Episode 24 - The Spit Flower

Aww, this was the first episode of Power Rangers I ever saw way back when I was nine and it was first airing! Has it really been that long? I feel so old now. So I'd like to thank my little brother for watching it every day after school, because unlike him, I'm still totally obsessed.

This episode reminded me of the only Bobbsey Twins book I ever read, which was the Bobbsey Twins Rose Parade Mystery. All I remember about that book was that a bunch of flowers got destroyed, which hey, totally fits with the theme of this episode.

The episode opens with Kimberly in a fairly cute outfit (look, I still like vests, I am that dorky) and for some reason the costumer seems to think that putting Tommy in two different shades of green is attractive, when it really isn't. It is wrong, and they need to stop doing that.

Kimberly is apparently designing a float for some parade, and there are a lot of flowers. We find out that all of the flowers are going to be recycled into potpourri, which is pretty awesome. We approve. Kimberly's float has something to do with world peace, and we really have no idea. This apparently offends Rita, and she decides that she must destroy the float, and the parade itself. She decides to go with her standard plan, and suddenly there are Putties! At the Youth Center! It's pretty awesome, and they immediately start ripping flowers off the float model, and Kimberly and Tommy fight them, and Tommy loses his ugly flannel shirt. For all that we don't like him, he does have pretty nice arms, and we've made our feelings about nice arms pretty clear at this point.

The other Rangers all show up, but Ernie has left for an hour, and we're amazed that he leaves the Juice Bar unattended. Fail, Ernie! But Kimberly is sad about how her float model is destroyed, because apparently this will prevent her from having a float in the parade, and there is no way to repair it on time or get new flowers. We think she's just being angsty, but we really can't blame her. Jason calls Rita a real witch, and... well, she is! She casts spells and everything! We know that wasn't what you intended to say, Jason!

The Rangers actually start to clean something up, and seriously, we're amazed. Next thing you know they'll start paying for their drinks. Tommy is all cryptic about how he has a plan to fix things, and Trini suggests that they take Kimberly out. She's even wearing green in an attempt to make Kim notice her. Oh, Trini, don't worry, your girlfriend still loves you. Tommy is clearly about to build Kim a new model float, and he heads out. It is blatantly obvious, even if we hadn't seen this episode before.

Meanwhile, Rita needs a monster! And amazingly there's one that actually fits the episode! The Spit Flowerhad some sort of scientific name that we didn't quite catch. The monster itself is a bastard love child of a lobster and a Venus Fly Trap. The Spit Flower sucks in flowers, and then spits them back out again. The flowers then bite people and drain their energy. It is AMAZING. Zordon summons the Rangers, and a bunch of ridiculous jokes follow. Dangerous Daisies! That's like something a Golden Age Superhero would say! I totally want that to exist, by the way. Zack still seems to have bugs on the brain from the last episode, because he says it's one ferocious bug. Riiiiiiiiight.

The Rangers (minus Tommy, who is still missing) go out to fight, and promptly get their asses kicked, as the Spit Flower vomits biting energy draining vampiric flowers all over them. Rita grows the monster, and we are only nine minutes in. Seriously, usually it takes way longer. Zordon calls Tommy, who for some reason is in Billy's garage (we assume because that's where all the cool tools are), and Tommy somehow... shoots some sort of green energy from the dragon dagger? Does it normally do that? Anyway, they summon the MegaDragonzord, which then gets flowers vomited on it, and Zordon teleports them away from the battle. Flower Power is apparently too much for the Dragonzord, and I demand a hippie AU exist IMMEDIATELY.

Meanwhile, Bulk is allergic to flowers, and he uses Skull as a tissue. Do not want.

Zordon analyzes the monster, and apparently all they need to do is have Kimberly shoot it in the throat. Okay then! It's about this point that my roommate, who is not a Power Rangers fan but was listening as I watched the episode, handed me a glass of wine, insisting I needed it. Tommy is told that he should stay behind in case the other rangers fail, even though all six of them just got their asses kicked. Kimberly shoots the monster, they summon the power weapons, and the monster is defeated.

Tommy recruits Alpha's help to build the float, and apparently Alpha doesn't know the difference between a wrench and pliers, and he manages to get the bottle of glue stuck to his hand. Whatever.

The next day (so we assume, as they are discussing the Spit Flower) Jason and Zack are sparring. We approve of this scene. It's time for the parade, and everyone is watching at the Juice Bar. Billy has binoculars, because he says it makes him feel like he's there. He is so dorky and adorable, we love him so. Kimberly is sad, and then suddenly we see her float! Apparently they all made it for her! Overnight? How did they pull this off? Whatever, we call fish.

Bulk and Skull show up, and they're vaguely annoying. Zack does a magic trick (awesome!) except he makes some flowers appear, and well, he knew Bulk had allergies. I have allergies, so sadly this episode will also get the Rangers are bullies tag, because that was just cruel.

Lists!
2 fish! This episode was actually pretty consistent, and except for the ridiculousness about the float being made overnight at the end, it wasn't that bad. Even with Tommy! We're amazed.

Covered in food: Do flowers count? Everyone gets covered in flowers.

Questions: How DID Tommy get into Billy's garage?