"Autobots, we must become Beast Hunters."
— Optimus Prime
The Decepticons launch a new scheme to clone an army of beasts.
Tropes:
- All There in the Script: According to the credits, the Insecticon that speaks is named Bombshock.
- Answer Cut: When Smokescreen asks the rest of Team Prime why Predacon fossils are on Earth, Starscream asks Megatron the same think. Megatron explains that they aren't fossil of the Preds themselves, but clones buried by time when the project first started to counter Autobots of early times.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Wheeljack is the first to ask what's to stop the Decepticons from making just one Predacon clone.
- Armor-Piercing Response: The question of why and how Predacon fossils are buried in the Earth explained by Megatron that they were actually clones already made by Shockwave to attack Autobots already on Prehistoric Earth. They waited for Megatron' s arrival but eventually died out eons after, while his forced were busy in the war.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Bumblebee and Smokescreen engage in a tug of war with Shockwave over the Predacon fossil. They manage to get it from him, but a small fragment breaks off and falls towards Optimus, who quickly tries to grab it. However, Soundwave opened a ground bridge below it, causing the fossil to land in Megatron’s hand.
- Brought Down to Normal: Last episode, Smokescreen used the last bits of power from the Forge of Solus Prime to save Optimus, but now it's reduced to an ordinary hammer, incapable of repairing the Omega Lock on Cybertron. Ultra Magnus decides to use it as his own weapon.
- The Comically Serious: Fowler's suggestion to "pack their kilts" before heading to the location in Scotland prompts this exchange between two serious characters.Ultra Magnus: Uh... what's a kilt?
Optimus: [beat, as he looks back and forth] Agent Fowler can at times be oblique. I find it best to simply nod and mobilize. - Conflict Ball: Magnus and Wheeljack get into a little argument just over Jackie being too playful with the exercise ball in the base. Magnus going into lecture mode wasn't exactly helpful, but thankfully, Wheeljack didn't leave due to his ship being damaged.
- Continuity Nod: With the threat of more than just one Predacon, Ratchet returns to his attempt of creating a better version of Synth En after what happened in "Stronger, Faster". With the formula still incomplete, and working with less then stellar equipment compared to their original base, he would rather not get his hopes up.
- Crazy-Prepared: Starscream is incredulous at the prospect on combing an entire planet on the off chance of finding Predacon fossils. To his surprise, Shockwave tagged every single Predacon he ever created implanted with a tracking microchip, making their retrieval easier.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: When tasked with the menial job of stacking storage cubes, Smokescreen grouses about how he was nearly a Prime and is now back to being seen as a mere rookie. Bumblebee's more modest goal of simply being promoted to warrior does a lot for his mood and perspective.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Megatron decides that Shockwave is better suited in his lab than on the field. After all, he is the only one responsible for the Predacon cloning project.
- Evolving Credits: Starting with this episode, the rest of the season/series alters the opening, with the Autobots' side showing off Optimus and Bumblebee's new look, and the Decepticons' side adding in Shockwave and Predaking. The last scene of the opening replaces the Optimus/Megatron Punch Parry with Optimus clashing with Predaking.
- Foreshadowing: Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack's frustration with each other here really comes into play in the next episode. Ultra Magnus also chastises the old Wreckers' lack of discipline before he came in and mentions "the path of least resistance" to Wheeljack, alluding to how Jackie outright deserted when Magnus took over.
- Innocuously Important Episode: Ratchet has resumed work on his Synthetic Energon experiments, in order to make up for their lost reserves. His efforts will end up being crucial to final arc of the season and an effort to restore Cybertron.
- Internal Reveal: Team Prime figures out, from the fossil Optimus brought to the new base, that Shockwave created the Predacon dragon.
- Mid-Season Upgrade: With his new gear from last episode, Optimus gets a new altmode after Fowler let's him scan the military's latest experimental truck. Smokescreen, to a lesser extent, sports a sleeker, less conspicuous paintjob like Bumblebee.
- Mythology Gag: "We could have Beast Wars on our hands."
- One Myth to Explain Them All: Shockwave created other Predacons long before Predaking, and these were dispatched to Earth to eliminate any Autobot forces and guard the energon supplies. The beasts eventually died out, but they had plenty of human witnesses. When Ratchet brings up historical records of Predacons from Cybertron, Jack immediately notices the resemblance to monsters from Classical Mythology and The Middle Ages. Optimus sees Predacons being the basis for parts of human folklore as another intriguing example of Cybertron and Earth being linked.
- Shout-Out: According to Fowler, the experimental military truck hauled into the new base is from the "M.A.S.K. division".
- Simultaneous Arcs: The next episode, Chain of Command, takes place concurrently with the back half of this episode.
- This Cannot Be!: Ratchet when Optimus returns to base with a Predacon fossil.
- Title Drop: Optimus states they will have to not only deal with the lone Predacon made by Shockwave and prevent others from following suit. In short, Beast Hunters.
- Trial Balloon Question: Smokescreen's now keeping the fact that he was almost a Prime a secret from the rest of the team. Apparently still having conflicting feelings he asks Bumblebee if he'd ever like to be a Prime himself. When Bee tells him he'd prefer the modest rank of warrior, Smokescreen can't help but agree.
- Visual Pun: The Conflict Ball example is triggered by Wheeljack lobbing a ball at a unprepared Bulkhead.
- The Worf Effect: The Insecticons, which were monstrously powerful in their first appearances, are child's play for the newly upgraded Optimus.
