A video game, movie and television: August 2011

They started streaming Power Rangers on Netflix. Here are my random thoughts.

Turbo: The section of Turbo before the cast change was rough. Worst string of episodes I have ever seen from the series. Things like "The Ninja Encounter" were worse. But there were circumstances behind it at least. Honestly I could not keep watching them. I ended up skipping to when the new cast takers over. Between the new cast and I think new producers (That is when Judd Lynn took over right?) the show got a shot in the arm and laid the ground work for Space. I grew to like Divatox once I realized she was a lunatic.

Chased Into Space was a great cliffhanger.

Space:It was cool to see all the old villains together again. I swear they were teasing that the Red Space Ranger was Tommy initially. Astronema was not too hot a villain at first. The Turtles crossover is the worst episode in the history of the show (at least with what I have seen.).

Around episode 8 they get it together and never look back. Great villains in Darkonda and Ecliptor. Astronema develops a good personality. A great multi part saga with the Psycho Rangers.

The only significant complaint is how the change the music halfway thru the season. I hate this half assed John Williams orchestral shit. It does not really fit the show at all. Unfortunately this is the status quo the remainder of the series.

Nothing against orchestral arrangements done well. But butt rock sounds better than butt orchestra.

Bulk and Skull were underutilized throughout the season and that comes down to being too lazy to write for them. plus they got rid of their theme music. At times it feels like the producers are ashamed to be doing Power Rangers.

But still a great season and probably best overall for consistency. The second half of season 1 is better and most of season 3 is better. But in both cases they are dragged down by bad episodes. Aside from the aforementioned Turtles crossover, Space has no truly bad episodes.

Lost Galaxy: The first eight episodes of Lost Galaxy are not good. Not truly bad but difficult to get thru. It is amusing that Furio lead the rangers to all of their power ups. Including alerting them to the existence of the Lights of Orion.

Episode 9 starts the Magna Defender Saga. Which I think is the best storyline in the history of the show. They actually killed a child. Even if it was an armored kid in a flashback who became a force ghost. For this show that is hardcore.

In a tangent I like that they figured out how to kill off characters. They just don't say dead or killed.

Defender was a great character in design, personality and background. Had a great death scene too. After the episode where Mike gained the Defender powers the show entered a slump. Mostly good episodes but little momentum until the Space crossover.

The episode when Kendrix was killed is very good. Mystical death or not, its hard to believe they killed a ranger.

The introduction of Karone (The former Astronenma)gave the show a big boost. The episode introducing the Red Galaxy armor was really strong. It was nice to see Ecliptor again. Even in a flashback. Did Karone still have super powers post Countdown (The Power Rangers In Space finale)? She seemed to hold her own fighting Trankeena.

I think the villains were a weak point for the season at times. Scorpius was very uninteresting. Furio was interesting as an incompetent general. He also had a cool death. I liked Deviot well enough. But unlike Darkonda, he had no one to play off of. Trakeena was a boring Astronema knock off until the finale, when she finally came into her own.

I think Captain Mutiny was my favorite bad guy. He came across like a bad guy from the first three seasons. Carried an air of menace without taking himself too seriously. At the same time he was not a joke character. The big problem with Turbo was every villain was Squat and Baboo. No Goldar or Scorpina in sight.

Journey's End was a great finale. The best special effects this show ever produced. Which justified the Lost Galaxy Arc using mostly Gingaman footage.Which was a great string of episodes. If only for the fight with Titansaurus.