wrote:
Tommy, the Green Ranger, wasn't killed. He just lost his power. Overall, I thought he was all right, but hands down, the greatest Power Ranger would have to be Jason, who started out in red and appropriately returned as the Gold Ranger.
I'm always a little surprised whenever I hear that some incarnation of this show is still around, producing new episodes (on Fox Family). I mean, it was pretty good during the early days -- thanks to good storytelling, nice action, and likable, interesting characters -- but then, following a series of recasts (it happens, I know), revisions, and some generally lame ideas and villains, the whole thing just gradually declined in quality.
Last time I tried watching, there was some scenario with the latest team being allied with two human leaders (a female scientist-type and a by-the-book guy who I believe was the father of one Ranger).
It's not really the show I knew and loved. The only thing recognizable about it now is the overall concept of two organized groups fighting with the fate of the world at stake every now and then while teenagers in costumes represent one side and stupid-looking-yet-dangerous beings represent the other. The Power Rangers arrive, the "putties" or whatever they're using these days get the crap kicked out of them, the stupid-looking baddie gets the upper hand, the ones who sent it look on and gloat about how they're finally going to win this time, and then -- possibly with some help from their comrades back at the base -- the Power Rangers come up with something and save the day once again, while whatever personal issue one of them was going through gets neatly wrapped up afterwards. Rinse, repeat.
Throughout the years, I don't really understand how this formula could've endured long enough to keep the show on the air for this amount of time, but I guess it's sort of like the great Sesame Street in this regard: as one audience matures and moves on, a new one arrives to take its place.
Still, if it's not done by now, I doubt there's much life left in the Power Rangers franchise. Again, it was indeed pretty good at the start.