Season One: Episode Nineteen: Green With Evil, pt. 3.

 

                  Green With Evil, part 3. 

                          The Rescue.

                                    If Scorpina be waspish best beware her sting.  

Sentai Notes: 

   Scorpina in Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger is given the name of Lami. She still comes from a cocoon with live scorpions crawling upon her and comes with her form. She looks like a beautiful woman with scorpion make up, but when grown up by Bandora, she'll turn ugly. One plot point not in the Power Rangers is that Lami and Grifforzer are married and had been away from each other due to Bandora's imprisonment. When they are reunited, they are so happy that Grifforzer talks again (yeah, unlike Goldar, he is silent for most of the early chapters, which explains why Saban added dialogue and made Goldar something of a general, who adds in commentary to Rita's plans on a few occasions). 

Strategy Notes:

   Jason employs the tactic of being aware of one's surroundings in order to escape Goldar. He can't really escape him entirely, but he can avoid that sword of his. Then he uses it to ambush Goldar at the last moment. 

    The way Kimberly handles Bulk and Skull's continued harassment is also of note. She uses deception by pretending to kiss Skull, while telling him to close his eyes. Then she slips aside and the unsuspecting Skull winds up kissing Bulk. 

Biblical and Mythological Homage:

    Lami / Scorpina brings to mind the Egyptian goddess Serket, the protector of pharaohs. In contrast to the benign Serket whom the Pharaoh of Exodus would have likely prayed to when the Plagues hit, Scorpina is pure evil. In fact, scorpions in the Near East were usually seen as symbols of danger. In Greek Mythology, there was the dreaded scorpion sent after Orion the Hunter. Those are more likely candidates of connection to Scorpina than Serket. Scorpio is one of the twelve constellations seen in astrology, with the zodiac calendar placing it in much of November and late October (coinciding with All-Hallows Eve where the scorpion's fellow arachnid, the spider, is featured frequently).

    One iconic scene of classical mythology is done with Bandora / Rita sitting at the mirror, applying makeup, while Squat is holding up a mirror. Venus / Aphrodite is often depicted at their vanity, with cherubs holding up a mirror for her to observe as she does her hair. The inclusion is meant to show how evil perverts things, where Rita has Aphrodite's vanity, but not her beauty. 

Misc. Notes:

    Continuity goof: Goldar somehow knows what is going on with Zack and Kim, yet he is never shown leaving Jason until the Green Ranger shows up. 

    In "The Green Candle" we find out Tommy had touched some wax while under Rita's spell, which allowed her to make the said candle. I'd argue it was in this part when it happened, even if we don't see it. After all, in a fit of rage, he could do things without thinking. 

Thoughts:

    From what I have seen of reviewers, the general consensus is part three of the "Green With Evil" saga is the weakest of the five, considering how it is mostly filler. It basically is Jason getting out of one precarious situation only to lead the Power Rangers into another, while Scorpina is introduced. Meanwhile, the Green Ranger comes in to face Jason one and one, and almost defeats him as Goldar nearly did, until Jason is teleported away. Predictably, Goldar scolds Green Ranger for letting that happen and leaves him in the chamber as punishment. 

    I like how the Rangers come together and rescue Jason from certain death, mostly, and seeing their genuine concern for him. Billy has his moment to shine in fixing the communicators and getting the teleportation to work again. As to Tommy, watching him react to his mistake does make him sympathetic, like a case of a child who messed up and now must face his parents. Goldar takes on the role of that stern father who rebukes first and offers forgiveness later. He doesn't even tell Tommy when he'll be free to leave, but rather keeps him basically grounded. I always disliked that approach in parenting as it is basically abuse, making a child sweat it out and become fretful if he would be reprieved. All the while, if all he saw of his parents is them being mad at him, it's enough to make him unable to form bounds. Of course, Tommy is under a spell here and therefore must make that bound to Rita and Goldar. 

    Finally, we come to the new cliff hanger, with the Power Rangers seeing that Goldar is attacking again, even as they still don't have Zordon back, and Rita is setting up a plan to defeat them by means of a trap. We are left with the knowledge that they are walking into it but have no choice in avoiding it. Now it's will the Rangers pull through in the next part?