Episode 240- Spirit of the Woods

Today on Power Rangers, creepy child is creepy, TJ has a mental breakdown, and nothing makes sense.

So we start with dramatic music and a nature woodland scene. This is ruined by a red jeep carelessly running over flowers while the teenagers toss trash over the side. A mysterious little boy watches from behind a tree, then the wind blows and leaves spell Go Away on the windshield. The teens drive off. The little boy vanishes and then reappears further down the path. GEE. I WONDER WHAT HE COULD BE. *eyeroll*

At the Youth Center, Lt. Stone is amazed that TJ is up so early. TJ apparently has to go for a run and wanted some sort of power smoothie or whatever, so Lt. Stone showed up at the Juice Bar to make him one. So... he opened up just for TJ? He totally knows TJ is the Red Ranger. There is literally NO other explanation that would make sense.

TJ runs through the forest and meets Creepy Spirit Child, who is apparently called Erutan. TJ does not question the odd name, but does ask if he can find his way home and then says it was nice to meet him. Creepy Spirit Child vanishes while TJ's back is turned. Then a piece of trash follows TJ through the woods and turns into one of Divatox's monsters. Lots of newspapers suddenly fly at TJ. Really, newspapers make up such a small portion of trash, you'd think they'd have something like rotten food or empty cans or plastic being thrown at him. But that would be gross and realistic, and we can't have realistic on Power Rangers! So it's newspapers.

Creepy Spirit Child watches TJ morph and jumps out to help fight. He uses his spirit powers to get rid of the monster. TJ is sure he's going to be hurt, but TJ apparently doesn't realize he's a Creepy Spirit Child. The others come running up and TJ explains what happened.

Apparently the monster is called Garbage Disposal. Which... doesn't actually make sense since you use a garbage disposal to get RID of garbage, not make more of it.

In school (hey, they remembered these kids still go to school! I'm shocked), TJ is distracted. He writes out ERUTAN and somehow manages to figure out, almost immediately, that's it's just Nature all mixed up. TJ then sees Creepy Spirit Child outside the school watching him creepily. Apparently Erutan is now obsessed with TJ. He's even wearing red. The Woods apparently want to thank TJ for helping them? I... whatever. Erutan is apparently sometimes the spirit of the woods, and sometimes the spirit of the water. He admits to making the wind that got rid of the monster. He's... creepy and weird.

The dialogue is worse than usual. The effects are worse than usual. Selwyn is trying really really hard, but even he can't make this episode good.

Bulk and Skull did find another job they're good at! They deliver newspapers and manage to get them all right where the people want them... right down to the paper landing in one guys hand as he drinks his coffee. They are so good, for 2 weeks, that their boss fires them. Apparently they deliver the paper early and haven't charged anybody. Uh... so make them ask for money, but keep them employed! They were awesome!

Back in the woods, TJ is once again being followed by Erutan. They agree to fight together to get rid of Divatox's monsters. They manage to catch the kid in a net. THE KID CAN DISAPPEAR! HOW IS THE NET GOING TO STOP HIM?!?!?!?! So Creepy Spirit Child just kind of hangs out in the net while TJ morphs and fights, and then he calls for the others, and they all fight. The only explanation we can come up with is that he's trapped in a Fish Net and, therefore, couldn't get out. Also, apparently nobody else can see Erutan.

I do wonder why the Spirit of the Forest (in California no less) is a blonde haired little white boy. I could see the spirit of the forests in Norway being a blonde haired little white boy... but California? But then we find out why (or at least the only explanation that I'm willing to accept... because he shouldn't be a white kid here). He can make thunder and lightning! He's not the spirit of the forest after all. HE'S BABY THOR!!!! Except that totally drains him and TJ sends the others to call the zords and fight the big monster while he helps Baby Thor. They still can't see him. They totally think he's having a mental breakdown. But it is testament to TJ's great ability as a leader, because THEY DO IT ANYWAY.

They fight. TJ gets Baby Thor to safety. They win quickly and go find TJ. He's worried because Baby Thor is vanishing slowly before his eyes and wants to help, but there isn't anything TJ can do. Erutan says goodbye, assuring TJ he'll be find as long as people like him protect the woods. And then he vanishes. TJ knows it will be okay because next morning on his run he sees a deer. Uh... k?

5 fish. Because it made no sense and I shouldn't have to go to other universes and canon to explain the (hopefully accidental) race issues.

Fic we want: TJ actually having a breakdown in this episode.