"Chain of Command"
REVIEW by Graham Thomson
One of the better episodes of the first season of Beast
Wars, “Chain of Command” serves the viewer with some
fantastic animation, a fast-paced and thought-provoking
plot and some nice touches of humour and
characterisation.
Both the Maximal and Predacon characters are coming into their own. In previous episodes, events have been focused on single characters, but here everyone is working well (and sometimes not so well) together.
It’s really the interplay between characters that impresses about these earlier Beast Wars episodes. Rattrap, Dinobot and Rhinox especially stand out. While the two leader wannabes are downright obnoxious, Rhinox can provide some underplayed deadpan humour. And, although Rattrap can sometimes be over the top at times, he certainly is a dedicated little fella.
The Predacons, too, are just as likeable. Megatron’s cunning starts to move to the fore... the most forward thinking Decepti/Predacon leader we’ve ever seen. Waspinator, in his own way, is also charming.
It’s rare to find such a likeable ensemble cast in any series, let alone an animated one.
The animation this episode is above par for season one. The first few scenes are rendered beautifully. The environment is verdent, and the addition of lense flare and shadows really helps bring it to life. It’s the little things that make a difference. We also see our first real clue that the planet could be Earth, what with the Stonehenge-alike that the plot revolves around.
It is rare to leave such an open-ended climax to the story. There are certainly a lot of questions raised in this episode. In fact, far too many for the average viewer to be expected to keep track of. But, as trade paperbacks have done for the comics industry, so too have DVDs done for television shows.
This is quite possibly the first real highlight of Beast Wars, and it’s all uphill from here!
"Chain of Command" (22 mins) was originally
broadcast in 1996
Written by Jesse Winfield | Directed by Andrew Doucette
Both the Maximal and Predacon characters are coming into their own. In previous episodes, events have been focused on single characters, but here everyone is working well (and sometimes not so well) together.
It’s really the interplay between characters that impresses about these earlier Beast Wars episodes. Rattrap, Dinobot and Rhinox especially stand out. While the two leader wannabes are downright obnoxious, Rhinox can provide some underplayed deadpan humour. And, although Rattrap can sometimes be over the top at times, he certainly is a dedicated little fella.
The Predacons, too, are just as likeable. Megatron’s cunning starts to move to the fore... the most forward thinking Decepti/Predacon leader we’ve ever seen. Waspinator, in his own way, is also charming.
It’s rare to find such a likeable ensemble cast in any series, let alone an animated one.
The animation this episode is above par for season one. The first few scenes are rendered beautifully. The environment is verdent, and the addition of lense flare and shadows really helps bring it to life. It’s the little things that make a difference. We also see our first real clue that the planet could be Earth, what with the Stonehenge-alike that the plot revolves around.
It is rare to leave such an open-ended climax to the story. There are certainly a lot of questions raised in this episode. In fact, far too many for the average viewer to be expected to keep track of. But, as trade paperbacks have done for the comics industry, so too have DVDs done for television shows.
This is quite possibly the first real highlight of Beast Wars, and it’s all uphill from here!
VERDICT:
Written by Jesse Winfield | Directed by Andrew Doucette