Episode 223- Passing the Torch Part 1

Now THIS would have been a great summer cliffhanger!

Divatox is dreaming. She gets a vision from her mother, head of the family, who lays on the guilt super thick and convinces Divatox to kidnap Tommy. Apparently she thinks without Tommy the team will fall apart. Frankly, I don't think any of them have been paying attention. Without Tommy, Adam will still lead and make all the decisions. Tanya will still have all the answers. Justin will still fix everything. And Kat will still be creepily maternal.

We meet Cassie, who is singing loudly on a bus. People from the back are heckling and TJ, sitting across from her, gets her attention and tells her she might want to quiet down a bit. She apologizes and explained how she wants to be a singer and sometimes gets carried away. TJ knows how that feels. So she's going to Stone Canyon to break into the music industry. TJ is going to Angel Grove to break into professional baseball. HOW CUTE ARE THEY? I LOVE THEM SO.

Meanwhile, Justin, Adam, and Tanya are camping. Tanya comments on Tommy being born late. It is awesome. Adam and Tanya set up the hammock while trusting Justin to set up the campfire. Good on them! He's 12. He's capable. No need to coddle the boy.

Tommy and Kat are driving to the campsite in Tommy's truck. Kat is amazed that Tommy was actually on time for a change. Everybody mocks him (in a 'we love you anyway' way) and I love it. They get attacked by Piranhatrons and Kat makes it pretty far away from the truck before it explodes. Tommy is closer and there is Dramatic Lunge. He hits his head on the ground, but luckily there isn't anything in there to damage (at least that hasn't already been pretty severely damaged).

Back at the campsite, Justin hears a noise and heads off in search of the source. He is confronted with a flame monster who wants to set the world on fire. This monster even manages to interrupt the morphing sequence. He kicks the key out of Justin's hand mid-morph. AWESOME! Adam and Tanya come running to Justin's cries and manage to get their keys knocked away as well.

TJ and Cassie are at the bus stop taking the 15 minute break before heading off to Angel Grove and Stone Canyon. TJ notices hte smoke and assumes there is trouble over the hill. He runs off to investigate and Cassie tries to convince the bus driver that TJ will be right back. The bus driver drives off. Cassie stays behind.

She finds TJ and they discover Kat, fighting for her life against the Piranhatrons. They immediately jump in to help. HOW MUCH DO I LOVE THEM???? Together, they manage to beat back all the Piranhatrons, but not before some weird goopy thing takes Tommy while Kat screams his name a whole lot. He ends up all tied up in a cave somewhere.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Now see, wasn't that a better cliffhanger? And we got OODLES of unmorphed fighting! I swear 80% of this episode was fighting and there was not a single morphing sequence to be had. :D

2 fish! OMG it's a low fish episode from Turbo!!!!

Episode 209 - Shadow Rangers

This episode started off SO WELL. And then it turned into... well, Turbo. *sob*

So, Justin is helping Tommy work on his car. Justin's shoelace gets caught on the gas peddle. The car's engine blows. Tommy still insists that this isn't Justin's fault. EXCEPT IT TOTALLY IS. Oh, and we find out that someone has been stealing stuff from the garage, so Justin builds a homing beacon that he'll put on something in the hope that it's stolen and will lead them to the thief.

Divatox has a new monster, the Chromite. Chromite appears to be marrying Elgar. Congratulations, may you two live happily ever after SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY. Divatox is going to send the Chromite down to leave a detonator in the construction site.

Adam and Tanya are off on a date walking together (after engaging in some practice to better get their Zords together) when Kat joins them. They promptly get attacked by the Chromite, who steals their morphing energy and creates shadow versions of them! We're actually really excited, because HEY, EVIL RANGERS. It's a thing that we like! The unmorphed fight against themselves is seriously great! Adam gets beaten up a lot! *approves so hard* Of course, then they get captured and thrown in a cave.

Then Justin and Tommy get attacked. Tommy has seen this before, and tries to stop Justin from morphing, but that doesn't work, and Justin gets his power stolen and he's kidnapped. There is a nice fight where fake!Kat and Adam beat up Tommy. I approve.

Now that he's all alone, Tommy goes back to the Power Chamber to get Dimitria's help. Unfortunately, since she's from the planet Inquirus, she can only inquire about things, so she answers all questions in the form of a question. At least she'd be good on jeopardy. BUT SERIOUSLY, she is so annoying. If they wanted to frame it instead as a "you are adults now and need to learn to figure things out yourself" I might not be as annoyed. But really, part of the reason they've always had a mentor/support staff is so that they don't need to do everything themselves, because sometimes they have to be out there fighting while someone else DOES THE IMPORTANT RESEARCH. Instead, Tommy is left to be the science guy (and this is where I start laughing hysterically and wondering if this is what leads to him faking his doctorate) and he discovers that the shadow rangers are made out of light, so if he just makes it dark, everything will be okay.

He fights the shadows and even though it's daylight out he manages to destroy them all. I call bullshit.

Justin has activated the homing beacon, so Tommy goes and rescues everyone else. Then they morph and fight the chromite and summon zords, and wow, this episode sucks.

Turns out that monkey!Bulk and Skull are the thieves. They're now living in the youth center, which is under new management. Ernie's foreign service unit has recalled him (he's going to build a bridge in the amazon or something) and now Lt. Stone is running things. (And hey, isn't anyone WORRIED about Bulk and Skull being missing? WORST FRIENDS EVER.)

So in the last few episodes, we've lost Billy, Jason, Rocky, Zordon, Alpha, human!Bulk and Skull, and Ernie. WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO US, SHOW?

Fish: 5. EVERYTHING IS BAD AND WRONG.

Episode 203 - Hawaii Zeo

Today on Power Rangers - Tommy is so bad at romance, it's hilarious. Seriously, Adam is better at talking to girls than he is. How the hell did Tommy get Kim and Kat to go out with him? SERIOUSLY.

Anyway, we open with a fight scene. Previous episodes have shown that this is almost never a good thing. High fight content usually equals more fish. But this time there's something different about it - Jason is having trouble fighting three cogs. But the other Rangers help, and Kat and Tommy support Jason when his powers are beginning to fail. Tommy should totally be sympathetic and honestly, I come out of the scene wanting a Tommy/Jason/Kat threesome. Up at the Power Chamber, everyone's really worried about Jason, and also there's some explanation about how Tommy hurt his face, that honestly just makes it sound like he's covering up some sort of abuse. (NGL, I would read that fic.) Zordon was apparently always secretly worried about Jason's powers. That's news to us!

While Sprocket tricks Gasket into working with him by promising to help him grow, Rocky pulls a Zack and takes advantage of Tommy watching a Pink Ranger to beat him at sparring. The others all mock Tommy for being bad at asking out girls, as Tommy tries and fails to ask out Kat. He is hilariously bad at this. Also, Tommy, don't try asking someone out in front of all your friends.

After Kat leaves, everyone mocks Tommy, and Adam is clearly thinking "DUDE, even I am smoother than that." Tanya basically tells Tommy that he's a moron, and of course Kat will go out with him, and Tommy says something about making it perfect. Of course, at this exact moment Ernie walks in, supposedly back from Hawaii, with grand plans to host a luau. Since Detective Stone's detective agency has a lot of bills, Bulk and Skull volunteer for security, and Tommy badly manages to ask Kat out to the luau. For the record, Tanya has clearly had a conversation with Kat beforehand as she's pretty blatantly encouraging him.

At the luau, everyone moves to sit with Tommy and Kat, but Tanya is just all "DO I NEED TO THINK OF EVERYTHING?" and moves them to another table. Bulk and Skull are in horribly offensive supposedly "native" costumes, and Tanya and Ernie both call them out for being awful. Good job, show!

Ernie calls for volunteers, and when Tanya asks him to, Adam dances. Of course, they are quickly interrupted by Cogs doing the hula, which is AMAZING. Gasket and Archerina grow, and Jason handles the hula cogs while the other Rangers all summon the Zords. Of course, they still need help, so Alpha remotely summons the other Zords. The Rangers look like they destroy Gasket and Archerina, except for some reason they only shrink, and then they run away when Mondo shows up. Too bad.

Ernie is planning another luau, and he's happy that someone cleaned up everything. (The other Rangers are so great.) Tommy and Kat show up, looking very happy. Apparently they went to a dinner and the movie date. Tommy calls the date boring. Kat, that's totally grounds for dumping him. Seriously, Tommy is the worst boyfriend ever.

Bulk and Skull show up, and they still have the ink on their faces from the bad stereotypes. Oh, BOYS. *bangs head on wall repeatedly*

Fish: 4. Gasket and Archerina aren't destroyed WHY?

Episode 200 - Another Song and Dance

*stares* Wait. WAIT. Episode 200? Did we really hit 200? When we started this nearly two years ago, I don't think either of us actually expected that we would keep going with it as long as we did. But it has been SO MUCH FUN and we're seriously looking forward to the next 500+ episodes. :D

So, we begin with Tommy dancing. Or something that's supposed to be dancing. It's really just him gyrating on the couch and kicking his feet in the air with some martial arts thrown in. Tanya comes down the stairs and sees him, and clearly is wondering if he's been brainwashed/under a spell/has finally cracked. Tommy seems very embarrassed, and if he was, then why was he practicing in school in full view of anyone? It turns out that his lip syncing performance was actually him practicing for music class, where he has to sing.

Hint: Tommy, lip syncing is not actually singing.

Tanya agrees to give Tommy some singing lessons, probably in the hope that she will never have to see him do that again. Ever.

Out on the lake, Bulk and Skull are on a male bonding fishing trip with their fake!daddy. He's given them some sort of nonsense explanation about how catching criminals is a lot like catching fish, but not to worry, he has a secret weapon. I don't know why they need a secret weapon to catch fish in Angel Grove, the city is full of them.

Meanwhile, the Machine Empire plans to combine these two things by a) turning Lt. Stone's secret weapon fish bait into a monster and b) placing a spell on Tommy and Tanya that will make them sing everything. Supposedly this will alter their telepathic links to the Zords or something, but personally, we believe that the real purpose is to drive the other Rangers crazy.

Because Tommy? CANNOT SING.

Anyway, this is one of the worst plans ever, but I so don't actually care, because it's hilarious and one of my favorite episodes of all time.

Tommy and Tanya's singing is so ridiculously over the top and dramatic and the other Rangers are all cringing and it's GREAT.

While Tommy and Tanya are singing their explanation to Zordon, the fish bait thing has been transformed into a giant caterpillar monster, and well... you might want to get out of the water.

The Rangers are clued into some serious destruction of the city, with Cogs blowing apart buildings and everything. Of course, Rocky then informs us that this is the abandoned warehouse district, and I spent the next few minutes laughing hysterically and trying to figure out how Angel Grove functions. We guess that after the first few attacks from Rita the city created a protective barrier of abandoned buildings for monsters to squash or something.

Meanwhile, Adam asks if he can pilot Tommy's Zord, because he's that awesome. Jason stays with him, while the other Rangers morph (and Tommy and Tanya sing their morphs. SO GREAT) and go fight.

This is actually a pretty cool Zord fight, mostly because the monster looks like it's right out of Labyrinth. The cogs are even attacking the Zord Bay! I mean, this is pretty epic destruction, it's great.

While Alpha changes the link so Adam can pilot the Red Battle Zord, we figured out that we're recapping Ranger of Two Worlds on Wednesday, and then there were EPIC TEARS. At least that explains where Billy is, but some in universe explanation would be great.

Adam goes and beats up the robot, but apparently Tommy's mental state is too foreign, so he loses control of the Zord. The other Rangers also lose control of their Zords which... leads to the Zords dancing? Why is there a Zord shaking its ass at the camera? NO, SERIOUSLY.

Everyone gets thrown out of their Zords, and there's a fight, and Tommy vs Archerina was pretty great. The monster gets destroyed, and while Machina is sulking about it, Mondo comes back.

At the Youth Center, we discover that Tommy got an A on his assignment. .... Really? Did his teacher give him the A to make him stop? Rocky tells Tommy that he's glad that Tommy stopped singing because he couldn't take it anymore.

Bulk and Skull come in, smelling like fish. They say they never want to see another fish again. Boys, I suggest moving far away from Angel Grove. Then they are incredibly rude to Emily, who unveils Ernie's new fish special.

.... What sort of juice bar serves fish anyway?

Fish: 4. How on earth does singing alter a telepathic link?

Fic we want: PEOPLE MAKING FUN OF TOMMY FOREVER.

Episode 198 - A Brief Mystery of Time

Oh hey, there are actually consequences to the whole Brain Drain thing. Unfortunately, the consequences do not involve Tommy getting telepathy and making out with Adam but I'll take what I can get.

What we actually get is the Groundhog Day episode. Personally, I think that Xena did it best.

Day 1

The first day opens with some kid named Steven rollerblading down the hallway, while the Worst Guidance Counselor Ever chases after him. He knocks into Tommy and Kat, who joke about the school needing a stop sign. Then they stop by Kat's locker, where Jason asks them if they're worried about the test, and then tells them they should stop by the Juice Bar after school to meet Adam and Tanya and try Emily's new shaved ice. Then some poor kid's locker breaks and his books fall onto the floor.

Tommy, Jason, Kat and Rocky go and take some final exam. Rocky has forgotten his pencil, and Ms. Appleby is there, which is pretty great. We're gearing up for graduation, apparently!

After the test is over, Adam and Tanya are being really cute in the youth center when the other Rangers show up. Bulk and Skull order some drinks and talk loudly about being undercover, and then Bulk ends up covered in soda.

Meanwhile, both Gasket and Sprocket have plans to prove that they are the best. DUN DUN DUN.

Day 2

Steven is skating through the halls again, and Tommy is starting to get a feeling of deja vu. Then he starts responding to Jason before Jason actually says anything. Yet nobody thinks to call Zordon. Nobody even wonders if this is a side effect from the brain drain.

In the park, they get attacked by Cogs, which is new and when they finally get to the Youth Center Adam clearly thinks Tommy is crazy. Tommy tries to explain that All of this has happened before and shall happen again but nobody listens to him. Nobody even suggests talking to Zordon.

Day 3

We get the same ridiculous scene at the school again, and this time at the park Tommy stops everyone and shows that there are Cogs waiting for them around the next hill. Since they have clearly discovered that Tommy is psychic, everyone teleports to the Power Chamber, where they have Alpha scan Tommy's brainwaves for irregularities, which QR says is like scanning for alien activity in the vicinity of London on Christmas Day.

Now that they've scanned Tommy, everyone is able to figure out that they're stuck in a time loop created by the Machine Empire so that they could move in an invasion fleet. Maybe the time loop will also explain Tommy's eventual doctorate. They locate the crystal thing that is looping time, and everyone goes down to destroy it. Tommy manages to smash it, and there's a fight, and zords are called, and we spend half of the fight talking about Jason/Rocky instead.

The next day, there's still a feeling of deja vu as Adam and Tanya are still being ridiculously cute, but Bulk and Skull both get covered with soda. Oh, show. I don't even know what to say about you.

Fish: 3. One for each day.

Covered in: Bulk and Skull, are you really making us bring back this category? Booo.

Episode 197- King for a Day Part 2

THIS is the episode where I think Kat's character was handled the BEST. Seriously, she should have been like this ALL the time. Plus, Bulk and Skull are BIG DAMN HEROES!!!!!!!!!!!!

So last time on Power Rangers, Tommy had induced amnesia and thought he was king of the Machine Empire. He was in an arena. Fighting Jason. And a billion shippy fics were born.

Jason wants to save Tommy with the power of friendship. He says "Tommy" a lot and this seems to trigger something, and I keep screaming at Tommy to just look at how he's dressed because HELLO! POWER RANGER! Tommy, unfortunately, is not very smart.

In a cell, Bulk and Skull are discussing The Way Things Are with Fish Hat guy. He is a master warrior from his planet. Gasket is collecting warriors from every planet for his arena and he just assumes Bulk and Skull are warriors as well. They do not correct him. Best part of this exchange?
Fish Hat Guy: "What planet are you from?"
Bulk and Skull: "We're from Earth."
Fish Hat Guy: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
BWAAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA. HE KNOWS.

On the moon, Rita and Zedd are watching. Rita makes a comment about as soon as the rangers destroy each other, they'll rule the Earth. Except they WON'T. And the moment they realize that is SAD. They are so distraught! Zedd realizes there is only one way to win, and that's take out the Machine Empire. And the only way to do that is to HELP THE RANGERS. It physically pained him to say this, and Rita fainted, but he's RIGHT.

Tommy and Jason are fighting and Billy is trying desperately to get the other rangers there to help. He gets them as far as the lake where Tommy first was kidnapped and that's it. He loses the signal. They can't go anywhere. So they stand around near the lake helpless, hoping Billy will do his usual and pull a miracle out of thin air to get them there. He doesn't. Instead, FINSTER DOES IT FOR HIM. Finster has been working on his own teleportation device and convinced Zedd that five rangers are more annoying than one, and he should teleport the other rangers to help win back Tommy. Zedd takes credit, of course, and Finster blows out his machine doing it. BUT HE DID IT. FINSTER TELEPORTED THE RANGERS TO JASON AND TOMMY. BECAUSE HE IS AWESOME. (and now we feel Billy and Finster should bond. Best friendship ever y/y/mfy?)

Meanwhile, Bulk, Skull, and Fish Hat Guy defeat a cog and escape. The plan is to travel to the control room and destroy the mind wipe device, thus restoring Tommy's memories. Then they're going to destroy the force field device and allow EVERYBODY to escape and go home. Good plan, guys! Except there are lots of cogs near the control room. Fish Hat Guy locks himself in to destroy everything, leaving Bulk and Skull outside to fight the cogs. AND THEY DO. AND IT IS AMAZING. They handle more cogs unmorphed and without the benefit of any special power flowing through them than the rangers EVER do MORPHED. BECAUSE BULK AND SKULL ARE AWESOME AND I LOVE THEM AND THIS IS THE BEST FIGHT OF THE WHOLE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the five rangers attempt to restrain Tommy and convince him he's on their side. It's not working too well. Until Kat pulls the MOST AWESOME MOVE EVER. She DEMORPHS. Right there. Mid fight. She refuses to fight any longer and just demorphs, trying to convince Tommy that she is his friend, not his enemy. She stand there while he attempts to attack her, but he can't do it, because part of him KNOWS. She hugs him tight and talks to him, willing him with the sheer power of friendship, that he is GOOD and they are GOOD and it's OKAY. AND I LOVE HER FOR IT. IT WORKS. Tommy starts to remember. Jason demorphs to help Kat. Tommy remembers more. The others join in. Tommy is struggling with this, and almost attacks again. Instead he fully realizes himself, demorphs, and stands with his friends! Yay for the power of friendship! Seriously, this is one of my favourite tropes.

So the rangers can't morph and they can't teleport out and Gasket comes down to start monologuing them. Except Bulk and Skull and Fish Hat Guy WON. They destroyed everything, in a big explosion, and the force field vanishes. The rangers bid their farewells and teleport the hell out of there. Bulk and Skull aren't sure Fish Hat Guy made it out, but he comes striding out of the fire and it is awesome. They're so happy to see him! He congratulates them, they do the grunt, and they congratulate him. Except they have no way home, so he honours them by taking them home himself. AWWWWWW.

Back on Earth, Bulk and Skull regale Emily with their tales of heroics. She doesn't believe them and even taunts them about it. It makes me sad. So they go tell Jason, Kat, and Tommy. Who DO believe them! And talk about how the rangers would surely thank them. Except Tommy and Kat, in attempting that whole Secret Identity thing, come across sarcastic. Bulk and Skull stomp off, upset that nobody believes them, even though the trio call after them that they do believe them and please don't go. They were actually trying to be nice this time which is a very welcome change from similar interactions in MMPR!

2 fish. Anything fishy is completely overshadowed by the awesome that is Kat AND Bulk and Skull!

(I really need a good Bulk and Skull icon)

Episode 196 - King For A Day - Part 1

First, I'm really sorry we've been so long without recaps. I moved into a new apartment, and that's taken precedence over pretty much everything, including recapping. But I am moved in now, so recaps are back on schedule! (Err, for version of schedule that means we're still 3 months behind where we said we'd be.)

SO. Onto the recap.

Tommy has been kidnapped, and how much do I love that we get to use that tag again? A LOT, let me tell you.

The episode begins with Tommy's brainwashing, where he's fighting the white ranger version of himself, and some cogs. I maintain that this is one of the events that contributes to Tommy's MPD. But we'll discuss that when we get to Dino Thunder. Gasket is being all great and menacing and going on about how he's manipulating Tommy's mind and will brainwash him to destroy the Rangers, while also giving Tommy's powers to some monster.

This is... actually a great plan! Good job, Gasket!

Meanwhile, Rocky, Jason and Kat are at the Youth Center since there's nothing they can do at the moment, where they stumble upon Bulk and Skull insisting to a mocking crowd that they saw Zeo Ranger 5 at the lake, except they could see right through him. You would think that the people of Angel Grove would be way more tolerant of these things, considering they get attacked by monsters all the time, but nobody is willing to listen to Bulk and Skull. Probably because they have cried wolf a few too many times. They're dared to go get some proof (by some tiny children) and they agree. Meanwhile, the Rangers also decide to check it out.

With the brainwashing complete, Tommy's powers are transferred to some monster that they now claim has the power of 100 warriors. That is BULLSHIT. Maybe 100 putties or something. Then we get transferred to the arena, and I am not going to lie, I am absolutely craving a bad and wrong gladiator AU where the Rangers are all captured and forced to fight each other. *cough* I mean, seriously, we have a great setup for it! (We like torturing our favorites, WHAT?)

So it turns out that Tommy hasn't been brainwashed to be evil again, he just has amnesia and Gasket is telling him that the Rangers are the evil ones. This sucks, because frankly, Tommy is better when he's evil. Also, no evil laugh. BOO. On the other hand, amnesia is still pretty great for fic writing.

At the Power Chamber, the Rangers are all discussing what to do, and Jason and Kat are pretty much fighting over who gets to rescue Tommy. Seriously, they should just date each other instead of fighting over him. But Jason's hero complex is in full effect, and he goes on about how he can't fail Tommy again. Hey, continuity!

They head to the lake, and see holographic!Tommy, and Jason runs right to it while Kat realizes that It's a trap! Jason gets caught, and Kat does not. Bulk and Skull, who show up to investigate, also get caught. Walking chaos magnets, for real.

Gasket has convinced Tommy that the Rangers are evil by showing him three images of the Rangers shooting things and then things blowing up. Tommy decides that his best warrior will destroy the Rangers, starting with the Gold Ranger, who is now stuck in the arena. GLADIATOR AU. FOR REAL. For some reason, Tommy doesn't wonder why he is dressed as a Ranger.

Bulk and Skull are also being held captive in a cell, where some guy with a fish hat asks them if they want to argue with each other, or escape.

Back at the Power Chamber, Billy has returned and is scanning for Tommy's missing brainwaves, and they also manage to find Jason, and Bulk and Skull. Billy is so not surprised to see Bulk and Skull have been captured, because they are walking chaos magnets. He refers to them as a couple of hitchhikers, which explains so much. They're all freaked out because they don't know where their towel is! Oh, and the portal is now closed, so the rest of the Rangers can't get in.

Then they manage to get a picture, because Gasket is BROADCASTING THIS. Even Rito and Goldar pick it up on the moon! To be fair, if I was going to destroy a Ranger, I would probably also broadcast it. It would be great ratings. Except I'd do it timedelayed, since, you know, the Rangers aren't that easy to destroy.

Jason fights the monster, and then figures out that it has Tommy's powers because only Tommy can match him move for move, so he just calls the monster Tommy a lot and somehow that makes it lose Tommy's powers? That whole part makes no sense. He tries to get through to Tommy, but Tommy just says he will fight him instead.

Fish: 4.5. LOOK, that thing with the brainwaves makes NO SENSE. A good plan, but NO SENSE. If you cut out the whole thing with the monster using Tommy's powers, it would drop down a lot, but it made NO SENSE.

Fic we want: GLADIATOR AU.

Questions: Why are some of Rita and Zedd's monsters in the audience?

Episode 195- Where in the World is Zeo Ranger 5

Today on Power Rangers... Tommy is Super Awesome and Everything to Everyone. Sprocket is whiny and has jealousy issues with Gasket. Rito and Goldar are put in charge of fixing the RV (and we all know how that will turn out). And Bulk and Skull win back Detective Stone's trust in guarding his expensive machines thanks to Gasket.

We start off with a very long Tommy-is-awesome montage. Because clearly this show has not had enough of them up to this point. He's on a wave runner in the lake and Kat is really nervous for some reason. Jason and Emily admire Tommy. Jason is very pretty and hot damn does he have some nice arms. Jason, be on my screen more often, please.

Bulk and Skull are put in charge of Detective Stone's wave runner. This is also not going to end well (and doesn't, because Gasket turns it into the monster of the week). Luckily it is restored in better working order, so Bulk and Skull finally gain Detective Stone's trust. FINALLY.

Mid-ride, and just at the end of the Tommy-is-awesome montage, Tommy is kidnapped! I missed that tag. This happens to him rather a lot. Kat and Jason run off to a random wave runner and go searching the lake. Tommy is nowhere to be found and in a shout out to the name of this episode, they wonder where in the world he's gone. Kat uses her brain and contacts Zordon immediately. Clearly she is the smarts of this episode. Unfortunately, Billy is on Triforia being an Intergalactic Spy, so he's not going to be able to help. Alpha discovers Tommy has been teleported off planet, however the fish are blocking his signal. With a barcode scanner with flashy lights detection device, they can find the remnants of the signal and trace it back.

So, as TSB put it, "The fish are blocking everything, but maybe you can find the right fish in the lake." This... makes a weird sort of sense for Power Rangers...

Anyway, Jason and Kat get attacked by cogs while searching for this signal. They do not call the other rangers. Adam and Tanya must be busy doing... each other. Rocky is probably busy wondering why Jason is hanging out with Kat instead of studying anatomy with him. Poor Rocky gets left out of everything now. So the cogs break the scanner and then Kat screams for Tommy Jason. Tommy Jason rushes to her side, a cog sticks his tongue out at them, and then they vanish. Kat and Jason are left wondering what's going on.

Gasket sends down a monster, whom Sprocket is sure is not powerful enough to beat the rangers (but Gasket doesn't believe him, because what does Sprocket know... he's just an inexperienced kid... I have sibling issues as well). The monster knocks people unconscious by spraying them with a water hose. ALL the rangers go after him this time and he likes to taunt them, apparently. He calls Jason a second rate substitute for a leader. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA NO. Jason did it first and Jason did it BETTER. Sprocket is subtlely cheering the rangers on. I love that about him.

Apparently the monster proves too tough because he sprays them, they get disoriented, and then the rangers pull a Sir Robin and bravely run away. Alpha gives them some weed medication in an oxygen mask and Rocky totally hits that up. Then they all go back to fight some more.

This monster has a boomerang. Which he threatens to use a lot, but then charges at the rangers instead of, y'know, THROWING IT. Gasket makes him grow and Tanya is all "We need Tommy!" But no! Alpha, in a rare burst of continuity, remembers the remote for the white falcon zord, and says there is one of the zeo zords as well and they can use that. Tanya should have been upset by this, seeing as they could have used it when she was called away from rescuing her parents, but whatever. Anyway, as expected, the rangers win. Sprocket pulls an "I told you so" to his big brother. *pats Sprocket*

Back at the lake, Kat and Jason are trying to see if there are still fish. And there ARE! Are we at all surprised? OF COURSE NOT. They take the data back to Alpha who uses it to track down Tommy. Except he's getting "unusually high brainwaves" from Tommy. This would be because normally he doesn't get ANY brainwaves from Tommy. :P

We end this episode with a gratuitous shot of Tommy, morphed (why... he was kidnapped off his wave runner in a bathing suit and life jacket), a device on his head, his legs spread wide, and in clearly what is a lot of pain. I'm sure there is bad and wrong fic about this somewhere (no, I don't want to read it).

This episode had far too little Rocky-and-Jason on the same screen, and no Billy. This makes me sad.

3 fish. They were all in that barcode scanner device.

Episode 183 - A Small Problem

There were possibly some margaritas before recapping, so I apologize in advance for any incoherency.

Tommy, Kat, Raymond the Token Jew, and Tanya are working together on some terrarium project. Tanya is going to stay behind and work on the terrarium while the others go capture some lizards and spiders and stuff. Eww, spiders. DNW. Kat is all "What could go wrong in the desert" and we are all "KAT, you are a RANGER. DO NOT SAY SUCH THINGS."

Meanwhile, Sprocket has accidentally figured out how to shrink stuff. Mondo is very proud of him, even though it was an accident. They will totally shrink the Rangers.

Bulk and Skull have apparently been hired to find Old Man Murphy's goldmine. They seek the motherlode, which as far as I'm concerned is just a cheat code for The Sims. Also, they have so clearly graduated by this point.

In the desert, Raymond gives Kat and Tommy orders on what to do. He is all "I AM GETTING AN A, DO YOUR JOBS. WHY AM I STUCK WITH GROUP PROJECTS????" but that might be my own hatred of group projects coming through.

Of course, considering Tommy and Kat and Tommy's jeep promptly get shrunk by Sprocket, he was right to be concerned. (I was going to make a "Honey, I Shrunk the Rangers" joke, but apparently I need to save that for Turbo. Damn.) Sprocket decides to keep them as his pets throws them in the terrarium that Tanya is supposed to be painting, and then they have to fight a GIANT TARANTULA. Which is creepy. I hate spiders.

Raymond shows up at the youth center, all pissed off that he was abandoned in the desert, which is a justifiable anger, and Tanya tries Tommy and Kat on the communicators. But apparently because they were shrunk, their communicators don't have enough power to contact Zordon. Whatever, he was probably busy anyway.

The Gold Ranger shows up, and then the rest of the Rangers get there, and there's a fight, and everything is really boring, and eventually Billy figures out how to unshrink them, and then there are Zords and they form the Ultrazord, and dude, be more boring.

It's briefly hinted that Skull might be the Gold Ranger, which would have been awesome. Oh, and Bulk and Skull didn't find gold, they found fool's gold. Whatever.

Fish: 4. There was a lot of ridiculous science in this one.

Episode 175 - Found and Lost

Previously, on Power Rangers - Tommy has a really hot brother. And a magic arrowhead.

Jason David Frank is Native American, and from what we understand he had a lot of say in these episodes that introduced his real life brother, but... um... see, the thing is? A lot of the parts involving his heritage are still pretty sketchy. There's a lot of stereotypes used, but we're giving it a pass, since it is JDF's heritage. Still, something to think about.

Anyway, the episode begins with Tommy and his brother (David Trueheart) discussing their past. David was adopted on the reservation by Sam Trueheart, but for some reason Tommy was not, and he was adopted somewhere else by a couple that probably doesn't even know that David exists. The boys bond some more, and then David tells Tommy about their massive responsibility that has something to do with the arrowhead.

Back at the Youth Center, Adam and Rocky are sparring! Yay!!!!! We sit back and enjoy the pretty for a little while, and then Tommy and David show up. Tommy introduces David to everyone (although really, Tommy, you should probably not go up to your sorta girlfriend and say "there's someone I'd like you to meet") and they're all happy that Tommy has a brother. For some reason, people keep saying that Tommy and David look really identical. Well, there's a family resemblance, but I wouldn't call it seeing double, for real. Bulk and Skull decide this is suspicious, and they will perform a background check on David, even though they know nothing about computers. Then they realize they forgot to feed Rito and Goldar, and also they didn't lock the garage, so they head home to do this.

I am really uncomfortable with slave!RitoandGoldar, but I would desperately love Rito/Goldar fic set during this.

Anyway, since Tommy and David are brothers, they must totally share the same interests, so apparently David is also totally into martial arts. This made us laugh a lot, because I have almost nothing in common with my younger brother, ditto for QR and her sister. So Tommy and David spar, and Tommy wins, and David gets really pissed off. He's a sore loser, and that takes away some of the hotness factor. It's suggested that Tommy embarrassed him, but what? He should have let David win? Whatever.

The Machine Empire starts discussing how one of the Rangers has a sibling and now they should capture him! Wait, seriously? Tommy is the only one of them with a sibling? All the Rangers are only children? Frankly, I call bullshit on this. Since I still stand by my Rocky has younger siblings theory. Some of the Rangers need to have siblings. Seriously.

When David stormed out of the Youth Center he promptly gets kidnapped by Cogs, and apparently Mondo also wants the Magic Arrowhead. However, Tommy has that. The Rangers all head to the Power Chamber, and Billy can't find David anywhere on Earth, and Tommy suggests other planets, which somehow gets an answer that they're scanning all known dimensions? Are other planets in a different dimension now? Is Angel Grove its own pocket universe?

However, David isn't on another planet. He's just in a cave. With cave paintings. Oh, show.

Anyway, Mondo sends down a monster that can turn itself into a ball and can bounce off Zords, so the fight is like watching a game of pong. It gets really old, really fast. The Rangers retreat. I guess Tommy learned a bit from the Thunderzords blowing up.

Back at the Power Chamber, Billy scans Tommy's magical arrowhead, and can't detect any power from it. Tommy takes it back, and then somehow astral projects to see David in a cave. Then Tommy has a vision of Sam Trueheart, who astral projects into the Power Chamber and tells Tommy about how the cave is really dangerous. Okay? How did Mondo know to select that particular cave? Whatever, there's a lot of fish starting to pile up.

The only way to stop the bouncing monster is to combine the Zords. Unfortunately, the way to do that requires Tommy to clear his mind and concentrate. This... is not going to end well. And it doesn't, because Tommy can't get his shit together, and the Rangers have to retreat again. Everyone splits up, with Tommy going to look for his brother, and the Rangers to go deal with stuff, while Billy tries to figure out a way to bypass Tommy's brain so everything will work, which just makes us laugh forever.

Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull are putting up fliers looking for Rito and Goldar, when Lt. Stone comes around and tells them they shouldn't be out on the streets due to a monster attack.

Alpha finds David, but for some reason they can't teleport him out, and Tommy goes to go find him. Mondo shows up, and says he will release David if Tommy gives him the magical arrowhead. Tommy agrees, clearly forgetting the other times that villains have tried this. He hands over the Arrowhead, and Mondo laughs at him and calls him stupid. To be continued...

As the credits roll, Bulk and Skull manage to find Rito and Goldar. Or maybe the other way around.

Fish: 4. They were really starting to pile up. And it started so well.

Fic we want: Rito/Goldar!

Episode 176- Brother, Can You Spare An Arrowhead

This episode is really boring.

It's also a time-filler. We get a full morphing sequence, a full Zord summoning sequence, and a full MegaZord combining sequence.

The subplot is the most interesting part, so I'm going to start with that. Bulk and Skull, having lost Rito and Goldar, finally make it home with them. They're hanging out in the garage when the Monster Sirens give them the all clear. How much do I love that Angel Grove has Monster Siren? Lt. Stone tracks them down to the garage and they scramble to hide Rito and Goldar. Lt. Stone tells them they have to take a psychological evaluation before they can be officers. They are to meet him at the Youth Center. Why they're doing a psychological exam in the Youth Center instead of the Junior Police headquarters I have NO idea. The fish (ie, the budget) directed them there, I guess.

So Bulk and Skull see monsters in all the ink blots Lt. Stone shows them. Bulk even says one of them looks like the Putties! He remembers the Putties! He even makes Putty noises! I love Bulk. Lt. Stone looks over their responses. The results? You live in Angel Grove. Unfortunately, that's not verbatim from the episode, but it should have been. Because that's basically what it says. The results are that Bulk and Skull think about monsters ALL THE TIME (duh, they live in Angel Grove). While this means they can't be officers in any other city, because they live in Angel Grove, they are exactly what the Police Force is looking for. So basically? The results: You live in Angel Grove.

Now, the actual plot of this episode? Very boring.

The MUST BE REPEATED BECAUSE REALLY TOMMY? setup: Tommy meets up with Mondo. He's told he can hand over his arrowhead and Mondo will give him his brother back. Tommy's memory sucks because he's apparently forgotten all the other times they've traded powers and valuables to get back hostages, only to have the Big Bad stick their tongue out and go "Nyah nyah nyah boo boo!" in their faces. Which is, unsurprisingly, just what Mondo does. OF COURSE he doesn't give David back. DUH.

Somehow this makes Tommy MORE focused and he's able to combine the zords. Uh... okay? Anyway, he basically just hugs the back of the MegaZord and it makes a bunch of guns out of his arms. They defeat the monster.

Tommy goes to talk to Sam Trueheart because he needs to know what's the deal with the arrowhead. Sam tells him it controls monsters if it's in contact with some magical rock. Tommy is barely listening and it clearly irritates Sam, who tells him David needs to come home now.

David is teleported out of the cave with the monster the cave created and cogs come and grab him. Mondo comes down too, just to taunt the rangers. David is all excited to see them. It's kind of cute. He's all upset that Mondo has the arrowhead, though. Tommy manages to get David away from the cogs and teleports him to "safety", which in Ranger-land means Somewhere Else. David is flipping out because he thinks Mondo has Tommy. Tommy takes off his helmet to show David that no, he's really okay, because he's the red ranger. David is the first person they've outright told that does NOT become a ranger later on.

Mondo finds the rock. He puts the arrowhead on it. Tommy finds Mondo at the rock. Tommy takes the arrowhead. It's... really easy and stupid. Somewhere in there the rangers beat the monster that was created in the cave. It was really boring and I've forgotten most of it already, a whole 15 minutes after watching the episode.

Back at the Youth Center, David is emoting all over his glass of water. Tommy talks to him and they try to figure out what to do with the arrowhead. They could just take it to Sam Trueheart, y'know, David's adoptive father, the wise man that bestows all kinds of wisdom on them all the darn time. Instead they both hold it and it magically separates. Mmkay.


4.5 fish. It just piled up everywhere.

174- Challenges

Last time on Power Rangers- the world is relying on Tommy's brainpower to save it. We're all DOOMED.

So in the Youth Center, now cleared of Native American works of art, Ernie has decided to bring in Lt. Stone, aka "The Rock", to give free boxing lessons. Adam is all "Free boxing? I'm there!" and Rocky is all "Boxing? Really? But your pretty pretty face?". But Adam goes to sign up anyway, with Tanya's encouragement. They start with the basics... jump rope. We now want a massive crossover with Jump In. We must wonder why he always wears sweatshirts (okay, TSB wonders... me, what do I know of fashion? He looks fine to me. :P) Is it because JYB did his own stunts and they were trying to cover the bruises? Such is the rumour...

Meanwhile, Tommy is on his spirit quest. He keeps trying to touch that flying falcon. Apparently nobody has told him they fly TOO HIGH for a person to touch from some rock outcrop. Oh well. He is also chasing the mysterious PRETTY PRETTY YOUNG MAN that appeared out of thin air on the MAGICAL HORSE. Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE this show?

Adam is walking home by himself when he's accosted by the Monster of the Week. Prince Sproket has taken up boxing and they have now sent down a boxing monster... dressed entirely in blue, so clearly he's obsessed with Rocky. He attacks Adam to fight for Rocky's affection. Ranger Rule number 23, after all, applies to non-rangers after rangers too.

Adam calls for help and Rocky, Tanya, and Kat try to sneak off to go help him. Ernie passes them by with boxing gloves and gives them a look that says he clearly knows what they're going to do, but he's pretending otherwise for their sake. Aw, Ernie. Bless. So they join the fight but they still can't beat this guy. Boxing Monster and Sprocket turn Adam into an action figure sized Power Ranger trophy. Sprocket tells them if they win, they'll get Adam back unharmed in his normal size. If they lose, well. We all know what happens then.

They can't do this without Tommy (or rather, without Zords and Tommy has the only working Zord, so... yeah), so he has to leave his spirit quest to go help out. Tommy's Zord fights the Boxing Monster (who's name I cannot for the life of me remember, and I watched the episode all of five minutes ago). It's very Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots. Ah, the memories of my childhood. Anyway, they win. Of course. And for some reason, Sprocket lets Adam go and he becomes actual size again.

Tommy goes back to his spirit quest where there is an earthquake. Oh, Tommy. Stop following your heart. He hears a cry for help and rushes to save the Mysterious Pretty Magical Stranger who is falling off a cliff. The falcon lands close enough to touch, but if he stops to touch the falcon, Pretty Stranger will leap to his doom fall to his death. I do love this about Tommy... he doesn't even hesitate. He doesn't angst. He doesn't question. He just dives and grabs hold of the Pretty Magical Man.

Pretty Magical Man knows all about Tommy. He shows Tommy his own half an arrowhead and, gasp, they match! The tinfoil arrowheads magically combine into one unbroken arrowhead as we learn that David is Tommy's brother. Dun dun dun!

We do not learn anything else about Adam and boxing, which this episode led me to believe it was about.

2 fish. This was also surprisingly low on fish for a Tommy episode!

Fic we want: that crossover, but also a Mystic Force crossover! Or an excerpt from Once a Ranger because... well... Adam and Xander! They can bond.

Episode 173 - Inner Spirit

OH MAN, YOU GUYS. Look, we're both in the south, and I just got out of the house today for the FIRST TIME since Sunday. Being stuck in the house = NOT FUN. Also, I managed to get to the store today, and now I have wine. Yay!

SO.

We're still on the All About Tommy run of episodes. This is... clearly not my favorite thing in the universe. However, there's a ton of continuity in these episodes, and there's actually some pretty awesome stuff in it. Also, Davis is freaking pretty.

We begin with a flashback to the Stereotype Quests where Tommy thinks about the Magical Arrowhead that he was given. Then we see a flash of the Megazord being drained. Tommy is concerned about his dream, so he actually goes to see Zordon.

The scene in the power chamber is really cute - Alpha's got on a nightcap! Zordon is all concerned about what time it is! The Megazord appears to be fine, but the Power Chamber experiences a brief power loss.

The next day, it turns out that the Youth Center is host to a Native American cultural event. We're not sure why this exhibit is being held at the Youth Center and not at a museum but whatever. Apparently it's also being sponsored by the Police, and since it's important for it to be a success, Lt. Stone gives the very important job of selling raffle tickets for it to Bulk and Skull. Apparently the one who sells the most tickets gets a free trip to Hawaii. The two keep trying to sell tickets (even to Principal Caplan!) but apparently someone named Delmar has beat them to it.

For the record, we would totally watch a show about Bulk and Skull in Hawaii.

Anyway, Tommy arrives (late) to the exhibit, and runs into the guy from his Zeo Quest. The guy claims not to recognize him, but Tommy is sure it's the same person, and offers to drive him somewhere to spend some time. He shows him the Arrowhead he was given, and when he's dropped off, the guy (Sam Trueheart) suggests that this is a good place to look for Arrowheads.

Mondo's latest monster is an energy drainer, that is draining power from Angel Grove. For some reason, this is also affecting the Power Chamber. Um. Why is the Power Chamber using Angel Grove's power? REALLY? Zordon doesn't have solar panels or something installed on that thing? Do they pay taxes? You fail so hard, Zordon.

The Rangers all morph in the dark, and that's pretty awesome. We go straight to a Zord fight, and the Megazord has its energy drained, and apparently it will take 3.6 days to recharge. That is suboptimal. Luckily, Billy has a backup plan.

You can read this scene in one of two ways - either Billy has a crush on Tommy, or he just used Tommy as the test case because he wouldn't care if Tommy was lost. YMMV. Anyway, Billy has built a new Zord based on Aquitian technology especially for Tommy, and it runs off Tommy's brainwaves. Tommy needs to be able to concentrate and have inner peace in order for it to work correctly.

Excuse me for a moment.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Ok, done now.

So, Tommy tries to go use his new Battle Zord, but he manages to crash it right out of the gate. Then it falls off a cliff. The other Rangers shoot the monster, and it does way more damage than the Zords did. Tommy finally manages to get his act together, thanks to a vision from Sam Trueheart that basically tells him to stop thinking and he manages to beat the monster.

Back at the Youth Center, it turns out that Delmar is the police chief's son. Bulk and Skull are very sad.

Tommy goes to the desert and a really hot guy on a magical horse appears out of nowhere. The episode ends.

The question I have for you - is this a Piers Anthony Magical Horse, or is this a Mercedes Lackey Magical Horse? Please discuss. (Details on the differences will be provided upon request, but you may not want to know)

Fish - 2! Hey, continuity exists in this episode!

Episode 172- There's No Business Like Snow Business Part 3

Why do I seem to get most of the science fail episodes? WHY, Power Rangers, WHY???

Last time on Power Rangers- Kim dumped Tommy. Billy and Kat took Tommy to go snowboarding to cheer him up. Billy and Kat tried to force a very nice girl on him.

Mondo has sent down the Defoliater and every time anybody says that all I can hear is the Defiler. Oh Power Rangers. You're a very bad show (or I'm a very bad girl... same difference). They turned this into a Very Special Episode in order to teach kids about global warming. Except they're doing it ALL WRONG. They don't talk about what climate change really means, no, instead they just talk about how it's getting all hot outside. *headdesk*

So Tommy, Kat, and Billy check out and head home. They keep pushing him to stay for Heather, except he's CLEARLY NOT READY GUYS. He tells her they have to leave and he wishes he could explain (seriously, just say there's a family emergency, it's NOT THAT HARD). She's upset but understands and kisses him on the cheek.

In Angel Grove, everybody is OMGSOHOT. In the temperature sense, that is. They call the zords right away and fight the monster. They seem to defeat him, as he claims he's wilting, except he's not REALLY beaten. He's just pretending.

Tommy is still really upset about being dumped, DUH, and Kat knows how to cheer him up. Ernie is closing early to do inventory, so she manages to set up a romantic dinner in his closed Youth Center. She gets everything set up and even dresses up herself. Tommy comes in, confused but dressed in a tux as asked, and is amazed at what she's done for him. Even more amazing, she's called Heather to come down for the dinner.

OMG GUYS, JUST STOP IT. Seriously, these are the WORST FRIENDS EVER. Do NOT push him to date so soon! He's NOT READY. Give him time to move on in a healthy manner. Yeesh.

Anyway, Tommy has to leave early because Kat and Tanya are under attack and can't fight off the monster on their own. Instead of Adam and Rocky helping and waiting to grab Tommy until he was absolutely necessary, they pull him away. Heather is understandably angry. She drove for a really long time to get to that date and he's just abandoning her again with nary an explanation. I'd have left, too.

So they go have a boring fight and beat the monster. For real this time.

Kat and Tommy sit at the fancy dinner and she apologizes for it not working. He thanks her for setting it all up and she says she just wants him to have somebody to make him happy again. NO, KAT, JUST NO. REBOUNDS ARE A BAD IDEA. So her favourite song comes on and Tommy asks her to dance. Queue the beginning of the Tommy/Kat romance.

5 fish. Just... ugh. At least it's over?

Episode 170- There's No Business Like Snow Business Part 1

Okay, I don't like these episodes on the whole, but I forgot just how amazingly hilarious the first part of this three parter is!

We start off learning a professional snowboarder will be at a nearby (but not local) snow lodge signing autographs. Billy apparently likes snowboarding, while Ernie wouldn't be caught dead there. Tommy is lifting weights and he's halfway through his last set when he receives an OMINOUS letter from Kim. Why she mailed it to the Youth Center I have NO clue. But whatever. He doesn't want to stop so he asks Adam to read it to him. AND HE DOES.

Kim has found somebody new. She's breaking up with him. She no longer has feelings for him, but sees him as a brother... which makes up hope she's doing this because she's discovered she's a lesbian (or at the very least bisexual). She does it in a nice way, I suppose, though a phone call would have gone over better since she couldn't do it face to face. Tommy is all heartbroken. Tommy is heartbroken and goes to mope.

And we get the best BAD MONTAGE. Seriously, it's like the worst fanvid ever, complete with disturbingly cheesy BAD music. I LOVE IT SO.

Kat tries to cheer Tommy up, but it's of no use. So Billy has an idea. He's going to take them to the snow lodge so Tommy can go snowboarding. That should cheer him up! Maybe. I mean, his long time first serious girlfriend JUST dumped him... that HURTS. A LOT. Snowboarding can't really fix that. I never thought I'd say this, but I actually feel bad for Tommy! Will wonders never cease?

So at the snow lodge, Billy and Tommy are ready to get out in THE GLORIOUS SNOW, but Kat is still adjusting to the cold, so she hangs out with some hot chocolate for awhile. She sees some cogs, whom nobody else seems to realize aren't actual people, and so instead of using her communicator, she just follows them.

Meanwhile, Tommy's heartbreak has given Mondo an idea. He pulls out RoboCupid and sends her down to Angel Grove to put a spell on all the humans to make them fall in love with machines. She accidentally puts the spell on herself first and falls in love with Clank. It's WONDERFUL! I love that scene. She hugs him and snuggles him and I just love Monsters in Love.

She has to get to work, though, and she is efficient! Bulk and Skull both fall in love with the motorcycle! Ernie falls in love with his blender! Lt. Stone brings FLOWERS to an arcade game! People are in love with TOASTERS! FRAKIN TOASTERS!

Rocky, Tanya, and Adam know something is wrong. They're training for something (and boys sparring is PRETTY) but they don't know quite what's wrong. They aim to find out, but that's not really focused on much.

Back at the snow lodge, Professional Snowboarder Heather has convinced Tommy and Billy to go down the super-expert Widowmaker with her. They cave. Peer pressure is BAD, you guys. Kat, meanwhile, has chased the cogs down the same route. They have removed the CLIFF WARNING signs. Kat morphs and fights them, but they run off with the signs. She is able to warn Tommy and Billy, but Heather can't stop in time and goes over the cliff. Oh noes!

To Be Continued...

4 fish. It wasn't too bad, and while I'm ecstatic to have Billy back, I really wish he'd left the fish on Aquitar. The only thing that saved this episode was Lt. Stone bringing flowers to an arcade game and PEOPLE WERE IN LOVE WITH TOASTERS YOU GUYS! *snuggles it so*

Episode 171 - There's No Business Like Snow Business - Part 2

Previously, on As The Rangers Turn, Kimberly has left Tommy in a letter, possibly for another woman. Adam, Rocky and Tanya are off negotiating their own relationship drama, while Billy and Kat attempt to be the Worst Friends Ever and the people of Angel Grove are falling in love with Cyclons. Confused? You won't be after this episode of Power Rangers Zeo!

So, Professional Snowboard Who Is Really Bad At It is dangling precariously off the cliff. Tommy, Kat and Billy all stand around wondering what they should do, while the answer is obviously have Kat morph and grab her, since Heather didn't see Kat. While they stand around doing nothing, the other three Rangers call and are all "Hey, everyone is falling in love with toasters and blenders, get back here already" but they can't leave Heather, so Adam, Rocky and Tanya go fight on their own. A bunch of other people show up on the mountain top, even though this is supposed to be the hardest course, and they just give Tommy their jackets, so that he can then dangle precariously off the edge of the mountain so that Heather can grab hold. Why he just doesn't add his scarf or that thing on his head to the chain of jackets, I don't know. But they manage to bring Heather up safely, and then Tommy and Kat claim they have to go be somewhere, and they just teleport off.

WORST EXCUSES EVER. They are on top of a mountain, where are they supposed to be???

Anyway, the Rangers summon the defender wheel, and then they summon the Zords and they destroy Robo Cupid. So instead, Mondo decides he will unleash the power of Global Warming, by which we mean he's going to make Angel Grove really hot.

This episode is really boring, I almost want there to be more Tommy angsting over Kim.

Instead, Billy and Kat decide to be the Wost Friends Ever and start trying to set Tommy up with Heather, even though he is clearly not ready. (He just got dumped yesterday) and also, rebound relationships where one person is just trying to use the other to get over someone is REALLY SHITTY.

Back in Angel Grove, Adam and Rocky spar, and it is really pretty. *shallow* Why do we not see them spar more often? Then everyone complains that it's really hot, and yet Adam is wearing a sweatshirt. Does anyone else see a problem with this?

Anyway, Billy and Kat claim they have stuff to do and Tommy goes off with Heather. She takes him to a very picturesque part of the mountain, and they talk, and then Heather is all "So hey, your friends told me about Kimberly. Want to make out now?" Tommy, to his credit, is clearly not having it.

Also, we're assuming that the Billy and Kat constantly going off together is where that particular ship came from? We don't really get it.

So, Zordon calls and insists the Rangers come back to the Power Chamber immediately, because... we don't know? So Billy and Kat interrupt Heather and Tommy (who are about to go see a snowboarding movie, because heaven forbid Heather have any interests outside of snowboarding or Tommy) with a "Hey, we've got to go do an activity. Ready?" So Tommy stands Heather up, and she sulks. The end.

This episode was so boring. SO BORING.

Fish: 4. It would probably be 5, except Tommy's angst was actually pretty realistic, so we'll knock off a fish.

Episode 160 - For Cryin' Out Loud

This episode is not one of my favourites. It's not as bad as I remember, but it's still kind of... uh... fishy.

So we start out AWESOME. Adam and Rocky are MOCKING TOMMY to the fullest extent. They're even singing the wedding march and apologizing for not having time to get gifts. Tanya joins them and wonders what's going on. Tommy explains that he and Kat have to pretend to be married for a few days for a class project. Tanya joins in on the mocking. Because she is just awesome like that.

Kat finally shows up and, surprise!, she has a baby with her. A REAL baby. Not some soda bottle baby, or the flour baby, or even one of those high tech baby dolls I hear they use now. No, she has a real, live, flesh and blood, breathing toddler in her hands. I'd estimate he's about... oh... 14 months old? He's young. He's the most freaking adorable little baby I've seen on this show, though!

Kat apparently agreed to watch this little boy, whom she babysits for on occasion, for "a couple of days" while they're doing their project. First of all, who lets a teenager babysit a baby that young for "a couple of days"? I did overnights with kids when I was 17/18/19, sure, but they were generally older children and I DIDN'T HAVE SCHOOL. Nobody would say "Sure, take my kid for a couple of days and he can go to all your high school classes with you!" Uh... no. Second of all, it wasn't really fair of her to spring this child on Tommy "for their class project" when it wasn't actually a part of the class project. They just had to pretend to be married, no children involved. I mean, my kids are a prime example of the fact that more children are surprises than planned, but still... that's... more than a little extreme for a class project. And at least if it were real life surprise!baby, Tommy would have had a good 8-9 months to prepare for a wrinkly little alien invading his life. But hey, the kid is there now and there is nothing "Daddy" can do about it, so he will help out and do the best he can.

Anyway, back to the story. Everybody oohs and aahs over the adorableness of Joey, and then Tanya notices a distinct aroma. She and Rocky quickly make excuses and flee. Adam doesn't even bother with an excuse. He just runs away. Far, far away. Tommy tries to sneak off and Kat calls him back to help her change the diaper. I really can't blame her. She may have sprung this kid on him, but he's supposed to be "Daddy" here so he BETTER help her out.

On the moon, the Machine Empire is basically bickering over who had what idea. King Mondo wins, as usual, and creates the BooHoo Monster out of some of Joey's toys. This causes something to happen to amplify and alter Joey's cries so everything he begins to cry, he causes an earthquake. Suddenly we aren't so sure he isn't really Tommy's illegitimate son...

Joey ends up at school with Kat in what we're assuming is the next day. Bulk and Skull try to stop her from entering the computer area with the baby, as it's been designated a no-crying zone. She gets in anyway. Rocky says babies can't be THAT much trouble. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA Oh, Rocky. Joey wakes up and starts crying, causing an earthquake. Kat and Rocky get him outside and calmed down while Tommy and Billy go try to figure out what caused it. Meanwhile, Kat and Rocky get joined by Adam and Tanya just in time to get attacked by Cogs. Tommy joins them and they morph to fight, Kat running off to the side with the baby. Luckily Alpha shows up to watch over Joey while Kat goes to fight. We want a MILLION FICS of Alpha babysitting, like he did with Baby!Dillon. Unfortunately, cogs get hold of Alpha and fry his circuits, kidnapping Joey in the process.

There is some really bad episode splicing with Sentai and the rangers end up fighting downtown. "Joey" (who looks very little like the American Joey, and looks like she could be a girl in the Sentai...) is up on top of a really tall and flimsy metal staircase, so Tommy fights his way up. There is some dramatic scene where he nearly falls off, but the baby doesn't budge in his stroller, and he, unsurprisingly, eventually makes it to the top. He offers Joey a bottle only to discover it's empty. What a tease, Tommy. Unfortunately, the staircase gets attacked and the stroller falls off the edge. Tommy jumps after it, grabbing it in midair, and lands safely. Except it's empty!

Because Billy is SMART and teleported baby Joey to "help him out in the Chamber". OMG Billy with a baby? SO FREAKIN CUTE.

Back to the fight, they have to call out the Zords and there's a big boring fight and they win. As usual.

At school, they are all saying goodbye to Joey who is apparently going home now that the project that didn't really involve babies is over. The teacher comes up to Tommy and Kat and congratulates them, says he enjoyed their performance, and then just gives them their grade right there in front of everybody. Kat mentions looking forward to having kids one day, in the future, y'know, far in the future, not now by any means. The teachers says he was hoping to hear that because he and his wife need a babysitter for that Saturday. For their twins. And Kat just can't say no. So she agrees. And the teacher says he had hoped Tommy would join in. So Tommy has to help now too. Hahahhaha.

3.5 fish. It wasn't as bad as I remember, but it certainly wasn't great. The only reason I'd ever rewatch is for the adorableness of the baby. Dawwwwwwwbabies.

Fic we want: Alpha as a babysitter. Millions and millions of fics of Alpha as a babysitter.

Episode 153 - Sowing the Seeds of Evil

How did I get the Tommy episode? Whatever, we're still in stereotype land.

The plot.

IN ANGEL GROVE: Billy builds Cestro a shower. Tengas show up and destroy the shower. Billy fights unmorphed and is really pretty. Cestro tells Billy about the Hydro Hog, the Emperor of the Dark Water. Zedd and Rita decide to bring the Hydro Hog to Earth. Billy creates a shield to block them from doing so, stealing Rita and Zedd's plan from 2 episodes ago. Nothing else happens.

QUESTIONS: Why did they build the shower in the middle of Angel Grove instead of somewhere in safety? Wouldn't the Hydro Hog get weakened by Earth as well? Why wasn't there a Zord fight this episode? Is Hydro Hog responsible for there never being an ending to Pirates of Dark Water?

IN STEREOTYPE AUSTRALIA: Baby!Kat is all excited to be home. She meets teenage!Kat who pretends to be confused to see her. She tells Baby!Kat that she knows where the crystal is, and that she will take her to it. They run into Old!Kat who asks Baby!Kat for help getting home. Teen!Kat tells Baby!Kat that if she leaves, she will never get the crystal. Baby!Kat goes and helps Old!Kat anyway. Teen!Kat and her car vanish in a lot of pink. Old!Kat gives Baby!Kat the crystal and tells her that all those who sacrifice their needs to help others will be rewarded. This is a lie.

QUESTIONS: Everyone else is meeting their ancestors. How is Baby!Kat meeting two versions of herself? Why is Old!Kat lying like that? Why is Baby!Kat's quest so much easier than Rocky's?

IN STEREOTYPE NATIVE AMERICANS: There are teepees. Tommy asks a woman to find a big rock, and she points to a hawk. Tommy follows the hawk and meets True of Heart, who tells him he needs to get in touch with his roots and the true Tommy inside. Tommy starts seeing things as nature speaks to him and points him in the right direction. There's apparently a legend about him. (OF COURSE THERE IS.) Tommy tries to commune with nature which causes an earthquake and the two fake crystals to explode. Oh, and True of Heart gives him half an arrowhead. It's foreshadowing time!

QUESTIONS: WHAT THE FUCK. JUST. WHAT THE FUCK. (Also, so Tommy is responsible for all the earthquakes in Angel Grove? HAHAHAA.)

BACK IN ANGEL GROVE: Everyone worries about Aisha because somehow time is running out. Baby!Kat accent fails.

QUESTIONS: TIME TRAVEL DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.

Fish: 4.5. RAAAAAAAAAAAAGE.

Episode 141 - Master Vile and the Metallic Armor Part 2

Hi! I am back from Morphicon where I got some important pieces of my personal fanon confirmed (Aisha becomes a politician, y'all. I win at life) and got to listen to Catherine Sutherland complain about how all she did was scream for Tommy. I love this ridiculous show and that absolutely amazing con. But you aren't here for my con report, you're here for a recap. SO.

Previously, on Power Rangers - The Rangers become Sparklepires. This somehow makes Tommy even more stupid than usual.

So, the episode begins with the Shogunzord getting the crap kicked out of it. Poor Shogunzord. It's only been a few episodes since we got you! And they're all abandoning it for the other Ninjazords, which I like way better than the Shogunzords anyway. The Rangers all hope that Tommy and Kat are doing their job.

Oh, poor delusional Rangers. Up on the moon, Kat is not doing that good a job at pretending to be evil this time, I guess since her natural self is all pure and good and all that. Rita and Zedd don't really believe her, so they decide to put her in a reverse caring meter which will turn her completely evil. Instead of Tommy going off to go get the crystal, he just stands there watching Kat and not doing anything. Because he is a moron. Either go rescue her immediately and forget the plan, or go do your damn job! Luckily, Zordon sees fit to inform Tommy that if they find the Zeo Crystal it will suck the evil from her, so no big deal! Yay plot device!

Tommy goes into the caves where he is confronted by the other Rangers who claim that Master Vile has won, and they were spared along with their families if they stop fighting. You guys, I want the AU where this is true. *puppy dog eyes* Obviously, Tommy realizes that this is a test and ignores them (as Rangers don't give up. Insert bitchy comment about the OO team here and keeps going. Hmm. Illusions. he's then confronted by evil Kat and Rita, but he also realizes that these are illusions, and ignores them.

THEN Kat shows up and claims she escaped because she didn't think he was ok, and that made me laugh a whole lot. She tells him to attack Master Vile who is standing by the Zeo Crystal, but Tommy isn't sure, and somehow that shows it's another illusion. Then Tommy goes up to get the crystal, and fake!Kat reminds him that he's evil and we get a glorious flashback to Green With Evil, but it is countered by his awesomeness of being the White Ranger, or some nonsense like that. So he manages to get the crystal.

For the record, if they needed a truly GOOD Ranger, they should have used one of the SCT. Or KAT. Her whole thing is that she's pure and good!

So Tommy gets the crystal and sucks the evil from Kat and then steals the Falconzord, and we get the world's longest freaking fight scene. The Rangers are all losing and they're getting the shit kicked out of them and Tommy and his falconzord shows up. They appear to be defeating the monster, except then it combines with Ninjor's powers (if you count the N on its chest and the shoulder pads) and starts draining their energy again. The Rangers have angst about how they can't hurt Ninjor, and they get beaten up, and longest freaking fight scene ever, I really do not care. Am I a bad fan if I really don't watch this for the Megazord fights? Because I don't. Bored now.

On the bright side, then they fall out of the Zords and Rocky's falling noises are hilarious.

The Rangers decide to Sparklepire up or activate their Twilight Armor or unleash their inner Edward Cullen. Tommy mentions that they should hurry up since they left the Zeo Crystal in the Zord. TOMMY. YOU IDIOT.

Master Vile shows up and thanks him for getting the crystal for him. The Rangers use their remaining power to dazzle the monster and make it run away, but they are pretty much out of power.

HOWEVER, there is one good point to the episode. Bulk and Skull show up at Ernie's, and Ernie asks why they're outside since the monster sirens have gone off. (Yet Ernie is outside sweeping, because he's that awesome.) Except they get interrupted by the arrival of all the monsters, who are ready to Party at the Youth Center! They all dance the conga and it is amazing.

So yeah, the episode ends and everyone is worried about losing. But MONSTER PARTY. Awesome!

Fish: 4.5 RIDICULOUS.

Fic I want: MASTER VILE WINS! and the Rangers give up! Best AU ever!

Note: As of now, we are not moving to dreamwidth. We do have an account there, but we're not moving in the immediate future. (Ask us again next week.)

Episode 137- Rita's Pita

Warning: Possible eating triggers

OMG show. I hate this episode. I really really hate this episode. And now, starting out this recap, I wonder how many times I'll have to rewrite this due to capslock incoherency.

So we start this episode with Tommy sparring with an Inappropriately Young Friend. They finish up and Ernie asks what they want to eat. Tommy orders a veggie pita and a fruit smoothie while IYF orders a double cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake. That's a lot of food for a kid but hey, if he's paying for it, more power to him.

Tommy decides to turn this into a Very Special Episode and chastises the IYF for choosing unhealthy food for this one, singular meal. Apparently your body is a temple and ought to be treated as such by only ever eating the healthiest possible food at all times and never ever splurging on something unhealthy, not once, not ever. Because eating junk food makes you a Bad Person unworthy of being a role model. So IYF immediately sees the light of day and orders a veggie pita and fruit smoothie too. *eyeroll*

Meanwhile, Rita and Zedd are doing a better job of watching the rangers than Zordon ever has, and they decide to destroy Tommy by sending down a shrunken monster for him to accidentally eat. The monster will make him eat uncontrollably. It's like Innerspace: the tapeworm sequel!

So the monster goes down and climbs into Tommy's veggie pita. Though I don't think you can really call it that. It's two pieces of pita used as sandwich bread around a few pieces of lettuce. That's... not actually that healthy. So much for the "lesson" of this Very Special Episode.

During this time, Kat, after leaving Adam and Billy who apparently has a crush on her, overhears Rita and Zedd's conversation. How, we don't know. Remnant of the spell apparently. At least that's the convenient plot point of it this particular episode. She rushes to the Youth Center to tell the others what she's overheard, but alas, she's surrounded by some Tenga warriors. She calls her ninja powers for the first time and spends most of the fight being very excited she can morph and harness the pink power and all that jazz. It gets kind of annoying after awhile. Or maybe that's just THIS STUPID EPISODE ITSELF.

Anyway, the monster takes hold of Tommy's stomach and he immediately must eat a bunch of junk food. He takes a platter of sandwiches, chips. twinkies, and cookies away from Bulk and Skull and starts downing it as if he hasn't eaten in weeks. The way he's eating is disturbing. But nobody seems to care about the fact that he's shoveling entire twinkies into his mouth and swallowing without even chewing. No, they are concerned not that he's eating like a starved man, but that he's eating JUNK FOOD.

Rocky and Aisha look disgusted at his food of choice. Inappropriately Young Friend way overreacts, calls Tommy a lying hypocrite, says he has can no longer look up to Tommy as a role model, and stomps off. The others have lost all respect for Tommy. All because Tommy is eating some junk food. OMG show, will you just lay off the EAT HEALTHY OR BE A DISGUSTING SLOB UNWORTHY OF FRIENDSHIP OR LOVE line of thinking here? Seriously?

Kat tries to explain what she heard and Billy tries to get Tommy to go with him to the Command Center for some scans. Tommy refuses, wanting more food, and Billy is sure there is something wrong. Not because he's eating in excessive amounts, mind, but because he's eating junk food. Tommy says there is nothing wrong that a donut won't fix and Billy knows it's way more serious than he thought... because Tommy is going to eat a DONUT! OH NOES! That's it. One donut will surely RUIN HIM FOR LIFE.

The others leave him to go find dessert while they go talk to Zordon. Zordon shows them the monster in Tommy's stomach and Adam asks if they can just teleport Tommy to them. Zordon refuses because bringing Tommy to the Command Center will bring the monster to the Command Center, and that would be far too dangerous and risking far too much. Uh... wait. Didn't they just bring ZEDD into the Command Center? ZEDD? Mr. Evil Emperor himself? And somehow the piddly Tapeworm MONSTER is more dangerous?

Meanwhile, at a local bake sale, Bulk and Skull have decided to stall sales so they can eat whatever isn't sold. Tommy doesn't care that the pies are (not really) made of fish, and downs a bunch of food. He at least pays for it.

The rangers manage to get Tommy away and explain what's going on. He just can't resist though. Aisha comes up with an awesome plan and gets Rocky to help her bring over a massive ice cream sundae. Tommy tries to lunge for it but the others hold him back. The monster wants that sundae though, so he jumps out of Tommy's stomach and they all have to fight. Kat is still super excited she's a ranger.

The monster grows and the rangers call their zords and I have a moment of rage that Kat is Tommy's copilot, except apparently it was mentioned that Kim did that as well, though I don't recall seeing it. Oh well. They beat the Tapeworm Monster and save the day.

At the Youth Center, Tommy approaches the downtrodden just-had-his-whole-world-shattered Inappropriately Young Friend. IYF refuses to listen at first, calling Tommy a hypocrite. And now he's going to quit karate, too. Way to overreact, IYF! Tommy admits he made some pretty big mistakes (DUDE ATE SOME JUNK FOOD, THAT IS NOT A MISTAKE NOR THE END OF THE WORLD), and gives a lesson on being true to yourself and yada yada yada.

Number of times I had to rewrite: Only twice. I gave up trying to take the rage out. It's just not happening.

Fish: ALL THE FISH IN THE WORLD. Um, really only about 4.5 I guess. But I want to give it all the fish in the world. Stupid episode.

Things we'd like to see: This monster fighting the Pudgy Pig (PP would TOTALLY win) OR, alternately, this monster having a sit down and chat session with Pudgy Pig. They'd have a lot to talk about!

Junk food eaten during the viewing of this episode: consumed some Cheez-Its and 3 Cosmos. only had some water, but is now, having finished writing this, going to eat a HUGE bowl of ice cream. Because this episode made me NEED IT.