Episode 34- Alien Rangers of Aquitar Part 1: This first part episode is a little on the boring side, only because we spend majority of the time with the kid Rangers. We aren't introduced to the concept of the Alien Rangers until the very end. It's like the last time they were kids, they just aren't very interesting. In some interesting bits during this time, we can see that the Rangers are the only ones in Angel Grove to retain their memories. Bulk and Skull have reverted back to being bullies and, in a nice moment of continuity, only recognize Billy because the other Rangers have all moved to Angel Grove within the last 3 years. Still, I really don't need to see extended scenes of Tengas getting beat up by children or child actors be in the forefront of a Power Rangers episode. Bring on the aliens!
Episode 35- Alien Rangers of Aquitar Part 2: The Alien Rangers from Aquitar, or Aquitian Rangers if you prefer that, finally arrive and they have a pretty good first showing against a bunch of Master Vile's monsters. They defeat the monsters with help from their Battle Borgs, zords that they control telepathically. Well that's pretty awesome. Although, one thing that irritates me with the Alien Rangers are the voices. The garbled, water sound in their voices can get tiring really fast, but I like the overall alien look they have. This victory sends Master Vile packing, leaving Zedd and Rita to be our main villains in charge for the remainder of the season. What the heck Vile?!?! He was given so much build up and was around for like 7 episodes. What a waste, dude!
Episode 36- Climb Every Fountain: The real significant moments in this episode is when Billy creates a device that uses the power coins to restore their age. He tests it on himself and is restored to his proper age. Before he can use it on the others, Goldar and Rito steal the power coins and destroy the machine. Rita and Zedd then DESTROY the power coins. WOW! That is depressing. So now the Rangers are even more screwed than they were before. The Alien Rangers are our only source at fighting evil during this mini-series and the goal for the former Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is to find a way to get their powers back AND restore their age AND they still need to properly find a permanent source of hydration for the Aquitian Rangers.
Episode 37- The Alien Trap: This is probably the only episode to really skip in the mini-series. The plot focuses on the Rangers' pursuit to create a device that will keep the Aquitian Rangers hydrated. Rito and Goldar pollute said water supply, and the Alien Rangers have to return home temporarily after they save the day.
Episode 38- Attack of the 60' Bulk: In this episode, Rita and Zedd turn Bulk into a monster. The Alien Rangers return to fight the monster, while also trying to convince Bulk to break Zedd and Rita's hold on him. Very interesting to see the kids use their heads and hearts in order to save a friend. Also, the fight in the water park is full of fun and humorous moments from the Alien Rangers. Nice to know they've secured a sense of humor since being on Earth. At the end of the episode, Zordon informs the kids that he plans to restore their powers by seeking out the ZEO CRYSTAL!!!! Clever way to introduce the power supply earlier on in the season, and then call back to it as a method to restore the Rangers' powers. I approve. Not like that matters, since this happened at a time when I was 3-years-old, but still, I approve.
Episode 39- Water You Thinking?: Once the kids go on their quest for the Zeo Crystals, the episodes are pretty formulaic. Billy tries to help the Alien Rangers stay hydrated with new inventions and ideas, the kids go back in time to their ancestry to retrieve their crystal, and the Alien Rangers fight the monster and save the day. The first to complete their vision quest is Rocky, who is transported to Mexico and receives help from the young version of his grandfather to retrieve the crystal from a volcano. Simple, but enjoyable. We also notice that the crystal in the shape of a triangle has a bluish glow as Rocky teleports back home. Hmmm...interesting. I will also take the time to point out another subplot that started occurring during the Zeo Quest. Rita and Zedd have sent Rito and Goldar underneath the Command Center in order to plant a bomb that will blow our heroes sky high. The big problem there is that...well, it's Rito and Goldar, so they are clueless and get lost. This goes on the entire Zeo Quest, so I'm left wondering if this whole quest takes place over a matter of weeks, days, maybe even just hours. I'm hoping it's at least a couple of days, because if it was just hours, I think the importance of the Zeo Quest gets diminished pretty quickly.
Episode 40- Along Came a Spider: In this episode, the major highlight is Adam traveling to ancient Korea to find his crystal. He goes searching for a wise man to help him, while also trying to ignore this goofy old man who won't stop bugging him. Anyone with a brain can figure out exactly what you think is going to happen. Adam realizes the old man is the wise man he's been looking for and is given the crystal as a reward. It reminds me of when Luke Skywalker went looking for Yoda in Empire Strikes Back and has no idea the tiny, green creature is the great Jedi Master. Yes, I just connected a plot in Power Rangers to one of the greatest movies of all-time. Clearly, I take my fandom a little too seriously. Anyways, Adam's crystal is shaped like a rectangle and has a green glow. These color changes are getting very interesting.
Episode 41- Sowing the Seas of Evil: We get a two for the price of one in terms of the Zeo Quest in this episode. Kat's journey is in Australia, where she is tested on her kindness. It's not too exciting, but boosted by the appearance of Catherine Sutherland playing the teenager that agrees to help young Kat, and the old woman that asks young Kat for help. Her crystal is shaped like an oval and has a pink glow. Tommy's vision quest is a literal vision quest, diving into his Native American roots and giving him a journey that allows him to follow his instincts and trust himself. This is by far the best test during the Zeo Quest. It's the most profound and really legitimizes Tommy's ability to be the leader of the Power Rangers. As Tommy heads home, we see the star crystal has a reddish glow to it. Why do I get the feeling Rocky's getting demoted by next season? Anyways, we're also teased on the arrival of Hydro Hog, a villain who is essentially the Zedd and Rita of the Aquitian Rangers' world. It's interesting to see the Alien Rangers filled with fear at the idea of Hydro Hog showing up. Nice little build up there.
Episode 42- Hogday Afternoon Part 1: Hydro Hog finally arrives and actually does some pretty serious damage to the Alien Rangers. He sucks up all the water supply in Angel Grove, which is pretty bad news for our Rangers. Also, Aisha tries to complete her Zeo quest in Africa. There, she meets a girl named Tanya and quickly becomes friends with her. The first part is a bit on the stale side, but that's because you have to save all the resolution for Part 2.
Episode 43- Hogday Afternoon Part 2: Thanks to an invention, Billy is able to synthesize a rain or something to restore some hydration for the Alien Rangers and they send Hydro Hog packing. Aisha is pretty much just given her crystal at Tanya's tribe. Her crystal has a yellow glow and is shaped like two thin ovals or horizontal lines or something like that. When Aisha learns of a plague that is spreading throughout the village, she offers to stay and help thanks to her knowledge of animals. She decides to send Tanya back to Angel Grove in her place with the crystal. While not a terrible goodbye for Aisha, I wish they would have given Karen Ashley a chance to have a final scene with her costars. With all 5 crystals put together, the timeline is restored and the Rangers and everything is back to normal. At the same time, Rito and Goldar have successfully planted the bomb under the Command Center. While the Rangers are saying goodbye to the Aquitian Rangers, Rito and Goldar appear in the Command Center and steal the Zeo Crystal. The Rangers teleport back after they've left, right before the Command Center begins to blow up. Alpha and Zordon teleport the Rangers out in time, and the final moment of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is of the Rangers looking on, as they see the Command Center get blown to bits. WOW! What a downer! But also, what a cliffhanger to end the series on!
Character Spotlight: The Alien Rangers
The Alien Rangers are a hard group of characters to analyze. They're only around for 10 episodes, and they don't really have that much growth or personalities to really explore. What you see on the surface is pretty much what you'll get the entire time. The Red Ranger is Aurico and he doesn't get to do a whole lot other than lead the team in battle, and that's only due to the Sentai footage. Delphine is the White Ranger and the only female Ranger on the team. In the American footage, Delphine is the leader of the team, the first time a woman has led a Power Rangers team. Cestro is probably my favorite Ranger on the team. Being the Blue Ranger and the team's smartest member, he is able to form a strong bond and friendship with Billy over technology and science. Tideus seems to have a bit more personality than his fellow Aquitian Rangers, and is apparently the strongest member of the team. He's also the first official male Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers history. Rounding out the team is the Black Ranger Corcus. Often serving in the background, Corcus is the quietest member of the Aquitian Rangers. However, when in battle, thanks largely in part to the Sentai footage, he is possibly the quickest and fiercest fighter of the five. On an aesthetics note, I really like the Alien Ranger costumes. Even though the Sentai series has a ninja theme, the costumes translate into something that could look alien, while blending into the Ninja/Shogun themes and aesthetics that were used throughout Season 3.
Season Spotlight: Final Thoughts
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and images are copyrighted by Saban Entertainment
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