User blog:NJGW/Series 9, Heat A afterthoughts

Well, for the opening episode of the latest series of the show we all love, I listed things down with 'positives' and 'negatives' categories, but here, there's so much to talk about, and most of the controversy isn't a positive or a negative - it's just utterly Robot Wars

Now, one thing this episode did exceptionally right off the bat was the first round melees. So far, since the reboot, we've had a mixture of very interesting melees, curbstomp melees and quite dissapointing ones, so it was nice to see three very active robots - sorry Hobgoblin - being able to make their presence felt for the duration of the battle. Honestly, on my first watch, I did think Cobra was very harshly eliminated, and although it's incredibly close, my second viewing while writing up Behemoth's Robot History also gave me the same feeling. It wasn't controversial either way really, but it's a shame to see something as fearlessly aggressive and durable as Cobra drop out in the first round.

Then we're treated to our second melee. It may have been a bit more smash and grab, but yet again we were given plenty of action. Push to Exit looked aggressive and was very fast and entertaining and PP3D was sending sparks galore and churning up Draven. I loved Shunt's dismissal of Draven with that hit - although it still feels like the most Draven way to lose ever, and although Push to Exit didn't survive PP3D's hit at least it was a visual pleasing one. Another really good battle, and although it was very different to our first from this episode, it still provided a lot of exciting content.

Behemoth and Eruption kick off the Head-to-Heads, and although it was a complete design flaw, Kane being forced to slant himself on the booth's screen was one of many entertaining and unique moments this episode gave us. We had the the completely endearing Cherub team providing funny moments throughout, we had the return of SHESUPTAESPEEDNOE with the wonderful Gary Cairns, we have an arena wall breakage, the Behemoth scoop changes, PP3D blowing up, Behemoth bottling in the most Behemoth way possible, Anthony Pritchard leaving the booth - it just had so much to it. The entertainment of a Robot Wars episode is mainly given weight by the battles, but when so many of the other factors are so memorable as well, then we've got something special.

Anyway, I digress. Behemoth vs. Eruption went pretty much the way I expected, with Behemoth having a good period but eventually being dismissed - and in what style!

We then have another Group Battle rematch in PP3D vs. Cherub. We all know the controversy surrounding this battle, and although it's still very open to interpretation as to who should have won, I'm now glad that after the initial "WTF" moment when it was announced that Cherub was the winner, most people can now at least see how Cherub won. I've watched the battle a couple more times since my first viewing of it, and although the massive hit shouldn't decide the battle on its own, I think that gave PP3D enough points to take the edge in a tight overall points decision.

And because this is Robot Wars we can't only have one controversial battle - oh no, we're given a second one, and this battle seemed to have controversy beforehand, during it and after the battle. Behemoth's innovation doesn't work one bit, but Behemoth still does a pretty decent job with some good drives at Cherub. The floor flipper incident is one that can be swept aside. To some people, it's seen as taking advantage of the surrounding environment at that particular moment, but at the end of the day it's an arena hazard doing something it's not designed for. Immobilisation via being flipped by the floor flipper? Sure. Being trapped underneath the floor flipper? No - it's not a pit. Being burnt out by the flame pit? Sure. Being counted as immobile because you're pinned on it? No. The Judges' decision is a very interesting one, because, based on my last watch, I thought Behemoth edged things with its consistent broadside drives, but Cherub's slams and drives carry weight as well. Again though, it's close, but more like the first battle from this episode where I'd need to jot down points in a moment-by-moment breakdown to make my mind up for good.

Concerning that moment, I actually commend Anthony for what he did. He seemed doubtful before the battle of the arms being equipped, and when it went wrong and it became evident that they blew an unbelievably great chance of being in the Heat Final, then it's unsurprising a man who has worked on this machine for 19 years will have some form of negative emotion after witnessing a way to bottle a battle that not even Behemoth had managed to do as badly as that in the past.

At the end of the day, he took himself away from the situation - away from the kids as well, in case he some something out of order - and then recollected himself before coming back in and explaining himself. However, the narrative of "grown man storms out after losing to kids" is a very easy narrative to go with, and part of the reason it's blown up is because it's that Robot Wars trope of an adult and a kid having juxtaposing emotions.

So, Behemoth is out, and what can you say? It was pretty much the most Behemoth pattern of results possible. Behemoth's always been a design that feels like it could win/lose against literally any type of robot, and it needs to be driven very well to get the best out of it from each fight. I enjoyed their battles this series, but it was very much a mixed bag, where they could've dropped out in their melee, got outdone by the most precise and cynical Eruption after a bright start, earned a typical Behemoth win against PP3D and then threw it away at the end. Because the machine is so unique, you never feel like it has an advantage/disadvantage against any machines bar a couple, and the new anti-spinner plough just helps aid that unpredictability further. It's always great to watch their fights, especially the last two series, with such a variety of battles.

Great to see Behemoth again, anyhow, and hopefully they'll be back yet again - it wouldn't be the same without them.

Despite the intriguing last battle, this Heat Final was always going to be a write off, but at least Eruption did it in extreme style!

Conclusion
On my initial watch, this is right up there with my favourite episodes from the show's entire run. Variety, energy, pace, a mixture of people all entertaining in their own way, controversy, memorable moments - it had so much to it. The one that stops this being outright my favourite episode - at least for the time being - is the brevity of PP3D's involvement in the Behemoth and Eruption Head-to-Heads, but hey, you're never going to get a full set of perfect fights from the Head-to-Head format. Still, an incredibly memorable watch, and one that plants itself in the higher regions of my favourites episodes.

Score: 9.25/10