Little Strong Man

Power Rangers Turbo, Episode 41

Original Airdate: 11-14-1997

Last Time: The Rangers learned a lesson about vampire safety!

Well, guys, it's the end of an era. Oh, Power Rangers Turbo still have a few episodes left, but this is the last Justin episode of Power Rangers Turbo, the last gruesome gleaming of the monumentally misguided kid-Ranger initiative. I understand why some people thought it might be a good idea. In an earlier time, a similar train of thought led to the creation of Robin, which in turn led to generations of Batman-is-a-pedophile/Batman-is-a-homosexual jokes. But suffice to say, it didn't work for Power Rangers.

It's track tryout day at Angel Grove High. Carlos asks Justin if he really wants to tryout for the track. Damn it, Carlos, deny me not the chance to see Justin be humiliated in front of his peers! Apparently it's been Justin's dream to be on the high school track since he was a kid. Carlos points out he still is a kid. Justin predictably takes umbrage at that last remark. Anyway, as a twelve year-old competing against high schoolers, he predictably sucks, and some generic douches make fun of him repeatedly. Go generic douches! On the Space Base, Divatox is ordering Porto to finish up her new Divazord. She's decided to pilot the zord herself, for she has learned the importance of leading by example. Credits!

Down at the juice bar, Justin is lifting weights. I don't think you're supposed to be lifting weights at his age. Cassie and Carlos show up to cheer him up. Lt. Stone is dealing with an ant infestation in the juice bar. Given that he let two chimps hang around for half a season, and allowed a dog inside, I can't say I'm surprised. He tries out a device that is supposed to scare away ants for a week, it looks like the ant version of a scarecrow. It's quite odd. Bulk and Skull show up with their new jobs: exterminators. You know, I love Bulk and Skull, but I fear for their safety and the safety of other when they're given poisonous chemicals. Lt. Stone wants no part of Bulk and Skull + Dangerous chemicals, and orders them out of the juice bar. Carlos asks why the hell Justin wants to part of the track team. Justin explains that it's sooooooo hard being the only twelve year-old in school, and figures everyone would like him if he we're on the track team. Unless being part of the track team ages you several years, I don't think Justin has a firm grasp on why other kids resent his presence in high school. He gets bitten by an ant, and perhaps the most gloriously stupid plot of the season is about to take shape. He decides to go back to the tryouts, and on the way out, accidentally rips the doors off their hinges. Yes, because an ant bit Justin, he now has super strength. Justin attributes his ability to rip doors out of their hinges with his bare hands as the result of his training. Justin may be the world's dumbest (alleged) super-genius.

Up in space, Divatox is meditating, but then can't stand it anymore and asks when her zord will be ready. At the tryouts, the coach calls for Justin, and is openly skeptical once he realizes that Justin is about four feet tall. Justin tries the long jump and is suddenly able to jump clear over the sand pit. Everyone applauds, but the generic douches from before are suspicious, as well they might. Justin tries the shotput and throws it out of the stadium. Carlos and Cassie show up and are concerned about this turn of events. Justin is able to clear a pole vault bar without use of a pole. Justin gets the respect of his peers, and all it took was superhuman feats of athleticism. Carlos wants to get Justin checked out, probably because Justin ratted him out when Carlos turned into a vampire, and Carlos wants payback. Carlos assumes that Divatox is behind Justin's super-strength, but Justin points out that giving the team super-powers is too stupid a plan even for Divatox. Dimitria asks if anything unusual happened to Justin that day. Carlos remembers that Justin got bitten by an ant. Apparently by being bitten by an ant, Justin now has 100 times the strength he should have at his size, like an ant. Angel Grove is apparently home to ants that can give you superpowers just by biting you.

Back at the juice bar, all of the Rangers except for Justin meet to talk about the situation. Lt. Stone is having trouble opening a jar. Fortunately, Justin is there to help him. He then challenges a guy to an arm wrestling match. The other Rangers notice, but choose not to interfere, after all, what's the worst thing that a guy with 100 times normal strength can do in an arm wrestling match? He doesn't rip the guys arm off, but he does humiliate the guy in front of a crowd. Carlos is displeased. Justin retorts that Carlos is great at soccer, and T.J. is great at baseball, and Ashley and Cassie are good at looking pretty and standing in the background, but this is all Justin has. The generic douches come by and suddenly want to hang out with Justin. Justin being Justin, he accepts unquestioningly. Divatox is confused as to how Justin is super-strong, and so sends some Piranhatrons to capture him. Okay, time out, Piranhatrons can't deal with normal Justin, and any time they capture some one, that person easily escapes at just the wrong moment. And now Justin has super-strength? Well, Divatox goes for it anyway.

The Piranhatrons show up and the generic douches immediately run away, because they are generic douches first and last. Justin tries to morph, but it fails for reasons that will be explained later. However, he still has super-strength, and the Piranhatrons can't deal with that. They eventually just picked up their wounded and run off. Justin taunts them. Who's the real hero here? The asshole kid with super-strength, or the Piranhatrons who fought against him despite impossible odds. The rest of the Rangers show up, and Justin reveals his morphing dysfunction.

Up in the Space Base, the Divazord is finally ready, and Divatox prepares to take it out. Back at the Power Chamber, Dimitria explains that Justin can have super-strength, or be a Power Ranger, but not both. Justin wants to be a track hero, but T.J. explains that it wouldn't be fair because Justin got his powers from an ant bite. The Rangers are alerted to the arrival of the Divazord. "Viva la Diva, baby!" Justin decides to be a Power Ranger over having super strength. They morph and confront the Divazord. Their timing is off because of the lack of torpedoes, but they eventually remember to call the Rescue Megazord. The Divazord picks up the Rescue Megazord and flies around with it. T.J. demands Divatox let the megazord go. Damn it, T.J., think before you say things. Divatox drops the Rescue Megazord onto the ground, hard. Divatox starts an attack that involves spinning the top part of her zord around at high speeds, and manages to make herself sick. She decides to retreat. Um...the Rangers win?

In space, Divatox is unsatisfied with the resolution of this episode. She threatens her minions, and then the scene ends just before she throws up. Down at the track, Justin is bummed that he lost his super-strength, and Carlos shows up to cheer him up. The other Rangers are also there. One of the generic douches shows up and Justin uses his super-smarts to explain the perfect angle to throw a javelin. I don't think....nevermind, is the episode over yet? Justin is now the technical advisor of the team, and the finale where the Rangers get the crap kicked out of them for two straight episodes cannot come fast enough. Show Over!

Next Time: The writers decide to try out a love triangle. The writers learn the error of their ways too late.