Oh this was just painful to watch. Really really painful. It would have been easier to get through it with beer, but alas, we're out.
This episode starts with a play rehearsal. In a classroom. With some props and costumes already. So it's a dress rehearsal, except they're not on a stage. There are no stagehands, no set decorators working away on the backdrops, not even a drama teacher! The drama student in me weeps with everything that is wrong with this episode.
So Kimberly is playing Nameless Poor Maiden. Jason is the evil king making her spin straw into gold. Bulk is Rumpelstiltskin. Billy is the director. Skull is some kind of jester. The rest have no part. Principal Caplan is in charge of the kids... I guess he's the drama teacher too? I just... oh this is bad.
Bulk plays around too much with the props and breaks the spinning wheel. Kim freaks out because it belongs to her grandmother and it's an antique. Uh... then why did you bring it to school to be used as a prop, Kim??? Seriously? At least Bulk, who had been mean, had the tact to look as if he felt bad for breaking it.
She freaks out and whines to Ernie at the Youth Center. Tommy says he can fix the spinning wheel. Sure he can. All teenage boys are well versed in the operations of antique spinning wheels. *sigh* They go back to the school and discover it's missing. Kim freaks out again and they rush to the Youth Center to ask if anyone has seen it. Uh... the Youth Center? Didn't they think to ask around at, I don't know, the SCHOOL? Where the spinning wheel was being kept? I guess not. Anyway, nobody has seen it and not once does Kim, Ms. this-earthquake-must-be-Rita's-doing, suspect Rita might have taken it. I shudder as half a season of character development just falls away before my very eyes.
At least while she's being mopey, the other Rangers come to cheer her up by mocking her affectionately and lovingly. It was really rather cute.
Tommy is alone in the park. This always means trouble. He is attacked by putties and after groping one, he stops mid fight to strike a pose. I just want to look at him and say "C'mon, do it, VOGUE.". He does this just about every fight. And every fight I get Madonna stuck in my head. Thanks, Tommy.
The putties capture him and tie him to a bridge. Meanwhile, Zordon contacts the Rangers to let them know Tommy has been captured. He was paying attention! He knew what was going on as it happened! He even knew about Kim's spinning wheel going missing! Zordon for the win! They find him tied to a tree, though, and we're not sure how the putties moved him there without him escaping, but whatever. They can't rescue him, however, because they have to go fight Goldar and Scorpina. Yay! Goldar and Scorpina! And Rita's on Earth! And makes them grow! Finally something that makes sense!
But wait, the Rangers must immediately call the Zords and then Jason in the Tyrannosaurus ends up tangled up in a net. The others just kind of stand around and watch while he yells at them to get away lest they be captured as well. They lament Tommy's absence because apparently they can't beat Goldar and Scorpina on their own, despite having done so pretty much all season thus far. Tommy escapes just in time, thank goodness, and joins the fight. They free Jason and his Zord and call on Titanus to form the UltraZord. The fight is almost over and they get attacked by the spinning wheel. Finally. They beat it pretty easily with the UltraZord and the fight is over.
The spinning wheel magically appears back in the classroom and it's all repaired and working fine again. We then get to see acting worse than even my four year old is capable of while Kim, Jason, and Bulk try to act out a very very messed up version of Rumpelstiltskin. Seriously, they all wish her good luck in the middle of the play, she calls Rumpelstiltskin by his name to get him to show up, and then promises to kiss him if he'll spin the three piles of straw into gold. Way to screw up the fairy tale, Power Rangers!
Bulk's pants split open in the middle of the play while his rear-end if facing the audience and every single adult in the room laughs at him. I'm disgusted. The end.
Lists-
Five fish, solid. Just... this was painful. Ridiculous and horribly painful.
No Billy speak. He was barely in this.
Covered in food: Bulk and Skull had some mini-food fight in the Youth Center at one point, but neither of them really got covered in anything.
Questions we want answered: Why, if they needed a spinning wheel, did they not have the Rangers do the play Sleeping Beauty? Seriously? It would have been so much more awesome if Rita had made the spinning wheel prick Tommy's finger and he fell asleep.
Also, TSB would like to see the Rangers doing karaoke to Vogue. I'm intrigued.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Episode 28 - Island of Illusion Part 2
Previously, on Power Rangers: Zack was feeling "a bit anxious" about a dance competition, so Rita decided to come up with her own plan to make all the Rangers lose their self confidence. This involved summoning a ridiculous monster and a giant floating head to blow them to an Island, that may possibly be the Island from Lost. Zack is randomly afraid of snakes, and that makes him start to vanish. Also, the guy doing the previously on announcement keeps saying that the island is called the Island of Illusions, but he is wrong.
Billy almost immediately figures out that somehow Zack starting to disappear is linked to his self esteem. I still don't see how seeing a snake makes you lose your self-esteem, but what do I know? At least this starts the trend of Black Rangers having self-confidence issues. (Look, I said Mirror of Regret was one of my favorite episodes.) Quagmire appears and breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to the camera. For some reason, the Rangers think that he can help. So they try to call for him, and Kimberly calls him Quasimodo. Awesome! This time they manage to convince Quagmire that they don't like Rita, so he offers to help, which basically means doing these ridiculous rhymes about situations where the Rangers have won battles.
Zack remembers fighting the Nasty Knight on his birthday, in an episode that is far more memorable for the fact that Batman exists in the Power Rangers universe. Also, Zack was barely holding his own in that episode before the others show up, so I'm surprised that this was his big triumphant memory. Of course, since he's only had two episodes about him so far, it wasn't like they had a lot of material to work with. Zack resolidifies, and thanks Quagmire for the pep talk. I'm not sure why, because telling someone to have confidence does not translate into actual confidence.
Meanwhile, Zordon tells Alpha that the Island is reflecting communications. I'm not sure how Zordon even knows where they are. There's also some sort of war going on between Alpha and the computer, because it keeps electrocuting him. I don't even know.
Back on the Island, Tommy wonders if Quagmire also knows where their power coins are. Quagmire basically says they have to figure it out for themselves. Billy somehow has developed a program in his mind to discover where the coins are, and as he tells them to turn around, it's time for Kimberly's fear.
Okay, I really do love this show, but WHAT. Kimberly sees Bulk and Skull as Angels, rescuing a turtle. Her reasoning for being terrified by this is that if Rita can make Bulk and Skull be nice, she can do anything. Because apparently only Rita can make Bulk and Skull be nice. I am so looking forward to those two getting more character development and the greatest big damn hero moment in the show.
On the bright side, Quagmire (with some help from Tommy) makes Kimberly remember defeating the Terror Toad!!!!!! My favorite monster, yay! Kimberly doesn't want to remember it at first, because it was too gross. Oh, Kim. *hearts*
She goes back to normal, and then it's Tommy's turn. Now, if this episode was going to try to do something with character development, then Tommy would be afraid of turning evil. Instead, the show claims he's afraid of putties and starts seeing the other Rangers as putties. I choose to fanwank this as Tommy's fear of being on opposite sides of his friends and being forced to attack them, but I may be giving the show too much credit. He beats the spell by remembering beating a bunch of putties. Oh, Tommy.
Trini is afraid that she's going to be next, so of course she is. She starts remembering not just her fear of heights, but her fear that Billy was being too high, and QueenRiley starts flailing about her OTP. She remembers defending Billy and wins, and then Billy gives her a hug.
Now we get to the two fears that actually have something to do with character development. It's a minor miracle. Billy is afraid of failure. He should have figured out a way to do this. His intelligence is failing them. Trini sounds positively panicked when she yells for Quagmire, and Quagmire tells Billy to remember how he beat Madame Woe.
Jason's fear is the one that made us both flail. Jason is afraid of failing his friends, of not being a good enough leader and losing them. He sounds like he's going to cry when he's all "they've faded away because I wasn't good enough!" and just... Oh, JASON. *hugs him so much* Look, it's actual character analysis on the show, and this is why Jason was such a great leader. He remembers fighting King Sphinx, but we're pretty sure that some of the footage wasn't aired here, because it's new to us. (One of these days we should watch Zyuranger, huh?)
The episode was pretty low fish up until this point, and then everything goes wrong. Since they've all beaten the spell, their communicators and morphers reappear! And they morph and get off the island and somehow that revives their zords! And then they form the megadragonultrazord and win! There's a lot of fish right there. Actually, I'm wondering how long they were gone for, I mean, it didn't seem like much time had passed on Earth at all, except Zordon was busy worrying.
Later, at the dance competition, Bulk enters anyway, and makes a fool out of himself, but we're really proud of him, because he had to know that he was going to get laughed at, but he did it anyway. Aww, Bulk. (The judges were really mean. Negative three? Seriously?) And nobody clapped. Fail, Angel Grove!
Zack wins the competition with a perfect score. If you're surprised by this, you aren't watching the same show we are. Oh, and apparently Quagmire is the DJ. I don't even know.
Fish: Four. I love this episode, but man, it is RIDICULOUS.
Billy speak: "Your molecular integrity is fluctuating at an inverse ratio to your level of self esteem"
Trini Translation: "The more Zack doubts himself the less there is of Zack."
Billy speak: "If lack of confidence is the operative factor, it just might work."
"My calculations suggest a 98% probability that our coins are in... that direction"
"She's demolecularizing"
"I recall a confrontation. she had me in a most impressive grip. But I finally applied sufficient leverage to defeat her."
"Wow, prodigious!"
"I seem to be completely reconstituted."
Questions: Who is Quagmire? Why does he hate Rita? I mean, besides the obvious. How did he get on the island? Why was he DJing at the end? And is he the same Mr. Quagmire that was mentioned way back in episode 3?
What fears do you think later Rangers would have to confront?
Billy almost immediately figures out that somehow Zack starting to disappear is linked to his self esteem. I still don't see how seeing a snake makes you lose your self-esteem, but what do I know? At least this starts the trend of Black Rangers having self-confidence issues. (Look, I said Mirror of Regret was one of my favorite episodes.) Quagmire appears and breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to the camera. For some reason, the Rangers think that he can help. So they try to call for him, and Kimberly calls him Quasimodo. Awesome! This time they manage to convince Quagmire that they don't like Rita, so he offers to help, which basically means doing these ridiculous rhymes about situations where the Rangers have won battles.
Zack remembers fighting the Nasty Knight on his birthday, in an episode that is far more memorable for the fact that Batman exists in the Power Rangers universe. Also, Zack was barely holding his own in that episode before the others show up, so I'm surprised that this was his big triumphant memory. Of course, since he's only had two episodes about him so far, it wasn't like they had a lot of material to work with. Zack resolidifies, and thanks Quagmire for the pep talk. I'm not sure why, because telling someone to have confidence does not translate into actual confidence.
Meanwhile, Zordon tells Alpha that the Island is reflecting communications. I'm not sure how Zordon even knows where they are. There's also some sort of war going on between Alpha and the computer, because it keeps electrocuting him. I don't even know.
Back on the Island, Tommy wonders if Quagmire also knows where their power coins are. Quagmire basically says they have to figure it out for themselves. Billy somehow has developed a program in his mind to discover where the coins are, and as he tells them to turn around, it's time for Kimberly's fear.
Okay, I really do love this show, but WHAT. Kimberly sees Bulk and Skull as Angels, rescuing a turtle. Her reasoning for being terrified by this is that if Rita can make Bulk and Skull be nice, she can do anything. Because apparently only Rita can make Bulk and Skull be nice. I am so looking forward to those two getting more character development and the greatest big damn hero moment in the show.
On the bright side, Quagmire (with some help from Tommy) makes Kimberly remember defeating the Terror Toad!!!!!! My favorite monster, yay! Kimberly doesn't want to remember it at first, because it was too gross. Oh, Kim. *hearts*
She goes back to normal, and then it's Tommy's turn. Now, if this episode was going to try to do something with character development, then Tommy would be afraid of turning evil. Instead, the show claims he's afraid of putties and starts seeing the other Rangers as putties. I choose to fanwank this as Tommy's fear of being on opposite sides of his friends and being forced to attack them, but I may be giving the show too much credit. He beats the spell by remembering beating a bunch of putties. Oh, Tommy.
Trini is afraid that she's going to be next, so of course she is. She starts remembering not just her fear of heights, but her fear that Billy was being too high, and QueenRiley starts flailing about her OTP. She remembers defending Billy and wins, and then Billy gives her a hug.
Now we get to the two fears that actually have something to do with character development. It's a minor miracle. Billy is afraid of failure. He should have figured out a way to do this. His intelligence is failing them. Trini sounds positively panicked when she yells for Quagmire, and Quagmire tells Billy to remember how he beat Madame Woe.
Jason's fear is the one that made us both flail. Jason is afraid of failing his friends, of not being a good enough leader and losing them. He sounds like he's going to cry when he's all "they've faded away because I wasn't good enough!" and just... Oh, JASON. *hugs him so much* Look, it's actual character analysis on the show, and this is why Jason was such a great leader. He remembers fighting King Sphinx, but we're pretty sure that some of the footage wasn't aired here, because it's new to us. (One of these days we should watch Zyuranger, huh?)
The episode was pretty low fish up until this point, and then everything goes wrong. Since they've all beaten the spell, their communicators and morphers reappear! And they morph and get off the island and somehow that revives their zords! And then they form the megadragonultrazord and win! There's a lot of fish right there. Actually, I'm wondering how long they were gone for, I mean, it didn't seem like much time had passed on Earth at all, except Zordon was busy worrying.
Later, at the dance competition, Bulk enters anyway, and makes a fool out of himself, but we're really proud of him, because he had to know that he was going to get laughed at, but he did it anyway. Aww, Bulk. (The judges were really mean. Negative three? Seriously?) And nobody clapped. Fail, Angel Grove!
Zack wins the competition with a perfect score. If you're surprised by this, you aren't watching the same show we are. Oh, and apparently Quagmire is the DJ. I don't even know.
Fish: Four. I love this episode, but man, it is RIDICULOUS.
Billy speak: "Your molecular integrity is fluctuating at an inverse ratio to your level of self esteem"
Trini Translation: "The more Zack doubts himself the less there is of Zack."
Billy speak: "If lack of confidence is the operative factor, it just might work."
"My calculations suggest a 98% probability that our coins are in... that direction"
"She's demolecularizing"
"I recall a confrontation. she had me in a most impressive grip. But I finally applied sufficient leverage to defeat her."
"Wow, prodigious!"
"I seem to be completely reconstituted."
Questions: Who is Quagmire? Why does he hate Rita? I mean, besides the obvious. How did he get on the island? Why was he DJing at the end? And is he the same Mr. Quagmire that was mentioned way back in episode 3?
What fears do you think later Rangers would have to confront?
Episode 27- Island of Illusion Part 1
Okay, this is one of my favourite episodes... well, the two combined. It's ridiculous, but it's also awesome and fun.
We start off with Zack showing off some wicked dance moves in practice for the upcoming Dance Competition. Yay! Zack features and for once Angel Grove has something going on that does not pertain to martial arts! Trini, Kim, and Jason are checking out Zack's moves when Bulk and Skull come up and insult Zack. Poor Zack. He knocks into Kim and then Kim's pink drink (milkshake perhaps?) is spilled all over Bulk. Zack reveals that he suffers from low self esteem and is sure he'll mess up at the competition.
Bulk and Zack end up in an impromptu dance competition. This didn't end well last time and we're sure it won't this time either. Sure enough, it doesn't. Bulk falls into some pillars, knocks everything down, and people laugh. Zack says Bulk just fell, just like he'll do at the competition. Zack is full of Emo today.
Rita, meanwhile, is apparently fed up with loosing and decides she's going to summon her own monsters. She tells all her minions her plan and waits while they jump all over her telling her what a good plan it is.
She starts to summon Mutitis and it causes a big earthquake down in Angel Grove. In the Youth Center, people go running willy nilly. Ernie hates when this happens and takes cover. The Rangers, meanwhile, cling to each other in the middle of the room and then use the communicators to contact Zordon. Zordon tells them Rita is up to no good and they must find Zack immediately. So they run out of the Youth Center. They could have just used the communicators again, but oh well. Tommy is stopped at the door when two small children he had been teaching in a class call for him. They're scared. I really give Tommy a lot of credit here. He takes responsibility and stays behind with the kids. Good for you, Tommy!
The others find Zack pretty quickly. The earthquake has stopped and he's still being all emo. They don't even really get a chance to talk before they're surrounded by putties! It's an awesome fight, really. Everybody kicks major butt all on their own and Zack even takes out three at once! But Goldar and Scorpina show up and they know they have to morph if they stand a chance.
Rita finishes summoning Mutitis and we discover he looks like a red skull. Or a red version of Rito. Or a Zedd prototype. We're not sure. They summon the Zords and Jason calls him "Ugly Man". That's... real creative there, Jason.
Rita starts gloating a little early. She tells Finster she made her own monster and it's winning. You can just hear the "nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah" in her voice, too. She travels to Earth to watch the fight and we're filled with glee! Rita on Earth is always made of win.
Lokar then shows up. He's a big blue head floating in the sky with some kind of spikes for hair. He's really cool and we wish there had been more Lokar. He could have been awesome in Mystic Force, actually. He eclipses the sun and we have to wonder why the MegaZord isn't affected, being solar powered and all.
His power is the Breath of Doom. Seriously? That's... special. He mutates Mutitis and makes him even uglier. Tommy is summoned and requests Ernie stay with the no-longer-terrified children. He shows up and summons DragonZord, but just in time for both DragonZord and MegaZord to be covered in some kind of toxic foam. It looks like shaving cream, actually, but whatever. The Zords fall down and now, fifteen minutes into a twenty minute episode titled Island of Illusion, the Rangers are thrown into another dimension only to land on, well, the Island of Illusion.
We don't know how they got there or why toxic foam apparently equals immediate death-to-zords, but we nod and smile. They wander around for awhile, everybody clinging to Jason. We can appreciate that. We might cling to him and his delicious arms too. Kim says it seems like the bushes have eyes and we are shown that, yes, yes they do have eyes. Or rather, there is somebody hiding in the bushes so it looks like they have eyes.
The Rangers hear a horrible noise and Trini comments on it being seriously out of tune. Not where it came from, not what made it in the first place, but that it's off key. Priorities, Trini. They stumble upon a Little Person and Kim starts to say "Rita sent us..." when he flips out. He says friends of Rita are no friends of his and disappears. We can't blame him. I wouldn't stick around either. Unfortunately, he also rhymes. Everything.
The Rangers then see previous monsters they've fought. Pudgy Pig is there and I squeeled in delight. TSB was saddened to realize there is no Terror Toad, however. Zack starts to flip out a little, though. Because they're on an island apparently. And he sees an out-of-tune Little Person. But mostly it's the island.
Zack then stumbles upon a snake and starts really flipping out. He's whimpering and sort of screaming and is just paralyzed with fear. We wonder why they went with snakes. Not but four episodes ago we discovered Zack is terrified of spiders. They could have used that, but oh well.
He says they can't fight something like snakes and we think that's just ridiculous. Of course you can fight snakes! Shoot, get one of your non-afraid friends to go pick it up and move it if it's that bad. Mind, his non-afraid friends can't even see the snake, so I guess that wouldn't work in this particular situation. We then get Ominous Goldar speaking from the sky, tearing down what little confidence remained. Quagmire, the Little Person from earlier, appears and warns them of impending danger. Zack, now kicked while he's down, begins to fade.
And that's the end of part one. It really was rather ridiculous, wasn't it?
Overall, 3.5 fish. Tommy was responsible so we couldn't help but lower the fish a little for that. Also it's just a great two parter so that probably affected it here.
Covered in food: Bulk gets covered in some pink drink
Billy Speak: "Zack seems to be experiencing a transient deficiency in self esteem."
"There must be a major destabilization of a trophospheric(?) pressure zone."
"It would appear that we all survived the transdimensional journey intact."
"He means your loss of confidence is causing your body to dematerialize!"
Fic we want: Billy fixing the Zords so they are no longer solar powered, which would explain why they were unaffected by Lokar's eclipse.
We start off with Zack showing off some wicked dance moves in practice for the upcoming Dance Competition. Yay! Zack features and for once Angel Grove has something going on that does not pertain to martial arts! Trini, Kim, and Jason are checking out Zack's moves when Bulk and Skull come up and insult Zack. Poor Zack. He knocks into Kim and then Kim's pink drink (milkshake perhaps?) is spilled all over Bulk. Zack reveals that he suffers from low self esteem and is sure he'll mess up at the competition.
Bulk and Zack end up in an impromptu dance competition. This didn't end well last time and we're sure it won't this time either. Sure enough, it doesn't. Bulk falls into some pillars, knocks everything down, and people laugh. Zack says Bulk just fell, just like he'll do at the competition. Zack is full of Emo today.
Rita, meanwhile, is apparently fed up with loosing and decides she's going to summon her own monsters. She tells all her minions her plan and waits while they jump all over her telling her what a good plan it is.
She starts to summon Mutitis and it causes a big earthquake down in Angel Grove. In the Youth Center, people go running willy nilly. Ernie hates when this happens and takes cover. The Rangers, meanwhile, cling to each other in the middle of the room and then use the communicators to contact Zordon. Zordon tells them Rita is up to no good and they must find Zack immediately. So they run out of the Youth Center. They could have just used the communicators again, but oh well. Tommy is stopped at the door when two small children he had been teaching in a class call for him. They're scared. I really give Tommy a lot of credit here. He takes responsibility and stays behind with the kids. Good for you, Tommy!
The others find Zack pretty quickly. The earthquake has stopped and he's still being all emo. They don't even really get a chance to talk before they're surrounded by putties! It's an awesome fight, really. Everybody kicks major butt all on their own and Zack even takes out three at once! But Goldar and Scorpina show up and they know they have to morph if they stand a chance.
Rita finishes summoning Mutitis and we discover he looks like a red skull. Or a red version of Rito. Or a Zedd prototype. We're not sure. They summon the Zords and Jason calls him "Ugly Man". That's... real creative there, Jason.
Rita starts gloating a little early. She tells Finster she made her own monster and it's winning. You can just hear the "nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah" in her voice, too. She travels to Earth to watch the fight and we're filled with glee! Rita on Earth is always made of win.
Lokar then shows up. He's a big blue head floating in the sky with some kind of spikes for hair. He's really cool and we wish there had been more Lokar. He could have been awesome in Mystic Force, actually. He eclipses the sun and we have to wonder why the MegaZord isn't affected, being solar powered and all.
His power is the Breath of Doom. Seriously? That's... special. He mutates Mutitis and makes him even uglier. Tommy is summoned and requests Ernie stay with the no-longer-terrified children. He shows up and summons DragonZord, but just in time for both DragonZord and MegaZord to be covered in some kind of toxic foam. It looks like shaving cream, actually, but whatever. The Zords fall down and now, fifteen minutes into a twenty minute episode titled Island of Illusion, the Rangers are thrown into another dimension only to land on, well, the Island of Illusion.
We don't know how they got there or why toxic foam apparently equals immediate death-to-zords, but we nod and smile. They wander around for awhile, everybody clinging to Jason. We can appreciate that. We might cling to him and his delicious arms too. Kim says it seems like the bushes have eyes and we are shown that, yes, yes they do have eyes. Or rather, there is somebody hiding in the bushes so it looks like they have eyes.
The Rangers hear a horrible noise and Trini comments on it being seriously out of tune. Not where it came from, not what made it in the first place, but that it's off key. Priorities, Trini. They stumble upon a Little Person and Kim starts to say "Rita sent us..." when he flips out. He says friends of Rita are no friends of his and disappears. We can't blame him. I wouldn't stick around either. Unfortunately, he also rhymes. Everything.
The Rangers then see previous monsters they've fought. Pudgy Pig is there and I squeeled in delight. TSB was saddened to realize there is no Terror Toad, however. Zack starts to flip out a little, though. Because they're on an island apparently. And he sees an out-of-tune Little Person. But mostly it's the island.
Zack then stumbles upon a snake and starts really flipping out. He's whimpering and sort of screaming and is just paralyzed with fear. We wonder why they went with snakes. Not but four episodes ago we discovered Zack is terrified of spiders. They could have used that, but oh well.
He says they can't fight something like snakes and we think that's just ridiculous. Of course you can fight snakes! Shoot, get one of your non-afraid friends to go pick it up and move it if it's that bad. Mind, his non-afraid friends can't even see the snake, so I guess that wouldn't work in this particular situation. We then get Ominous Goldar speaking from the sky, tearing down what little confidence remained. Quagmire, the Little Person from earlier, appears and warns them of impending danger. Zack, now kicked while he's down, begins to fade.
And that's the end of part one. It really was rather ridiculous, wasn't it?
Overall, 3.5 fish. Tommy was responsible so we couldn't help but lower the fish a little for that. Also it's just a great two parter so that probably affected it here.
Covered in food: Bulk gets covered in some pink drink
Billy Speak: "Zack seems to be experiencing a transient deficiency in self esteem."
"There must be a major destabilization of a trophospheric(?) pressure zone."
"It would appear that we all survived the transdimensional journey intact."
"He means your loss of confidence is causing your body to dematerialize!"
Fic we want: Billy fixing the Zords so they are no longer solar powered, which would explain why they were unaffected by Lokar's eclipse.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Episode 26 - Gung Ho!
You know, for an episode about Tommy and Jason, this one actually wasn't that bad! That is probably because a) most of the episode features them showing off their mad martial arts skills and b) they're shirtless for a lot of it. All good things, as far as we're concerned.
Anyway, like the last Jason centric episode, this one is about Jason (and Tommy!) learning the importance of cooperation and teamwork. And like the last one, we have no idea why they chose that particular moral for the episode. I mean, yes, Jason and Tommy need to learn to get along. But they weren't really having any problems with it in the last few episodes, and it doesn't work in context.
Tommy and Jason are preparing for the Team Ninja Finals, even though they just had a Martial Arts Expo just a few episodes ago. Angel Grove has a lot of martial arts competitions. One of these days I will post my theory about how Angel Grove is secretly a country, and this episode just backs up that theory. It would explain the wacky geography, maybe.
The boys are sparring against each other, and apparently this is preventing them from cooperating. No shit. They're sparring AGAINST each other. Unless they were doing an intricate kata, they shouldn't really be cooperating at that exact moment. I mean, for real. If they were practicing against two others, then yes, it would work, but they're both trying to beat the other person at that exact moment, so I have no idea what they're going on about.
The other Rangers are all watching them spar (and honestly, we can't blame them. They're both quite pretty at this point in time) and Trini gives them a lecture about how Gung Ho is Chinese for working together. A quick google search will point out that while the two characters in that phrase do mean "work" and "together" but they don't count as an official phrase. (So speaks wikipedia, but the librarian in me cries typing that sentence.) It is however a motto for the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society. We'll totally give the show credit for it anyway.
Before Jason and Tommy can roll their eyes too much, Bulk and Skull show up in ridiculous outfits. Bulk is all pimped out, and Skull is a referee. Apparently they're sponsoring their own team of ninjas in the competition, and we get to watch the two ringers spar. They're not bad, and Tommy and Jason look nervous. Then Bulk gets knocked over. *sigh* But we have a few questions. This is supposedly the finals, so how come Jason and Tommy are just seeing these guys now? If they were having trouble working together before, how come it didn't affect them getting to the finals? And if they need to be sponsored to be in the competition, who is sponsoring the Rangers?
Meanwhile, on the moon, Rita is all excited for her super putties, and we're incredibly excited, because they remembered what happened last episode! Except wait, it looks like the Frankenstein monster they blew up in an extremely gory fashion is alive and well. So close, show! So close!
We switch to Trini and Kim walking in the park, and Trini starts talking about how Zack is helping the boys train, and... well, isn't Trini supposed to be a martial artist herself? Isn't that her big defining characteristic? Apparently she can't be bothered, or else the show just doesn't want to showcase her skills. They get attacked by the all new super putties, and promptly get their asses kicked. In a rare moment of actually remembering what the communicators are for, Kimberly calls Zordon and asked for help. Zordon immediately pages the other Rangers (and I briefly need to point out how ANCIENT Billy's laptop is. OMG we are SO OLD) and they run out of the Youth Center to go help the girls.
Queenriley immediately flails because Billy went to protect Trini. OTP, y'all. OTP. (Even if Trini should be able to take care of herself. I mean, really.)
Back at the Command Center, the Rangers demand some answers from Zordon. Putties haven't kicked their asses since episode 1. Zordon explains about the Super Putties, and then tells Tommy and Jason that they must go retrieve new weapons to defeat the putties, while the others go morph and fight them. Apparently Tommy and Jason retrieving new weapons involves tearing the map in half so that they can learn to cooperate. We get that learning to cooperate is important, but maybe they could do that at a time where the rest of the team isn't in danger? I mean, seriously. We have to admit that the Super Putties are pretty awesome. If they get broken, they reform into two new putties! How awesome is that?
While four of the Rangers are getting beaten up by a bunch of clay goons, Tommy and Jason discover a rock, and Jason is all "Look at me! I found a rock!" and Tommy is "not without my half of the map, you didn't!" and for real, just get over it. We're assuming that they're still on Earth, but the geography of this makes no sense, although we supposed we shouldn't be surprised by that. Apparently there's some shrine to dinosaurs (Sabre-toothed tigers and Mastodons still ARE NOT DINOSAURS) that nobody has discovered. Jason comments that it's too easy, and apparently he's never seen a movie in his life, because he doesn't know that means they're about to get attacked.
And they are! It's Titanus, although we don't know that yet. They morph, and then fall down a hill. Apparently to solve all their teamwork problems, Jason gives his sword to Tommy and Tommy gives his shield to Jason, and then Jason runs up the hill and grabs the new weapons. We're not quite sure how a sword is a long distance weapon, but apparently Tommy uses it to fire some sort of energy, but we've seen him do that before with his Dragon Daggers, so IDK. They teleport to the other Rangers and give them the new weapons, which are weird slingshot shaped guns, and then they blow up the putties. The end. Hey, there wasn't an actual monster this episode! Wacky! And we've still got... a lot of time left!
We then return to the Youth Center, for the highlight of the episode. More sparring! Except shirtless this time. Right before the competition begins, Zordon rings them, and they answer their communicators in the middle of the Youth Center, and nobody notices. Seriously, Zordon is drugging the water or something. He tells them Titanus was the guardian and will be an ally.
Jason and Tommy win the competition, and then Bulk gets covered in water. We still have no idea why they chose this episode to be Jason's second "learn to work together" episode. We can't wait until Jason gets an episode that isn't about that.
Lists!
This episode gets 4 fish. It isn't quite as ridiculous as the Bench Pressing one, and we feel that we should be nicer because it actually mostly remembers what happens in the episode before, but it's pretty ridiculous. Amazingly, we didn't actually mind Tommy in this episode. This was pretty necessary for his involvement in the team, but the execution was pretty flawed.
Covered in food: Bulk gets covered in water. Surprise, surprise.
Anyway, like the last Jason centric episode, this one is about Jason (and Tommy!) learning the importance of cooperation and teamwork. And like the last one, we have no idea why they chose that particular moral for the episode. I mean, yes, Jason and Tommy need to learn to get along. But they weren't really having any problems with it in the last few episodes, and it doesn't work in context.
Tommy and Jason are preparing for the Team Ninja Finals, even though they just had a Martial Arts Expo just a few episodes ago. Angel Grove has a lot of martial arts competitions. One of these days I will post my theory about how Angel Grove is secretly a country, and this episode just backs up that theory. It would explain the wacky geography, maybe.
The boys are sparring against each other, and apparently this is preventing them from cooperating. No shit. They're sparring AGAINST each other. Unless they were doing an intricate kata, they shouldn't really be cooperating at that exact moment. I mean, for real. If they were practicing against two others, then yes, it would work, but they're both trying to beat the other person at that exact moment, so I have no idea what they're going on about.
The other Rangers are all watching them spar (and honestly, we can't blame them. They're both quite pretty at this point in time) and Trini gives them a lecture about how Gung Ho is Chinese for working together. A quick google search will point out that while the two characters in that phrase do mean "work" and "together" but they don't count as an official phrase. (So speaks wikipedia, but the librarian in me cries typing that sentence.) It is however a motto for the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society. We'll totally give the show credit for it anyway.
Before Jason and Tommy can roll their eyes too much, Bulk and Skull show up in ridiculous outfits. Bulk is all pimped out, and Skull is a referee. Apparently they're sponsoring their own team of ninjas in the competition, and we get to watch the two ringers spar. They're not bad, and Tommy and Jason look nervous. Then Bulk gets knocked over. *sigh* But we have a few questions. This is supposedly the finals, so how come Jason and Tommy are just seeing these guys now? If they were having trouble working together before, how come it didn't affect them getting to the finals? And if they need to be sponsored to be in the competition, who is sponsoring the Rangers?
Meanwhile, on the moon, Rita is all excited for her super putties, and we're incredibly excited, because they remembered what happened last episode! Except wait, it looks like the Frankenstein monster they blew up in an extremely gory fashion is alive and well. So close, show! So close!
We switch to Trini and Kim walking in the park, and Trini starts talking about how Zack is helping the boys train, and... well, isn't Trini supposed to be a martial artist herself? Isn't that her big defining characteristic? Apparently she can't be bothered, or else the show just doesn't want to showcase her skills. They get attacked by the all new super putties, and promptly get their asses kicked. In a rare moment of actually remembering what the communicators are for, Kimberly calls Zordon and asked for help. Zordon immediately pages the other Rangers (and I briefly need to point out how ANCIENT Billy's laptop is. OMG we are SO OLD) and they run out of the Youth Center to go help the girls.
Queenriley immediately flails because Billy went to protect Trini. OTP, y'all. OTP. (Even if Trini should be able to take care of herself. I mean, really.)
Back at the Command Center, the Rangers demand some answers from Zordon. Putties haven't kicked their asses since episode 1. Zordon explains about the Super Putties, and then tells Tommy and Jason that they must go retrieve new weapons to defeat the putties, while the others go morph and fight them. Apparently Tommy and Jason retrieving new weapons involves tearing the map in half so that they can learn to cooperate. We get that learning to cooperate is important, but maybe they could do that at a time where the rest of the team isn't in danger? I mean, seriously. We have to admit that the Super Putties are pretty awesome. If they get broken, they reform into two new putties! How awesome is that?
While four of the Rangers are getting beaten up by a bunch of clay goons, Tommy and Jason discover a rock, and Jason is all "Look at me! I found a rock!" and Tommy is "not without my half of the map, you didn't!" and for real, just get over it. We're assuming that they're still on Earth, but the geography of this makes no sense, although we supposed we shouldn't be surprised by that. Apparently there's some shrine to dinosaurs (Sabre-toothed tigers and Mastodons still ARE NOT DINOSAURS) that nobody has discovered. Jason comments that it's too easy, and apparently he's never seen a movie in his life, because he doesn't know that means they're about to get attacked.
And they are! It's Titanus, although we don't know that yet. They morph, and then fall down a hill. Apparently to solve all their teamwork problems, Jason gives his sword to Tommy and Tommy gives his shield to Jason, and then Jason runs up the hill and grabs the new weapons. We're not quite sure how a sword is a long distance weapon, but apparently Tommy uses it to fire some sort of energy, but we've seen him do that before with his Dragon Daggers, so IDK. They teleport to the other Rangers and give them the new weapons, which are weird slingshot shaped guns, and then they blow up the putties. The end. Hey, there wasn't an actual monster this episode! Wacky! And we've still got... a lot of time left!
We then return to the Youth Center, for the highlight of the episode. More sparring! Except shirtless this time. Right before the competition begins, Zordon rings them, and they answer their communicators in the middle of the Youth Center, and nobody notices. Seriously, Zordon is drugging the water or something. He tells them Titanus was the guardian and will be an ally.
Jason and Tommy win the competition, and then Bulk gets covered in water. We still have no idea why they chose this episode to be Jason's second "learn to work together" episode. We can't wait until Jason gets an episode that isn't about that.
Lists!
This episode gets 4 fish. It isn't quite as ridiculous as the Bench Pressing one, and we feel that we should be nicer because it actually mostly remembers what happens in the episode before, but it's pretty ridiculous. Amazingly, we didn't actually mind Tommy in this episode. This was pretty necessary for his involvement in the team, but the execution was pretty flawed.
Covered in food: Bulk gets covered in water. Surprise, surprise.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Episode 25- Life's a Masquerade
We got the opening theme on this episode and I have to say, we get such a delight when we get the opening theme. Season 1 MMPR had the best opening theme in my opinion. Maybe it's just nostalgia talking, but I just get a warm fuzzy feeling when I hear the theme song and see those cheesy effects.
Apparently there is a costume party at the Youth Center and a rather large group of teenagers is helping set up. All the Rangers are there plus probably twenty other kids. Bulk and Skull are there too and Kim mocks their wardrobe without provocation. Way to be mean, Kim, way to be mean. Zack chases after Angela, Jason is left hanging, Tommy offers to help Kimberly and somehow a bucket of paint gets tossed on Bulk. Everybody laughs and we cut to Rita.
She wants a nasty monster to invade the costume party so Finster makes her a Frankenstein Monster. I'm a little sad at this fact. The Frankenstein Monster was really a pretty nice guy. He didn't want to hurt anybody, he just couldn't help it, and I hate that he's been turned into a bad guy... and given his creator's name. Anyway, my rant aside, Rita's Frankenstein Monster agrees to go attack the Power Rangers.
We then get to see all the Ranger costumes, except Tommy's. Billy is Sherlock Holmes, Kim is a princess, Trini is Pocahontas, Zack is King Tut, and Jason is Robin Hood... complete with tights. They actually look pretty good (Zack especially... that man is BUILT) and aside from Kim's entirely pink dress, nobody is decked out in entirely their Ranger colour! In fact, Jason isn't wearing any red AT ALL. We're impressed and wish we could see more of this.
In another house in another part of town we see Bulk and Skull. It appears to be Bulk's very messy bedroom and it is huge. They're trying to figure out what to use as their costumes, no doubt still stinging from Kim's thoughtless comment on their normal attire. First they try Skull as Captain Hook and Bulk as Peter Pan. Then they try Bulk as the back end of a horse and Skull as the front. The best costume idea comes last... Skull as young!Elvis and Bulk as older!Elvis. Bulk throws out his back, however, and they apparently do the same to the costume idea. Tis a pity. They both looked really good as Elvis.
Later, at the party, Zack tries to get Angela to dance with him and she flat out refuses. He laments that even a king isn't good enough for her and Jason comforts him affectionately. We discover Bulk and Skull decided to come as punks and Ernie shows up as a vampire. Alpha then shows up. Yes, Alpha. In public. At a party. At least it's a costume party and he can get away with it for now. The Frankenstein monster comes in right behind him and Billy theorizes it might be Tommy. Tommy hasn't shown up yet because his costume wasn't ready so, despite the very noticeable height and build difference, people just assume he's Tommy. Way to be bad friends, guys. In the meantime, girls swarm around Alpha and Zack again complains about his lack of luck with women. Seriously, Zack, stop hanging around your boyfriend and maybe the girls would look twice at you.
A girl drags the Frankenstein Monster on the floor to dance and he gets mad and lifts her high in the air. She screams and everybody basically just stares at them. Skull, however, jumps into action and shoots the monster with a suction cup dart. It was ineffective, but at least he did something about it! Good for you, Skull.
The monster leaves and Billy, realizing it may not actually be Tommy, chases after him. He is led into the now familiar Cave of Captivity. The only cave Rita ever uses for anything. In this cave we discover Rita (hanging out on Earth!) is having her henchmen build a Super Putty. It's going to be twice as strong and nearly invincible. They are building the Super Putties by making a very big ball of clay. No shape, no form, just a big ball of clay. Rita opens the Earth and flies the big ball of clay out of the ground and up into the air. She promises to come back and destroy all of humanity, cackling evilly the whole time.
Meanwhile, Billy is battling the Frankenstein Monster in the cave. The monster disappears and he runs back to the Youth Center. You have a communicator, Billy. Heck, you CREATED the communicators, Billy. USE THEM FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE! Sorry for the all caps there but this really irritates me. To date Zack is the only Ranger who used the communicator in a time of need. Fail, Rangers!
Billy tells the others what is going on and they teleport to the Command Center to ask Zordon. He shows them the monster and they try to contact Tommy but are, as usual, unsuccessful. At least it's consistent for his character! They morph and go to fight the monster, but Rita makes him grow almost immediately. So they summon the Zords almost immediately.
Meanwhile, Tommy is attacked by a group of putties in front of the Youth Center. He beats them off and finally realizes he has a communicator. Zordon tells him to morph and go help the others. MegaZord has been knocked down, but Tommy shows up just in time to help. Rita flies away, thinking she's likely won at this point, and they form the MegaDragonZord. They beat the Frankenstein Monster relatively easy and it, as usual, gives poor Rita yet another headache.
Back at the party, they discover it's time to find out who won the costume contest. Tommy is in his regular clothes and tells them he'll be right back, he has to go put on his costume. Tommy shows up about 15 seconds after he leaves. He's managed to change clothes, put on a mask/hat, and paint the rest of his skin blue. He looks just like Rita's Frankenstein Monster, only considerably shorter and less bulky. Everybody jumps, Tommy removes the hat, and the whole bunch get a hearty laugh. Ernie then hands the blue ribbon to Alpha, who insists his identity must remain a mystery and leaves.
Overall, this is a pretty low fish episode! It's consistent, it's not too terribly ridiculous, and it even has foreshadowing for later episodes! The Rangers aren't glaringly obvious by wearing outfits consisting entirely of their designated colour. Rita is on Earth! And foretells of evil things to come in the future! Alpha is in public, but in the believable setting of a costume contest. And we get to see the Cave of Captivity again. All in all, we give it 2.5 fish.
Covered in food: Nobody, but Bulk gets covered in paint
Billy Speak: "My deductive reasoning tells me you're not Tommy."
"It's time for molecular transmutation!"
Apparently there is a costume party at the Youth Center and a rather large group of teenagers is helping set up. All the Rangers are there plus probably twenty other kids. Bulk and Skull are there too and Kim mocks their wardrobe without provocation. Way to be mean, Kim, way to be mean. Zack chases after Angela, Jason is left hanging, Tommy offers to help Kimberly and somehow a bucket of paint gets tossed on Bulk. Everybody laughs and we cut to Rita.
She wants a nasty monster to invade the costume party so Finster makes her a Frankenstein Monster. I'm a little sad at this fact. The Frankenstein Monster was really a pretty nice guy. He didn't want to hurt anybody, he just couldn't help it, and I hate that he's been turned into a bad guy... and given his creator's name. Anyway, my rant aside, Rita's Frankenstein Monster agrees to go attack the Power Rangers.
We then get to see all the Ranger costumes, except Tommy's. Billy is Sherlock Holmes, Kim is a princess, Trini is Pocahontas, Zack is King Tut, and Jason is Robin Hood... complete with tights. They actually look pretty good (Zack especially... that man is BUILT) and aside from Kim's entirely pink dress, nobody is decked out in entirely their Ranger colour! In fact, Jason isn't wearing any red AT ALL. We're impressed and wish we could see more of this.
In another house in another part of town we see Bulk and Skull. It appears to be Bulk's very messy bedroom and it is huge. They're trying to figure out what to use as their costumes, no doubt still stinging from Kim's thoughtless comment on their normal attire. First they try Skull as Captain Hook and Bulk as Peter Pan. Then they try Bulk as the back end of a horse and Skull as the front. The best costume idea comes last... Skull as young!Elvis and Bulk as older!Elvis. Bulk throws out his back, however, and they apparently do the same to the costume idea. Tis a pity. They both looked really good as Elvis.
Later, at the party, Zack tries to get Angela to dance with him and she flat out refuses. He laments that even a king isn't good enough for her and Jason comforts him affectionately. We discover Bulk and Skull decided to come as punks and Ernie shows up as a vampire. Alpha then shows up. Yes, Alpha. In public. At a party. At least it's a costume party and he can get away with it for now. The Frankenstein monster comes in right behind him and Billy theorizes it might be Tommy. Tommy hasn't shown up yet because his costume wasn't ready so, despite the very noticeable height and build difference, people just assume he's Tommy. Way to be bad friends, guys. In the meantime, girls swarm around Alpha and Zack again complains about his lack of luck with women. Seriously, Zack, stop hanging around your boyfriend and maybe the girls would look twice at you.
A girl drags the Frankenstein Monster on the floor to dance and he gets mad and lifts her high in the air. She screams and everybody basically just stares at them. Skull, however, jumps into action and shoots the monster with a suction cup dart. It was ineffective, but at least he did something about it! Good for you, Skull.
The monster leaves and Billy, realizing it may not actually be Tommy, chases after him. He is led into the now familiar Cave of Captivity. The only cave Rita ever uses for anything. In this cave we discover Rita (hanging out on Earth!) is having her henchmen build a Super Putty. It's going to be twice as strong and nearly invincible. They are building the Super Putties by making a very big ball of clay. No shape, no form, just a big ball of clay. Rita opens the Earth and flies the big ball of clay out of the ground and up into the air. She promises to come back and destroy all of humanity, cackling evilly the whole time.
Meanwhile, Billy is battling the Frankenstein Monster in the cave. The monster disappears and he runs back to the Youth Center. You have a communicator, Billy. Heck, you CREATED the communicators, Billy. USE THEM FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE! Sorry for the all caps there but this really irritates me. To date Zack is the only Ranger who used the communicator in a time of need. Fail, Rangers!
Billy tells the others what is going on and they teleport to the Command Center to ask Zordon. He shows them the monster and they try to contact Tommy but are, as usual, unsuccessful. At least it's consistent for his character! They morph and go to fight the monster, but Rita makes him grow almost immediately. So they summon the Zords almost immediately.
Meanwhile, Tommy is attacked by a group of putties in front of the Youth Center. He beats them off and finally realizes he has a communicator. Zordon tells him to morph and go help the others. MegaZord has been knocked down, but Tommy shows up just in time to help. Rita flies away, thinking she's likely won at this point, and they form the MegaDragonZord. They beat the Frankenstein Monster relatively easy and it, as usual, gives poor Rita yet another headache.
Back at the party, they discover it's time to find out who won the costume contest. Tommy is in his regular clothes and tells them he'll be right back, he has to go put on his costume. Tommy shows up about 15 seconds after he leaves. He's managed to change clothes, put on a mask/hat, and paint the rest of his skin blue. He looks just like Rita's Frankenstein Monster, only considerably shorter and less bulky. Everybody jumps, Tommy removes the hat, and the whole bunch get a hearty laugh. Ernie then hands the blue ribbon to Alpha, who insists his identity must remain a mystery and leaves.
Overall, this is a pretty low fish episode! It's consistent, it's not too terribly ridiculous, and it even has foreshadowing for later episodes! The Rangers aren't glaringly obvious by wearing outfits consisting entirely of their designated colour. Rita is on Earth! And foretells of evil things to come in the future! Alpha is in public, but in the believable setting of a costume contest. And we get to see the Cave of Captivity again. All in all, we give it 2.5 fish.
Covered in food: Nobody, but Bulk gets covered in paint
Billy Speak: "My deductive reasoning tells me you're not Tommy."
"It's time for molecular transmutation!"
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Episode 24 - The Spit Flower
Aww, this was the first episode of Power Rangers I ever saw way back when I was nine and it was first airing! Has it really been that long? I feel so old now. So I'd like to thank my little brother for watching it every day after school, because unlike him, I'm still totally obsessed.
This episode reminded me of the only Bobbsey Twins book I ever read, which was the Bobbsey Twins Rose Parade Mystery. All I remember about that book was that a bunch of flowers got destroyed, which hey, totally fits with the theme of this episode.
The episode opens with Kimberly in a fairly cute outfit (look, I still like vests, I am that dorky) and for some reason the costumer seems to think that putting Tommy in two different shades of green is attractive, when it really isn't. It is wrong, and they need to stop doing that.
Kimberly is apparently designing a float for some parade, and there are a lot of flowers. We find out that all of the flowers are going to be recycled into potpourri, which is pretty awesome. We approve. Kimberly's float has something to do with world peace, and we really have no idea. This apparently offends Rita, and she decides that she must destroy the float, and the parade itself. She decides to go with her standard plan, and suddenly there are Putties! At the Youth Center! It's pretty awesome, and they immediately start ripping flowers off the float model, and Kimberly and Tommy fight them, and Tommy loses his ugly flannel shirt. For all that we don't like him, he does have pretty nice arms, and we've made our feelings about nice arms pretty clear at this point.
The other Rangers all show up, but Ernie has left for an hour, and we're amazed that he leaves the Juice Bar unattended. Fail, Ernie! But Kimberly is sad about how her float model is destroyed, because apparently this will prevent her from having a float in the parade, and there is no way to repair it on time or get new flowers. We think she's just being angsty, but we really can't blame her. Jason calls Rita a real witch, and... well, she is! She casts spells and everything! We know that wasn't what you intended to say, Jason!
The Rangers actually start to clean something up, and seriously, we're amazed. Next thing you know they'll start paying for their drinks. Tommy is all cryptic about how he has a plan to fix things, and Trini suggests that they take Kimberly out. She's even wearing green in an attempt to make Kim notice her. Oh, Trini, don't worry, your girlfriend still loves you. Tommy is clearly about to build Kim a new model float, and he heads out. It is blatantly obvious, even if we hadn't seen this episode before.
Meanwhile, Rita needs a monster! And amazingly there's one that actually fits the episode! The Spit Flowerhad some sort of scientific name that we didn't quite catch. The monster itself is a bastard love child of a lobster and a Venus Fly Trap. The Spit Flower sucks in flowers, and then spits them back out again. The flowers then bite people and drain their energy. It is AMAZING. Zordon summons the Rangers, and a bunch of ridiculous jokes follow. Dangerous Daisies! That's like something a Golden Age Superhero would say! I totally want that to exist, by the way. Zack still seems to have bugs on the brain from the last episode, because he says it's one ferocious bug. Riiiiiiiiight.
The Rangers (minus Tommy, who is still missing) go out to fight, and promptly get their asses kicked, as the Spit Flower vomits biting energy draining vampiric flowers all over them. Rita grows the monster, and we are only nine minutes in. Seriously, usually it takes way longer. Zordon calls Tommy, who for some reason is in Billy's garage (we assume because that's where all the cool tools are), and Tommy somehow... shoots some sort of green energy from the dragon dagger? Does it normally do that? Anyway, they summon the MegaDragonzord, which then gets flowers vomited on it, and Zordon teleports them away from the battle. Flower Power is apparently too much for the Dragonzord, and I demand a hippie AU exist IMMEDIATELY.
Meanwhile, Bulk is allergic to flowers, and he uses Skull as a tissue. Do not want.
Zordon analyzes the monster, and apparently all they need to do is have Kimberly shoot it in the throat. Okay then! It's about this point that my roommate, who is not a Power Rangers fan but was listening as I watched the episode, handed me a glass of wine, insisting I needed it. Tommy is told that he should stay behind in case the other rangers fail, even though all six of them just got their asses kicked. Kimberly shoots the monster, they summon the power weapons, and the monster is defeated.
Tommy recruits Alpha's help to build the float, and apparently Alpha doesn't know the difference between a wrench and pliers, and he manages to get the bottle of glue stuck to his hand. Whatever.
The next day (so we assume, as they are discussing the Spit Flower) Jason and Zack are sparring. We approve of this scene. It's time for the parade, and everyone is watching at the Juice Bar. Billy has binoculars, because he says it makes him feel like he's there. He is so dorky and adorable, we love him so. Kimberly is sad, and then suddenly we see her float! Apparently they all made it for her! Overnight? How did they pull this off? Whatever, we call fish.
Bulk and Skull show up, and they're vaguely annoying. Zack does a magic trick (awesome!) except he makes some flowers appear, and well, he knew Bulk had allergies. I have allergies, so sadly this episode will also get the Rangers are bullies tag, because that was just cruel.
Lists!
2 fish! This episode was actually pretty consistent, and except for the ridiculousness about the float being made overnight at the end, it wasn't that bad. Even with Tommy! We're amazed.
Covered in food: Do flowers count? Everyone gets covered in flowers.
Questions: How DID Tommy get into Billy's garage?
This episode reminded me of the only Bobbsey Twins book I ever read, which was the Bobbsey Twins Rose Parade Mystery. All I remember about that book was that a bunch of flowers got destroyed, which hey, totally fits with the theme of this episode.
The episode opens with Kimberly in a fairly cute outfit (look, I still like vests, I am that dorky) and for some reason the costumer seems to think that putting Tommy in two different shades of green is attractive, when it really isn't. It is wrong, and they need to stop doing that.
Kimberly is apparently designing a float for some parade, and there are a lot of flowers. We find out that all of the flowers are going to be recycled into potpourri, which is pretty awesome. We approve. Kimberly's float has something to do with world peace, and we really have no idea. This apparently offends Rita, and she decides that she must destroy the float, and the parade itself. She decides to go with her standard plan, and suddenly there are Putties! At the Youth Center! It's pretty awesome, and they immediately start ripping flowers off the float model, and Kimberly and Tommy fight them, and Tommy loses his ugly flannel shirt. For all that we don't like him, he does have pretty nice arms, and we've made our feelings about nice arms pretty clear at this point.
The other Rangers all show up, but Ernie has left for an hour, and we're amazed that he leaves the Juice Bar unattended. Fail, Ernie! But Kimberly is sad about how her float model is destroyed, because apparently this will prevent her from having a float in the parade, and there is no way to repair it on time or get new flowers. We think she's just being angsty, but we really can't blame her. Jason calls Rita a real witch, and... well, she is! She casts spells and everything! We know that wasn't what you intended to say, Jason!
The Rangers actually start to clean something up, and seriously, we're amazed. Next thing you know they'll start paying for their drinks. Tommy is all cryptic about how he has a plan to fix things, and Trini suggests that they take Kimberly out. She's even wearing green in an attempt to make Kim notice her. Oh, Trini, don't worry, your girlfriend still loves you. Tommy is clearly about to build Kim a new model float, and he heads out. It is blatantly obvious, even if we hadn't seen this episode before.
Meanwhile, Rita needs a monster! And amazingly there's one that actually fits the episode! The Spit Flowerhad some sort of scientific name that we didn't quite catch. The monster itself is a bastard love child of a lobster and a Venus Fly Trap. The Spit Flower sucks in flowers, and then spits them back out again. The flowers then bite people and drain their energy. It is AMAZING. Zordon summons the Rangers, and a bunch of ridiculous jokes follow. Dangerous Daisies! That's like something a Golden Age Superhero would say! I totally want that to exist, by the way. Zack still seems to have bugs on the brain from the last episode, because he says it's one ferocious bug. Riiiiiiiiight.
The Rangers (minus Tommy, who is still missing) go out to fight, and promptly get their asses kicked, as the Spit Flower vomits biting energy draining vampiric flowers all over them. Rita grows the monster, and we are only nine minutes in. Seriously, usually it takes way longer. Zordon calls Tommy, who for some reason is in Billy's garage (we assume because that's where all the cool tools are), and Tommy somehow... shoots some sort of green energy from the dragon dagger? Does it normally do that? Anyway, they summon the MegaDragonzord, which then gets flowers vomited on it, and Zordon teleports them away from the battle. Flower Power is apparently too much for the Dragonzord, and I demand a hippie AU exist IMMEDIATELY.
Meanwhile, Bulk is allergic to flowers, and he uses Skull as a tissue. Do not want.
Zordon analyzes the monster, and apparently all they need to do is have Kimberly shoot it in the throat. Okay then! It's about this point that my roommate, who is not a Power Rangers fan but was listening as I watched the episode, handed me a glass of wine, insisting I needed it. Tommy is told that he should stay behind in case the other rangers fail, even though all six of them just got their asses kicked. Kimberly shoots the monster, they summon the power weapons, and the monster is defeated.
Tommy recruits Alpha's help to build the float, and apparently Alpha doesn't know the difference between a wrench and pliers, and he manages to get the bottle of glue stuck to his hand. Whatever.
The next day (so we assume, as they are discussing the Spit Flower) Jason and Zack are sparring. We approve of this scene. It's time for the parade, and everyone is watching at the Juice Bar. Billy has binoculars, because he says it makes him feel like he's there. He is so dorky and adorable, we love him so. Kimberly is sad, and then suddenly we see her float! Apparently they all made it for her! Overnight? How did they pull this off? Whatever, we call fish.
Bulk and Skull show up, and they're vaguely annoying. Zack does a magic trick (awesome!) except he makes some flowers appear, and well, he knew Bulk had allergies. I have allergies, so sadly this episode will also get the Rangers are bullies tag, because that was just cruel.
Lists!
2 fish! This episode was actually pretty consistent, and except for the ridiculousness about the float being made overnight at the end, it wasn't that bad. Even with Tommy! We're amazed.
Covered in food: Do flowers count? Everyone gets covered in flowers.
Questions: How DID Tommy get into Billy's garage?
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Episode 23- Itsy Bitsy Spider
In celebration of the new livejournal community and my return from sporadic internet access during my week at a place not-my-home, we decided to do a Saturday update!
We start this episode with another petition run by Trini. This time she has Billy helping her attempt to get other teenagers interested in civic action. They're trying to get enough signitures to convince the city council to keep an old statue in the park. Apparently they want to tear it down and replace it with a grill. The statue isn't all that big and neither are park grills, so we're not sure why there is only one spot in the entirety of the park that could hold the pit and it's right where the statue happens to be. Apparently the statue had a myth behind it, a myth about a woman who protects humans from bad insects. She has a flower in her hair to remind humans that not all bugs are bad. It's really a rather ugly statue, actually. To illustrate this, they are standing in front of a table full of small containers holding bugs and spiders. Zack lets us know he's afraid of spiders. Good to know there, Zack. I'm sure that will prove very important information in an episode about you that's called Itsy Bitsy Spider.
Bulk and Skull, meanwhile, aren't sure why bugs would be helpful to humans and decide to be really mean by throwing all the bug containers on the ground. The bugs escape and pandemonium ensues in the hallway. Kids are running and screaming in all directions and poor Zack ends up with a tarantula on his shoulder. He freaks out and Tommy comes to his rescue. Does Tommy pick up the spider? No, of course not. He doesn't even brush it off. Instead, he waits until the spider jumps off Zack's shoulder (I didn't know tarantulas jumped... somebody correct me if I'm wrong here) and then hits him really hard with his binder. Way to be a friend, Tommy!
Later that day, after having changed clothes (we don't know why... nod and smile), the gang meets up to brainstorm a way to replace all the bugs that went missing. Billy introduces them to Jack, his lab mouse. We're not sure why and Jack is so cute we don't care that it makes no sense. Kim wants Jack to be her pet which is just so sweet and awesome I couldn't not mention it. Bulk and Skull, in rare form this episode, throw a notebook at Billy to get him to drop the mouse. Jack runs up Skull's pants leg and tickles his way up to Skull's collar. Billy rescues Jack and off they go to catch more bugs.
Meanwhile, Rita has made a replica of the statue Trini and Billy are trying to save. Inside her evil Spider Monster (which really looks more like an overstuffed tick... I know they're in the same family, spiders and ticks, but they don't look THAT much alike) will wait until called to leap forth and hand the Rangers their collective rear-ends. Or at least that's the plan. To aide him in his endeavor, Rita has placed spiders and moths all over the statue. Why moths? Because they are made of sleeping powder and make humans fall asleep of course! This is apparently supposed to be obvious, but it isn't, so we nod and smile and move on.
We then see Trini, Kim, Jason, and Billy in the middle of a field. They've gathered together to collect bugs. Jason looks rather handsome in a simple outfit and Kim and Trini are a little matchy, but adorable! Billy, however, is wearing the type of safari gear one would buy for a small child to play dress up. He's cute though, so we forgive him. We discover that Tommy has a martial arts class he couldn't miss and Zack is teaching Hip Hop Kido. Why they would even invite Zack is beyond me. The poor boy is afraid of bugs! That would be like inviting Billy to stay on an underwater planet populated entirely by fish! Oh... wait.
Meanwhile, at Zack's Hip Hop Kido class, we discover he's teaching a small group of young boys. He demonstrates some moves, asks some kid to copy him, and then tells him he did alright but needs some funkier music. We love Zack so much but that's really not the way to teach martial arts. He LEAVES THE KIDS ALONE and Rita unleashes her sleeping powder moths. They all fall asleep and Zack discovers them in a pile on the grass. He's unable to wake them so he contacts Zordon right away. First Ranger ever to use his head in a crisis! He doesn't run to the other Rangers; he uses his communicator to ask for help! Good for you, Zack. You may fail as a teacher and at your child minding responsibilities, but at least you know who to contact in case of emergency.
He won't leave the kids, but he does run to the statue and discovers it crawling with bugs. He's a little freaked out, but manages to look closely enough to realize it's not the same statue. The flower has been replaced with a snake. Zack morphs and it releases the Spider Monster. It is only here he suspects Rita is at fault. Seriously? A bunch of kids fall asleep under suspicious circumstances due to sleeping powder moths and you don't suspect Rita until a missing flower gives it away? Wow. He doesn't even get to battle the Spider Monster before Goldar shows up and fights. The other Rangers morph and join him in battle. Rita goes straight to growth mode and the Spider Monster becomes a giant.
We have to take a minute and appreciate Rita's ability to throw her staff FROM THE MOON and NEVER miss the target. She somehow manages to account for wind, velocity, distance, descent, and protects it from burning up in the atmosphere on it's way in. That is one amazing power.
So the Rangers call their Zords in what seems like the longest Zord summoning sequence in quite awhile. They form the MegaZord but immediately get electrocuted... by a spiderweb. They decide they can't do it alone without having really engaged in battle, and Zordon calls Tommy in. He's in the park, showing off again. Not in a class like they said, but rather just doing some moves all on his own. Okay then. The MegaZord somehow separates while Tommy is calling the DragonZord and they decide to fight with their individual Zords. Zacks promises to show the Spider Monster what Mastodon Power is all about. He doesn't get the chance though and we're left disappointed and wondering. The Zords come together again to form the Dragon MegaZord. They beat the Spider Monster and the kids magically wake up. Somehow the real statue returns and all is well again.
Back at school, we discover the petition was accepted by the city council and the statue has been saved. No word on where the bbq grill will go. Tommy then puts a fake spider on Zack's shoulder to trick him after Zack says he's over his fear of spiders. So thoughtful, Tommy. We'd just LOVE to have you as a friend.
List time!
Overall, 3.5 fish. It probably deserves 4, but it's a Zack episode (so much love!) and it features Hip Hop Kido and for once in the entire series, somebody uses their brain and calls for help immediately using the communicator Billy provided them for just that purpose.
Billy Speak: "The forest spirit provides a buffer against harmful arthropods."
Trini Translation: "It's to protect all of us against bad insects."
Covered in food: None! But just about everybody ends up covered in bugs.
Questions to ponder: Just what IS Mastodon Power all about, Zack?
Where was Kim and what was she doing during that entire battle? She summoned her Zord and then... nothing.
We start this episode with another petition run by Trini. This time she has Billy helping her attempt to get other teenagers interested in civic action. They're trying to get enough signitures to convince the city council to keep an old statue in the park. Apparently they want to tear it down and replace it with a grill. The statue isn't all that big and neither are park grills, so we're not sure why there is only one spot in the entirety of the park that could hold the pit and it's right where the statue happens to be. Apparently the statue had a myth behind it, a myth about a woman who protects humans from bad insects. She has a flower in her hair to remind humans that not all bugs are bad. It's really a rather ugly statue, actually. To illustrate this, they are standing in front of a table full of small containers holding bugs and spiders. Zack lets us know he's afraid of spiders. Good to know there, Zack. I'm sure that will prove very important information in an episode about you that's called Itsy Bitsy Spider.
Bulk and Skull, meanwhile, aren't sure why bugs would be helpful to humans and decide to be really mean by throwing all the bug containers on the ground. The bugs escape and pandemonium ensues in the hallway. Kids are running and screaming in all directions and poor Zack ends up with a tarantula on his shoulder. He freaks out and Tommy comes to his rescue. Does Tommy pick up the spider? No, of course not. He doesn't even brush it off. Instead, he waits until the spider jumps off Zack's shoulder (I didn't know tarantulas jumped... somebody correct me if I'm wrong here) and then hits him really hard with his binder. Way to be a friend, Tommy!
Later that day, after having changed clothes (we don't know why... nod and smile), the gang meets up to brainstorm a way to replace all the bugs that went missing. Billy introduces them to Jack, his lab mouse. We're not sure why and Jack is so cute we don't care that it makes no sense. Kim wants Jack to be her pet which is just so sweet and awesome I couldn't not mention it. Bulk and Skull, in rare form this episode, throw a notebook at Billy to get him to drop the mouse. Jack runs up Skull's pants leg and tickles his way up to Skull's collar. Billy rescues Jack and off they go to catch more bugs.
Meanwhile, Rita has made a replica of the statue Trini and Billy are trying to save. Inside her evil Spider Monster (which really looks more like an overstuffed tick... I know they're in the same family, spiders and ticks, but they don't look THAT much alike) will wait until called to leap forth and hand the Rangers their collective rear-ends. Or at least that's the plan. To aide him in his endeavor, Rita has placed spiders and moths all over the statue. Why moths? Because they are made of sleeping powder and make humans fall asleep of course! This is apparently supposed to be obvious, but it isn't, so we nod and smile and move on.
We then see Trini, Kim, Jason, and Billy in the middle of a field. They've gathered together to collect bugs. Jason looks rather handsome in a simple outfit and Kim and Trini are a little matchy, but adorable! Billy, however, is wearing the type of safari gear one would buy for a small child to play dress up. He's cute though, so we forgive him. We discover that Tommy has a martial arts class he couldn't miss and Zack is teaching Hip Hop Kido. Why they would even invite Zack is beyond me. The poor boy is afraid of bugs! That would be like inviting Billy to stay on an underwater planet populated entirely by fish! Oh... wait.
Meanwhile, at Zack's Hip Hop Kido class, we discover he's teaching a small group of young boys. He demonstrates some moves, asks some kid to copy him, and then tells him he did alright but needs some funkier music. We love Zack so much but that's really not the way to teach martial arts. He LEAVES THE KIDS ALONE and Rita unleashes her sleeping powder moths. They all fall asleep and Zack discovers them in a pile on the grass. He's unable to wake them so he contacts Zordon right away. First Ranger ever to use his head in a crisis! He doesn't run to the other Rangers; he uses his communicator to ask for help! Good for you, Zack. You may fail as a teacher and at your child minding responsibilities, but at least you know who to contact in case of emergency.
He won't leave the kids, but he does run to the statue and discovers it crawling with bugs. He's a little freaked out, but manages to look closely enough to realize it's not the same statue. The flower has been replaced with a snake. Zack morphs and it releases the Spider Monster. It is only here he suspects Rita is at fault. Seriously? A bunch of kids fall asleep under suspicious circumstances due to sleeping powder moths and you don't suspect Rita until a missing flower gives it away? Wow. He doesn't even get to battle the Spider Monster before Goldar shows up and fights. The other Rangers morph and join him in battle. Rita goes straight to growth mode and the Spider Monster becomes a giant.
We have to take a minute and appreciate Rita's ability to throw her staff FROM THE MOON and NEVER miss the target. She somehow manages to account for wind, velocity, distance, descent, and protects it from burning up in the atmosphere on it's way in. That is one amazing power.
So the Rangers call their Zords in what seems like the longest Zord summoning sequence in quite awhile. They form the MegaZord but immediately get electrocuted... by a spiderweb. They decide they can't do it alone without having really engaged in battle, and Zordon calls Tommy in. He's in the park, showing off again. Not in a class like they said, but rather just doing some moves all on his own. Okay then. The MegaZord somehow separates while Tommy is calling the DragonZord and they decide to fight with their individual Zords. Zacks promises to show the Spider Monster what Mastodon Power is all about. He doesn't get the chance though and we're left disappointed and wondering. The Zords come together again to form the Dragon MegaZord. They beat the Spider Monster and the kids magically wake up. Somehow the real statue returns and all is well again.
Back at school, we discover the petition was accepted by the city council and the statue has been saved. No word on where the bbq grill will go. Tommy then puts a fake spider on Zack's shoulder to trick him after Zack says he's over his fear of spiders. So thoughtful, Tommy. We'd just LOVE to have you as a friend.
List time!
Overall, 3.5 fish. It probably deserves 4, but it's a Zack episode (so much love!) and it features Hip Hop Kido and for once in the entire series, somebody uses their brain and calls for help immediately using the communicator Billy provided them for just that purpose.
Billy Speak: "The forest spirit provides a buffer against harmful arthropods."
Trini Translation: "It's to protect all of us against bad insects."
Covered in food: None! But just about everybody ends up covered in bugs.
Questions to ponder: Just what IS Mastodon Power all about, Zack?
Where was Kim and what was she doing during that entire battle? She summoned her Zord and then... nothing.
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