Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Invasion of the Body Switcher

Power Rangers in Space, Episode 19

Original Airdate: 9-26-1998

Last Time: Justin happened.

Ashley is blowing out the candles on her birthday cake. Carlos asked what she wished for, Cassie thinks that it has to do with fucking Andros, who, being Andros, is sitting away from the other Rangers, brooding. Carlos got her a fire extinguisher as a birthday gift. In fairness, that's pretty practical when everyday sparks are flying out of your uniform. Ashley brings over a piece of cake to Andros, who explains that they don't celebrate birthdays on his world, but still managed to get her a necklace.

On the Dark Fortress, Dark Specter tells Astronema that she must stop the Power Rangers or else. Astronema has a new plan that involves a disguise. She summons a monster that shows off his ability to shapeshift himself or others in the most bizarre way possible. It involves him changing into a bunch of different monsters and dancing. He then turns Astronema into a copy of Ashley. Credits!

On Earth, Ashley and Cassie are having their weekly strategy meeting about Ashley getting into Andros' pants. Cassie walk a bit ahead of Ashley and doesn't notice as two Quantrons manage to instantly kidnap Ashley. Yes, despite the fact that Ashley has beaten up about a hundred Quantrons so far this season, a pair of them are able to leap from the bushes and carry her off. Astronema-as-Ashley shows up, and is about as unconvincing as possible, but Cassie continues not to notice anything awry. Behind the bushes, real Ashley manages to escape for a second, but is recaptured before she can let out much more than a whimper. That's enough for Cassie, however, and she goes off to investigate. Astronema calls in some Quantrons to distract her. Cassie goes off to help "Ashley" fight them off. Astronema, uninterested in actually fighting, stages a hopelessly fake looking fight with her soldiers. After a while, Astronema waves them off, and the fight ends. Ashley is easily able to eonvince Cassie to go to the Megaship.

Once there, Astronema starts looking for the engine room. She runs into Cassie and has to help her fix a blaster. Of course, she doesn't actually know what any of the equipment is, and so decides to summon her staff and blast Cassie instead. Elsewhere, she continues her plan to pick off the Rangers instead of maintaining the charade, and crushes Carlos with some sort of variable-gravity free weights. She then decides to blast him with her staff for good measure.

Elsewhere, the bodyswitcher monster is standing guard over Ashley and self-promoting. This involves more dancing. Ashley challenges the monster to change her into Astronema. The monster, having limited foresight, takes on that challenge. Elgar walks in and frees Ashley, who he thinks is Astronema. She escapes, and the monster finally explains the situation to Elgar.

On the Megaship, Astronema runs into Alpha, who has brought her a birthday present. Astronema does not understand the concept of a gift, which Alpha does not find suspicious at all. The gift is a hummel figurine. Astronema is even more confused. On the bridge, T.J. and Andros are hanging out. Andros tries to call Cassie, but she isn't answering, neither is Carlos. T.J. goes off to check it out. He eventually finds Ashley dragging an unconscious Carlos away. T.J. also gets blasted with Astronema's staff.

Astronema finally makes it to the bridge. Andros asks her where everyone else is. Astronema is evasive. Andros is unsatisfied by Astronema's answer, and decides to check it out. Astronema decides to attack him by showing him some footage of a staged monster attack. They head down to Earth. Astronema decides to blast Andros with her blaster. Unfortunately, Ashley shows up, still looking like Astronema. Ashley tries to explain the situation, but is cut short when Astronema attacks her.

On the Megaship, Alpha discovers the other Rangers. On Earth, Ashley is still trying to explain the situation, Astronema claims that it's a trick. That's good enough for Andros, who attacks Ashley. Ashley manages to end the confusion by challenging Astronema to name what Andros got Ashley for her birthday. Astronema tries attacking Andros, but fails and is forcibly turned back to her normal appearance. Ashley and Astronema, both looking like the latter, begin to fight, and Andros is confused, as is Ecliptor and the monster of the episode. The other Rangers also show up. Andros figures it out by challenging both women to do the morphing pose. The monster goes into fight and Astronema leaves, and immediately orders the satellilasers to fire once she gets back to the Dark Fortress. The Rangers call for the Mega Voyager. They decide to soften the monster up with a sword for the sake of variety, but eventually just decide to blow him up with their missile.

On the Megaship, the Rangers are putting away their uniforms, in way that they have never done before and will never do again. Ashley's hesistant to take off her helmet as she's not sure what she currently looks like. Turns out she's back to normal. Andros slips off so he can go to the brooditorium. Actually, he's going to the chamber of foreshadowment, as he goes off to silently stare at a medical-looking chamber. Show Over!

Next Time: We learn Andros' painful secret...well, his other painful secret, at any rate.

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