Power Rangers: Time Force, Episode 2
Original Airdate: 2-10-2001
Last Time: Ransik stole a time machine and some evil mutants, killed the Red Ranger, and then went back in time to terrorize the present. Sadly, it's all downhill from here.
It's now 2001, the present, and an unlucky security runs into Ransik and his goons, who inquire as to the year. This is apparently satisfactory for Ransik who does some more evil laughing. Credits!
Elsewhere, the Rangers' time ship has also crash-landed in the year 2001, and the Rangers get out just before the entire ship explodes. Circuit helpfully relates that they're near the city of Silver Hills. Jen wants to fight Ransik, but Tripp is understandably skittish, as the last person they saw try to fight the mutant was brutally murdered...in front of them. Jen argues that with their morphers, they should be able to put up more of a fight, but, well, I don't think Alex would agree with that assessment. They set off to find him, and, unsurprisingly, people start to notice the white-jumpsuited Rangers walking through town.
Soon enough, Jen runs into Wes, whose wearing a motorcycle helmet. It's the beginning of a deeply boring relationship that will assault my senses all season long. At the local jewelry store, Nadira unleashes some robotic goons to help her rob the place. The Rangers show up to stop her and give out the morphing call of the season "Time for Time Force." Clever in theory...but in practice it usually sounds more like "Time Force Time Force." The morpher don't work, though, and Nadira sends in her Cyclobots at the Rangers. Jen manages to get captured, only to be saved by Wes. Now, you could say that there's something mildly sexist about Jen needing to be saved here by some random guy off the street, but, well, I choose to believe that it's not really about Jen being a woman so much as completely and utterly incompetent. I mean, over the course of an episode and a half Jen:
1. Let Ransik Escape.
2. Stole a guy's car.
3. Watched as Alex got killed.
4. Watched as Ransik went back in time.
5. Stole a time ship.
6. Managed to destroy the time ship.
7. Handed out morphers that didn't work.
I mean, shit, that's more fuck-ups than Carter had all of last season. Anyway, Wes saves Jen and introduces himself, and Jen freaks out when she notices that Wes looks exactly like Alex. Jen tells Wes to leave, and Wes, being the most easygoing Red Ranger in history, does so. Later, Circuit announces that the problem with the morphers is that the red morpher needs to be unlocked to make the others work....and the red morpher is set to Alex....who's dead. The other Rangers, who, I'm going to guess didn't do particularly well in biology, suggest that Wes, because he looks like Alex, has the exact same DNA as the dead Red Ranger. Jen dissents, not because she realizes the scientific impossibility of such a plan succeeding, but because of her own hang-ups over Alex. She's....not a spectacular leader.
Later, at stately Wes Manor, we learn that Wes is actually some rich trust-fund asshole who habitually tries to get out of the few responsibilities he has. Mr. Collins saunters by so that the viewers have a chance to see good acting this episode, and Jen arrives to ask Wes for help. Wes takes advantage of the situation to pretend that Jen is his date, and thus he can't go to his father's board meeting. Jen asks Wes to help the team unlock the morphers, but Wes wants more of an explanation. Jen recapitulates the premise of the show, and Wes decides Jen's completely fucking nuts. And, in fairness, Jen's response is to comment on how Wes is "nothing like him," which must seem like a bizarre non-sequitur to Wes. Tripp calls in to announce that Ransik is attacking the city and Jen rushes off.
Jen tries to arrest Ransik, who applauds her for her bravery, and then blasts the team good. Wes arrives just in time to save Jen again...and okay, this might be a bit crypto-sexist. Wes is concerned that the villains are commenting on having already killed him, but Jen declines to explain the situation because she's basically useless. They morph and Ransik orders his Cyclobots to attack, but well, the time when they were effective has come and gone. The Rangers pull out their Power Weapons and Ransik decides to call it a day and leave. The other villains are driven off and Jen is still pissy about Ransik's murder of Alex.
Later, the Rangers celebrate and neither Lucas nor Jen particularly like Wes. Jen takes Wes's morpher because she decides that the team doesn't need his help. Wes seems reasonably okay with this decision and leaves. I guess the writers asked themselves, "Hey, what would it be like if the Red Ranger was completely spineless?" Anyway, Jen assures the other Rangers that they'll be fine without Wes, but it's only a matter of time before she rethinks that position. But how long? Show Over!
Next Time: Wes joins the team.
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