Evolution

« Transformers: Prime ep 61 »
"He's so hot! He's so hot! He's so hot!"
"Evolution"
Season	3
No. in season	9
Production company	Hasbro Studios
Airdate	June 28, 2013
Written by	Steven Melching
Directed by	Shaunt Nigoghossian
Animation studio	Polygon Pictures
Watch this episode on YouTube

Predaking reveals his secret, causing the Decepticons to question the wisdom of their cloning project.

Synopsis

While a storm rages, Megatron and Starscream fly down from the Nemesis to the entrance of a mine. This feeling "uncomfortably familiar" to Starscream, he reluctantly follows Megatron inside and immediately begins playing down his "latest indiscretion". Megatron furiously reminds Starscream that his actions cost them the entire Insecticon hive and a great deal of their regular troops, prompting Starscream to beg for his life. Megatron sighs wearily and proceeds deeper into the mine, which Starscream finally realizes it's Shockwave's off-site laboratory. The lab contains dozens of cloning tanks, each with a Predacon floating motionless within. Shockwave reports that the clones have almost fully evolved, and will be combat-ready in three solar cycles.

On Megatron's order, Knock Out travels down from the ship in a lift while the Predacon watches intently. Arriving in the cave, Knock Out presents his Synthetic Energon, which Shockwave states he will examine after the deployment of the Predacon army. They are interrupted by the Predacon, who emerges from the shadows with a roar. Starscream hits it with a pipe, and the beast responds by transforming into robot mode and threatening some physical violence in return. Starscream and Megatron are both shocked by this, but Shockwave notes that transformation is a fundamental part of Cybertronian biology; they simply had no way of knowing the Predacons ever reached that evolutionary stage before becoming extinct in the Great Cataclysm. The Predacon stares at his brethren in the tanks and says he will no longer be alone. He apologizes to Megatron for keeping his abilities a secret, claiming he only became aware of them recently. He says he has no memories prior to arriving on Earth, and learned what he was from the databanks of the Nemesis. Megatron tells him he is unique, a miracle of science. The Predacon looks back at the clone tanks and regards them in silence.

At their base, the Autobots are chafing under Ultra Magnus's command. He pressures Ratchet to finish his Synthetic Energon experiments, chides the Beast Hunters for taking a breather between scouting missions, and demands to know what the returning Wheeljack was doing outside the base. The Wrecker surprises him by revealing that he's been recalibrating the engines on the Iron Will to increase their efficiency. Optimus Prime returns from his reconnaissance mission and the Autobots flock to him, happy to turn their attention from Ultra Magnus. Optimus sees this with a note of sadness.

"So, can I get in on Free Donut Thursdays now?"

Aboard the Nemesis, the Predacon pledges his loyalty to Megatron and requests to be put in command of the clone army, taking the name Predaking. Megatron conceals his wariness of the former beast's newfound ambition.

Alone with his command staff, Megatron voices his concern that Predaking and the Predacon army can and will turn on them. The only thing they can do to prevent it is destroy the clones. Shockwave agrees, but Knock Out asks what will happen if Predaking finds out. Starscream, no stranger to treachery, suggests that the Autobots be used to do the deed, and thus draw Predaking's wrath.

Ultra Magnus is watching human soldiers run drills outside the base when Optimus Prime asks what's troubling him. Magnus has finally realized that Team Prime isn't taking to his command style. Optimus reminds his old friend that they're not the Elite Guard, and have in fact grown into something greater than an army. Before he can say what that is, Ratchet announces that their scanners have located exposed energon. Optimus declares that they must investigate, due to their own short supply.

A squadron of Vehicons are standing vigil outside an energon mine when Optimus and the Wreckers appear and order them to surrender. The Vehicons open fire, but are quickly cut down by the Wreckers' forward advance and the Stealth Team (Arcee, Bumblebee, and Smokescreen) attacking from the rear. Optimus orders the Wreckers to reconnoiter the mine while the Stealth Team transports their energon spoils back to the base. Joined by an eager Smokescreen, the Wreckers investigate the supposed energon mine, growing suspicious about the lack of energon signals or additional security. Ultra Magnus orders them to split up, with he and Wheeljack going in one direction and Smokescreen and Bulkhead in the other.

Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack come across Shockwave's laboratory and the rows of cloning tanks. Shockwave is working at a computer console when he notices them, opening fire briefly before contacting Starscream. Starscream says he didn't reveal that his plan was already in motion, just so that Shockwave's surprised reaction would be genuine. Starscream terminates the link. Knock Out knows exactly why Starscream staged his plan this way, and received a less than subtle confirmation. Shockwave contacts Soundwave to open a GroundBridge. Before fleeing, Shockwave triggers an electrical surge that travels through the cloning tanks, causing the liquid which keeps the beasts in stasis to drain out.

On the Nemesis, Starscream reports that the Autobots have taken possession of the Predacon clones. Megatron orders him to scramble his seeker armada, but Predaking says that he alone will confront the enemy that threatens his brethren.

Dozens of Predacons begin to stir as the stasis fluids drains from their tanks. Wheeljack notices a cache of synthetic energon in the corner of the room and, with Ultra Magnus's blessing, tosses a grenade at it. The Autobots transform and drive away at high speed, but come to a stop as Predaking, in robot mode, GroundBridges right in front of them much to their surprise. Ultra Magnus, seeing the symbol on Predaking's chest, identifies him. Just then, the laboratory behind them explodes in a massive fireball.

On the surface, Bulkhead and Smokescreen emerge from the mine just as the ground is shaken by the explosion. Optimus Prime stares at the mine with a grave expression.

"Alright, you take the one on the right!"
"There is only one."
"There's one for you, and I'll just be odd-Autobot-out!"
"You're telling me."

Predaking, meanwhile, stares in horror at the charred remains of Shockwave's lab. With a roar, he attacks the two Autobots, his powerful blows sending them flying through the air. Wheeljack mounts a brief and successful counterattack, but Predaking quickly regains the upper hand, until Ultra Magnus lays into him with the Forge of Solus Prime. Magnus and his hammer buy Wheeljack time to recover, and the two Autobots launch a powerful combined attack that ends when they bring a colossal stalactite crashing down on the Predacon. But Predaking merely lifts the stalactite off him and uses it as a weapon to knock Ultra Magnus to the ground and crush Wheeljack against a wall. Magnus reaches for the Forge, but Predaking jumps up and lands on his hand, smashing it underfoot until the Autobot's fingers are nothing but ruined scrap flattened into the ground. Wheeljack laments that he was just starting to tolerate his commander, and Ultra Magnus responds by saying it was an honor to serve with him. Predaking snaps the Forge in half. He makes ready for the killing blow when Optimus Prime flies in and sends the Predacon sprawling. Optimus unleashes his gatling gun on the cave ceiling, raining rubble down on Predaking and allowing him to grab his wounded comrades. Optimus flies them out of the mine with Predaking in close pursuit, and is able to make it through a GroundBridge before a blast of flame makes contact. Predaking roars in rage.

Ultra Magnus comes back online to find himself on Ratchet's operating table while the medic cauterizes the jagged stump of metal that remains of his hand. The other Autobots are gathered around, with Wheeljack musing that Magnus fought like a Wrecker. Ultra Magnus asks Optimus what he was referring to earlier that could be greater than an army. Optimus says that it is a human concept called family.

Guess not.

On the Nemesis, Starscream and Knock Out can barely stifle their amusement as Megatron promises Predaking that they will make the Autobots pay for what they've done. The lies do little to acquiesce the silently fuming titan, and Megatron keeps a wary eye on him as he continues glaring at his leader. From his lab, Shockwave confirms that the clones are beyond salvaging, but says that there's something in the ruins Megatron must see. Megatron and Starscream GroundBridge down to it and are stunned to find a large quantity of pure cyber-matter, like that which once existed on ancient Cybertron, and which more recently created the Decepticon citadel. Shockwave theorizes that it was created when the explosion mixed the CNA of the Predacon clones with Knock Out's synthetic energon.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Strike me again, and I will bury that rod in your spark."

—Predaking speaks his first words

"Your vision... is boundless."

—Megatron considers whether his former pet might become a future rival

"The moment our 'Royal Highness' realizes that his army possesses greater might than what currently remains of the Decepticons..."
"Evolution will give way to revolution."

—Megatron and Starscream

"Blow these beasts back to the Rust Age!"

—Ultra Magnus

"What have you done to my brethren!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

—Predaking

"Optimus. When we spoke earlier... what could be greater than an army?"
"A human concept, one I have learned since coming to Earth: family."

—Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime

Notes

Continuity notes

• Starscream's reluctance to follow Megatron into another abandoned mine calls back to "Rock Bottom".
• The experiment Starscream apologizes for, which resulted in the loss of the Insecticons, happened in "Thirst".
• Shockwave's off-site laboratory was first mentioned in "Chain of Command".
• Knock Out's synthetic energon is derived from Ratchet's formula, which Knock Out obtained in "Stronger, Faster". He was ordered to turn over his research on the subject to Shockwave in the previous episode.
• Ultra Magnus questions Ratchet on his progress into the synthetic energon formula. Ratchet began working on his own formula again in "Project Predacon".
• Wheeljack asks Ultra Magnus for permission to employ a grenade in a confined space, a tactic for which he was reprimanded in "Chain of Command".
• Megatron's citadel Darkmount was created by the Omega Lock in "Darkest Hour".

Transformers references

• Ultra Magnus was one of the Elite Guard during the war for Cybertron.
• Starscream refers to an evolution that will become a revolution. "Evolution Revolution" was a teaser theme used for Beast Machines.
• Wheeljack shows a high mechanical aptitude by increasing the output of Ultra Magnus's ship's engines. We have yet to see if the engines work as efficiently as he said.

Errors

• Shockwave says that the Predacon clones would have fully "evolved" within a few solar cycles. Given he's simply cloning them, "matured" or "grown" would have been more appropriate. But then again, Shockwave's choice of diction has been odd at times.
• When Optimus smashes Predaking away just before the latter could end Ultra Magnus's life, his jetpack is active and running. As he watches his target slam against the wall, his boosters and jetpack just fold away without the usual set of clicks and clanks.
• Shortly before Magnus hurls Wheeljack into the air with the Forge during the attack in the cave, the sound of his footsteps is horribly out of sync with his actual leg movement.
• Optimus refers to family as a "human concept", despite family being a very common element of Transformers fiction, including Dreadwing and Skyquake, who were explicitly stated to be twins.

Trivia

• We learn that the original Predacons of Cybertron faced a similar apocalyptic wipeout to that of the dinosaurs of Earth, further reinforcing the parallels drawn between the two.
• Like Arcee, Predaking undergoes a dramatic amount of size changing when transforming, but in reverse. He goes from a colossal monster that Megatron can barely look in the chest to a beefy robot about a head taller than Megatron. This is likely so he can have scenes in robot mode while inside the Nemesis.

Foreign localization

French

• Title: "La Menace Predacon" ("The Predacon Menace")
• Original airdate: ?

German

• Title: "Evolution" ("Evolution")
• Original airdate: 10 October 2013

Hungarian

• Title: "Evolúció" ("Evolution")
• Original airdate: 12 September 2013

Brazilian Portuguese

• Title: "Evolução" ("Evolution")
• Original airdate: 29 November 2013

Italian

• Title: "Evoluzione" ("Evolution")
• Original airdate: 6 September 2013

Spanish (Spain)

• Title: "Evolución" ("Evolution")
• Original airdate: 26 October 2013

Home video releases

DVD

2013 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three (Shout! Factory)
2014 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season 3 Volume 3: Omega Lock (Madman Entertainment)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season 3 Volume 2: Race for Salvation (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Saison 3 Volume 2: L'ultime affrontement (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Staffel 3 Teil 2: Auf zur Rettung (Primal Screen) — English, German, Dutch and French audio.
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Intégrale Saison 3 (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — The Complete Season 3 (Primal Screen)
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Die komplette Staffel 3 (Primal Screen) — English, German, Dutch and French audio.
2015 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — The Complete Season 3 (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.

Blu-ray

2013 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three (Shout! Factory)
2016 — Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season Three Collection (Madman Entertainment)

References