In this column, we provde a plot summary and comments about some of the most popular Transformers shows ever to grace our televisions!  Unlike the summaries we give for the G1 TF shows on other sections of unicron.com, here we'll only provide our 'grade' for the episode's plot, as the animation in the series is very consistent from episode to episode.  That is, we think it's all pretty outstanding!
Our Plot Grading Scale:
Excellent, good, okay, bad, terrible

The second season of Beast Wars is, by far my favorite season of any Transformers cartoons ever.  It consisted of only 13 episodes but the authors, Bob Forward and Larry DiTillio made every one count!  Here they are:  (Much, but not all of these plot summaries are taken from the web site of BMachines story editor Bob Skir.)  

27 - Aftermath:
Following the trans-warp explosion which destroyed the alien moon, the Maximals and Predacons find themselves with new forms: Transmetal.  They struggle to cope with the loss of their leader Optimus Primal
                                                       plot: excellent

28 - Coming of the Fuzors, Part One:
Strange new "Fuzors" Quickstrike and Silverbolt emerge from damaged stasis pods and are recruited by Megatron. Meanwhile, Rhinox embarks on a extrordinary journey into trans-warp space, "where all are one!"
                                                      plot: excellent

29 - Coming of the Fuzors, Part Two:
As the Maximals are almost wiped out, the fuzor Silverbolt has a crisis of identity.   In search of something quite interesting, Rhinox sends his spark into trans-warp space "the other side of the matrix! Where all are one!"
                                                            plot: good

30 - Tangled Web:
On a mission for Megatron, Tarantulas presents the other arachnids with a compelling proposal of treachery!  Excellent Quickstrike vs. Silverbold fight scene and for the first time, an attraction? develops  
                                                            plot: good

31 - Maximal No More:
Fed up with the Maximal philosophy, Dinobot comes to a difficult decision.   This episode is peppered with well written foreshadowing of  events to come in future episodes! (-The secrets of the Golden disk)
                                                            plot: good

32 - Other Visits, Part One:
The mysterious aliens return to the planet, and seemingly take Tigatron and Airazor hostage.   But Megatron is ready for them.  Meanwhile Optimus decides it's no more 'Mr. Nice Guy' and takes the Maximals on the offensive.  This episode features outstanding Max vs. Pred battle scenes.       plot: excellent

33 - Other Visits, Part Two:
Megatron tries to turn the power of the alien technology to his own ends.   Outstanding graphics highlight even more great fight scenes and by the time it's done, we're no closer to getting any real answers to the identity/secrets of the Aliens.         plot: good

34 - Bad Spark:
A mysterious discovery leads to a disaster and an unlikely team-up between Maximal and Predacon. Introduction of Protoform X the newest 'big soldier' to join the fray of the Beast Wars, RAMPAGE.           plot: excellent

35 - Code of Hero:
Dinobot's sense of honor forces him into the ultimate test. In this episode we start to realize the boundless potential of the Golden Disk and what an awesome power it is. IMHO Not only is this the best written, most tastefully done show of the season, it is for me the best chapter in Transformers history ever, I'd vote it even better than TF movie!
                        plot: of-the-charts, outstanding

36 - Transmutate:
A badly damaged stasis pod creates a creature that is neither Maximal nor Predacon and a strange almost love triangle results between Rampage and Silverbolt
                                                       plot: excellent

37 - The Agenda, Part One:
The transwarp wave passes through Cybertronian space, triggering a momentous decision.  First appearance of the Tri-predacus council.  Megatron is defeated                                         plot: excellent

38 - The Agenda, Part Two:
Disaster looms as Megatron reveals his hidden agenda to Ravage, convincing him of his most noble cause!                 plot: excellent

39 - The Agenda, Part Three:
Blackarachnia and Silverbolt's relationship continues to develop.  The information contained on the golden disk which Blackarachnia posses becomes terribly important.  We get a short TF history lesson and actually see many of the classic G1 Transformers, including the original Optimus Prime!  Megatron's evil manipulations threaten fabric of time the entire universe.
                             plot: off-the-charts excellent!

Beast Wars Second takes place after the Beast Wars cartoon, but before Beast Machines (Beast Wars Return). It also takes place before both Beast Wars: The Gathering and Beast Wars: The Ascending comic series. It does not take place in this era, nor does it take place in the past as the original Beast Wars does. It takes place solely in the future that the Beast Wars cast came from.

1. A New Army
Convoy and Apache investigate something in space, but Convoy is lost. The Predacons (Destrons) arrive on planet Gaia to find a huge power source. Artemis and Moon contact the Maximals (Cybertrons) to check on the Predacons. The Maximals are attacked en-route and crash land. There, they take up beast forms and head towards the Predacons, led by Galvatron and his brother Megastorm.

2. White Lion, Run!
The Maximals follow the mysterious white lion and discover their crashed spacecraft. They also find out the white lion's true identity. Meanwhile, Galvatron finds a huge computer and uses it to scan for the most powerful object on the planet. When he takes that as his new mode, he is left immobile. This leaves Megastorm as the new leader. He orders the Autorollers and the Predacons to take new forms. He orders the Predacons to bring him the white lion, but will he like what he gets. We also learn what happened to Convoy.

3. Big Horn's Fury
Big Horn learns that he has more rage due to his beast mode, especially when he sees red. This is despite him being a buffalo and not a bull. As the Maximals search for the Predacon base, the Predacons are searhing for Lio Convoy. Big Horn's rage seems to be a detriment to the team, especially with Kid poking fun at him, but he learns he can use it against his foes. He also reveals that a secret missile launcher is exposed when someone pulls his tail.

4. The Lake Trap
Tasmanian Kid discovers the secret location of the new Predacon base. He disobeys orders so that he can surprise the other Maximals. He is quickly captured by Starscream and used as a decoy to draw the Maximals into a trap. Can Diver and Scuba rescue him before the other Maximals are captured?