Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 30
Original Airdate: 9-21-2002
Last Time: The music.....the horrible, horrible music....
Max, being a typical urban youth, is dribbling a basketball through the local farmer's market. He happens upon Kite stealing some food....wait, didn't I have to do this episode during Lightspeed Rescue? Is this going to end up with the Rangers wearing ridiculous disguises as the local boardwalk? Max is displeased with the young godling.
Back at the evil lair of unspectacular nicknames, Toxica is wearing an apron and has made some more food for Mandilok out of machinery. Jindrax tries to serve a rusty muffler, but is rebuffed. Jindrax feels depressed at his basic uselessness....until he decides to find his brother and form a new team...a better team....a carnival team.
On the Animarium, the Rangers are wondering how the hell Animus came back to life. Shayla claims to have seen Animus get destroyed, despite the fact that I'll relatively sure that the flashback that was shown was originally from Merrick's point of view. The Rangers wonder where Animus is and Max and Kite wander in to answer that question.
Down at the local carnival, Jindrax meets his brother Juggalo to re-form Team Carnival.
Meanwhile, Taylor is barely able to conceal her hatred for Kite, and is the only one concerned about having a random boy be privy to all of the Rangers' secrets. Cole decides that it's time to find Kite's parents, because that process worked out so well for Cole. This somehow leads to Taylor being forced to babysit Max and Kite as they look for Kite's parents. Of course, Max and Kite basically being completely immature, this leads to the three of them going to the carnival....as do Jindrax and Juggalo, who suggests that they put on some disguises....despite being at the only place that the two of them actually don't need to put on a disguise to blend in.
Anyway, Taylor gets forced onto a roller coaster, and we all learn that Taylor is afraid of those rides....despite having been an Air Force fighter pilot. Seems like being afraid of heights and high G-factors would negatively impact your flying career. Jindrax and Juggalo have dressed up as mascots, and Jindrax is ready to throw a knife directly in Taylor's back....as usual, he fucks it up.
Kite and Max ask Taylor how she can be afraid of roller coasters but not jets, and it turns out that it's the loss of control that upsets Taylor. Yeah, that sounds about right. Jindrax's hunt of Taylor continues, but he manages to repeatedly miss her with his knives, and Jindrax decides to give up and just kill Max and Kite instead.
This plan works a bit better, as Jindrax traps Kite on the roller coaster with some Putrids as Jindrax and Juggalo introduce themselves and the concept of Team Carnival. The clowns then manage to actually hurt Taylor and Max with their juggling of knives. Their success is short-lived as Taylor and Max turn the tables on them by switching weapons...which somehow makes the Rangers more effective.
Jindrax then reveals that he's already captured Kite, and the Rangers immediately surrender. Juggalo then messes them up for a bit. The other Rangers show up and Jindrax releases some Putrids in a last-ditch effort to prevent his imminent defeat. Taylor and Max free Kite and the end draws near as the Rangers hand out some new power weapons based on their auxillary zords. The new weapons join together to form the Turbo Blaster, which kills Juggalo in a single blast. Jindrax is forced to make Juggalo grow in order to give him a bit more life. The Rangers respond with the Wild Force Megazord Classic. It quickly becomes clear that Juggalo is about to get killed again, and Toxica shows up to get her staff back, as Jindrax had apparently stolen it earlier.
Jindrax, preferring not to see his brother murdered, has stolen some of the growing seeds and intends to use them in order to help his brother, or at least die trying. Toxica tells him that if he dies when he's giant, then he's permanently dead. Team Carnival briefly outnumbers the megazord, but then Merrick shows up with his megazord and kills Juggalo. So...die trying it is. Jindrax shrinks back to normal size inadvertently, and thus gets to live. Apparently the magic seeds aren't very good...or the writers didn't want to kill one of the more likeable characters this season.
Later, Jindrax is depressed because his brother was just murdered in front of him. Toxica shows up to cheer him up....which works surprisingly well seeing as his only family is irrevocably dead.
The Rangers celebrate and Kite is there too. The boy sees Merrick and realizes that he met the Wolf Ranger a long time ago. Merrick furrows his brow as someone finally starts to figure out who the hell Kite really is.....but such revelations are for next time. Show Over!
Next Time: Such revelations!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Flute
Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 29
Original Airdate: 9-21-2002
Last Time: A stupid kid named Kite was more than he appeared to be....but not a lot more.
Cole is walking down the street and decides to talk to some pigeons about where to find Kite. Apparently they haven't seen the boy for a week....or maybe Cole has just lost his fucking mind.
Elsewhere, Jindrax and Toxica have dressed up as chefs and prepared Mandilok a breakfast of assorted mechanical parts. Shayla's nightmarish folk song once more begins playing, and that pisses Mandilok off. Toxica and Jindrax explain that Shayla and Merrick play that song every morning, and rightly call it horrible.
At the scene of the morning concert, we get another painful reprise of that damned song. Kite also hears the song, and wonders why the song brings tears to his eyes. Well, because it's so awful that your body is trying to do whatever it can to protect itself. But the new Org of the episode, the Flute Org, shows up and starts playing a counter-tune. This interrupts Merrick's flute playing and Shayla starts laying into him. Merrick points out that it wasn't him making that sound, and Shayla accuses him of not wanting to spend time with her. She insults him a bit and storms off. The Deer Zord runs off in protest.
Anyway, Mandilok hears the Flute Org's music and orders Jindrax and Toxica to send the new Org to kill the Rangers.
Back on the Animarium, Shayla is still upset over Merrick....even though Merrick didn't actually do anything. She accuses Merrick of being selfish and immature and promises to never sing with him again. That's.....some pretty great news! The flute music of evil starts flooding the city and forcing the people to do some tai chi by the looks of it. The Rangers show up to fight the monster, and Merrick recognizes it as the music from that morning. The Org proves to be even more inept than usual, and so Toxica and Jindrax escort him from the battlefield.
In the evil lair of blandness, the Flute Org explains that if he gets more power, he can totally use his music to control the Rangers. Mandilok, apparently not remembering that his predecessor's tenure as chief villain ended due to mutiny, decides to sap some of Jindrax and Toxica's power to boost the Flute Org.
Later, Kite finds Cole and recognizes him as the Red Ranger. Because Cole is almost as stupid as Shayla, this does not set off any alarm bells in his brain. Back on the Animarium, Danny claims that he'll be sorry not to hear Shayla sing anymore and Max looks at him like he's fucking insane. You know, I like Max about ten times as much just for that reaction. Shayla shows up and explains that the monster was making some terrible flute music. This causes Shayla to slowly understand that she pissed off Merrick for nothing. But, that will be for later, it's time for a monster attack!
....Actually, first Kite and Cole are going to have a brief conversation about being orphans. Great. Okay, now it's time for the Rangers to fight the Flute Org again. Once again, the monster is forcing people to dance. The Rangers show up, and, much like that one dream sequence on The Simpsons, forces them to dance with his powers. Shayla is confused by this, as she is by all things. Merrick arrives on the Animarium to apologize for....er....he didn't actually do anything wrong, but, you know, Merrick is nothing if not slightly beaten down by life. Anyway, he explains that he doesn't like visiting the Animarium because it happens to be the place where all of his friends died and he got imprisoned for 3000 years. That's....a rather good point. Shayla, in somewhat of a corner due to her being so clearly in the wrong, admits that Merrick "isn't a terrible musician." Then she finally remembers that the Rangers are still trying to fight that Flute Org and decides to take Merrick and help out. You know, maybe it's a good thing that whatever kingdom was around 3000 years ago fell, I'd hate to see a country run by Shayla.
Back in the town, the Rangers are still dancing, only to be freed by Shayla and Merrick's song. The Flute Org recoils in horror at the melody, and I can't blame him. Kite also hears the music and runs off. Mandilok has had enough and shoots Merrick and Shayla to stop them from playing anymore. Unfortunately, the Deer Zord shows up and breaks Flute Org's instrument. Shayla and Merrick banter, which ends when Shayla accidentally pushes Merrick off of a building. He barely survives by morphing mid-fall. Wow, Shayla, every time I think, "Well, she can't get any dumber," she proves me wrong.
The fight against the Flute Org finally begins in earnest, and it's rather one of the mill. Kite shows up and draws the attention of Mandilok and Toxica. Not that it does the Flute Org much good, as he gets killed again. The Flute Org gets grown and somehow prevents the Rangers from summoning their zords. Some zords, not the Rangers, show up it turns out that they're the component pieces of Animus, who is, in reality, a megazord. Animus then proceeds to destroy the Flute Org's flute, and that gives the Rangers a chance to call on the Isis Megazord. Sic Transit Flute Org.
Later, the Rangers celebrate the return of Animus, except for Merrick, who's reasonably certain that he saw Animus get killed 3000 years ago. Animus declines to take questions and disappears. Merrick is rather puzzled by this, and Shayla ropes him into to singing to the Deer Zord again. Cole tries to look for Kite, but the kid has mysteriously vanished. And by "mysteriously" I mean, he's obviously fucking Animus....I mean he is Animus, I'm not saying that he's having sex with the megazord-God....that would be weird....and anatomically difficult. Show Over!
Next Time: Jindrax re-forms Team Carnival, the circusiest villains in town!
Original Airdate: 9-21-2002
Last Time: A stupid kid named Kite was more than he appeared to be....but not a lot more.
Cole is walking down the street and decides to talk to some pigeons about where to find Kite. Apparently they haven't seen the boy for a week....or maybe Cole has just lost his fucking mind.
Elsewhere, Jindrax and Toxica have dressed up as chefs and prepared Mandilok a breakfast of assorted mechanical parts. Shayla's nightmarish folk song once more begins playing, and that pisses Mandilok off. Toxica and Jindrax explain that Shayla and Merrick play that song every morning, and rightly call it horrible.
At the scene of the morning concert, we get another painful reprise of that damned song. Kite also hears the song, and wonders why the song brings tears to his eyes. Well, because it's so awful that your body is trying to do whatever it can to protect itself. But the new Org of the episode, the Flute Org, shows up and starts playing a counter-tune. This interrupts Merrick's flute playing and Shayla starts laying into him. Merrick points out that it wasn't him making that sound, and Shayla accuses him of not wanting to spend time with her. She insults him a bit and storms off. The Deer Zord runs off in protest.
Anyway, Mandilok hears the Flute Org's music and orders Jindrax and Toxica to send the new Org to kill the Rangers.
Back on the Animarium, Shayla is still upset over Merrick....even though Merrick didn't actually do anything. She accuses Merrick of being selfish and immature and promises to never sing with him again. That's.....some pretty great news! The flute music of evil starts flooding the city and forcing the people to do some tai chi by the looks of it. The Rangers show up to fight the monster, and Merrick recognizes it as the music from that morning. The Org proves to be even more inept than usual, and so Toxica and Jindrax escort him from the battlefield.
In the evil lair of blandness, the Flute Org explains that if he gets more power, he can totally use his music to control the Rangers. Mandilok, apparently not remembering that his predecessor's tenure as chief villain ended due to mutiny, decides to sap some of Jindrax and Toxica's power to boost the Flute Org.
Later, Kite finds Cole and recognizes him as the Red Ranger. Because Cole is almost as stupid as Shayla, this does not set off any alarm bells in his brain. Back on the Animarium, Danny claims that he'll be sorry not to hear Shayla sing anymore and Max looks at him like he's fucking insane. You know, I like Max about ten times as much just for that reaction. Shayla shows up and explains that the monster was making some terrible flute music. This causes Shayla to slowly understand that she pissed off Merrick for nothing. But, that will be for later, it's time for a monster attack!
....Actually, first Kite and Cole are going to have a brief conversation about being orphans. Great. Okay, now it's time for the Rangers to fight the Flute Org again. Once again, the monster is forcing people to dance. The Rangers show up, and, much like that one dream sequence on The Simpsons, forces them to dance with his powers. Shayla is confused by this, as she is by all things. Merrick arrives on the Animarium to apologize for....er....he didn't actually do anything wrong, but, you know, Merrick is nothing if not slightly beaten down by life. Anyway, he explains that he doesn't like visiting the Animarium because it happens to be the place where all of his friends died and he got imprisoned for 3000 years. That's....a rather good point. Shayla, in somewhat of a corner due to her being so clearly in the wrong, admits that Merrick "isn't a terrible musician." Then she finally remembers that the Rangers are still trying to fight that Flute Org and decides to take Merrick and help out. You know, maybe it's a good thing that whatever kingdom was around 3000 years ago fell, I'd hate to see a country run by Shayla.
Back in the town, the Rangers are still dancing, only to be freed by Shayla and Merrick's song. The Flute Org recoils in horror at the melody, and I can't blame him. Kite also hears the music and runs off. Mandilok has had enough and shoots Merrick and Shayla to stop them from playing anymore. Unfortunately, the Deer Zord shows up and breaks Flute Org's instrument. Shayla and Merrick banter, which ends when Shayla accidentally pushes Merrick off of a building. He barely survives by morphing mid-fall. Wow, Shayla, every time I think, "Well, she can't get any dumber," she proves me wrong.
The fight against the Flute Org finally begins in earnest, and it's rather one of the mill. Kite shows up and draws the attention of Mandilok and Toxica. Not that it does the Flute Org much good, as he gets killed again. The Flute Org gets grown and somehow prevents the Rangers from summoning their zords. Some zords, not the Rangers, show up it turns out that they're the component pieces of Animus, who is, in reality, a megazord. Animus then proceeds to destroy the Flute Org's flute, and that gives the Rangers a chance to call on the Isis Megazord. Sic Transit Flute Org.
Later, the Rangers celebrate the return of Animus, except for Merrick, who's reasonably certain that he saw Animus get killed 3000 years ago. Animus declines to take questions and disappears. Merrick is rather puzzled by this, and Shayla ropes him into to singing to the Deer Zord again. Cole tries to look for Kite, but the kid has mysteriously vanished. And by "mysteriously" I mean, he's obviously fucking Animus....I mean he is Animus, I'm not saying that he's having sex with the megazord-God....that would be weird....and anatomically difficult. Show Over!
Next Time: Jindrax re-forms Team Carnival, the circusiest villains in town!
Homecoming
Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 28
Original Airdate: 9-14-2002
Last Time: Zen-Aku returned to win Merrick's heart, with mixed results.
At the lair, Toxica and Jindrax introduce Mandilok to their base, and it turns out that all of the other generals were pre-emptively killed by Master Org during one of his rages. Mandilok decides that he'll need some lackey who aren't completely incompetent, and that means it's time for fresh blood. The new henchmen are called Artilla and Helicos. Those are terrible names.
Meanwhile, a little boy is playing at a construction site, he tries to steal some donuts and gets caught by the construction workers. Cole shows up and the workers explain that the kid has been stealing their food all week. They ask Cole to keep the kid away because...I don't, I guess they assume Cole is in charge of him or something. Anyway, Cole agrees, and asks the kid his name, which turns out to be Kite....that's also a terrible name. Kite kicks Cole in the leg and escapes. Before Cole can chase after him, the Orgs attack and I pretend for a moment that that's the last we'll be seeing of Kite.
Mandilok is directing his lieutenants from a distance while he enjoys some steak. The Rangers show up and claims that he is known as the ''devourer of worlds." Um....I'm pretty sure that's Galactus, but fine. The Rangers are surprised that Mandilok has lackeys that aren't completely useless and get defeated. Kite observes the fight pensively.
Later, the Rangers reflect on the revolving door of Org leadership, and Cole suddenly remembers that Kite is probably a homeless orphan. In fact, Kite is facing off with the new Orgs immediately, and manages to distract them by kicking one of the monsters in the shin. The Rangers show up to save him, with Cole managing to wreck his motorcycle in the process. Kite is depressed that he caused Cole to lose his bike, and the Rangers get beaten up again. The Rangers crawl from some wreckage and realize that Kite is missing.
Back at the Animarium, the Rangers are coming up with a plan to ambush Mandilok that involves a giant map. Cole is still distracted by Kite's plight, and Shayla volunteers to find the boy.
The ambush goes poorly, and it turns out that Mandilok's interest in this particular part of town was because he wanted to eat some new buildings. The Rangers once again lose to Mandilok.
Elsewhere, Shayla finds Kite and lures him out of hiding with spaghetti and some sort of sandwich. Given what we'll later learn about Kite, this doesn't make a ton of sense. Anyway, this being Shayla's plan, it backfires as it attracts Mandilok. Kite shows up and demands that Shayla leave. Mandilok shows up, and the Rangers find that their crystals aren't working. Merrick goes off to stop Mandilok while the other Rangers kill Artilla and Helicos. This causes Mandilok to stop fighting Merrick and summon Jindrax and Toxica to grow the downed Orgs.
Unfortunately....the zords aren't working for some reason. Shayla comes to the realization that something is preventing the zords from functioning properly. Genius! Kite starts saying odd things about protecting the animals and runs off to a construction site where the ancient zords were apparently buried. Apparently the dead zords are angry at their graveyard being desecrated and are preventing the other zords from coming. Merrick manages to find where all of his friends were buried and is mildly depressed. Shayla asks that the dead zords allow the living zords to help out, and that solves that problem. The Rangers summon the Isis Megazord because it hasn't been selling as well and use it to kill the Orgs.
And....er....we're out of time, so a narrator shows up to help wrap things up. The Rangers moved the dead zord memorial, which apparently appeased the spirits, and they held a lovely rededication ceremony to boot. Merrick realized that he was never going to get that money the other proto-Rangers owed him back. Show Over!
Next Time: Flutes!
Original Airdate: 9-14-2002
Last Time: Zen-Aku returned to win Merrick's heart, with mixed results.
At the lair, Toxica and Jindrax introduce Mandilok to their base, and it turns out that all of the other generals were pre-emptively killed by Master Org during one of his rages. Mandilok decides that he'll need some lackey who aren't completely incompetent, and that means it's time for fresh blood. The new henchmen are called Artilla and Helicos. Those are terrible names.
Meanwhile, a little boy is playing at a construction site, he tries to steal some donuts and gets caught by the construction workers. Cole shows up and the workers explain that the kid has been stealing their food all week. They ask Cole to keep the kid away because...I don't, I guess they assume Cole is in charge of him or something. Anyway, Cole agrees, and asks the kid his name, which turns out to be Kite....that's also a terrible name. Kite kicks Cole in the leg and escapes. Before Cole can chase after him, the Orgs attack and I pretend for a moment that that's the last we'll be seeing of Kite.
Mandilok is directing his lieutenants from a distance while he enjoys some steak. The Rangers show up and claims that he is known as the ''devourer of worlds." Um....I'm pretty sure that's Galactus, but fine. The Rangers are surprised that Mandilok has lackeys that aren't completely useless and get defeated. Kite observes the fight pensively.
Later, the Rangers reflect on the revolving door of Org leadership, and Cole suddenly remembers that Kite is probably a homeless orphan. In fact, Kite is facing off with the new Orgs immediately, and manages to distract them by kicking one of the monsters in the shin. The Rangers show up to save him, with Cole managing to wreck his motorcycle in the process. Kite is depressed that he caused Cole to lose his bike, and the Rangers get beaten up again. The Rangers crawl from some wreckage and realize that Kite is missing.
Back at the Animarium, the Rangers are coming up with a plan to ambush Mandilok that involves a giant map. Cole is still distracted by Kite's plight, and Shayla volunteers to find the boy.
The ambush goes poorly, and it turns out that Mandilok's interest in this particular part of town was because he wanted to eat some new buildings. The Rangers once again lose to Mandilok.
Elsewhere, Shayla finds Kite and lures him out of hiding with spaghetti and some sort of sandwich. Given what we'll later learn about Kite, this doesn't make a ton of sense. Anyway, this being Shayla's plan, it backfires as it attracts Mandilok. Kite shows up and demands that Shayla leave. Mandilok shows up, and the Rangers find that their crystals aren't working. Merrick goes off to stop Mandilok while the other Rangers kill Artilla and Helicos. This causes Mandilok to stop fighting Merrick and summon Jindrax and Toxica to grow the downed Orgs.
Unfortunately....the zords aren't working for some reason. Shayla comes to the realization that something is preventing the zords from functioning properly. Genius! Kite starts saying odd things about protecting the animals and runs off to a construction site where the ancient zords were apparently buried. Apparently the dead zords are angry at their graveyard being desecrated and are preventing the other zords from coming. Merrick manages to find where all of his friends were buried and is mildly depressed. Shayla asks that the dead zords allow the living zords to help out, and that solves that problem. The Rangers summon the Isis Megazord because it hasn't been selling as well and use it to kill the Orgs.
And....er....we're out of time, so a narrator shows up to help wrap things up. The Rangers moved the dead zord memorial, which apparently appeased the spirits, and they held a lovely rededication ceremony to boot. Merrick realized that he was never going to get that money the other proto-Rangers owed him back. Show Over!
Next Time: Flutes!
Unfinished Business
Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 27
Original Airdate: 9-14-2002
Last Time: Master Org had his final confrontation with Cole that turned out to not be very final at all.
In the forest, Zen-Aku's mask reforms....I like where this is headed.
At Willie's Roadhouse, Merrick is practicing some pool, more specifically, he's trying to simulate the number of balls and the positioning that he uses in his billiards-based attack. Old Man Willie is kind of confused as to why Merrick only tries that shot, and decides to demonstrate the fakest-looking trick shot in history. It involves hitting the cue ball in such a way so that it flies up in arc, comes to rest on the table, and then suddenly shoots up into the air. Holy fuck, where was Willie in 1963, because I think I solved the mystery of the magic bullet! Merrick's only response is amazement that Willie used to play pool. Oh, Merrick. Anyway, Merrick's plot-sense tingles, and he has to run off.
Merrick ends up near a bridge where he hears the flute-music of imminent Ranger pain. Zen-Aku's back, and he's angry. Merrick is confused, especially since it was never made clear exactly who or what Zen-Aku is independent of Merrick. Anyway, Zen-Aku finishes his flute solo and says hello to Merrick.
Shayla, for the first and last time, is actually on top of the ball, and calls the Rangers to help Merrick. Then again, she's calling in the Rangers to fight Zen-Aku which....didn't go so well the last ten times.
Merrick and Zen-Aku begin their contest, which goes about as well for Merrick as you think. The other Rangers show up and are also confused, because they thought Merrick was Zen-Aku. Merrick asks them to keep the hell out of it. Zen-Aku explains that when Merrick broke the curse of the mask, he was made free to do as he pleases....and what he pleases is to rejoin with Merrick and beat up the Rangers some more. Alyssa helps Merrick escape and the other Rangers fight Zen-Aku. Merrick is less-than-pleased, because Zen-Aku is his enemy, not the Rangers.
Merrick fights Zen-Aku some more, and both tumble down a cliff. The Rangers can't find either of them, and Merrick's wolf crystal appears, which does not bode well for the Wolf Ranger.
Cole decides to ask Shayla for advice, as Zen-Aku is apparently even more powerful than before. Shayla's explanation is that Zen-Aku is much more powerful without a human host for some reason. On the plus side, she knows that Merrick is still alive.
That night, Merrick is sitting by a campfire when Zen-Aku shows up to fight him even more.
Back in the Animarium, Shayla looks at Merrick's wolf crystal and the Wolf Zord shows up to tell the Rangers that there's another Zen-Aku/Merrick brawl that needs attending to. Zen-Aku and Merrick end up on the beach where the monster finally beats Merrick. The Wolf Cycle shows up to bail out Merrick, for which he is grateful. The other Rangers show up, for which he is less grateful. Merrick isn't exactly thrilled about sending in the Rangers to get slaughtered by Zen-Aku, but, well, they're quite insistent on dying for his sake. Zen-Aku, whose beaten the Rangers about a hundred times, is unimpressed. Merrick then pounces on Zen-Aku's one weakness: Snooker.
Zen-Aku decides that he might as well become giant-sized. Merrick calls on the Predazord, and the Rangers call out the megazord with the stupid soccer attack. Zen-Aku, however, isn't about to get killed by that damned attack twice, and manages to block it and throws the Armadillo Zord back at the Rangers. Technically, that's a handball. Just then, Merrick has an idea: The Rangers have a ridiculous attack that shouldn't work, why not him? He copies the pool trick that Willie taught him at the top of the episode and mortally wounds Zen-Aku.
The Rangers celebrate and Merrick still doesn't want to party with the other Rangers. They're rather insistent. He still ditches them, though and heads back to the Roadhouse, where he plays a game of pool with Willie instead. Oh, Merrick, I love you and your anti-social impulses most of all. Show Over!
Next Time: Erutan lives!
Original Airdate: 9-14-2002
Last Time: Master Org had his final confrontation with Cole that turned out to not be very final at all.
In the forest, Zen-Aku's mask reforms....I like where this is headed.
At Willie's Roadhouse, Merrick is practicing some pool, more specifically, he's trying to simulate the number of balls and the positioning that he uses in his billiards-based attack. Old Man Willie is kind of confused as to why Merrick only tries that shot, and decides to demonstrate the fakest-looking trick shot in history. It involves hitting the cue ball in such a way so that it flies up in arc, comes to rest on the table, and then suddenly shoots up into the air. Holy fuck, where was Willie in 1963, because I think I solved the mystery of the magic bullet! Merrick's only response is amazement that Willie used to play pool. Oh, Merrick. Anyway, Merrick's plot-sense tingles, and he has to run off.
Merrick ends up near a bridge where he hears the flute-music of imminent Ranger pain. Zen-Aku's back, and he's angry. Merrick is confused, especially since it was never made clear exactly who or what Zen-Aku is independent of Merrick. Anyway, Zen-Aku finishes his flute solo and says hello to Merrick.
Shayla, for the first and last time, is actually on top of the ball, and calls the Rangers to help Merrick. Then again, she's calling in the Rangers to fight Zen-Aku which....didn't go so well the last ten times.
Merrick and Zen-Aku begin their contest, which goes about as well for Merrick as you think. The other Rangers show up and are also confused, because they thought Merrick was Zen-Aku. Merrick asks them to keep the hell out of it. Zen-Aku explains that when Merrick broke the curse of the mask, he was made free to do as he pleases....and what he pleases is to rejoin with Merrick and beat up the Rangers some more. Alyssa helps Merrick escape and the other Rangers fight Zen-Aku. Merrick is less-than-pleased, because Zen-Aku is his enemy, not the Rangers.
Merrick fights Zen-Aku some more, and both tumble down a cliff. The Rangers can't find either of them, and Merrick's wolf crystal appears, which does not bode well for the Wolf Ranger.
Cole decides to ask Shayla for advice, as Zen-Aku is apparently even more powerful than before. Shayla's explanation is that Zen-Aku is much more powerful without a human host for some reason. On the plus side, she knows that Merrick is still alive.
That night, Merrick is sitting by a campfire when Zen-Aku shows up to fight him even more.
Back in the Animarium, Shayla looks at Merrick's wolf crystal and the Wolf Zord shows up to tell the Rangers that there's another Zen-Aku/Merrick brawl that needs attending to. Zen-Aku and Merrick end up on the beach where the monster finally beats Merrick. The Wolf Cycle shows up to bail out Merrick, for which he is grateful. The other Rangers show up, for which he is less grateful. Merrick isn't exactly thrilled about sending in the Rangers to get slaughtered by Zen-Aku, but, well, they're quite insistent on dying for his sake. Zen-Aku, whose beaten the Rangers about a hundred times, is unimpressed. Merrick then pounces on Zen-Aku's one weakness: Snooker.
Zen-Aku decides that he might as well become giant-sized. Merrick calls on the Predazord, and the Rangers call out the megazord with the stupid soccer attack. Zen-Aku, however, isn't about to get killed by that damned attack twice, and manages to block it and throws the Armadillo Zord back at the Rangers. Technically, that's a handball. Just then, Merrick has an idea: The Rangers have a ridiculous attack that shouldn't work, why not him? He copies the pool trick that Willie taught him at the top of the episode and mortally wounds Zen-Aku.
The Rangers celebrate and Merrick still doesn't want to party with the other Rangers. They're rather insistent. He still ditches them, though and heads back to the Roadhouse, where he plays a game of pool with Willie instead. Oh, Merrick, I love you and your anti-social impulses most of all. Show Over!
Next Time: Erutan lives!
The Master's Last Stand
Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 26
Original Airdate: 8-10-2002
Last Time: The Time Force Rangers showed up to remind us how much better they were. Mission accomplished.
Master Org is still looking at that picture of Cole's parents, and decides to make a suicide run at the Rangers for some reason.
In the desert, Toxica and Jindrax are looking for something to kill off the current Master Org. They find some sort of tomb.
Back in Turtle Cove, Alyssa is walking to class when she overhears some students talking about how they found Dr. Viktor Adler alive in the Amazon. Alyssa decides to share the news with Cole despite the fact that turning up alive after twenty years in the Amazon seems like an obvious trap.
Cole is down at his parents', and his, graves, and decides that he has to talk to Dr. Adler so that he can find out what happened to his parents. Well...on the plus side, Cole is definitely going to find that out. The other Rangers explain that just because Dr. Adler survived doesn't mean that his parents did, but Cole needs to know. They rush into the room and Dr. Adler is up and locks the Rangers in. Undeterred, Cole introduces himself and asks about his parents. Mercifully, Master Org decides to spring his trap and captures everyone.
Toxica and Jindrax continue to look for a new boss in the tomb.
But enough forward progress, it's time for flashbacks by the gallonful! Master Org has taken the Rangers to some sort of factory and Cole wakes up to find Dr. Adler walking towards him. Cole in confused, so Dr. Adler helpfully reveals that he is, in fact, Master Org. He reveals that he's trussed up the other Rangers, and tells Cole that he "destroyed" Cole's parents. Cole asks Master Org to clarify, and the villain explains that he "finished off" the Evanses. Also, he "ended their worth existence." Cole demands that Master Org reveal how such a thing came to pass in the form of a flashback, and Master Org decides to complain about some sort of nebulous pain that they caused him that led to him murdering them, and Cole is still confused.
Flashback Time! Dr. Adler used to work with Cole's parents in researching the location of the Animarium, and fell in love with Cole's mother, but just as he was about to propose, Cole's dad beat him to the punch. So, that meant that Dr. Adler had no choice but to kill everybody, but felt compelled to do it in a theatrical way. So, he continued working with the couple, even after Cole was born, until they headed off to the Amazon. Oh, and this whole process also made him want to destroy the Earth. Anyway, while in the Amazon, the team found some evil seeds, and Dr. Adler identifies the seeds as the remnants of Master Org. I'm not sure how the fuck he knew that, but sure. Having secured some Master Org seeds, Dr. Adler was finally ready to proceed with his murders, which he did by eating the seeds and becoming the pasty fellow that he is today. He then killed Cole's parents with some vines.
Cole is devastated by the news that his parents are very, very dead, and is especially depressed that they got killed by their most trusted friend. Well, enough of that, it's time for Cole to fight Master Org, which starts with the villain flinging Cole into a pipe.
But, hey, that fight would be exciting, so it's time to check in on Toxica and Jindrax. They resurrect a new general named Mandilok. Meh.
Back to the fight! The Rangers encourage Cole to stop sucking and fight back. Cole gets a speech that pretty much sums up the problems with this season:
Cole: (slowly) I swore with my life...to protect all of nature. (yelling) I'M A GUARDIAN OF THE EARTH! AAAAAAAAH!
The other Rangers, now covered in some sort of sap, cheer him on. Cole morphs and starts kicking a sixty year-old doughy white guy's ass. Meanwhile, Merrick is riding around looking for the Rangers, but probably not looking very hard. He eventually sees a big fire in the factory and frees the other Rangers. Cole summons his Battilizer and it's time for the ultimate showdown...well, as much as a showdown as there can be with fourteen episodes left in the season. Master Org gets the Org beaten out of him and returns to being Dr. Adler, but still tries shooting vines out of his hands. The Rangers decide to just leave him. Dr. Adler asks Cole why he's too much of a pussy to kill him, and Cole gives some dumb speech about the cycle of revenge or something.
Dr. Adler limps back to his base, only to find it under new management. Mandilok, a truly creepy monster with two mouths, one of which has a male voice, the other female, explains that he...or it...or something is now in charge, and throws Dr. Adler off a cliff.
Back at the cemetary, Cole puts some flowers on his parents' grave. He also tells them that they'll be happy to know that the Animarium is real. Incidentally, Cole's grave is still there, which will always be amusing for some reason.
Down at the bottom of a mountain, Dr. Adler grows a horn and turns out to be not quite dead. Oh, the suspense....Show Over!
Next Time: Zen-Aku comes back to kick some more Ranger ass!
Original Airdate: 8-10-2002
Last Time: The Time Force Rangers showed up to remind us how much better they were. Mission accomplished.
Master Org is still looking at that picture of Cole's parents, and decides to make a suicide run at the Rangers for some reason.
In the desert, Toxica and Jindrax are looking for something to kill off the current Master Org. They find some sort of tomb.
Back in Turtle Cove, Alyssa is walking to class when she overhears some students talking about how they found Dr. Viktor Adler alive in the Amazon. Alyssa decides to share the news with Cole despite the fact that turning up alive after twenty years in the Amazon seems like an obvious trap.
Cole is down at his parents', and his, graves, and decides that he has to talk to Dr. Adler so that he can find out what happened to his parents. Well...on the plus side, Cole is definitely going to find that out. The other Rangers explain that just because Dr. Adler survived doesn't mean that his parents did, but Cole needs to know. They rush into the room and Dr. Adler is up and locks the Rangers in. Undeterred, Cole introduces himself and asks about his parents. Mercifully, Master Org decides to spring his trap and captures everyone.
Toxica and Jindrax continue to look for a new boss in the tomb.
But enough forward progress, it's time for flashbacks by the gallonful! Master Org has taken the Rangers to some sort of factory and Cole wakes up to find Dr. Adler walking towards him. Cole in confused, so Dr. Adler helpfully reveals that he is, in fact, Master Org. He reveals that he's trussed up the other Rangers, and tells Cole that he "destroyed" Cole's parents. Cole asks Master Org to clarify, and the villain explains that he "finished off" the Evanses. Also, he "ended their worth existence." Cole demands that Master Org reveal how such a thing came to pass in the form of a flashback, and Master Org decides to complain about some sort of nebulous pain that they caused him that led to him murdering them, and Cole is still confused.
Flashback Time! Dr. Adler used to work with Cole's parents in researching the location of the Animarium, and fell in love with Cole's mother, but just as he was about to propose, Cole's dad beat him to the punch. So, that meant that Dr. Adler had no choice but to kill everybody, but felt compelled to do it in a theatrical way. So, he continued working with the couple, even after Cole was born, until they headed off to the Amazon. Oh, and this whole process also made him want to destroy the Earth. Anyway, while in the Amazon, the team found some evil seeds, and Dr. Adler identifies the seeds as the remnants of Master Org. I'm not sure how the fuck he knew that, but sure. Having secured some Master Org seeds, Dr. Adler was finally ready to proceed with his murders, which he did by eating the seeds and becoming the pasty fellow that he is today. He then killed Cole's parents with some vines.
Cole is devastated by the news that his parents are very, very dead, and is especially depressed that they got killed by their most trusted friend. Well, enough of that, it's time for Cole to fight Master Org, which starts with the villain flinging Cole into a pipe.
But, hey, that fight would be exciting, so it's time to check in on Toxica and Jindrax. They resurrect a new general named Mandilok. Meh.
Back to the fight! The Rangers encourage Cole to stop sucking and fight back. Cole gets a speech that pretty much sums up the problems with this season:
Cole: (slowly) I swore with my life...to protect all of nature. (yelling) I'M A GUARDIAN OF THE EARTH! AAAAAAAAH!
The other Rangers, now covered in some sort of sap, cheer him on. Cole morphs and starts kicking a sixty year-old doughy white guy's ass. Meanwhile, Merrick is riding around looking for the Rangers, but probably not looking very hard. He eventually sees a big fire in the factory and frees the other Rangers. Cole summons his Battilizer and it's time for the ultimate showdown...well, as much as a showdown as there can be with fourteen episodes left in the season. Master Org gets the Org beaten out of him and returns to being Dr. Adler, but still tries shooting vines out of his hands. The Rangers decide to just leave him. Dr. Adler asks Cole why he's too much of a pussy to kill him, and Cole gives some dumb speech about the cycle of revenge or something.
Dr. Adler limps back to his base, only to find it under new management. Mandilok, a truly creepy monster with two mouths, one of which has a male voice, the other female, explains that he...or it...or something is now in charge, and throws Dr. Adler off a cliff.
Back at the cemetary, Cole puts some flowers on his parents' grave. He also tells them that they'll be happy to know that the Animarium is real. Incidentally, Cole's grave is still there, which will always be amusing for some reason.
Down at the bottom of a mountain, Dr. Adler grows a horn and turns out to be not quite dead. Oh, the suspense....Show Over!
Next Time: Zen-Aku comes back to kick some more Ranger ass!
Reinforcements From the Future, Part II
Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 25
Original Airdate: 8-3-2002
Last Time: Some half-mutant, half-Org creatures showed up and the Wild Force Rangers and half of the Time Force Rangers teamed up to stop it and it finally dawned on me just how much worse this season is than last season....and I didn't even like last season that much.
On the Animarium, the two teams of Rangers are rather depressed about losing. Wes also wants to know why Jen didn't tell him that she was in the past, but she's rather evasive. You know, Wes, she once heartlessly dumped a guy that looks identical to you, isn't that enough of a warning bell? Shayla interrupts them to explain that some sort of mechanical owl appeared in the Time Force Rangers' viewing screen and it confused her. Circuit calls and explains that the rest of the team is coming back in time to help out. The time ship lands and Lucas, Katie and Trip come out...also Nadira and Ransik. Jen is understandably concerned that the guy who kicked the shit out the Rangers at the end of last season is once again in the past, but Ransik promises that he's only there to help. Cole trusts him, and it's a shame that he isn't wrong, because I would have liked to see Ransik massacring both teams.
Anyway, Ransik decides that he probably should explain how the hell the Mut-Orgs came to be, as he's the one who created them. You see, back when Ransik was just a hideously scarred mutant wandering the world that hated and feared him, he found some sort of Org temple and released some Orgs so that they could team up and kill all the humans. The Orgs took some of Ransik's DNA and became Mut-Orgs and Ransik gained the ability to pull swords out of his body. But, hey that was a long time ago, and Ransik really wants to help kill the Mut-Orgs. Jen, having realized that she never really liked Alex that much anyway, and thus Ransik's murder of him being no big deal, takes the manacles off Ransik so he can fight. He immediately snaps her neck like a twig. Okay, that might not have happened, but it would have been pretty awesome if it did.
Later, Wes and Jen have another conversation about their relationship. It's as thrilling as it was last season. Eric shows Taylor his Quantum Defender and continuing flirting, which, given that they're two of the angriest Rangers in the franchise, consists mainly of insulting each other.
But Master Org has decided to move the plot forward and dispatches the Mut-Orgs to blow up a power plant. The Rangers, plus Ransik and Nadira head there to stop them, and Ransik explains that only he can stop the Mut-Orgs. This crossover, in addition to probably being the best one in the franchise's history, is also interesting because you can see the clear contrast between a guy like Ransik, who's played by a guy who can act, and is hamming it up intentionally, and a guy like Cole, who is played by a guy who just cannot act at all.
The Rangers split up and Trip goes with Lucas, Danny and Max to override the controls so the power plant won't explode. Everyone fights some Putrids, which may be the least successful mooks in Power Rangers history, as even the lowly Piranhatrons did things right occaisionally. Ransik, Nadria, Wes and Cole run into the Mut-Orgs, and Nadira gets knocked out the fight almost immediately. Ransik elects to defeat the Mut-Orgs with the suitably insane plan of blowing himself up to kill them. Ransik being Ransik, it doesn't quite work, but he does manage to destroy their mutant powers, at the cost of badly injuring himself. Trip then deactivates the reactor and Taylor blows up the bomb or something with Eric's gun. Okay, so we're done here?
Merrick, finally having remembered that he was supposed to show up and help, arrives and cuts off the Mut-Orgs escape, and it's time for crossover morphing and introductions! With that out of the way, it's time for the grand melee portion of the crossover, which is accompanied by some oddly out-of-place techno music. As is traditional, the Rangers all work with their same-color counterparts. Plus, since this is all American-made, it's time for the Battilizers, which still look just terrible. The Mut-Orgs get killed and there will be no megazord team-up.
Ransik recovers, and, for some reason, his face has been healed. Who the hell knows why. Huh....still a couple of minutes short, eh? Okay, so the Rangers from both teams decide to have a picnic, which for some reason includes a techno remix on that awful song Shayla was singing a couple of days ago. I imagine that the writers asked the producers if they could have a megazord fight, but no one really wanted to pay for it, so they just did this instead. Max tries to hit on Nadira until Ransik shows up and scares the shit out of him. Lucas then proves more successful. Eric and Taylor snipe at each other, which is how they show that they like each other. Oh, and Katie beats Danny at arm-wrestling because not one episode can go by without something to remind us how much Danny sucks. Cole and Wes hold a race.
Now, you're probably thinking to yourself, "That's an odd way to end a crossover." But you see, the writers were actually making a homage to the works of antiquity. As you know, the Iliad ends not with Achilles' triumph over Hector, but instead with a lengthy description of the funeral games that Achilles held for Patroclus, which included various Greek heroes competing in contests of skill and strength. So, in a way, this picnic sequence is actually an extended allusion.
No, you're not buying it? Well, I tried. Show Over!
Next Time: You know these last two episodes weren't so bad, and I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about the rest of the season. I mean, it's not like the writers would be dumb enough to follow these episodes with a story where Cole and Master Org trade idiotic monologues for the better part of twenty minutes....right?
Original Airdate: 8-3-2002
Last Time: Some half-mutant, half-Org creatures showed up and the Wild Force Rangers and half of the Time Force Rangers teamed up to stop it and it finally dawned on me just how much worse this season is than last season....and I didn't even like last season that much.
On the Animarium, the two teams of Rangers are rather depressed about losing. Wes also wants to know why Jen didn't tell him that she was in the past, but she's rather evasive. You know, Wes, she once heartlessly dumped a guy that looks identical to you, isn't that enough of a warning bell? Shayla interrupts them to explain that some sort of mechanical owl appeared in the Time Force Rangers' viewing screen and it confused her. Circuit calls and explains that the rest of the team is coming back in time to help out. The time ship lands and Lucas, Katie and Trip come out...also Nadira and Ransik. Jen is understandably concerned that the guy who kicked the shit out the Rangers at the end of last season is once again in the past, but Ransik promises that he's only there to help. Cole trusts him, and it's a shame that he isn't wrong, because I would have liked to see Ransik massacring both teams.
Anyway, Ransik decides that he probably should explain how the hell the Mut-Orgs came to be, as he's the one who created them. You see, back when Ransik was just a hideously scarred mutant wandering the world that hated and feared him, he found some sort of Org temple and released some Orgs so that they could team up and kill all the humans. The Orgs took some of Ransik's DNA and became Mut-Orgs and Ransik gained the ability to pull swords out of his body. But, hey that was a long time ago, and Ransik really wants to help kill the Mut-Orgs. Jen, having realized that she never really liked Alex that much anyway, and thus Ransik's murder of him being no big deal, takes the manacles off Ransik so he can fight. He immediately snaps her neck like a twig. Okay, that might not have happened, but it would have been pretty awesome if it did.
Later, Wes and Jen have another conversation about their relationship. It's as thrilling as it was last season. Eric shows Taylor his Quantum Defender and continuing flirting, which, given that they're two of the angriest Rangers in the franchise, consists mainly of insulting each other.
But Master Org has decided to move the plot forward and dispatches the Mut-Orgs to blow up a power plant. The Rangers, plus Ransik and Nadira head there to stop them, and Ransik explains that only he can stop the Mut-Orgs. This crossover, in addition to probably being the best one in the franchise's history, is also interesting because you can see the clear contrast between a guy like Ransik, who's played by a guy who can act, and is hamming it up intentionally, and a guy like Cole, who is played by a guy who just cannot act at all.
The Rangers split up and Trip goes with Lucas, Danny and Max to override the controls so the power plant won't explode. Everyone fights some Putrids, which may be the least successful mooks in Power Rangers history, as even the lowly Piranhatrons did things right occaisionally. Ransik, Nadria, Wes and Cole run into the Mut-Orgs, and Nadira gets knocked out the fight almost immediately. Ransik elects to defeat the Mut-Orgs with the suitably insane plan of blowing himself up to kill them. Ransik being Ransik, it doesn't quite work, but he does manage to destroy their mutant powers, at the cost of badly injuring himself. Trip then deactivates the reactor and Taylor blows up the bomb or something with Eric's gun. Okay, so we're done here?
Merrick, finally having remembered that he was supposed to show up and help, arrives and cuts off the Mut-Orgs escape, and it's time for crossover morphing and introductions! With that out of the way, it's time for the grand melee portion of the crossover, which is accompanied by some oddly out-of-place techno music. As is traditional, the Rangers all work with their same-color counterparts. Plus, since this is all American-made, it's time for the Battilizers, which still look just terrible. The Mut-Orgs get killed and there will be no megazord team-up.
Ransik recovers, and, for some reason, his face has been healed. Who the hell knows why. Huh....still a couple of minutes short, eh? Okay, so the Rangers from both teams decide to have a picnic, which for some reason includes a techno remix on that awful song Shayla was singing a couple of days ago. I imagine that the writers asked the producers if they could have a megazord fight, but no one really wanted to pay for it, so they just did this instead. Max tries to hit on Nadira until Ransik shows up and scares the shit out of him. Lucas then proves more successful. Eric and Taylor snipe at each other, which is how they show that they like each other. Oh, and Katie beats Danny at arm-wrestling because not one episode can go by without something to remind us how much Danny sucks. Cole and Wes hold a race.
Now, you're probably thinking to yourself, "That's an odd way to end a crossover." But you see, the writers were actually making a homage to the works of antiquity. As you know, the Iliad ends not with Achilles' triumph over Hector, but instead with a lengthy description of the funeral games that Achilles held for Patroclus, which included various Greek heroes competing in contests of skill and strength. So, in a way, this picnic sequence is actually an extended allusion.
No, you're not buying it? Well, I tried. Show Over!
Next Time: You know these last two episodes weren't so bad, and I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about the rest of the season. I mean, it's not like the writers would be dumb enough to follow these episodes with a story where Cole and Master Org trade idiotic monologues for the better part of twenty minutes....right?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Reinforcements From the Future, Part I
Power Rangers: Wild Force, Episode 24
Original Airdate: 7-27-2002
Last Time: The Rangers got a new zord....again.
Taylor has a new car and speeds along the streets until she gets pulled over. The officer who stops her? It's Eric! Wait, the Silver Guardians are now making traffic stops? So, they've taken over the jobs of the police entirely, then? Man, didn't anyone learn anything about the dangers of privatizing police functions from Robocop 2? Anyway, as you might guess, Eric has no mercy and writes her up. Back in the car, he and Wes banter for a bit before driving off.
But hey, the crossover's going to need some monsters, right? Three rather unremarkable monsters appears from an energy portal of some sort and Jindrax and Toxica try to recruit them. The new monsters turn out not to speak English, and this leads to Jindrax and Toxica getting beaten up and thrown into some cardboard boxes.
Anyway, the monsters attack the city....although I'm not clear on which city it's supposed to be, and the Silver Guardians move in. Fittingly, the Silver Guardians get manhandled in the very last appearance. Wes and Eric morph, but it doesn't do them much good. Eric and Wes are confused, as they thought that they'd gotten rid of all the mutants....and then Cole shows up. Damn it, I was pretending that Time Force was still running and that this whole season was just a bad dream, but no, Cole has to come along and bring me back into cruel reality. The other Wild Force Rangers show up, and this leads the monster to retreat.
Eric is suspicious of the new Rangers, and Taylor recognizes him as the one who gave her that ticket. Eric wants nothing to do with the Wild Force Rangers, and the two teams argue about whether or not the monsters are mutants or Orgs. Wes and Eric decide to leave, and Taylor fumes about Eric's dismissive attitude.
On the Animarium, Shayla continues to have no idea what's going on and asks if the other Rangers were nice. Taylor is still angry about Eric.
Meanwhile, Wes and Eric have elected to do something useful and call the future to find out about what they're facing. They get ahold of Trip who admits that, yes, three mutants did escape into the past. Also, Jen is in the past, but no one's been able to get in contact with her. Wes wonders if he's gotten a second chance with his mildly psychotic ex-girlfriend.
Later, the monster converse about creating more Orgs and destroying the future, and a mysterious woman in a cloak, let's just ruin the surprise and call her Jen, eavesdrops on them.
The next day, Eric and Wes ask Taylor for help. Taylor is still pissy about Eric, but agrees to take them to the Animarium. Eric is unimpressed with Taylor's Eagle Zord, as he has a fucking T-Rex on call. Shayla shows up and Wes asks her some questions about the monsters. Shayla admits that they're Orgs, but has no other information. Trip calls from the future and explains that the monsters are, in fact, half-mutant, half-org, or Mut-Orgs, and then helpfully supplies the Rangers with someone who knows more. So, Trip is roughly one thousand times better at being a mentor than Shayla then.
And who is the man who can help the Rangers with their troubles? Well first they stop by a local school to recruit Nadira to help them. Yeah, apparently Nadira is now a school teacher. You'd think what with all of the felonies they wouldn't let her....but, well, the future is a very different place. Lucas explains that they need her help.
Meanwhile, Max and Danny are feeling self-conscious about how much they suck. So they shout 'never give up' a bunch of times as Eric and Taylor look on with scorn. Eric remembers when he used to hate the other Rangers on his team....then again, they were roughly ten million times less annoying than Danny and Max.
Elsewhere, Wes explains to Cole that there are other Ranger teams.....and they're all much, much better than the Wild Force Rangers. But hey, we'll get definitive proof of that later in the season.
1000 years later, Nadira goes to visit Ransik. Katie, Trip and Lucas show up to tempt fate.
Back in the past, the monsters attack again, and the Rangers on scene assemble to stop them. Eric makes it clear that he doesn't give a shit about what type of monsters they are anyway. The Mut-Orgs wipe the floor with the Rangers for a while, and Wes is about to get killed when Jen shows up. She has crazy-looking hair and is wearing all leather. So...she's finally lost that last bit of sanity, then? Wes is rightly confused and the Rangers retreat.
Meanwhile, Master Org and the Mut-Orgs meet up with each other, and the Mut-Orgs swear fealty to Master Org. To Be Continued!
Next Time: A climactic showdown between three monsters and twelve Rangers!
Original Airdate: 7-27-2002
Last Time: The Rangers got a new zord....again.
Taylor has a new car and speeds along the streets until she gets pulled over. The officer who stops her? It's Eric! Wait, the Silver Guardians are now making traffic stops? So, they've taken over the jobs of the police entirely, then? Man, didn't anyone learn anything about the dangers of privatizing police functions from Robocop 2? Anyway, as you might guess, Eric has no mercy and writes her up. Back in the car, he and Wes banter for a bit before driving off.
But hey, the crossover's going to need some monsters, right? Three rather unremarkable monsters appears from an energy portal of some sort and Jindrax and Toxica try to recruit them. The new monsters turn out not to speak English, and this leads to Jindrax and Toxica getting beaten up and thrown into some cardboard boxes.
Anyway, the monsters attack the city....although I'm not clear on which city it's supposed to be, and the Silver Guardians move in. Fittingly, the Silver Guardians get manhandled in the very last appearance. Wes and Eric morph, but it doesn't do them much good. Eric and Wes are confused, as they thought that they'd gotten rid of all the mutants....and then Cole shows up. Damn it, I was pretending that Time Force was still running and that this whole season was just a bad dream, but no, Cole has to come along and bring me back into cruel reality. The other Wild Force Rangers show up, and this leads the monster to retreat.
Eric is suspicious of the new Rangers, and Taylor recognizes him as the one who gave her that ticket. Eric wants nothing to do with the Wild Force Rangers, and the two teams argue about whether or not the monsters are mutants or Orgs. Wes and Eric decide to leave, and Taylor fumes about Eric's dismissive attitude.
On the Animarium, Shayla continues to have no idea what's going on and asks if the other Rangers were nice. Taylor is still angry about Eric.
Meanwhile, Wes and Eric have elected to do something useful and call the future to find out about what they're facing. They get ahold of Trip who admits that, yes, three mutants did escape into the past. Also, Jen is in the past, but no one's been able to get in contact with her. Wes wonders if he's gotten a second chance with his mildly psychotic ex-girlfriend.
Later, the monster converse about creating more Orgs and destroying the future, and a mysterious woman in a cloak, let's just ruin the surprise and call her Jen, eavesdrops on them.
The next day, Eric and Wes ask Taylor for help. Taylor is still pissy about Eric, but agrees to take them to the Animarium. Eric is unimpressed with Taylor's Eagle Zord, as he has a fucking T-Rex on call. Shayla shows up and Wes asks her some questions about the monsters. Shayla admits that they're Orgs, but has no other information. Trip calls from the future and explains that the monsters are, in fact, half-mutant, half-org, or Mut-Orgs, and then helpfully supplies the Rangers with someone who knows more. So, Trip is roughly one thousand times better at being a mentor than Shayla then.
And who is the man who can help the Rangers with their troubles? Well first they stop by a local school to recruit Nadira to help them. Yeah, apparently Nadira is now a school teacher. You'd think what with all of the felonies they wouldn't let her....but, well, the future is a very different place. Lucas explains that they need her help.
Meanwhile, Max and Danny are feeling self-conscious about how much they suck. So they shout 'never give up' a bunch of times as Eric and Taylor look on with scorn. Eric remembers when he used to hate the other Rangers on his team....then again, they were roughly ten million times less annoying than Danny and Max.
Elsewhere, Wes explains to Cole that there are other Ranger teams.....and they're all much, much better than the Wild Force Rangers. But hey, we'll get definitive proof of that later in the season.
1000 years later, Nadira goes to visit Ransik. Katie, Trip and Lucas show up to tempt fate.
Back in the past, the monsters attack again, and the Rangers on scene assemble to stop them. Eric makes it clear that he doesn't give a shit about what type of monsters they are anyway. The Mut-Orgs wipe the floor with the Rangers for a while, and Wes is about to get killed when Jen shows up. She has crazy-looking hair and is wearing all leather. So...she's finally lost that last bit of sanity, then? Wes is rightly confused and the Rangers retreat.
Meanwhile, Master Org and the Mut-Orgs meet up with each other, and the Mut-Orgs swear fealty to Master Org. To Be Continued!
Next Time: A climactic showdown between three monsters and twelve Rangers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)