Megatron and Optimus Prime. Who better to play these roles than the original actors? Megatron is far more menacing than in the original series, actively disposing anyone who opposes him be they Autobot or Decepticon. This fact is illustrated when Megatron slices Cliffjumper in half when the dark energon infected Autobot goes after him and again when his new second-in-command Dreadwing, voiced wonderfully by Tony Todd, defies a direct order and Megatron blasts him in the back. His cruelty is further displayed by the fact that he will not hesitate in dishing out due punishment to Starscream when he deserves it. Optimus Prime is still the strong sentimental leader of the Autobots that we know and love who believes that “freedom is the right of all sentient beings.” In the Prime series, he is more battle hardened than is any of his previous incarnations. Evidence of this is shown in the three-part first season finale “One Shall Rise” where declares to kill Megatron rather than take him prisoner. Peter Cullen and Frank Welker’s performance in this movie is just as on par if not better that in the original animated film.

Right off the bat, Predacons Rising gets right into it with Unicron taking over Megatron’s body and making a break for Cybertron to extinguish the spark of Primus. His intentions are to destroy Cybertron whereas Megatron wanted to rule it. Unicron may not be the planet sized behemoth he was in other stories of the Transformers mythos but that doesn’t mean he still can’t cause a whole lot of ruckus. Just like he did with Galvatron in the animated movie, Unicron keeps Megatron on a short leash which is even shorter now that Unicron is in Megatron’s body. Despite this, Megatron tries to negotiate his way around the Chaos Bringer but Unicron isn’t falling for it and puts the Decepticon leader in his place. Megatron has broken Unicron’s hold before back in the season one finale “One Shall Rise”. Unfortunately for him, Unicron is too powerful now that Megatron has no spark. It is only when Unicron’s essence is drained from him that Megatron is free. It was a shock to hear him abandon the Decepticon cause after he has been subjected to the same oppression he has meted out to many a Cybertronian who defied him. This illustrates a similar situation in the original series third season finale where Galvatron declares that there will be no war after Optimus Prime used the Matrix of Leadership to eradicate a hate plague spreading across the galaxy. Unlike then, Megatron appears to be serious in his declaration as he flies off shortly after ending his war career whereas Galvatron continued to cause trouble after the series finale.

Everyone played a role in dealing with the Chaos Bringer in the fight for Cybertron. Predaking brought together fellow Predacons Skylynx and Darksteel for the climactic battle against their undead Predacon brethren and Knock Out decides to help the Autobots when Starscream attempted to reclaim the Nemesis, stating that he “wanted to be on the winning side”. However, his decision in the matter may be part of his overdeveloped pride as Knock Out does not like to lose. But the star of the show is the former Autobot scout christened Autobot warrior Bumblebee. Throughout the Transformers Prime series, Bumblebee has time and time again gone above and beyond the call of duty. For a scout, his bravery has shown no bounds. He made Skyquake’s reactivation short-lived. He outwitted Megatron into giving him the antidote a cybernetic plague that threatened to extinguish Optimus Prime’s spark. And he has stood his ground against the Decepticon’s elite including Starscream, Shockwave and Dreadwing. Bumblebee’s shining moment was in the third season finale when he ran the Star Saber through Megatron’s chassis. In “Predacons Rising”, he is given the spotlight while Optimus Prime obtains the AllSpark in deep space. Bee displays excellent leadership qualities and quick decision making. The other Autobots have no problems following Bumblebee especially since he is now not only their equal but because he turned the tide heavily in their favor. He manages to rally Predaking to join Team Prime in the final conflict against Unicron and once again steps up to the plate to help his leader Optimus Prime during their stand against the Chaos Bringer. It took almost thirty years but Bumblebee finally gets some recognition.

Optimus Prime is the shining example of righteousness. He always puts the wellbeing of others ahead of his own and is willing to protect all indigenous life on Earth even if it costs him his own. But he is also a fierce warrior who will do whatever it takes to keep the peace. Optimus may not take much action but when he does get the chance to flex his metal muscles, he pulls no punches when busting in Con heads. When Megatron reconstructed his tower Dark Mount in Jasper, Nevada, Optimus Prime, newly repaired by the Forge of Solas Prime, single-handedly took out a group of Decepticons and then Megatron with ease. His courageousness is shown again when he makes his valiant stand against Unicron. As stated before, Optimus cares for all life even the life of his greatest enemy. He tries to reach what remains of Megatron’s consciousness to help him break Unicron’s hold on him, reminding him that they once fought together for the benefit of all sentient beings on Cybertron. He knows the gladiatorial champion of Kaon has a strong will and refuses to be governed by anyone other than him. That impenetrable will allowed Megatron to break free from the Chaos Bringer before. Optimus sees that this time will be different. To save Megatron again, he uses the AllSpark Chamber to seal Unicron’s essence. With the treat of Unicron over and the Decepticons forever disbanded, Optimus Prime bids his fellow Autobots, Knock Out included, farewell as he must now return the AllSpark, which he fused with the Matrix of Leadership, to the Well of AllSparks. As he flies into the Well, he expresses a calm sigh of relief. He has finally achieved what he set out to do a long time ago. Their war has torn Cybertron apart. The populous has left the dying world. Now, thanks to Optimus Prime, the last of the Primes, they will be able to return home. Optimus enters Cybertron’s core, returning the AllSpark to Primus and new life can now be created. Whether the heroic Autobot leader is alive or not is uncertain.