A Line in the Sand

Power Rangers in Space, Episode 41

Original Airdate: 11-18-1998

Last Time: Alpha was Kevin McCallister in the Rangers' production of Home Alone!

Ashley and Andros are on a date, and are being stalked by an angry car. How do I know that the car is angry? It has red headlights. Ashley notices some kids playing hopscotch and she and Andros jump in. They then decide to head down a darkened alley. The evil car, which is more like a Humvee, and whose actual name is Tankenstein, almost runs them down. Ashley and Andros give chase and head down another darkened alley. Some people just don't learn. Tankenstein almost runs them down again. Credits!

On the Megaship, Andros and Ashley are explaining the car of doom, and Cassie ascribes it to a really bad driver. You see, this is why people make jokes about Asians being bad drivers! They decide to warn Carlos, who isn't at the meeting.

Where is Carlos? He's playing soccer. The ball gets kicked into the woods and Carlos decides to retrieve it. Tankenstein chases him down and teleports him away. Carlos lands on a trackless desert and can't get his communicator to work. T.J. and Cassie show up at the soccer field and learn that Carlos isn't around. They retrace his steps, and do a bit too good of a job as they also draw the attention of Tankenstein. Cassie and T.J. try to run away, but to no success, as they are also teleported to the desert.

Back on the Megaship, Alpha reports that T.J. and Cassie have also disappeared, causing Andros and Ashley to decide to confront Tankenstein. Elsewhere, Astronema orders Tankenstein to capture the two remaining Rangers. On Earth, Andros and Ashley are driving around in Ashley's yellow Gremlin, which may be the worst car I've ever seen, when they're set upon by Tankenstein. They decide to get out and fight on foot, and I would be remiss if I did not report that Ashley is wearing a small tank top and jean shorts. It's a good look for her.

Andros and Ashley morph and try to climb into Tankenstein, but it doesn't work. As per contractual requirements, Andros trots out the Battilizer, which does nothing of consequence as well. They both get sent to the desert. Tankenstein is also there, and starts barrelling towards the Rangers. The Rangers get the shit beaten out of them.

Just then, things take a turn for the fucking ridiculous as Zhane once again shows up in his dune buggy. You know, last time it was kind of dumb, but this time, it's kind of surreal, because he hadn't been in the episode at all up until this point. He somehow blows up the heavily armored Humvee in his dune buggy. Uh...kids at home, just remember that in real life every person who's tried to take on the might of a Hummer with a dune buggy has ended up dead or worse.

On the Dark Fortress, Astronema decides to give the sattelasers a go, and Tankenstein is reincarted as a giant monster of indeterminate nature. The Rangers call on the Mega Voyager, and this somehow takes everyone from the desert to a city. The Rangers blow off one of Tankenstein's arms with their missile, but it just grows back. The monster responds by cutting off one of the Mega Voyagers arms and basically trashes it. The Rangers are able to rally and mortally wound the monster, but it takes off and both it and the megazord go up in an explosion that looks suspiciously like the Challenger disaster.

Later, the Rangers crawl from the wreckage of the Mega Voyager and realize that they've managed to lose another megazord. How many megazord destructions has T.J. now been involved in, anyway? On the Dark Fortress, Astronema and Ecliptor are pleased with how things are going. Show Over!

Next Time: It's the end of the world, and I feel fine. Well, as fine as I usually feel. Listen, I feel good enough, okay? Stop hassling me.