A Blue Streak

Power Rangers: Time Force, Episode 5

Original Airdate: 3-3-2001

Last Time: We learned that the Rangers weren't so much heroes as they were ruthless enforcers of genetic purity.

At the clock tower, the Rangers are tidying up in front of the building when Wes drives up in his convertible. Lucas wants to go for a spin, and Wes explains to him how a car works, because he's under the impression that 1000 years in the future, transportation will be markedly different. That's not terrible logic, but it proves to be wrong because, as Trip explains to the audience, Lucas is a "championship race car driver." Really? I mean, mankind is capable of creating genetically perfect humans but some for of NASCAR is around? Lucas puts on some racing gloves and speeds off with a visibly confused Wes in the passenger seat. Credits! Sweet, merciful Credits!

Lucas starts tearing around a residential neighborhood like a madman, and a cop pulls him over for his insanely reckless driving. The officer asks for Lucas' license, and Lucas gives him his ID from the future, which identifies him as a race car driver. In the future, professional race car drivers will finally be free from the traffic laws that unfairly bring them to the level of the average driver. Understandably, the cop doesn't accept it, and gives him a ticket for all of his infractions...and then lets him go...even though he doesn't have a license.

At Ransik's Playhouse, the villains are discussing how to conquer Silver Hills. Frax suggests they starve them out, whereas Nadira suggests stealing more money. Both are terrible ideas, but Nadira's wins out because it doesn't require expensive siege engines to complete. Nadira manages to fuck up her own idea almost instantly, however, by choosing to use Mantamobile, who's a renowned car thief. Okay, I guess the villains are going to start a chop shop.

Back at the clock tower, Wes is quizzing Lucas on the meaning of street signs. Lucas is upset because he's a race car driver, and shouldn't be required to know the rules of the road. On his roads, there is only one rule: Don't get in Lucas' way. Elsewhere, Mantamobile uses his tentacles to soup up to cars to serve as getaways vehicles....even though the villains can teleport.

At the DMV, the world's worst plot continues to edge forward as Lucas prepares for his driver's test. Lucas' driving tester is a guy with thick glasses and a bowtie, just so everyone's crystal clear in understanding that he's a nerd who doesn't understand the spirit of the race. He starts talking about being "careful" because he's lame....or because he doesn't want to die in a hellish collision. Then again, only lame people are afraid of dying in firey car wrecks.

On the interstate, Nadira uses her new car to rob an armored car. Lucas observes this while finishing his driving test, and immediately speeds after them. The driving instructor freaks out, because he'd prefer not being in a deadly high-speed chase, but Lucas cares not for the lives of civilians, and presses on. Besides, the driving instructor wears glasses, and thus is not genetically perfect, therefore, not a real person in Lucas' world. Lucas eventually crashes into some boxes and has to stop the chase.

Back at the clock tower, Wes and Lucas explain the situation, and Trip pulls out the new Vector Cycles. Toys for everyone! In the city, Nadira robs a bank. You know, I'm a bit confused. The villains never actually buy anything with the money they steal, so I can't help but wonder exactly what steal vast quantities of paper money is supposed to do? I guess they're trying to create deflation by reducing the overall money supply, and thus stunt America's economic growth so much that it turns the country over to Ransik out of desperation.

Anyway, the Rangers show up in their Vector Cycles and another chase scene breaks out. They eventually stop Nadira and Mantamobile, and fight the latter. Some Cyclobots also show up to fill out the fight scene. Wes and Lucas beat the monster, but it's not enough, so the Rangers must combine their Power Weapons to finish the job.....and it's time for the bonus megazord round.

The transformation takes forever, as usual, and they choose to use Mode Blue first. Mode Blue never, ever, ever works, and is basically just a stall tactic before the Rangers go into Mode Red. They eventually do shift into Mode Red and Time Sword the monster back into its action figure form. The Rangers make a bit of small talk about why the zords also have to remain in the future when they aren't being used. It turns out that it's because the past lack the technology to maintatin.

Later, we see the cowardly driving instructor and, as a result of Lucas' driving, he now has his arm in a sling, his head bandaged and a protector around his neck. Lucas, you're basically a tremendous dick. Lucas wants to take the test again, and the driving instructor runs off because, you know, last time he was in a car with Lucas he was horribly injured. According the musical cues, however, this is a humorous situation. So, I guess the moral of today's episode is that it's wrong to driver recklessly....unless you're a race car driver, then it's mandatory at all times. Credits!

Next Time: The Rangers continue to make the city of Silver Hills a terrible place to live!