Unfinished Business

Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 27

Original Airdate: 9-14-2002

Last Time: Master Org had his final confrontation with Cole that turned out to not be very final at all.

In the forest, Zen-Aku's mask reforms....I like where this is headed.

At Willie's Roadhouse, Merrick is practicing some pool, more specifically, he's trying to simulate the number of balls and the positioning that he uses in his billiards-based attack. Old Man Willie is kind of confused as to why Merrick only tries that shot, and decides to demonstrate the fakest-looking trick shot in history. It involves hitting the cue ball in such a way so that it flies up in arc, comes to rest on the table, and then suddenly shoots up into the air. Holy fuck, where was Willie in 1963, because I think I solved the mystery of the magic bullet! Merrick's only response is amazement that Willie used to play pool. Oh, Merrick. Anyway, Merrick's plot-sense tingles, and he has to run off.

Merrick ends up near a bridge where he hears the flute-music of imminent Ranger pain. Zen-Aku's back, and he's angry. Merrick is confused, especially since it was never made clear exactly who or what Zen-Aku is independent of Merrick. Anyway, Zen-Aku finishes his flute solo and says hello to Merrick.

Shayla, for the first and last time, is actually on top of the ball, and calls the Rangers to help Merrick. Then again, she's calling in the Rangers to fight Zen-Aku which....didn't go so well the last ten times.

Merrick and Zen-Aku begin their contest, which goes about as well for Merrick as you think. The other Rangers show up and are also confused, because they thought Merrick was Zen-Aku. Merrick asks them to keep the hell out of it. Zen-Aku explains that when Merrick broke the curse of the mask, he was made free to do as he pleases....and what he pleases is to rejoin with Merrick and beat up the Rangers some more. Alyssa helps Merrick escape and the other Rangers fight Zen-Aku. Merrick is less-than-pleased, because Zen-Aku is his enemy, not the Rangers.

Merrick fights Zen-Aku some more, and both tumble down a cliff. The Rangers can't find either of them, and Merrick's wolf crystal appears, which does not bode well for the Wolf Ranger.

Cole decides to ask Shayla for advice, as Zen-Aku is apparently even more powerful than before. Shayla's explanation is that Zen-Aku is much more powerful without a human host for some reason. On the plus side, she knows that Merrick is still alive.

That night, Merrick is sitting by a campfire when Zen-Aku shows up to fight him even more.

Back in the Animarium, Shayla looks at Merrick's wolf crystal and the Wolf Zord shows up to tell the Rangers that there's another Zen-Aku/Merrick brawl that needs attending to. Zen-Aku and Merrick end up on the beach where the monster finally beats Merrick. The Wolf Cycle shows up to bail out Merrick, for which he is grateful. The other Rangers show up, for which he is less grateful. Merrick isn't exactly thrilled about sending in the Rangers to get slaughtered by Zen-Aku, but, well, they're quite insistent on dying for his sake. Zen-Aku, whose beaten the Rangers about a hundred times, is unimpressed. Merrick then pounces on Zen-Aku's one weakness: Snooker.

Zen-Aku decides that he might as well become giant-sized. Merrick calls on the Predazord, and the Rangers call out the megazord with the stupid soccer attack. Zen-Aku, however, isn't about to get killed by that damned attack twice, and manages to block it and throws the Armadillo Zord back at the Rangers. Technically, that's a handball. Just then, Merrick has an idea: The Rangers have a ridiculous attack that shouldn't work, why not him? He copies the pool trick that Willie taught him at the top of the episode and mortally wounds Zen-Aku.

The Rangers celebrate and Merrick still doesn't want to party with the other Rangers. They're rather insistent. He still ditches them, though and heads back to the Roadhouse, where he plays a game of pool with Willie instead. Oh, Merrick, I love you and your anti-social impulses most of all. Show Over!

Next Time: Erutan lives!