Editing Dark Designs


'''Megatron captures and reprograms Rhinox into a Predacon.  It doesn't turn out very well.'''
[[File:Dark Designs.png|thumb|Heeeeeere's Johnny!]]
'''Dark Designs''' is the thirteenth episode of first season of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers]]'', is the thirteenth episode of the ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' series and is overall the thirteenth episode of the Beast Era of the ''Transformers'' series. It is overall the one hundredth-eleventh episode of the G1 Era of Transformers.

==Summary==
In some usual rocky terrain, the [[Maximals]] are disappointed to learn that their day's expedition has been a waste of time, as the [[Energon]] they were searching for is inaccessible. [[Rattrap]] whines, saying the situation couldn't get worse, prompting an attack from the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. The Maximals are at a clear disadvantage, but [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] triggers a rockslide that crushes all the Predacons.

[[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] commends Rhinox's intelligent tactics, and the Maximals begin their return to base. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] also determines that Rhinox is a major threat to his operation and orders [[Tarantulas]] to capture the large Maximal. When Rhinox is a distance behind the other Maximals on the road him, the spider captures Rhinox and knocks the rhino out with some [[cyber venom]].

A while later, the Maximals noticed their large comrade has disappeared. Rattrap activates his communicator, and are able to listen through Rhinox's communicator, overhearing the events in the Predacon base where Megatron uses "The Transmuter" to turn Rhinox into an evil Predacon. While the Maximals are concerned, Primal plans to wait a while before the Maximals make an effort to rescue their friend, yessssssss...

In the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], Megatron, and his new underling, Evil Rhinox, get down to plotting on how they can use Rhinox's knowledge to destroy the Maximals - but some technical problems with Megatron's computer halt the planning session. Rhinox is sent to check up on [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok's]] repair of the system (which was secretly vandalised by Rhinox). With no witnesses, Rhinox drops several tons of hardware onto Scorponok. When Scorponok's flattened body is found later by Megatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], they have no clue who committed the crime.

Waspinator deposits Scorponok into a [[CR Chamber]] for repair, but flying away, Waspinator is hit with a heavy piece of weight pushed by Rhinox. The impact drives Waspinator into a state of dementia. This time, Rhinox's attempt at homicide is witnessed by [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], who meets with Rhinox in private. There, Rhinox declines Terrorsaur's offer of partnership and insists that Terrorsaur stay silent. Later, Megatron discovers that the spiders have been poisoned. Still oblivious, a furious Megatron shouts out his confusion.

Outside of the Pred base, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] figures out Primal's plan: leave Rhinox as he is, so he'll run roughshod over  the Predacons.  But knowing that Megatron will eventually wise up, the Maximals get ready to mount a rescue. At the same time, Scorponok has been repaired, and he tells Megatron what happened to him. Megatron concludes that his little experiment has gone wrong, and decides to end it{{m-}}and Rhinox as well. 

Megatron confronts Rhinox, and assigns Scorponok and Terrorsaur to disarm the new recruit. By mentioning Terrorsaur's plotting, Rhinox is able to get the two Predacon goons to fight each other instead of himself, leaving them as easy pickings.  With those two taken care of, he opens fire on Megatron, causing the Predacon to fall off his hover platform.

Rhinox taunts Megatron with a speech about who's the boss now, but Rhinox has stepped into the range of the Transmuter. Megatron reactivates the machine, converting Rhinox back to his regular good self. The Maximals blast their way into the base. Primal battles with Megatron, slicing off one of the Predacon leader's arms. A stray shot from the still demented Waspinator hits the Transmuter, and the Maximals grab Rhinox and evacuate while the Predacons take cover to avoid being harmed by the exploding machine.

Afterwards, the Maximals relax. Rhinox admits that the Predacons have some serious personality problems, and the Maximals have a big laugh. Except for [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].

==Quotes==
'''Cheetor:''' Better dead than Pred.<br>
'''Dinobot:''' Some of us have survived the experience, furball.


'''Waspinator:''' Destroy all Autobot-bot-bot-bot!<br>
'''Megatron:''' Waspinator, what are you buzzing about?!<br>
'''Waspinator:''' Waspinator? Negative-negative-negative! I am Shrapnel, Decepticon hero-o-o-o-o!<br>
'''Blackarachnia:''' Shrapnel?! That was a Decepticon from the Great Wars three centuries ago. He's wacko.<br>
'''Waspinator:''' Wacko? NO!! ''Won''ko! Wonko the Sane!!
:{{m-}}The result of Waspinator's Rhinox-inflicted super insanity.


"He's a smirker!  Mangle!"
:{{m-}}'''Scorponok''' re: Terrorsaur


"Like you're three gigabytes of attitude on a two-gig hard drive.  No ''wonder'' they've got personality problems!"
:{{m-}}'''Rhinox''' on being a Predacon<br>

'''Waspinator:''' Decepticons, attaaaaaaack! Attack!<br>
''[Waspinator gets shot by Cheetor and crashes]''<br>
'''Waspinator:''' There's more than meets the eye-ee--<br>
:{{m-}}The continued result of Waspinator's Rhinox-inflicted super insanity.

"Oh, I think that Megatron has bitten off a bit more than he can chew. *Faces the audiance* Yesssss...."
:{{m-}}'''Optimus Primal''' on what to do regarding Rhinox's kidnapping. Also takes a page from Megs.

"Sometimes Predacons gloat too much!"
:{{m-}}'''Megatron''', after being beaten by Evil Rhinox.

==Stats==
'''Writer-bot:''' [[Ian Weir]]<br>
'''Director-bot:''' [[Owen Hurley]]
'''Original Air Date:''' November 4, 1996

'''Major Characters (in order of appearance):''' Optimus, Rhinox, Megatron<br>
'''Minor Characters (in order of appearance):''' Characters

==Notes==

;Waspinator's "death"
* After the fact that's he's gone insane and irritates Cheetor, Waspinator is shot out the air.

===Technical/Animation Glitches===
* In one shot, when the Maximals are having a conversation near the Predacon base, Dinobot looks like as if he's standing in the lava flow. This may be because of the camera angle. If so, it means that Dinobot's been animated to stand in mid-air a few inches above the ground, thus the strange effect.
* After being shot by Cheetor, Waspinator falls to the ground, where his legs appear to be missing.

===Continuity errors===
* After being turned into a Predacon, Rhinox still has shackles on when he states his activation code. The next shot as he is transforming, his shackles have vanished and he is standing as if he was never shackled in the first place.
* When the Maximals reach the Predacon base, they somehow blow a hole in the wall while in beast mode.

===Transformers references===
*When [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] is driven temporarily insane, he babbles that his name is [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], an Insecticon from the [[Generation One]] [[continuity family]]. Stuck like this for the rest of the episode, he proceeds to stutter and repeat words in a semi-accurate reference to the distinctive speech pattern that Shrapnel had in the G1 cartoon, which saw him repeat the last word of his sentences. Waspinator also delivers the classic TF slogan "''More than meets the eye.''".
*The concept of Rhinox being reprogrammed by Megatron only to attempt to overthrow him later is revisited in the sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines|Beast Machines: Transformers]]'', where Rhinox's Spark is extracted and used to power the [[Vehicon]] general [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], with the Maximals' attempts to 'reactivate' Rhinox only turning a mindless destructive brute into a calculative genius. It is worth noting that Tankor's behaviour in that series is very similar to his (Rhinox's) behaviour as a Predacon during this episode (albeit in a much more sinister and malevolent manner with more detailed long-term plans than Predacon Rhinox's epicness and straightforward approach of smashing his 'teammates').
*Both Optimus and Rhinox say "''Yeeessssss...''" in a very similar manner to Megatron.  Imitation ''is'' the sincerest form of flattery.

===Real-world references===
*Immediately following saying that he is Shrapnel, Waspinator claims that he is "Wonko! Wonko the Sane!" and salutes the audience before punching himself in the head. In addition to being a fictional character created by the sci-fi comedy author [[Wikipedia:Douglas_Adams|Douglas Adams]], it is a tribute to transfan [[Ben Yee]], whose online username was Wonko the Sane at the time.
*The scene where Optimus Primal proudly brandishes his swords before an unimpressed Megatron lazily shoots him down is reminiscent of the famous duel between [[Wikipedia:Indiana_Jones|Indiana Jones]] and the master swordsman in ''[[Wikipedia:Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]''.  Dinobot pushing Scorponok into his rotor blade weapon echoes the demise of the German engineer later in the movie.
*There's a slight possibility that Optimus Primal broke the Fourth-Wall in this episode, as when he said "''Yeeessssss''...", Optimus Primal was looking at the camera, tho me might have been looking at one of his Maximal allies.
*While Waspinator is insane (well, more insane than usual), he briefly appears to be touching Blackarachnia's right chestplate. Perv. Later in the episode "[[Possession]]" while Waspinator was possessed by [[Starscream]], he touched Blackaracnhia's butt. Apparently the Decepticons are either perverts or aren't used to having girls on their side.

===Notes===
*While spending most of the episode as a Predacon, this is Rhinox's first major role.
*This is probably the first time Waspinator refers to himself as "''I''", although in truth, he said this in his insane state when he thought he was [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]].
*Oddly enough, there are [[To_sell_toys|no silver redecos of Rhinox]], so far that is.

==External Links==
*Link
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