Flashes of Darkonda

Power Rangers in Space, Episode 16

Original Airdate: 5-16-1998

Last Time: T.J. very briefly had amnesia.

In his dreams, Andros is thinking about Darkonda, and the oblique references the monster made to them having met in the past. Andros wakes up and decides to do what he does after he wakes up every day, brood about his kidnapped sister. Andros goes to the bridge to find the other Rangers heading out to survey the Dagobah system. Andros doesn't join them because he has no time for Yoda. Andros decides to play the recording of his sister being kidnapped again. Looking at the recording, it quickly becomes obvious that it was Darkonda who did the kidnapping that day. Credits!

Andros has decided to travel to Onix, a planet in the "prohibited sector" in order to search for Darkonda. He orders DECA to not tell anyone where he went. What is Onix? Well, it's kind of like a old frontier town as populated by the evil beings from the Power Rangers universe. Andros sneaks into the Power Rangers-equivalent of the cantina from Star Wars, and I realize that that was what the producers were going for with the planet. Anyway, Darkonda is there. The villain has a drink and then goes upstairs to man-handle some sort of evil dwarf in order to get a vial of strength potion. It turns out that Ecliptor is hiding out in the cantina as well, and gets the evil dwarf to give Darkonda a tainted potion.

Darkonda gets the potion, and deals into an evil poker game...of evil. Andros, wearing a cloak, also decides to join in. One of the other monsters playing offers up some mysterious keycards, and claims that they came from Zordon himself. Andros wins and is immediately accused of cheating, but turns the tables and walks to the bar with his winnings. Darkonda, having figured out that something's up with this mysterious stranger, introduces himself to the shrouded Andros. He tries to buy the key cards off of Andros, but Andros wants information in exchange. Darkonda can obviously help in that regard. It takes Andros about five seconds for Darkonda to admit to kidnapping his sister. Darkonda admits to the girl being alive and is about to reveal exactly who and where she is before he finally notices Andros' morpher and realizes what's going on. The situation quickly devolves into a swordfight at the saloon. As is traditional in these situatios, Andros uses a chandelier in his escape and makes off with the key cards. Darkonda orders his Quantrons to stop him, and well, the Quantrons learn an important lesson in space fighter safety: do not use them in narrow alleys.

Andros makes it back to the Megaship and shows off the keycards he won to the other Rangers. So, I guess this is one of those episodes where Andros' not believing in teamwork is a good thing, then? Darkonda calls in from what appears to be an outdoors cafe to arrange a swap of keycards for information about Andros' mysterious sister whose identity everyone knows anyway. It's a deal that Andros appears to accept, but the other Rangers decide to come too. On...Earth, I'm guessing, the Rangers and Darkonda decide to fight it out almost instantly, but Darkonda insists on drinking that strength potion first. He knocks around the Rangers for a while. Darkonda demands that Andros give him the keycards, and blasts the Rangers when Andros refuses. Just then, the ill effects from the tainted potion become apparent as Darkonda starts leaking some sort of clear, viscuous fluid. It does not look pleasant. Darkonda retreats.

Elsewhere, Darkonda is still leaking and vowing revenge on whoever did this to him. Ecliptor shows up and takes responsibility and then teleports out. Darkonda, not pleased, decides to grow to giant-size. The Rangers call for the Astro-Delta Megazord. Up on the Dark Fortress, Astronema is confused about what Darkonda is doing, and Ecliptor sandbags the monster that he poisoned. The Rangers try to kill Darkonda with the flying fists of the Astro-Delta Megazord, but the monster is able to reflect them back at the Rangers with his sword. In the cockpit, the Rangers realize that they're losing all of their power. Andros decides to combine all remaining power into an "energy cyclone." This involves spinning the megazord around, flying through the air and then crashing into Darkonda at high speeds. That seemingly defeats Darkonda, but he manages to get back off just after Andros gives his traditional post-destruction taunt.

As Darkonda menaces the Rangers, a piece of him falls off and turns into another monster. Why? I...don't know. The Rangers certainly can't handle another monster, and klaxons and red flashing lights of danger start going off. The Astro-Delta Megazord finally goes down and....To Be Continued!

Next Time: The Rangers discover that the only weapon that can truly defeat this new evil: Toy Sales!