15) “Fighting Spirit” (Power Rangers Dino Thunder, Episode 27)
Power Rangers Dino Thunder stands very well as its own series with likeable characters, a well-handled comedic tone, and solid storyline. But one of the most memorable things the season did was include classic former Ranger Tommy Oliver among its cast as both a mentor and returning Ranger. However, Tommy was smartly in the background for much of the season, allowing the few focal moments and episodes to be all-the-more earned. “Fighting Spirit” has Tommy lying in a coma after a mishap with his Dinogem, forced to fight his previous Ranger forms from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Power Rangers Zeo. Jason David Frank gets to show off some grittier fighting, and the high-stakes scenario and overall coolness factor makes this one of the best half-hours for longtime fans.
16) “Resurrection” (Power Rangers SPD, Episode 36)
Being a Power Ranger has always felt more like a fantasy than a burden, but Power Rangers SPD makes being a Power Ranger a long-term career rather than a special ops mission to defeat a villain. The SPD Rangers still have lots of fun, thanks in part to its superb cast, but it’s clear in “Resurrection” that being a Ranger might not be everyone’s dream. Red Ranger Jack and Commander Kruger come to blows when Jack decides to “have a life” outside of his duties against Kruger’s wishes, a stark contrast to Zordon’s days of making Rangers give up their powers to have a life. And in a huge twist, he gets a possible out when the A-Squad Rangers–the missing team SPD has been searching for all season–are found, throwing the entire team into an existential crisis. But the biggest twist about the A-Squad Rangers is still yet to come, leading into the season’s stellar finale.
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4 Comments
This a great list. I don’t think there’s anything I disagree with.
I have to disagree with one thing, overall.
The lack of positive mention to “Power Rangers-Ninja Storm”.
There were MANY very, very good episodes in that series, and felt it was far superior to “Light Speed Rescue”, including the Zords in the series. The commander and the team in LSR was completely lame and the acting was so, below par, I turned it off after 5 episodes.
The “Ninja Storm” was far better with the Zords, storyline (particularly with the Thunder Ranger issue), the the like-ablity of characters (The cross-over between the Wind Rangers vs. Dino-Rangers really should have made this list.)
The
Me personally? I prefer Ninja Storm to Lightspeed Rescue overall. But Ninja Storm works much better as the sum of its parts than it does with individual samplings. Lightspeed Rescue, conversely, has some really good individual episodes within the Titanum Ranger arc, even if the season as a whole is pretty weak (in my opinion, of course.) I rewatched a handful of possiblities to see what felt better, and Lightspeed Rescue’s episode just stood stronger on its own than any individual Ninja Storm episode or arc I tried again. Same with Jungle Fury. Believe me, I grappled with it for a long time.
Nice article! If I may, however, point out that Olivia’s last name is misspelled. It’s Tennet. Thanks.