Ransik Lives

Power Rangers: Time Force, Episode 4

Original Airdate: 2-24-01

Last Time: The Rangers got some new toys, but nothing terribly exciting. Also, we learned Jen is not exactly a people person.

At the ruins of the time ship, the Rangers realize they have no food or shelter. Fortunately, Wes shows up to offer a helping hand. Unfortunately, Wes is completely fucking insane. He's gotten them an old clock tower. Damn it, Wes, think before you act! Oh, and the clock tower is many stories tall yet features no elevator. They eventually reach some living quarters at the top that is filled with trash...and rats....and pigeons. Jen, being as nuts as Wes, thinks that it's perfect because from up there "we can see everyone, but no one can see us." That....doesn't sound right. Credits!

In the Tower of Poor Real Estate Planning, the Rangers are cleaning up. In Ransik's Playhouse, Nadira is watching TV until Ransik shows up to explain his new plan to announce his arrival to the world, but is unsure how. Then he notices Nadira watching TV and has a brilliant plan...try and guess what it is. Ransik also orders another monster be thawed to help.

Back in the clock tower, Katie uses her super-strength to to hang a bell....in the middle of where they'll be living. Brilliant! Wes shows up with some clothes to replace their white jumpsuits. Unsurpisingly, Jen's outfit includes a tight, short plaid miniskirt. Oh, Wes, never change. Trip is hungry and starts hallucinating about eating a pigeon. Wes and Jen decide to get some food. On their way out, though, they're stopped by some elderly gentleman. Apparently the clock tower used to be the home of an odd job agency, and the old man wants to hire them to paint a television studio. Jen agrees, and really? Is that how we're going to do things show? The next person who says that this episode is a cut above other Power Rangers seasons is a fucking liar. That means you, Linkara! (Note: Linkara had not actually posted his review of this season as of the time I wrote this recap, but I'm reasonably sure that he'll give it a positive review, despite the fact that the heroes are eugenicists from the future who want to send genetic rejects to prison camps.)

And a-painting the Rangers go! Wes kind of sucks at it, due to being rich, and thus out of touch with blue-collar work. Jen doesn't suck, even though she is from the year 3000, when such work is exclusively the province of space-day-laborers from Ragner VII. Jen goes off to get some paint just in time for the Cyclobots to invade the station. To their credits, they swiftly capture Wes and Nadira taunts Wes for a bit. (A word on Nadira's abilites: Remember that episode of Family Guy where the Griffins got superpowers? (Subnote: I won't judge you for watching Family Guy as when I was a teenager, I thought it was brilliant too.) Well, the joke was that everyone else got awesome superpowers except Meg, who could only grow out her fingernails superfast. Well, that's also Nadira's mutant power.)

Anyway, Ransik takes control of the TV station and informs the people of Silver Hills that he now owns everything and everyone in the city, and that the city has one hour to surrender before he blows it up...even though he just said it all already belonged to him. Wes is brought before Ransik, and the villain is pleased. Meanwhile, the other Rangers, having seen the broadcast, begin to converge on the studio.

But before we get to the fight, it's time for Storytime with Mr. R! In the future, mankind will find a way to ensure that each baby is genetically perfect, and their attributes are hand-picked by their parents. Yes, that's right, the future is going to be exactly like Gattaca, except this time we're supposed to root for the genetic supermen. But then something went wrong and Ransik, the world's first mutant was born. Unfortunately, Ransik didn't mix well with the genetically perfect men of his age and was rejected by society, so he gathered all of the mutants to help uplift them from the underclass. Unfortunately, Time Force got involved and here we are. Er...I think I kind of want to root for Ransik. Also, if everyone in the future is genetically perfect, and Wes is genetically identical to Alex, then isn't Wes genetically perfect as well? That can't be right.

Anyway, the Rangers, now known as Purity Squad Prime, assemble at the studio and Ransik decides to leave. The monster gets left behind to fight the Rangers, and the fight quickly escalates to giant-size. One thing I miss about earlier episode was their superior background music. This season's stuff sounds like the music from a JRPG in 2001...and not a good JRPG. The monster gets reduced back into its shrunken state so it can spend eternity on ice.

Later, the old man from before is pleased with how the painting went. Oh, he's probably not quite as happy that his studio was invaded by monsters, but the paint looks great! Later, Wes decides to ask Jen about the horrible, horrible future. Jen explains that Ransik is intrinsically evil and rejected the help of others. Why do I have the feeling that the "help" in question was a merciful purging of his life. Anyway, the Purity Squad enjoys some pizza. Show Over!

Next Time: Lucas gets his own episode....and we learn just how much of a mistake that is.