This three part episode really changed Power Rangers in a good way. This three part episode shook off a lot of the restraints that the programme suffered from.
First of all it dispensed with the Japanese-only villain footage that the programme had been using so far. It bottled up Rita Repulsa and introduced Lord Zedd. Japanese footage is still being used for zord footage and more worryingly is the extent to which it has to be edited to fit the episode - such as the old megazord being removed from the shot and the new one edited into its place. This will only last for a few episodes though.
It also started using its own American battle footage (this had been used sparingly for the last few episodes of the previous season).
Other new concepts are introduced in this 3parter such as the rangers taking off their helmets to speak to Zordon and Bulk and Skull getting proper side-stories.
The actual episode is also great. A piranha based monster is created by Lord Zedd who gains control of the rangers' zords. After they eventually regain control, Lord Zedd opens up the earth and drops the zords in - this leads Zordon and Alpha to reveal to them new more powerful zords (although personally I prefer the old ones) and with a lightning bolt, the zords transform to the new ones.
The also introduces the audience to the idea that the rangers will be getting new zords (and later - new powers) for each new season. This doesn't quite follow the Japanese way of entirley new characters/powers/setting each season but it does bring a refreshing new take on it. It introduces an ongoing continuity to the sentai series (which has been on for 30-ish years in Japan).
Overall then I think this episode did everything that it needed to and more to set up the remainder of the Power Ranger series.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
The Ranger teens take part in a charity 4-wheeler race on Earth. But up on the moon, things are far from routine. Rita Repulsa and her Evil Space Aliens are taken by surprise when Lord Zedd, Rita's boss and evil overlord, returns to our galaxy! For her repeated failures, he has Rita banished to drift in space inside another Space Dumpster. With Goldar as his loyal General, Zedd takes over the Lunar Palace, and proceeds to give the Putty Patrollers an overpowered overhaul! These white-suited, Z-armored Putties are sent to face the Power Rangers, and prove to be more than formidable foe. Can our heroes find their weakspot in time?moreless
-
GUEST STAR
Scott Page-PagterPirantishead (voice)
-
Jason David Frank
Tommy Oliver, Green Ranger
-
Walter Jones
Zack Taylor, Black Mighty Morphin Ranger
-
Thuy Trang
Trini Kwan, Yellow Mighty Morphin Ranger
-
Paul Schrier
Farkas "Bulk" Bulkmeier
-
Jason Narvy
Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch
-
David Yost
Billy Cranston, Blue Mighty Morphin Ranger
Watch Online
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
See All-
TRIVIA (6)
ADD TRIVIA-
The Pterodactyl Dinozord remained in the air when frozen, thereby defying the laws of gravity.
-
For the closing credits neither the new Season 2 credits or the old season 1 credits are used; instead the closing credits are shown over footage of the Dinozords (no Rangers are shown). This occurs in the following episode as well.
-
When Lord Zedd first appears, outside the Lunar Palace, he is missing the top of his horn.
-
The US footage of Rita's chamber of her palace was shot on the Zedd balcony part of Zedd's Chamber of command.
-
It's claimed Goldar lost his wings for being beaten by the Rangers. Yet his wings disappeared in the first episode when Rita made him grow.
-
When Pirantishead began freezing four of the Dinozords, the Saber-Toothed Tiger was in the process of "sitting down" as it usually did to prepare to form the Megazord Tank Mode or Megazord Battle Mode, however the Rangers had not called for any Zord transformations.
-
-
QUOTES (6)
ADD QUOTES-
Zedd: Putties, bring our fallen empress her travelling vehicle. (The Putties bring in a space dumpster) Rita: (Groans) Not again! Goldar(Laughs) Yes, her travelling vehicle!
-
Rita: Please, give me another chance! Zedd: Silence! Those Power Rangers are mere infants; You were defeated by children! You dare call yourself an empress of evil? You're not fit to destroy a cockroach! Goldar: I have always said that! Rita: You gold-bellied rat!
-
Zedd: So, poor old Zordon is still around, eh? Little does he know that his pitiful teenage do-gooders are no match for me!
-
Jason: (about Lord Zedd) I wonder what he's got in store for us next. Zack: Got a feeling it ain't Pudgy Pig.
-
Lord Zedd: Your days of control are over, there will be no other chances Rita: Can't we talk? Lord Zedd: SILENCE! I have spoken
-
Rita Repulsa: I've got such a headache. Goldar: Deal with it, I'm going to meet my emperor.
-
-
NOTES (11)
ADD NOTES-
When Zedd returns, Finster and Scorpina are plainly visible on Rita's balcony, but when Goldar then Rita go to meet with Zedd, Squatt and Babboo are seen later peering through the eye holes into his chamber, but Finster and Scorpina are nowhere to be seen or even mentioned.
-
The original title in the first drafts of the script for this mini-series was "The Return of Lord Zedd".
-
From now until the 3-parter "The Wedding", all the monsters the Rangers will face will be created by Zedd instead of Finster.
-
"Ride The Machine" plays when the race starts. It will feature again in part three, and resurface in season three's "Follow that Cab!"
-
This marked the first time Finster appeared in US footage, making him the final of the show's original main villains to do so.
-
This is the first time the phrase "Back to action!" is used on the show, a term generally used by morphed but helmetless Rangers to return to battle fully morphed.
-
This is the first time the Rangers appear morphed but helmetless.
-
First appearance of Lord Zedd's Chamber of Command (a different section of Rita's Lunar Palace) and the new Z-Putty Patrollers.
-
Scorpina's final appearance until "Goldar's Vice-Versa".
-
First appearance of Lord Zedd, the first "monster" to be entirely American and not originate in Sentai.
-
This episode originally debuted as a primetime special on Fox, hosted by the six Ranger teens & Bulk and Skull.
-
-
ALLUSIONS (2)
ADD ALLUSIONS-
Rita: I'm shrinking! What a planet! This is similar to the dialogue of The Wicked Witch of The West's death scene in The Wizard of Oz.
-
Bulk and Skull's attire while riding the four wheelers is similar to that of the Road Warriors from the Mad Max film series.
-
-
Dayu
05/19/1210
-
tor
02/10/123
-
who's the strongest power ranger and whats the strongest series?
02/09/1240
-
Power Rangers Super Samurai
01/21/123
-
teleportation
12/22/113
-
Origins (1)
S 18 : Ep 19
Aired 10/15/11
-
Jayden's Challenge (2)
S 18 : Ep 10
Aired 4/17/11
-
Danger and Destiny (2)
S 17 : Ep 32
Aired 12/26/09
-
Danger and Destiny (1)
S 17 : Ep 31
Aired 12/26/09 (21:51)
Related Shows
-
-
tv
Animorphs -
-
-
tv
Thunderbirds
Season 2 Episodes
See AllEp 53
Mighty Morphin Power Range...
Ep 52
Blue Ranger Gone Bad
Ep 51
Wild West Rangers (2)
Ep 50
Wild West Rangers (1)
Ep 49
Storybook Rangers (2)
Ep 48
Storybook Rangers (1)
Ep 47
Best Man for the Job
Ep 46
Return of the Green Ranger...
Ep 45
Return of the Green Ranger...
Ep 44
Return of the Green Ranger...
Ep 43
The Wedding (3)
Ep 42
The Wedding (2)
Ep 41
The Wedding (1)
Ep 40
Rangers Back in Time (2)
Ep 39
Rangers Back in Time (1)
Ep 38
A Reel Fish Story
Ep 37
Forever Friends
Ep 36
The Great Bookala Escape
Ep 35
Scavenger Hunt
Ep 34
Where There's Smoke, There...
Ep 33
Lights, Camera, Action
Ep 32
Rocky Just Wants to Have Fun
Ep 31
When is a Ranger Not a Ran...
Ep 30
Mirror of Regret
Ep 29
Goldar's Vice-Versa
Ep 28
The Power Transfer (2)
more
-
KyL416 EDITOR
User Score: 5135
-
SirStack
User Score: 19304
-
bluecatcinema
User Score: 1936
-
Dexter6
User Score: 1029
-
Super_Steve38
User Score: 990
-
The_Unknown2
User Score: 706
-
Tubelubber
User Score: 470
-
bowling255
User Score: 418
-
watchermark
User Score: 394
-
SPDShadowRanger
User Score: 283
More
Less
