Episode 349 - From Deep in the Shadows

Power Rangers Megaforce on Saturday at 1 pm on Nick! You've all seen the promos, right? RIGHT? Because if not, you should go watch them immediately.

Anyway! We are up to the start of the best part of Lightspeed. (Yes, yes, feel free to argue with me. But I love this!) And this was the part of the season that actually made me interested in LR the first time I was watching. In fact, this was the only part I watched on TV when it was originally airing. (And the kids I babysat for totally had it on tape, and I watched it a lot with them. Priorities, I have them.)

So! Today, on Power Rangers, we get the first of the US only Power Rangers! Titanium Ranger, here we come!

We start at the Aquabase, where Joel is late again. Carter is being hooked up to all sorts of devices, including a new morpher, and everything is Super Serious. And Carter looks super hot. (Totally relevant.)

Carter dramatically touches the morpher and calls out "Titanium Power!" and then we get all sorts of wacky mad science effects, and he appears to be in pain, and show, if you'd like to linger more on his face, I'd be okay with that. Anyway, he manages to sustain a morph for a second, and everyone is super concerned about him. (Also, look, I know its the US's first time trying to design suits, but that thing is FUGLY.)

Later, Captain Mitchell and Ms. Fairweather discuss whether to continue testing the Titanium Powers. Ms. Fairweather says its too powerful for an ordinary human. Captain Mitchell agrees, but says it would have been fantastic. He then locks the morpher up in a safe.

Then, we get a dramatic shot of him staring at a photograph, and then Dana brings in a birthday cake! They have the most adorable relationship. We then find out that she has a big brother who would have been 20 today, and they blow out the candles in his honor, and I have ALL THE FEELINGS. Dana says that they wish for the same thing - that the car crash had never happened and that Ryan was still there. Captain Mitchell has a sad, and then says his wish is that Dana always knows that he loves her. BEST FATHER AND DAUGHTER EVER.

Then we get a series of jaws sound effects, and someone comes into the base. DUN DUN DUN. Everything is very dark and ominous. The mystery person makes their way through the base, and into the Captain's office. He breaks into the safe (and really, you leave the keys in a drawer? Without doing anything else?) and also glares at the photo of Captain Mitchell with his two children. Mystery person takes the morpher!

In the morning, Vypra is all "and now we destroy Mariner Bay!" and stuff starts blowing up. The Lightspeed team goes to investigate, and they start fighting. (She would be so much better if she just didn't speak. I'm sorry, but the actress is.... so not good.) The team threatens her, and then she's like "Fuck y'all, have the TITANIUM RANGER." His appearance is super dramatic and fucking AWESOME, even if that is still the ugliest suit design.

Evil!Ranger is all "I'm your worst nightmare" and the Captain finally realizes the morpher has been stolen. Sorry, Captain Awesome, you lost some points there for failure.

Anyway, evil!Ranger kicks their asses and its an absolutely great fight, and all American footage! I CANNOT STRESS HOW AWESOME I THINK THIS IS. Anyway, evil Ranger turns their weapons against them, and EVERYTHING HERE IS SO GREAT. Evil!Ranger has a great evil laugh. I APPROVE SO HARD.

Captain Awesome orders them to retreat, and the team does. Everyone is all "WTF."

Back on the base, everyone is so confused as to what is going on. The Captain tells them they need to get the power back and fast. Meanwhile, the villains are being all smug about how they're going to win. Either the Rangers will be destroyed, or they will run, and either way they get the city. Diabolico is so happy to get his homeland back.

Later, in the city, everyone keeps repeating that its too quiet. And then Chad notices something weird, because he is the smartest.  Evil Ranger is back, and we get a gratuitous ass shot (not that I'm complaining) and when asked who he is, the Titanium Ranger says "it doesn't matter any more." BECAUSE HE HAS ISSUES AND I LOVE HIM.

They fight again, Titanium continues to win, and SERIOUSLY, HAVE I STRESSED HOW AWESOME THIS IS? Ms. Fairweather is busy creating something, and she says she hasn't finished testing it, but sends it out anyway. New toys! The V Lancers! They look ridiculous, but whatever. With the new toy they start to win the fight. The toys do a few new things, and they shoot him and he gets knocked down, but he gets up again. And the helmet opens, and we see that he's human, and Captain Mitchell let's out a "no."

The Rangers are about to shoot him, when Captain Mitchell orders them not to fire. Everyone is like "but we can get him!" and he tells them again not to shoot. And then the captain is all "please don't shoot." The team leaves, even though Titanium is all "I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU YET."

The Rangers are all "WTF, Captain." And then he says "because he's my son."

Oh, Dana, what a way to find out that your brother is alive.

SERIOUSLY, HOW IS THIS SO GREAT??????

Fish: 1.5 THIS IS SO GREAT. (But seriously, that is the worst security EVER.)

Episode 325 - Protect the Quasar Saber

Well that last episode was fucking hard. So we start out with a Little Person finding Kendrix's Quasar Saber. He's very excited. Kendrix comes to Maya in a (conveniently psychic) dream and warns her that her saber needs protecting, and then comforts Maya by telling her she's in a good place and she's happy and it's okay. It's... sad. And hard to watch. Trakeena wants the saber so she goes after the Little Person. Monsters stand outside him home and Kai and Damon show up. They make a bird call and somehow both monsters felt the need to go investigate. Leo and Maya break into the home and demand the Quasar Saber. They even threaten the guy. He pulls a Han Solo and has a gun hiding under the table though and shoots them. Kai and Damon get the truth, though, and the Little Person goes back inside. But then he turns into Deviot so they're on the wrong path. The real Little Person who found it is bound and gagged in another part of the house. He tells Deviot where he hid the Quasar Saber and they go looking for it. Luckily all this was overheard by a mysterious figure in the bushes. Back at our favourite tavern, there is a weapons auction going on. The Quasar Saber is up for auction and, of course, everybody wants it. Really though, who brings something like that out in an auction surrounded by crooks and thieves! That was probably a bad idea. But that's okay because Astronema is there! And she is bidding on the saber. She wants it. She placed a bid but then she backs out and says "How about I just take it and everybody gets to live? Good plan?" and they're all "For Astronema? Excellent plan. Yes, we like this plan." and just hand over the saber. Trakeena is there too, though, and she totally knows what's up. She points out that Astronema went good and this is really Karone, lying. She's pretty great. Heck, they both are. I can't decide if I want an epic Karone vs Trakeena fight or them to just be bffs and hang out all the time. Either way, it'd be awesome. The trap is set and Karone knows. She needs to warn the rangers. Somehow the Little Person's fire is still burning? Or at least still smoking. Makes no sense, as he found the saber what is probably a day or two ago. Whatever. They fell for the trap and Deviot is ready to destroy them all when Karone comes in with her super tight leather gear and saves the day. Because she's cool like that. And she brought them the saber. We highly approve of the leather. It looks good and is sensible for battle, as opposed to being like a bikini with bangles or something. She is awesome. She fights Trakeena with the rangers, unmorphed and without powers because she is not a ranger, and she is AMAZING. Like, this is seriously BADASS AND I WANT MORE OF IT. She is just a human, just a regular person, and she takes on Trakeena. ON HER OWN. And holds her own. Because clearly she is the best. She does get tossed off a cliff at the end, but you know what? That was a really long fight for a normal person to hold against the biggest bad in all the galaxies. She is falling while the others fight and Trakeena walks away with Kendrix's Quasar Saber, but she is caught in mid-air by a spirit Kendrix. Spirit!Kendrix gives Karone her morpher, tells her she will be the pink ranger, and takes her to safety with a promise to be there if Karone needs her. And I start to get all teary eyed again. Trakeena is about to destroy Leo when Karone stops her and takes the saber back. She morphs and everybody is shocked and she beats up all the bad guys and wins all the things. They are all really happy to have her and she's just in shock that she gets to be a Power Ranger. Back on Terra Venture, the monster is destroying things. Damon has to teach Karone how to call the galactabeasts and it's all kinds of adorable. She leads them into victory using all the toys. Battle over, Maya shows her around the place. She gets a bunk for her in the girls room. Karone sees a picture of Kendrix and says she may not be as good as Kendrix, but she'll do the best she can. Maya assures her that they're happy to have her and she'll be great and it's what Kendrix would have wanted and damn there are those onion-cutting ninjas again. Kai has made her a feast and it's just. It's just. OH SHOW! 1.5 fish. It was just. Just. I. Yeah.

Episode 323- To the Tenth Power

Today on Power Rangers, we get to see the Space Rangers again! We start off with data cards! DATA CARDS! And wanton murder of shady alien who had the data cards. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS???? DATA CARDS! SPAAAAACCCCCEEEEEEEEEE. Deviot reanimates the Psycho Rangers and ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD. They are all there and it's wonderful. They totally don't want to listen to Trakeena but she is more evil than they are and makes them listen. Andros is back in his Cloak of Not-A-Good-Disguise and is disappointed to discover he is too late to stop the transfer of the Psycho Rangers. On Terra Venture, Damon is sad because he carries all the groceries while Maya eats an apple. A hand appears out of the ground and trips him, causing him to spill the groceries. Maya is then kidnapped. Damon is then kidnapped. I LOVE KIDNAPPED RANGERS! Now if only they could be held in the Cave of Captivity. But alas, they are far away from Angel Grove. Kai and Kendrix are stuck fighting their Psycho counterparts, UNMORPHED, and they LOSE. And then we see Leo's arms! OMG IT'S THE BEST EPISODE EVER. Because Leo is working out and has a FLUFFY PINK TOWEL OF FLUFFY PINKNESS. It's adorable. Then he helps a Tiny Child who is crying, but isn't actually a Tiny Child. It's Psycho Red in disguise, because he totally knows Leo's weakness is Tiny Children in distress. And he totally overpowers him. Quickly. Leo is only saved because Andros shows up in his Cloak of Not-A-Good-Disguise. Leo is all hero worshiping him because OMG LEO WAS THERE THE DAY THE SPACE RANGERS SAVED THE EARTH AND I LOVE THIS WITH SO MUCH LOVE OMG. The two of them together... it's like the Angstiest Angsty Ranger Reunion. We just need Adam and it would be the Trifecta of Angst! *so many hearts in my eyes* HAPPY ALPHA IS HAPPY! He is so excited to see Andros. And Andros is all "Don't be too happy, cause your friends are fucked." and also explains the psychos as "everything you are, except the opposite." He takes Leo and Mike to see the Space morphers which have been stashed on the MegaShip this whole time. WHY ARE THEY STILL THERE? SO MANY FISH! I don't care. This is WONDERFUL. Leo blows up a wall with Andros, all morphed and happy, to stop Trakeena and save his friends. Trakeena is all "Yeah, whatever, I got this." and Andros has no clue what he's in for. Meanwhile, Alpha discovers intruders on the MegaShip stealing the Space morphers. DUH WE KNOW WHO IT IS. Way to try to be sneaky and FAIL MISERABLY show. Mike breaks the others out and they all go to fight. Damon gives them a chance to get away and they are stupid and don't take it. Because the psychos are all "There are only seven of you, pshaw" until TJ shows up with Cassie, Ashley, and Carlos and is all "TRY ELEVEN OF US!" because they are awesome. Also, Carlos cut off all his hair and it makes me sad. Everybody fights with their own colour against their own Psycho counterpart and that's probably not the best plan but whatever because GIANT EXPLOSIONS AND THEME SONGS AND AND AND. And how could I say no to TJ and Kai fighting together? And Damon and Carlos! And Cassie and Kendrix are OMGSOADORBS! They call out all the toys and totally win, as well they should when there are ELEVEN BADASS RANGERS ON MY SCREEN. Back on the MegaShip, Alpha nearly explodes from Happy. Leo asks how they knew and Carlos says Alpha put out a distress signal so they had to come. Unfortunately they can't stay long since they're needed back on Earth (and how they got there, and how they'll get back, I don't know and just don't care because this is great). Maya is going to give them the grand tour. Meanwhile, the pink psycho climbs out of the rubble and is confronted by Deviot, who is disappointed in her even though SHE IS THE ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE WHOLE ORDEAL SHOWING SHE IS THE STRONGEST FOR REALS. The only thing wrong with this episode is Carlos' hair. It is all gone and gives me a sad. Everything else is beautiful and wonderful and totally amazing. 1.5 fish. It only had this much because, seriously, how did they get there in the first place? And also, Carlos' hair. Just... the hair!

Episode 292 - Countdown to Destruction

OH MY GOD, IT IS FINALE TIME.

So we start with Dark Specter telling Astronema that it is time for the FINAL BATTLE. EPIC FINALE IS EPIC, RIGHT? Astronema is talking to a giant army about how there will only be evil left and SERIOUSLY, EPIC. We get to see ALL THE OLD VILLAINS. The Machine Empire is there (and wow, I missed them) and then we see the forces of Divatox fighting the Aquitian Rangers (and where is Billy?) and Astronema yelling at Rita and Zedd (and they both sass her until Dark Specter's name is dropped) and HOW SO GREAT, SHOW. HOW SO GREAT.

Astronema talks to Zordon, and is all "mwahaha, running out of energy" and Zordon tells her she won't get away with it. We see another flash of Phantom and Blue Senturian being overrun by the Machine Empire and then Rita and Zedd and their putties and a TON of old monsters fighting on Triforia and HOLY CRAP, THIS IS HOW YOU DO A FINALE.

Even KO-35 (with Zhane back there) is again being destroyed. Zhane heads to Earth to find more Rangers to help, but of course he's attacked on his way back to Earth. Luckily for him, the Astro Megaship shows up to save the day at the last minute.

Andros and the others tell Zhane that it's not just the KO-35 rebels, it's ALL OVER the universe. Apparently there's a whole galaxy that has no defenses at all? Really? And of course, Earth is under attack. I wish they'd managed to bring back some old Rangers for this, because you KNOW that they were busy fighting during it. (I choose to believe that it happened and we just didn't get to see them.)

And I mean, seeing the GIANT ARMY of fighters show up in the sky is freaking amazing. Again, this is the finale that I judge all other finales by. Because WOW.

From space we can see that it isn't just Angel Grove - all over it being attacked, although it looks like things are concentrated in Angel Grove, of course. We're surprised that the rest of the world hasn't abandoned Angel Grove by now.

There's a decent space battle as they get ready to land, and Zhane offers to handle the space battle part as the Rangers fight on Earth. We get to see a LOT of buildings get destroyed, including some familiar sights.

Even still, the Rangers are TOTALLY OVERWHELMED. There are just SO MANY of them. They keep trying to evacuate people as they go, but like, where are they supposed to evacuate them to?

Andros goes all Battlizer in his ugly toy, and blows up a ton of stuff. Until Eclitpor knocks over his ugly toy, and Ashley and Andros get forcibly demorphed by Ecliptor and Darkonda. Once their powers fail, they run away.

Zhane isn't having much luck either, and then for some reason he just LEAVES THE MEGASHIP to launch his own zord? I guess Alpha is piloting the Megaship? He does get to smash a bunch of fighters with his fists though, and that's pretty cool. Of course, there are so many fighters that he falls over. Bad plan, Zhane!

the remaining Rangers also get demorphed and ugh, Carlos's arms. SO NICE. TJ calls for a retreat and they get chased by a bunch of Quantrons. The Rangers are all pretty beaten up, with Carlos trying to carry Cassie.

The citizens of Angel Grove appear to have been captured and are being escorted somewhere by Quantrons, and the Rangers (minus Zhane) all regroup. Darkonda is all pissed because he only has one life left, and then he launches his own ship to do something.

Astronema is talking to Dark Specter, when Darkonda attacks Dark Specter and BLOWS HIM UP, although Darkonda is destroyed (by Dark Specter) in the process. The forces of good would like to thank you, Darkonda, for doing everyone a favor.

Alpha contacts the Rangers to let them know that Dark Specter has been destroyed, and Ecliptor tells the universe that now Astronema is in charge. Divatox is SO PISSED OFF ABOUT IT. I love her. And then the whole universe bows to Astronema.

A little kid is told by his mother that they shouldn't worry, the Rangers will save them. Zordon tries to get through to Astronema, now that her programming should be failing, but her programming reasserts itself. At least Zordon's power is no longer being drained?

And just as Astronema gives the order to invade for real, we get the to be continued. THAT IS HOW WE DO THIS, SHOW.

Fish: 1.5 THAT IS HOW WE DO THIS.

Questions/fic we want: So, the other Rangers are doing WHAT during all this?

Episode 275 - Always A Chance

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS, IT IS TIME TO RECAP MY FAVORITE EPISODE!!!!!!

No, seriously. This is my favorite episode. Out of what, 720+ episodes? Yeah, this is my absolute favorite. The one that I have seen more times than any other episode. The one that cemented every single bit of fanon I have about Adam (and you were spared my thoughts when we did Mirror of Regret, although I did go into it a little when we did It Came From Angel Grove

So, I have a lot of fanon about Adam. I know not everyone agrees with my fanon about him, and I've written about some of my thoughts on Adam and power addiction before but hey, any excuse to talk about it again. There will probably be a lot of meta and theories in this, and since this is me discussing this episode, it's going to touch on depression and suicide. So, consider yourself warned.

Anyway, are you excited? Because I'm excited. (No, seriously, I emailed QR this morning in all caps about happy Always a Chance Day. I am possibly a little bit ridiculous.)

So, episode.

We open in some sort of warehouse/science lab thing, where a really ugly monster is sucking the life or something out of scientists and computers. Or stealing their knowledge with his tongue. The Rangers look in the windows and then go in and yell at him. They discover that he can switch places by licking. Um. Ew?

Cue theme song. And what's this AFTER the themesong? OH YES, THAT IS JOHNNY YONG BOSCH'S NAME. I remember waaaaay back when I first saw this episode, I literally fell off the couch when that happened. I mean, yeah, this was 98 so I had internet, but I wasn't in fandom or anything, and I had NO IDEA that JYB was returning. So yeah, there is something to be said about surprises, especially when it gets the actually fell off a couch reaction.

Anyway, Cassie tries to shoot the monster but he tongues her. Carlos tries to help her by attacking, but the monster switches places and thanks Carlos for his help. Cassie apparently has injured her shoulder. Carlos, meanwhile, has the saddest sad in all the land, and that's something, for a season that contains Andros.

Back on the megaship, Cassie is playing checkers with Alpha, and Carlos comes in to apologize to her again, and she's like "look, this sort of thing happens. We're Rangers," and Carlos is having none of it, because he's busy blaming himself for everything. It is possible that I overidentify with Carlos a lot.

They do a really good job with Carlos' guilt here - the Rangers have a lot riding on them, and the pressure not to screw up has to be incredible, especially as everything they're doing is really a matter of life or death. Sometimes we forget that at this point, they are still teenagers. I couldn't handle that amount of stress. But they fight monster after monster without breaking. No wonder they have so many fits of emo.

Some other stuff happens with Astronema and sending a monster down and blah blah. Ugly monster goes after Bulk, Skull and the Professor. Carlos is standing on a bridge posing dramatically and having flashbacks of how he hurt Cassie, when he sees Bulk and the others get attacked. He has a quick freakout, which you can tell by his shaking hand, but he yells at himself to get it together. Also, Carlos is super hot in this episode. He morphs, and tries to beat up the monster, who mocks him again. Carlos is losing pretty badly, and he's going down into a spiral of second guessing everything he does, and then someone flips in and saves the day.

AND LOOK WHO IT IS WHY YES I THINK THAT IS JOHNNY YONG BOSCH. FAVORITE.

EXCEPT ADAM YOUR HAIR WHAT IS THAT I CAN'T EVEN.

So Adam fights the thing UNMORPHED, because he is freaking BADASS LIKE THAT and meanwhile Carlos is being emo but whatever, the monster runs away from Adam. The monster mocks Carlos again about not having friends, and Carlos is just like "YAY MY BOYFRIEND IS BACK."

Carlos explains to Adam that he's been needing a lot of help lately, which um, is not what happened earlier in the episode, but whatever, because EPISODE. Carlos asks Adam for help and how he's second guessing himself, and Adam gives him a lot of good advice about taking chances and believing in yourself, and then explains that he had the same doubts, and then he offers to train him.

The fact that Adam is the one who comes back is super powerful, actually. Of the four Rangers who left in Passing the Torch, he's the only one who really didn't have something major waiting for him. Kat had dance school, Tommy had racing, Tanya has had a recording contract offer since mid-Zeo, and Adam... was working at a stunt show. He was the one who didn't seem as ready to leave, which of course also has to do with JYB and his not being ready to leave. Plus, Adam is the one with the canonical self-esteem issues (thanks, Mirror of Regret, and reasons why I overidentify with Adam for one million.)

Adam still isn't quite ready to give everything up - I mean, why is he in Angel Grove anyway? Why is he hanging out in the abandoned warehouse district where monsters are known to attack?

Anyway, training montage.

Have I mentioned how much I love training montages? And this is an unpopular opinion, but I think Adam is super hot when his hair is pulled back. SUPER HOT. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR MY LIFE.

Adam and Carlos are sparring while Carlos is blindfolded and hi, Carlos's arms. Those are pretty nice, you should show them off more often. Carlos is having a lot of trouble with thie, but he's blindfolded and fighting Adam, so you know, to be expected.

Unfortunately, it looks like Adam hurt more than he helped, because Carlos gives up completely, says that he's no Power Ranger, and runs off. Adam says Carlos can make his own decisions, but he's clearly going "this is who I gave my powers to?"

Then he asks Alpha if his old morpher still works, because sometimes he wishes he was still a Power Ranger, and Alpha freaks out and is all "Morphing could DESTROY YOU" and Adam laughs nervously, but he rubs the morpher possessively a few times and looks sad.

So. Why does Adam have the morpher? It's been nearly a year since he gave up the powers in show time, and he's still carrying it around? Why would he even think about using something that could kill him.

I have a few theories on that (I am sure you're shocked). First, Adam just wasn't mentally prepared to stop being a Ranger. Holding onto the broken morpher was a way of still being a Ranger, even after he knew he couldn't. And training Carlos just sent the nostalgia and the desire to belong to a team and the desire to feel like he's doing something with his life overboard.

And then there's the other theory, which... is my favorite, personally, but I like angst. I really like the idea of power addiction and power withdrawal, and some sort of depression that hits after you give up the power. The longer you hold the power, the harder it is to give up (see Billy, Kim, and Tommy for other examples).

With Adam, and the ramped up version of what I mentioned earlier about his identity being tied to the power, this was a way to still be a hero, and to go out like one. Not knowing what to do with his life, Adam was ready to die in battle, die a Power Ranger. Whether or not he was fully conscious of it, the way I tend to write him at least was that he was in a serious depressive fit, and then there was the chance to make a difference again. Why would he pass it up? Which was more important, his life, or feeling alive?

I did warn I was going to be ridiculously meta, right?

Back on the megaship, Carlos has quit, because he's afraid of hurting someone again. Oh, honey. Self doubt is a really powerful thing, and Carlos is not doing well at all. In the park, Carlos tells Adam that he quit, and he rubs his wrist where the communicator should be. Nice powerful gesture there.

Adam is like "shit, what did I do?" when they get attacked by the LizWizard. More unmorphed fighting on Adam's part, because he is GREAT. Still, they're a little overwhelmed and Adam does the only thing he thinks he can do.

He grabs his broken morpher, ignores Alpha and Carlos when they're yelling at him not to, and he morphs.

Seriously, that's my favorite moment in Power Rangers.

Carlos warns him again that he'll be destroyed, and Adam is like "get out of here" because protecting the civilians is what they do, and that's what Carlos is now. Luckily, that is when Carlos changes his mind and stops.

Look, there's really only one interpretation for someone clutching their arm like that, and that's heart attack. Even if you don't buy the suicide attempt theory (which not everyone does), there is definitely some sort of lasting effect from him using the morpher. Which means... all the post-episode hurt/comfort fic in the world!

Adam is clutching his arm and looking in pain as his morph starts to fade in and out, and he's clearly having a lot of trouble since broken morpher that is DESTROYED and all, but Carlos finally decides to start acting like a Ranger. Of course, at that exact moment the other Rangers show up, and Cassie throws Carlos his morpher, and he morphs.

Adam fights the monster, and Carlos jumps at them. The monster tries to do the same thing with Adam as had happened with Cassie. Except this time Carlos manages to actually hit the monster.

This is the real passing the torch moment. This is when Carlos is basically acknowledged as being Adam's successor, and where Adam is ready to pass the power on. Not that episode in Turbo. This.

Then the monster grows, etc, fight. Back in the park, everyone comes to check on Adam, who still seems to be in pain and clutching his arm, but he tells them that he's fine, so instead it's all group hugs for Carlos time!

Fish: 1.5 BEST EPISODE EVER

Fic we want: EVERYONE YELLS AT ADAM AND THEN THERE ARE HUGS.

Important questions I did not get to address: So um. Zeo morphers? WHERE ARE THEY? (Okay, yes, so color issues, and it wouldn't have been as dramatic if he used the green, or do the Zeo ones not work any more? Was the crystal destroyed with the destruction of the Power Chamber? Is it somehow related to his psyche? YOU TELL US. Or write me fic.)

Episode 256 - Satellite Search

Elgar. REALLY? Do we need to have him? He's busy shooting a satellite, and Astronema and her awesome new hair informs him that he should make sure it's been destroyed. Back on the Megaship, the Rangers get a call from NASADA, since they are apparently in trouble. Some exploration satellite of theirs is missing, and NASADA is all "we have no spacecraft to make the journey" and I'm just sad about the space program again, and Ashley realizes that the thing on the satellite that Astronema doesn't want them to see is probably Zordon.

Elgar is relaxing while Quantrons do all the work. Astronema yells at him, because she's awesome. After noticing the Rangers are on their way, she decides to send them a welcoming attack. The Space battles aren't that bad! But I am a fan of ridiculous space battles. The Rangers head down to the planet, where Alpha tries to warn them about a volcano, but they're having communication problems.

.... Why are they on Jupiter, why does it only have two moons, and why is it solid?

The Rangers fight Quantrons and Elgar runs away and the Rangers hear some sort of beast which makes them nervous. Astronema yells at Elgar, and I would watch a whole episode of her just beating him up.

The Rangers lose communications entirely and Ashley sees a dinosaur skeleton. Too bad Tommy isn't around to ride it. She does find a piece of the satellite by it, and that leads them to the whole satellite, although if it crashes, I don't see why all the pieces would be that close to each other. Andros retrieves the data discs from it, and Astronema shows up to attack. (THEY ARE USING CDS ON A SPACE SHIP. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS.)

Astronema is totlly holding her own against Carlos and Cassie, because she is that awesome. During the fight Cassie knocks off Astronema's magical plot trinket necklace, and Astronema is PISSED. She blasts Andros and takes the CDs while Andros is collapsed at her feet, and she instructs Elgar to tie them up. Hey, my theory about Astronema's harem is even more plausible!

Instead of destroying the Rangers there, she decides to just stake them to the ground and let a monster eat them for lunch. That... Astronema, involved plans don't work, just kill them.

Andros uses his telekinisis to get the discs out of Elgar's pocket, because he's a failbot, and some giant... thing shows up. DECA and Alpha are flirting while they look for the Rangers, and the computer love is so cute. Alpha spots the Rangers, and forms the Megazord to go down and help them Seriously, those two would make great Rangers. :D They do a fairly good job piloting the Zord! And they keep complimenting each other and it's adorable. The Zord gets knocked off a cliff and nearly falls into a volcano, but Andros manages to get his laser with telekinisis, so he manages to free the Rangers. We aren't sure why he's having so much trouble with it, maybe it has to do with heatstroke? The Rangers all leap into the Zord and proceed to destroy the monster.

Astronema realizes that Elgar lost the discs, but for some reason she doesn't destroy him. Although she does send him to play with Scrudley, and SERIOUSLY, ASTRONEMA, YOU ARE GREAT.

NASADA thanks the Rangers for helping them, and they wonder if the stuff they needed was on the broken disc. The Rangers plan to use the Simudeck to vacation in Switzerland to go snowboarding.

Fish: 1.5 JUPITER, REALLY?

Also, we aren't creating a SPACE DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT tag, because um, we would have to tag the entire season.

episode 248 - Parts and Parcel

FINALLY WATCHING ON NETFLIX.

So Bulk and Skull have jobs as delivery guys. TJ is really proud of them for always working, even though Cassie points out that it's never the same job twice. They deliver a blender to Lt. Stone, but when they open the box it's open. They're freaking out, because the daytime thief keeps stealing from the packages they're supposed to deliver, and their boss has threatened to have them arrested for stealing if they don't figure out where the stuff is.

TJ is all "Yeah, Bulk and Skull are NOT THIEVES" and volunteers to help them. BECAUSE HE IS THE BEST.

It's like this episode is apologizing for the last one.

So TJ, Bulk and Skull put on a lot of black clothing and go hide in a warehouse to stake it out. Bulk and Skull say they're hungry, so TJ leaves to go find some food.

Divatox is yelling at Porto about some remote control that will allow them to attack with all the toys.

TJ is about to head back to Bulk and Skull when he gets word of an attack. Bulk and Skull hear something but they panic and hide, missing the daytime thief.

Carlos, Ashley and TJ (and everyone is really hot in this episode, holy crap) fight some Pirahnatrons unmorphed, but the mooks make off with a phone. TJ arrives back at the warehouse to find it completely trashed, and Bulk and Skull panicking. TJ is really frustrated with them for not seeing the thieves, but he's also really sympathetic and frustrated.

Ashley and Cassie dress Skull up in drag and do his makeup, while TJ has now recruited all the other Rangers to help. HE IS THE BEST. This is not a bad plan, really. Skull calls Bulk cutie! SHIPS THEM SHIPS THEM SHIPS THEM.

TJ is really good at plans and strategy.

And then we find out who the thieves are. Pirahnatrons. What does Divatox want with the stuff? What? Poor Skull is terrified, but Bulk runs to his rescue. THEY ARE THE BEST. TJ goes off with Bulk and Skull while the other Rangers handle the Pirahnatrons.

I LOVE THIS EPISODE. The Rangers are NOT BULLIES. THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD FRIENDS. And also, ALL THE UNMORPHED FIGHTING.

Bulk and Skull are freaking out because their boss is not going to believe them, so they're going to jail. UM BOYS, YOU LIVE IN ANGEL GROVE. TJ tells them to meet in the youth center in 2 hours, and they're like "WE WILL BE IN JAIL" so TJ tells them to hide. He will clear their names. BECAUSE HE IS THE BEST.

The Rangers figure out that while the stuff stolen isn't valuable, that Divatox is probably trying to build something. And with that, Divatox unleashes her toys. The Rangers morph, and it's time for a fight scene. The Blue Senturian is there with his toy, but is getting beaten up, so the Rangers summon their toys. Rygog is using a ton of power and sparking, so the Rangers do something that lets them get back up after being knocked down, blah blah blah. They win.

Bulk and Skull are wearing horrible disguises when their boss shows up with police to have them arrested, when the POWER RANGERS teleport in to prevent it. TJ instead thanks them for their service in helping stop Divatox.

Bulk and Skull tell Cassie and Ashley how great TJ is, and they tell him that TJ said the same about him. Bulk looks so HONORED and gives TJ a giant hug and my heart explodes with JOY. JOY. AMAZING.

You guys, Bulk and Skull are big damn heroes. TJ treats them with respect.

Bulk and Skull get the best character development and I love them.

Fish: 1.5 This was AMAZING.

Episode 246- Little Strong Man

Aw, Justin wants to join a high school sports team! He goes for track. Carlos is giving him advice and trying to help him train and it's SO CUTE. He's not great at most of this, but considering he's only 13 going up against a bunch of 18 year olds? He's doing alright.

At the Youth Center, Justin is trying to lift weights. It's not working so well until Cassie and Carlos come help him. Justin gets down on himself for being so puny and Cassie points out he's not puny, he's just younger than the rest of the high school team. WHICH IS TRUE. Don't be so hard on yourself, Justin!

Meanwhile, Lt. Stone is having an ant problem. I hate ants. They are nearly impossible to get rid of once you get them inside. Bulk and Skull want to help get rid of the ants. That's a bad idea. Justin is working out extra hard when he gets bitten by one of the ants. A RADIOACTIVE ANT. He suddenly develops super strength, pulling the doors right off their hinges. SOMEWHERE, PETER PARKER IS CRYING.

Justin rushes to try outs and the coach is doubtful to his ability to do anything, but lets him try anyway. Justin goes for the long jump and manages to jump right over the entire length of the sand. He's really confused but keeps trying things to figure out what's going on, right down to hurling a shot put ball ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FIELD. Carlos totally knows something is wrong. Justin is too excited about being better than the older kids to care.

Justin totally abuses his great power, being a jerkwad to show off his super strength by arm wrestling. Carlos tries to tell him all about how with great power comes great responsibility, but he totally doesn't care. He could care less about side effects. When out with his new track friends, they are confronted by piranhatrons and Justin discovers he can't morph. So he has to use his super strength instead. I'D SAY THAT'S A PRETTY BIG SIDE EFFECT, JUSTIN. His super strength is not compatible with the ranger abilities and Justin can't be both really strong and a ranger. Alpha has an antidote and Justin has to decide if he wants to keep his ant-given super powers or use his other super powers. TJ gives a pretty awesome speech about how it's not really him doing those awesome things, but when he's bigger and trains hard, he can claim his awesomeness all on his own.

Divatox has her own zord now and she has a space taxi. SPACE TAXI! She picks a zord and heads to Angel Grove and Justin totally decides being a ranger is cooler than being a radioactive affected superhuman (he should totally have joined The Avengers... just saying). He takes the antidote and they go fight. There are zords and they totally beat the crap out of Divatox.

Back at school, Justin had to leave the team as an active player. It gives him a sad, but Carlos is there to cheer him up! Best big brother ever. Then the others show up and let him talk about his sad and it's all better. Especially because then he gives advice to the team about the best way to play USING PHYSICS. WHICH MAKES HIM WAY COOLER THAN ALL THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS, JUST SAYING.

1.5 fish. Seriously, he becomes a comic book character and makes the high school sports team better WITH PHYSICS.

Episode 194- The Joke's On Blue

For an episode with Blue in the title, this one has very little to do with Rocky.

There is a new kid in school. He says Angel Grove is much bigger than his old school and all I can imagine is he was home schooled because really? Angel Grove only had two teachers until half a season ago. :P

New Kid shows up just as a rash of practical jokes begin taking place. Rocky loses three plates of french fries to an unscrewed ketchup bottle, teachers get pies to the head, Tanya even gets something squirted all over her from the mustard bottle. There is glitter EVERYWHERE. Bulk and Skull are determined to find out who this practical joker is, and Mrs. Rodriguez will pay them handsomely if they do. Except they have rival detectives! Humphrey and Bogart, who totally don't deserve those names, challenge Bulk and Skull to figure out who can solve the mystery first. All the props come from Angel Grove Novelty Shop. Not terribly surprisingly, nobody bothers to go check with the store.

Meanwhile, on the moon, Sprocket is upset because his big brother is back in town. Prince Gasket and his wife Archerina have come to protect the family while Mondo is away. Archerina shoots love arrows and makes creatures fall in love with her. Louie Kaboom totally falls for her and she makes him go to Earth and attack the Power Rangers. She is totally awesome, although alas, she does not make Stone fall in love with a video game or Ernie with his blender. Anyway, Archerina and Gasket fell in love, but they were from rival robot families and the fathers would never approve. So they did the smart thing and ELOPED instead of committing mutual suicide (eloping is romantic, KILLING YOURSELF FOR A BOY/GIRL IS NOT... can you tell I don't like Romeo and Juliet? It's a thing about me. Sorry) I do love their love story.

So Louie goes down to fight. Fights are boring and take up a lot of time. We spent most of it further discussing which rangers lost their virginity in the Zords. It was far more entertaining.

They win, Louie is a goner, Gasket is in charge now. Back at the Youth Center, Undeserving Humphrey and Not-Cool-Enough-For-His-Name Bogart totally accuse New Kid of being the prankster behind all the jokes. He denies it, but they won't relent. Until Kat and Tanya lead the Angel Grove Novelty Shop guy into the room with the latest shipment of supplies for the Fraudsters. Bulk and Skull eventually put two and two together and Mrs. Rodriguez, now knowing who was setting all the practical jokes, tells Bulk their check is in the mail.

1.5 fish! It's a rare low fish episode! I think it's because there was hardly any Tommy...

Episode 179- Bulk Fiction

OMG YOU GUYS! THIS EPISODE YOU GUYS! I want to give it milk and cookies and snuggle it close forever and ever.

Bulk is in LOVE, guys! He and Skull are chasing a remote controlled car, because it's speeding you see, when Lt. Stone introduces the newest cadet. Her name is Connie and she is the Captain's daughter. Skull thinks she's a little weird. But Bulk? Bulk has a HUGE crush already. It's adorable!

They chase the car back to the Youth Center, where they give Billy a ticket for driving it over the speed limit. He says he was just testing it out before donating it to the kids toy charity. There is a dance that night and the admission is a donated toy. Good idea, actually!

Meanwhile, Sprocket throws a temper tantrum because he wants a new toy too. So Mondo makes a new toy and he gets to take it down and mess with the rangers.

So Bulk wants to woo this new girl. Skull suggests he go to a love expert and the first person he thinks of is Tanya. Aw, Bulk asking Tanya for love advice! She tells him to be himself but poor Bulk just doesn't have the confidence. So he asks Tanya what she likes in a guy and she says sophistication. Bulk thinks he can do that! He attempts to be English with an intentionally not-so-good accent, old slang, and a pot of tea. Aw, Bulk, you'd totally win me over with that one! The Captain intervenes, however, and says there will be no fraternizing, particularly with his daughter. Poor Bulk.

So Billy is almost finished with the Zeo Cannon, but he has to get a part from his garage lab. Instead of teleporting there and back, as he's done many times before, he walks home and back. I suppose he wanted the exercise and sunshine? Anyway, he's running the remote controlled car again when Cogs attack. He, of course, outwits them using the car and his device, because he's Billy and he's AWESOME and this TOTALLY counts as an unmorphed fight. Because he defeats 6 cogs, the monster, AND SPROCKET all on his own without being a ranger, using only his brains. Smart is SO SEXY, you guys. He hightails it back to the Power Chamber (though he asks Alpha to teleport him to the Command Center, heeeee) where he finishes his Zeo Cannon.

Meanwhile, Rocky mocks Tommy. It is awesome. He wouldn't be all mushy and write poetry! Of course not! (and now I totally want fic where he runs home and writes a million sappy poems to Adam, even though he knows Adam is dating Tanya now, because Rocky loves him and can't move on... I have a thing... sorry)

This gives Bulk and idea and he writes a poem for Connie. He and Skull show up AS BEATNIKS to woo her. BEATNIKS! I love this show so much. He wrote her the most awesome poem ever and if he hadn't had me at the fake English, he'd totally have me with the offbeat poetry. SHE IS THE MISSING SOCK IN HIS LAUNDRY PILE YOU GUYS! SUNNY SKIES AND WINDY WIND! *hearts explode everywhere* I'm totally doing the big googly anime eyes, too.

Unfortunately the Captain doesn't like this so much. He fires Lt. Stone and Bulk and Skull leave the force with him because they totally love their fake!Daddy.

Then there is a fight with the rangers and the monster and the Zeo Cannon which gets handed straight to Tommy even though they all have to use it. Either Billy really likes Tommy or he keeps hoping one of his devices will backfire and explode, taking Tommy out in the process and leaving his morpher free for Billy to assume the role of leader. Me? I lean towards the latter. Far far FAR towards the latter. Anyway, they monster grows and they're all SHOCKED! Shocked, I tell you. I still don't know why. Anyway, they beat the monster with the sword, as if we didn't see that coming.

At the dance, they're all dressed as their favourite decade. Billy is way, way into the future. Tanya is a flapper. Kat picked the 50s. Adam is the 60s. Rocky is the 70s. Tommy comes strutting in with an epic entrance and totally shows up Rocky. Rocky is NOT HAPPY. Lt. Stone is Sherlock Holmes while Bulk and Skull are policemen. It's adorable. They agree to open up a detective business with Lt. Stone.

Connie comes in and Bulk starts to apologize for the way he acted. She shushes him and tells him there is no need. Her father is overprotective and she quit the force, which she only joined to please her dad, so she can be with Bulk. She asks him to dance and he says he'd like that and they go dance and I EXPLODE FROM TEH CUTE! Seriously, most adorable thing EVER on Power Rangers.

1.5 fish. It was low fish! Mostly because Billy was so damn sexy while he was being so damn smart. And Bulk being in love with somebody who appreciates him as well is ALWAYS 100% AWESOME!

Fic we want: TSB demands a Watchmen AU where Billy is Ozymandias.
I just want Rocky writing sappy and Emo-rific love poetry for Adam. He totally should have gone as the 80s. He'd make a really hot Robert Smith... Okay, somebody needs to write that for me. I need this fic like I've never needed any other.

(I should totally mention that it was hard to decide if I should go with John Travolta Walk of Epicness or BeeGees Stayin Alive video of Epic Hair and Tight Pants for Tommy... so I went with both. And if the comments turned into a Cure video linking lovefest... well... it just might make my week)

Episode 156- A Zeo Beginning Part 1

We're on Zeo guys! This is such a great season. Let's hope the fish is low with this one.

So we start off in the smoldering ruins of the Command Center. It's pretty powerful, with the rangers running in slow motion through the flames and a voice-over from Tommy. It works. I don't think he was the best choice, what with his lacking emotional depth and all, but he handles it alright *cough*Davidwouldhavebeenabetterchoice*cough*.

On the moon, Rita and Zedd are throwing an awesome party. Finster is harshing their squee, however, but they try to ignore him. Rita finally listens and looks, only to discover the Machine Empire is at their doorstep. They're in big trouble, pack up, and get the hell out of Dodge. The Machine Empire is serious business, yo. They set up shop almost immediately, sure they can easily claim the planet as their own.

Back on Earth, the Rangers are despondent in the ruins. Adam notices the crystal buried in the rubble (because he's observant, unlike his younger counterpart) and they dig it out. It SINGS to them, cracks the ground at their feet, and down down down they go past the horrible green screen and cheap special effects. Billy recognizes they're in the lower chambers. They hear Alpha's voice and, like moths to the flame, follow it.

Elsewhere on Earth, Rita and Goldar are lost. They have no memory of who they are or where they came from. They try to ask some teenagers but get confused when the kids run away screaming. Poor amnesiac Rito and Goldar. I feel so bad for them this season.

Back on the moon, Finster warns them to conserve their power and carefully chart their course. They try to figure out where to go and Rita overrules her husband. She calls out, "Papa, can you hear me?". They're going to stay with her dad.

Back in the nethers of the Command Center, the rangers come upon a large, green, glowing vortex. Alpha tells them to go into the light. They're here! Rocky is hesitant to go into the light. Billy has to reach out and drag him through. Billy knows where they are! He's seen plans when he was poking through the mainframe. They wonder about Zordon. Alpha is mean and teases them, saying he should have told them right away.

And that's our cliffhanger, folks. What the hell happened to Zordon? (let's all pretend we don't know and act worried, mkay?)

Fish: 1.5 fish, and only that .5 because we're not sure how the Zeo Crystal ended up at the ruins while Goldar and Rito ended up in suburban Angel Grove.

Episode 136 - A Different Shade of Pink Part 3

Before the recap, a little bit of housekeeping. We are hopefully going to settle into a Wednesday/Saturday schedule for the recaps. However! I will be going to Morphicon in 2 weeks, and the weekend after that is Dragon*Con, so... who knows when we're going to update? It should be interesting, anyway.

If you're at Morphicon, you should come find me and say hi!

Anyway. Previously, on Power Rangers - Amy Jo Johnson uses these last few episodes to audition for ER, and Rita wants to send Ninjor as a message in a bottle.

The episode opens with the Rangers angsting about the choice they've been given - they can hand over Kat or Ninjor will be drowned. Zordon says that this is the toughest choice they've ever faced. Really? What about the time they had to choose between their power coins or the teens at the world peace conference? Or their coins or their parents? Basically, they have been in this situation before.

Up on the moon, Zedd and Rita are bickering. The honeymoon is over. Awww. And on Earth, Kat is showing how she is ridiculously insightful, as we get another long explanation of her backstory. It's really touching, and Kat clearly knows what is best for Kim as she gets her to admit to being scared. Then she runs off to go offer to sacrifice herself to save Ninjor, and Queenriley and I both start shipping Rocky/Kat at the same time.

In the park, the Rangers bring Kat to trade for Ninjor. However, they have Kat protected in a force field, and Rita cheated anyway - no Ninjor in the jar. There's a nice fight scene, until one of the Tengas breaks the force field projected, and Kat gets kidnapped. And she screams for Tommy. :( :( :( Billy is blaming himself for Kat being captured. Awww.

Up on the moon, Zedd and Rita decide that they're going to throw Kat in the jar with Ninjor and wash them both out in the Sea of Sorrows, except they can't do anything until the tide comes in. So Kat is locked up in a cell, where she tries to steal the keys from Squatt and Baboo. She almost succeeds, but the guard changes. She massages Rito (making an amazing face in the process) until he falls asleep, and she escapes. She grabs the pink power coin (in a glowing pink box) which alerts Alpha that the coin is in the hands of good again. Kat taunts Rita for a bit, until she's teleported out by Billy's amazing insta-tech. Kim is very glad to have her coin back.

At Angel Grove community pool, a stunt person who is supposed to be Kat does an awesome dive, showing Kim that conquering your fears is possible. Kim decides to participate in the competition, and does an awesome job. Also, Aisha clings to Rocky. This important for everyone. Kim's routine is pretty great, and she gets a high schore. At the youth center, Ernie throws her a party, and the coach offers her a spot at his gym in Florida so he can train her properly for the Pan Globals.

This is not an offer you turn down.

At the Command Center, Kim tells the other Rangers she isn't going to accept because she has her responsibilities as a Ranger, and they all encourage her to go. Zordon even tells her that when she comes back she will be a greater Ranger than before. WHEN SHE COMES BACK. MAKE IT HAPPEN. Even Tommy encourages her, and some of my objections to the ship fade away, because he's being ridiculously sweet.

Kim was clearly hoping that the Rangers would tell her to go, because she had made arrangements for Kat to take over if they'd convinced her to go. The power is transferred to Kat, and really, there needs to be so much more Kim/Kat fic in the world. Make it happen!

Also, Adam wonders if Kat is really free of the spell, and then there is epic sadface on my part. Adam! Not cool! Especially when TOMMY is on the team. JUST SAYING.

Fish: 1.5. Only because we aren't sure why Rita just didn't grab Kat in her sleep.

Fic we want: KAT/KIM. And Kat/Rocky!

Episode 134- A Different Shade of Pink Part 1

Oh show. This is both a happy and sad episode, and I both love and hate episodes like this. It's the end of Kim being a Power Ranger, which is really sad since Kim is AWESOME! She will be missed. But, we get Kat, who can be pretty great in her own right. This also means that Billy is (very very soon) the only original ranger left on the team. It's only a matter of time. :(

So we start off with Kim and Tommy in the Youth Center. Kim is doing gymnastics while Tommy watches. A middle-aged man walks in wearing a shirt that is so bad it's crossed into cool. He introduces himself as Gunther Schmidt. Tommy is duly impressed. Gunther is also duly impressed with Kim's routine, though I have to admit, it wasn't all that impressive. Anyway, she is all star struck and Gunther wants to speak to her coach, of which she has none, so he agrees to train her himself in what little spare time he has. He seems a nice guy!

Rita observes and, after calling Kim a Mallrat, makes plans to muck up her life... in a very uncomfortable place. Like the back of a Volkswagon.

So Kim, all excited about her chance at Pan Globals, calls a meeting in the Command Center. Rocky determines it's very serious and Kim starts to mention Gunther Schmidt. Apparently Tommy has already told them all everything about what Kim wanted to talk about. She didn't even get to share the good news herself! Not cool, Tommy, not cool. But the others are very happy for her (being good friends for a change! They must have taken relationship seminars) and Zordon is sure she can balance training and rangering. He is very supportive of them following their dreams instead of rangering and I totally approve of this. A definite Zordon!Win here!

So we get an awesome training montage where Kim does some much more impressive routines and there is lots of gratuitous running (of which we wholeheartedly approve). She brings Gunther to the Youth Center for one of Ernie's protein smoothies, and Bulk and Skull overhear a news broadcast on a spy in the area. He's middle-aged, greying hair, 5'11", and speaks with a heavy accent. Gunther Schmidt is middle-aged, greying hair, 5'11" (ish), and speaks with a heavy accent. Of course Bulk and Skull are sure he's the spy and they intend to find out! But first we get a fantastic Bill Clinton joke. :D

Kat, meanwhile, is slowly but surely breaking the spell. She's remembering her past as a diver. This is one aspect of her story I had completely forgotten and I'm quite happy to rediscover it. It's an interesting back story.

Rita decides Kim has had enough training and sends down tengas, Rito, Goldar, and monsters. The others won't call Kim until they absolutely have to, and they are overwhelmed pretty quickly. Zordon calls Kim and she eventually begs off training, after a lecture about priorities from Gunther, and goes to rescue Tommy. She saves the day and returns to the Youth Center just in time to get called back to the fight yet again! She passes out after all the rigorous fighting, but still manages to beat the bad guys WITHOUT a power coin. Because she's just that UBER.

Bulk and Skull attempt to observe Gunther by doing gymnastics, completely with spandex (lovely lovely spandex) and bathrobes. Skull does not like being upside down, however, and we hear it went very badly.

Tommy drives Kim back to the Youth Center, despite it being closing time, and drops her off, though he at least tried to convince her to let him stay for her safety. She refuses, but does convince Ernie to let her close up and practice. He leaves and she stays while Kat, lurking outside, remembers her past as a diver who injured herself and ruined the chance at the Pan Globals, and completely breaks the spell. OF HER OWN FREE WILL, PEOPLE! Kat broke the spell BY HERSELF because she was too strong for it to keep hold. I kind of love her a little right now.

Anyway, she rushes into the Youth Center just in time to see Kim fall. Kim is uninjured but passed out and Kat feels incredibly guilty while she tries to figure out what to do to help her. And we're left with a freeze frame and quite the cliffhanger!

Fortsetzung folgt. To be continued!

1.5 fish. It wasn't bad!

(also of note: Can anybody please throw your up-for-grabs Kat icons at me? I need a good one!)

Episode 128- A Ranger Catastrophe Part 1

Last time on Power Rangers was the BESTEST EPISODE EVER OMGYAY! And so this time we get... incredibly boring.

We start out by learning that Aisha volunteers at the local animal shelter. She loves the animals and loves helping out, and the shelter is understaffed and underfunded anyway, so they love having the help. I like this aspect of Aisha. Very noble.

Later, as she's walking in the park with Kim, they discuss the love of animals. Kim stumbles upon a stray cat just kind of milling about the park. A very white, very CLEAN, stray cat. I don't know why this didn't clue them in that it wasn't, in fact, a runaway kitty. But we'll just move on for plot purposes, yes?

Aisha carries it around for awhile, including through the Youth Center and to the outdoor cafe of the Juice Bar, and I cry foul! One does not bring a pet into a restaurant! Service animals, yes, of course. But not a pet. Health and safety, you see. Bulk and Skull, as junior police patrolmen, agree and attempt to find the correct codes to make Aisha leave. They don't, but they're adorable at trying to enforce the rules. Aisha and Kim take the cat to the shelter and Aisha gets all excited because if the cat isn't claimed within a certain timeframe, she has permission to adopt it herself. She really wants this cat.

There is a problem with this, though. This cat was planted by Rita. She calls all her dimwits, to which Rito responds enthusiastically, and then explains her dastardly plan. It's no ordinary cat, you see. It's an EVOL Cat born in the pits ruled by Basement Cat.

Rito is sent down to scare away potential pet adopters from the animal shelter, and Bulk and Skull manage to catch him in the act. They bravely attempt to arrest him, hoping to make themselves famous, but he is big and mean and threatening and they back away rather quickly in fear.

Meanwhile, not-really-a-cat is being pampered in the shelter by Aisha. She spies Rito, however, and has to run outside to be all badass and take him on herself. Because she's awesome like that. Zordon, in a rare moment of attentiveness, notices and calls the others to help. They rush to aide Aisha, even though she didn't really need help, and a very boring fight ensues. The not-really-a-cat turns into Human!Kat to observe the fight and is caught by the vet in charge of the animal shelter. Thinking quickly, Kat convinces the lady that she's there to adopt a puppy to help her be not lonely in a new town, seeing as she's all Australian and far from her friends.

When the fight is over, Rocky runs off in search of an overly large sandwich, with Adam and Billy hot on his tail. And I mean that in just about every possible way.

Aisha, Kim, and Tommy head into the animal shelter and Human!Kat quickly vanishes to turn back into not-really-a-cat. Time is up and Aisha gets to take not-really-a-cat home. She's so excited! We're so bored.

Aisha names the cat PC, for Park Cat, since they found it in a park. Really? That's the best you could do, Aisha? That's... the lamest name ever. I can deal with PC, that's fine. I had a turtle named PC (but it was short for an actual name!). But at least make it stand for something legitimate or meaningful! Anyway, Kim comes home and leaves the door open, and not-really-a-cat-now-with-a-bad-name! runs out the door and down to open windows, where she promptly leaves the house and transforms into Human!Kat. Aisha and Kim search desperately for the lost not-really-a-cat-now-with-a-bad-name.

Human!Kat is met by Rita, who tells her to go steal Tommy from Kim. Rita transforms a dumpster into a hot car (with a cool, but not the coolest ever, vanity plate that says PURRRFECT) and sends Kat down to the Youth Center. Tommy is milling about, waiting for Kim, when Ernie realizes he failed to deliver the message that Kim would be late. Tommy is interrupted by Kat. She claims car trouble and gets Tommy outside, where he does something under the hood that leaves him and his sparkly white clothing completely clean, and then oohs and aahs over the car. Kat offers to let him drive "just around the block" and he accepts, even though he's supposed to meet Kim. He really falls so easily for the damsel in distress act. They go for a drive, but Rita zaps them into some vortex/alternate dimension thing, and Kat acts frightened and clingy, for which Tommy also falls. Oh Tommy. Could you BE any easier?

Zordon, in yet another glaring moment of attentiveness, notices that Tommy has been kidnapped, finds him, and then contacts the other rangers. Kim is jealous of the girl he's with (can't really blame her!), they wonder at how they'll get him back, discover that Rito is on Earth again, and then we cut to the To Be Continued screen.

That's not much of a cliffhanger.

And all I learned from this episode is that Steve Cardenas really really needs to stop overacting.

1.5 fish. It wasn't really fishy. Just very boring.

Episode 61- The Mutiny Part 1

OMG you guys! Guys! You guys! It's season 2! *bounces*

TSB remembers when this episode aired the first time because it aired in prime time and she made her dad tape it for her. I don't remember it airing in prime time, though I'm sure I was allowed to watch it, since I was OLD and didn't have an early bedtime anymore because did I mention that I was OLD? And yes, I'm older than TSB and CAN'T REMEMBER which is sad.

Anyway, we start off the wonderfulness that is season 2 with the original theme song! Aw. We then find the rangers at a motor bike race to raise money for the local Children's Hospital. It's a fundraiser, and it's NOT a martial arts competition! Angel Grove is branching out. TSB covets Kim's boots (I didn't even notice), Zack is wearing a ridiculous outfit, Bulk has the most awesome helmet ever with a rainbow mohawk, and Jason now has a nice silver hoop earring. And Billy isn't wearing his glasses. Billy. Isn't wearing. His GLASSES! They all look over the map of the racetrack.

Meanwhile, Rita is all ready to send down a monster when there is lots of lightning and thunder and shaking. There is a big muscle guy with no skin wearing gold armour in the sky. Why halo thar Lord Zedd! Rita freaks out. Lord Zedd has come to take over because Rita has failed at destroying the Power Rangers. We spend lots of time fangirling and sighing "OH ZEDD". Like, inordinate amounts.

Back in Angel Grove, Principal Caplan is in charge of the race. He reads off some rules, tells them to drive safe, and then waves the flag to start the race. He's also wearing a hideous brown sweatsuit. Whole sweatsuit. As in, sweat shirt with sweat pants. I'm all for sweat pants, so comfy, and sweat shirts, but not worn together... not in public anyway. So the racers all start their engines and take off. Very very slowly. Slowest start to a race ever, yes?

Back on the moon, Rita is flipping out and Zedd is being commanding and Goldar IMMEDIATELY betrays Rita and grovels in front of Lord Zedd. It is awesome. And we fangirlishly sigh "OH ZEDD" some more.

Jason hears some random thunder that NOBODY ELSE can hear and covertly motions for the others to pull off track. They join him on the side of the road and determine Rita is up to something, so they should listen for their communicators. I'm sure the discussion was important and plot moving, but Jason is pretty so I missed a lot of it. And earring! Did I mention the earring? Not like I have an earrings-on-men kink or anything. *whistles innocently*

On the moon, Zedd is present in his Z throne. Goldar comes into the throne room and Zedd remembers him as Goldar, The Groveling One. SO MUCH LOVE FOR ZEDD. Goldar balks at the snake and it turns into Zedd's staff and we spend a few minutes flailing at his awesomeness. Zedd then gives Goldar back that which he once lost. And his wings are back. We don't know how they were lost in the first place, but they're back now! Rita attempts (and fails) to grovel and beg for another chance while Squat and Baboo look on through peepholes.

At the race, Jason's communicator beeps very quietly, but he's special and oh so pretty so of course he hears it. They all join him off road and they go to the Command Center to talk to Zordon. They learn about Lord Zedd and how he's more powerful than Rita and yada yada yada, but mostly I'm distracted by Zack's ridiculous pink outfit and how constipated Jason looks. And Billy. Who is HAWT. Not just hot, not just pretty, not just drop dead gorgeous, he's downright HAWT with his hair all styled and no glasses (though I LOVE glasses too) and fashionable wardrobe. Oh Billy. *dreamy sigh* (though I do admit to missing the geek!Billy who I also thought was hawt and gorgeous and pretty)

Bulk and Skull get distracted by the unusual thunder and crash their bikes. Skull swears it's just a dent, but finds motor oil on a rock and then TASTES IT. EW. So they decide to take off on foot to see if they can finish the race.

On the moon, Zedd introduces us to his most awesome of awesome putties. Z Putties! They have the best intro ever where he just kind of conjures up a few and they, having apparently already met and taken lessons from Tommy, vogue. Rita wants to prove she can "finish the job" but Lord Zedd says no, shrinks her, and puts her back in that space dumpster. He has his putties toss her off the moon and she hurtles into space. Oh Zedd, honey, if only you knew the future. One day you'll want her to "finish the job"... and on a fairly regular basis I'm sure.

Bulk and Skull then stumble upon the rangers abandoned four wheelers. They decide to take some to get to the finish line, but before they can, they're attacked by putties. In actual character development, back at the Command Center, Trini gets very distraught at the fact that Bulk and Skull are in trouble. They are determined to get there BEFORE Bulk and Skull get hurt. Yay character development!

They morph and then teleport to stand in front of Bulk and Skull, allowing them to run away and hide. The putties are a hard fight, however, and Jason and Trini have some issues. Then Tommy and Billy tag team it, but Tommy's power starts to fail (from a putty fight? Really? Okay then) so he kind of collapses. In a true display of highest Bromance, Jason jumps in the line of fire and stops a putty from taking out Tommy. He then discovers their weak point is the BIG GLARING Z on their chest, so tells the others to aim for the Z. They make short work of the putties and, after checking that Bulk and Skull are okay, go back to the Command Center. Bulk and Skull, having heard the voices, are determined to discover the true identity of the Power Rangers. And so it begins!

Zedd *fangirlish sigh* takes a piranha from a river in Angel Grove (a piranha? In Angel Grove? Seriously now?) and turns it into a monster. The rangers are a little distraught at having to fight it and Zack makes a comment about it being "no Pudgy Pig" and we go AW, PUDGY PIG! Because we are weird.

So they go to fight this piranha monster and summon their zords. But wait! He's a Zedd monster which means he's more powerful and he FREEZES the zords mid-summon. That's right, mid-summon. As in, the pterodactyl zord is frozen in mid-air... and doesn't fall to the ground. OH NOES! Whatever will the rangers do?

Perfect time for a To Be Continued...

Lists:
1.5 fish. There was character development! There was concern for Bulk and Skull's safety! There was plot! There were Very Pretty People!

Billy speak: None. I don't think we get much anymore. *sadface*

Covered in food: nobody

Questions we'd like answered: How did Goldar lose his wings in the first place? He had them at the start of season 1...
And how did Jason hear the thunder in the first place when nobody else did? Does his earring have magical powers?

Episode 37- Clean-Up Club

Today on Power Rangers we are, once again, reminded that Angel Grove lacks quality education. And that we're old.

We start out in Ms. Applebee's class. She is the only teacher employed by Angel Grove High School and there is, apparently, only one very large classroom. Today they are doing video documentaries. On VHS tapes. Oh god we are so OLD.

Skull is filming Bulk. That is apparently going to be their documentary.

Trini does a documentary on pollution. Ms. Applebee agrees it's a disturbing trend and Trini proposes a Clean-Up Club to get cracking on all that pollution in Angel Grove. The other rangers immediately volunteer to join the club.

Meanwhile, Rita is spying on them. Per usual. She decides to foil their recycling plans by creating and sending down the Polluticorn monster. It's a unicorn with claws that... pollutes. Really? On Power Rangers? Okay, he's kind of lame here, but we think he would be ten times more awesome as a Captain Planet monster. He would totally work there. Here, not so much.

We then see them all at the Youth Center later that day. They're wearing matching green shirts that say Clean-Up Club. Those got made awfully fast. Jason and Zack karate chop some cans and Billy is painting some recycle bins for the Juice Bar. Apparently nobody has ever recycled in Angel Grove before. Ever. Despite the last attempt at cleaning up pollution.

The kids all head to a park to do some clean up and it is absolutely TRASHED. I've never seen anything look that bad, even with horrible litter, unless a tornado just hit. Or it was my kids' bedroom. Either way, their park has NEVER looked this bad. Billy takes a soil sample and puts it in some solution in a test tube and it immediately turns green, which means the park is totally polluted. First of all, soil samples don't work that way. Second of all, SCIENCE does not work that way.

Lots of acrobatics ensue while the rangers clean up the gigantic mess, and all without wearing gloves. I shudder at the thought. Mostly it seems to be just paper lying about, so it fills up a bunch of trash bags, but doesn't take that long to clean. Billy then immediately tests the soil again (not how it works, Billy) and magically it comes out clean, all pollution gone. NOT HOW IT WORKS, SHOW!

Rita, however, interrupts. She sends down some putties and a really awesome fight scene takes place amidst the trash. Billy is really improving his fighting skills here. They also let David Yost show off his mad gymnastics skills and I am very impressed. I wish they'd let him show off like that more often. They do a pyramid of awesome and Kim and Trini tag team some putties. Then Jason has really nice arms. And a nice ass. But mostly nice arms.

Goldar and Scorpina head down with Polluticorn and the rangers morph. Jason has gotten really good at his "It's morphin time!" exclamations and we assume he's taken some lessons from Tommy. Tommy is good at getting Jason enthusiastic about things. They fight and then end up going back to the Command Center, where Zordon is running an analysis on the Polluticorn.

Billy is asked to decipher the results, calls Zordon "Sir", and then they waste a lot of paper. All for Billy to discover they need to cut off the Polluticorn's horn to stop him. So they morph and go fight him at a recycling plant. I have to wonder though... if there wasn't any recycling in Angel Grove before, why do they have a huge recycling plant? While I ponder these pressing questions, Jason goes to fight Polluticorn on his own while the others go after Goldar and Scorpina. It's a pretty impressive fight, actually.

Jason has to pull out the Shield of Cheap Bling and then Rita makes Polluticorn grow, lest Jason and his Shield of Cheap Bling stop him. They have the shortest Zord summoning sequence ever and then beat him with just the MegaZord. It's really pretty cool to see them beat a monster with just the MegaZord again. I missed it's awesomeness.

After the fight, back at the Youth Center, they watch Reporter Guy report on the latest monster attack. They sure do watch themselves a lot. Deciding it's time to get working, they go down and start adding to large stacks of papers, plastic bottles, and soda cans. Whomever thought it was a good idea to stack 500 soda cans needs to be smacked upside their head. We suspect it was Billy, as he's the only one stacking, but we can't be sure. This, of course, will not end well.

And right on cue, in walk Bulk and Skull. Skull is still filming Bulk, who's trying to appear helpful. Skull falls into the papers and bottles and Bulk, laughing, trips over a tire and knocks down the entire soda can tower. Surprise, surprise, surprise.

In school the following day, in the only class run by the only teacher, she very rudely tells Bulk it's his turn. Skull hands over the VHS tape (OMGwearesoOLD) and it's a video that makes Bulk look really really bad. Ms. Applebee, apparently gunning for the Worst Teacher of the Year award, laughs at them. Bulk then attempts to chase Skull out of the classroom but can't get out of his desk because he is, apparently, too fat. Everyone laughs some more. Way to go with the fat jokes, Power Rangers.

All in all, we give this episode only 1.5 fish. It's pretty consistent overall and the only real glaringly obvious problem with it is the science. Science does not work how Billy pretends it works.

Billy Speak: "I'm deeply concerned about the ecological ramifications of ozone depletion, acid rain, deforestation and the loss of our top soils."

"I'm using a special mixture of totally organic paint, pigmented with various natural substances."

"This kind of wanton disregard is so destructive to such a fragile ecosystem."

"My analysis shows that the Polluticorn derives its power from its horn."

Covered in food: nobody (though Bulk is covered in recycling and garbage bags, but not food)... we may have to retire this category soon.

Discussion question: Why was there a large recycling plant if nobody recycled before Trini started the Clean-Up Club? Also, if they only intend to recycle one day a week (as stated with the club), what do they do the rest of the time?

Episode 14 - Power Rangers Punks

First, a note of clarification on fish - We try not to add fish based on the inherent ridiculousness of the types of monsters or spells themselves. I mean, Power Rangers is totally ridiculous, and if we were judging it based on just that we'd have to give Pudgy Pig 5 fish just because a Pudgy Pig was trying to eat all the food in the world. We (mostly) try to judge the Fish based on how unclear the episode is, or how much the show contradicts its own continuity, which is... why we call it the fish scale in the first place. There will be capslock rage when Billy moves to the fish planet, we're just saying. Basically, it gets fish if we get thrown out of the episode, which is why some of the more ridiculous Tommy centric episodes will get high fish, or if the Rangers behavior makes us start yelling about their failure as role models.

Anyway. Power Punks is one of my favorite episodes of Power Rangers, and the Terror Toad is my favorite Monster of the week, even beating out Pudgy Pig which is QueenRiley's favorite. And considering the week I've had, I was really glad that we were watching this episode. There was actually momentary confusion, because for some reason some of the youtube videos insisted that this was actually episode 21. But we're going with it is episode 14, because that is what Rangers Central tells us, and also we like this episode.

The episode opens with a fabulous game of volleyball, and the best music we've heard on the show yet. Trini and Jason are playing against Zack and Billy, and Billy is doing really well. He falls over while trying to hit the ball, and the Rangers give him an honest compliment! (We've determined it is an honest compliment because they usually overact way more when they're being purposefully mean.) Billy and Kimberly switch places, and we discover that Baboo has created a "Punk Potion" that he will use on the Rangers. Jason and Trini win the game, and then Jason tempts fate by saying "So who do we take on next?"

The answer to that question is a squad of Putties! While the Rangers are fighting them, Baboo peddles over on Rita's amazing bicycle and spikes all the drinks with the Punk Potion. Kimberly and Billy (who, incidentally are the best dressed Rangers this episode. Trini needs to stop wearing sweaters with shorts, and we don't even know what is up with Jason's tank top) drink the water, and are immediately turned into punks, causing us to speculate that the "Punk Potion" was actually just imprints of Bulk and Skull's personality, like in Dollhouse.

The spell instantly affects Kimberly and Billy (for some reason all of the more ridiculous things seem to happen to these two - first body switching and now this) and they instantly become Power Rangers Universe versions of Punks. That... mostly means that they overact in an amazingly over the top manner and yell "YEAH" a lot and call people geeks and dorks. Which is at least consistent with Bulk and Skull. Billy calls them all dorks, and Kimberly and Billy leave, while the others just stand there. Trini suggests that maybe they just got too much sun. Look, we know that it's early in the series, but when Billy starts calling people dorks, it means he's under a spell.

The next day at school, we find out that apparently Bulk's locker is filled with garbage (seriously, show? Stop with the fatphobia. It is beginning to drive us nuts) and that the Rangers are vaguely worried about Billy and Kimberly, but they don't appear to have checked on them at all. That at least is totally consistent with everything else about their friendship. They really are the worst friends ever. And then we get the grand entrance of Billy and Kimberly, in their punk gear. We... well, we will let the fandom secret speak for itself. (And if you're the person who made this secret, hi, please come be our new BFF?) Seriously, punk!Billy is WICKED HOT. Punk!Kimberly has an awesome jacket, but her hair is insane and everything about her outfit is crazy. But OMG, Punk!Billy. Everything about him is wonderful.

The other Rangers just stand there and watch as Billy and Kimberly harass some poor guy in the hallway, and then Kimberly hits on Skull. I'm personally convinced that she and Billy have already hooked up as Punks (and possibly while they were body-switched) but Skull is nearly dead of joy as Kimberly asks him out. Then Billy threatens Bulk, in karmic retribution for Bulk being mean to him. Even after all of that, the three non-affected Rangers can only say "What's with them?" Of course, at this point Zordon suddenly remembers that he has the ability to observe what's going on, so he teleports all of the Rangers to the Command Center, and imprisons Kimberly and Billy behind a force field. Good thing nobody else was in that hallway!

While the Rangers are at the Command Center, Zordon tells them that they have two problems. First, the Power Punk Spell can only be removed with juice from a Singing Squash, which is only found in other dimensions. (At this point we get a brief glimpse of Zordon in his non-warp bubble form. Exciting!) Also, Rita has unleashed the Terror Toad, which a) eats people and b) has a listing under Fetish Fuel on tvtropes. Oh, fandom. (Okay, to be fair, it is also listed under Nightmare Fuel. Anyway. The Terror Toad is still awesome because it is an amazingly creepy villain. Kimberly, in her Punk state refers to it as "Wartsville" which should be the name of a band or a song or something.

Zack, Trini and Jason go off to fight the Terror Toad, and Zack and Trini almost immediately get eaten by the Toad. Alpha goes off to find the Singing Squash, and he makes the mistake of commenting that it appears to be too easy. Of course, this means he immediately gets set upon by Putties. But wait! Apparently Alpha has internal defenses, so he takes them all down easily. Man, if Alpha was leading the Rangers, they'd have totally won by now! He pulls the Singing Squash, which turns out to basically be a mandrake and returns to the Power Chamber, where Billy and Kimberly are making fun of Zordon. They call him a "Big Green Geekoid." Seriously, if there is an award for best overacting, it totally goes to Amy Jo Johnson and David Yost for this episode.

They drink the potion that Alpha makes for them, and Kimberly is horrified by her nails (I'm personally scared for anyone who happens to be around her when she sees her hair) and Billy says "Alpha?" in this terrified voice. They morph (calling out in unison, which is adorable) and arrive to battle the Terror Toad just in time for Jason to be eaten. Billy comes up with a plan to beat the Toad, but then gets eaten as well. And unlike the other Rangers, he actually gets swallowed Terrifying! Kimberly then shoots the Terror Toad in its weak spot, right below its neck, freeing the other Rangers. She then shoots the Toad again, and I'm pretty sure she must get her arrows from the same place that Robin Hood does, because the arrow swerves around trees. The Terror Toad explodes, making this the second time that Kimberly defeats a monster on her own. She is clearly the most powerful of all the Rangers. (It's worth pointing out that Baboo showed up to join the battle briefly. He is adorable.)

Afterward, back at the Youth Center, Kimberly is helping Trini with some neat gymnastics moves, while Skull shows up for his date. At this point we both start wincing because we feel so bad for him. He dressed up! He did his hair! And she did say she'd go out with him. Kimberly is horrified by this, and Billy tells Bulk and Skull that Kimberly and Trini don't date neanderthals. This isn't true at all! Kimberly dates Tommy for a really long time. And then something happens where Billy and Zack try to defend the girls honor or something by playing volleyball. I really don't know, but we got about 19 minutes into the episode before we yelled fish!

Lists!
Fish scale: 1.5 fish. The lowest rated episode yet. Seriously, this episode is amazing, and all fandoms should have a gone punk episode.

Billy Speak: If we just transpose ourselves
Kimberly translation: You mean switch positions?

(For the record, we can totally imaging them having that conversation in bed. Possibly I've developed a Kimberly/Billy thing.)

Covered in food: Bulk and Skull get covered in... the disgusting garbage that was in Bulk's locker.

Fanfic that people should really write: Kimberly goes out with Skull. Look, don't judge me, okay?