Season One: Episode Forty: Doomsday, pt. 2.

 

                         Doomsday, part 2.

                                                                The finale...sort of.

Sentai Notes:

• In Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger's final episodes, there comes a point where Dora Talos trashes both Daizyuzin and Dragon Caesar, and then Bandora zaps them both with her staff. This happens in "The Gods Fail" with a dark opening of this defeat and the Zyurangers are briefly down. That is until they enter a world and receive pep talk from Burai's spirit (he doesn't come back to life, sadly, but this allows him to return and speak with his brother once more - And Geki can finally say, "Sayonara, Niisan" or "Goodbye, Brother," that time). They then decide they won't give up and after returning to Tokyo take on Bandora and her gang. 

• In the final episode, titled "Banzai Dinosaurs!", the Zyurangers get everything back: Daizyuzin, Dragon Caesar, and King Brachion, and they all combine into Ultimate Daizyuzin. In last ditch effort, they charge in and shoot at Dora Talos and Dai Satan, destroying them both (yes, they win by killing the Devil). Bandora loses her powers when she cries over her dead son, causing her to lose her powers, and she is trapped in her dumpster again. 

• Once the bad guys are defeated, the newly hatched dinosaurs are given to some children to tend to with the idealistic idea that the dinosaurs are back and they will live with Man until the end of time, while the Zyurangers mount a cloud with Barza and they all rise up to join their guardian beasts in Heaven. The image freezes and we see the giant book from the credits close, symbolically closing that chapter in the Sentai universe. Bear in mind, this was months before we saw how such a world would look through the film Jurassic Park. So, Dinosaurs and Man, two species separated by 66 million years of evolution living side by side. "How can we have the slightest idea what to expect?" as Grant says in the film. Still, that is how Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger ends. 

Strategy Notes:

• After the mishap of charging against Lokar and Cyclopsis on half power, the Power Rangers retreat and then learn from Alpha the weakness of the latter based on a recent battle. Turns out Cyclopsis suffers the same weaknesses a person on the spectrum would (being on it, I know it): it can't handle too many changes at once. The Power Rangers now opt to come up with a strategy to make so many changes it weakens the enemy zord. First, they attack Cyclopsis individually. Then they form Megazord for one on one. Then they get Dragonzord in, who inflicts a blow. Next they form Dragonzord Battle Mode. Finally, they call on the restored Titanus to form the Ultrazord. This causes Cyclopsis' computers to overload and Goldar has to abandon ship, er zord. 

Biblical and Mythological Homage:

• The defeat of Lokar can be compared to the defeat of Cthulhu in Lovecraft's book. 

Misc. Notes.

• Look closely in the Viewing Globe and you'll see the Zyurangers (their backs to the camera) standing in a deserted Angel Grove, looking at Cyclopsis. 

• Also, the restored Cyclopsis looks the same as before at the start, whereas the end of part one had some changes. These are seen once the battle starts. 

• We see not only can Rita send a zord into the ground, but she could also zap all the other zords and cause them to disappear. And it turns out to be a security device on Zordon's part to prevent them from being destroyed. How they became recharged so quick after it was established they needed twelve hours is never explained. 

• All five Power Rangers get their own zord call in this episode. 

• The footage looks dark because they attempted to keep continuity due to the darkness of Lokar, whereas the original footage happened in the day. Somehow, this wasn't kept when the Rangers come unmorphed in the park. 

• The below shot where Cyclopsis goes to kick Megazord could be seen as kicking it in the groin to the untrained eye. How it slipped past the censors is hard to explain. 

• Ultrazord blasts both Lokar and Cyclopsis, yet we only see Cyclopsis destroyed. Lokar simply vanishes after getting a face full and is never seen or mentioned again. In the Sentai show, Dai Satan's death is shown with his head blowing up. 

• Cameos in the park: Sylvia, and of course Tommy! She and three boys debate on which of the Power Rangers is the best, with Sylvia rooting for the two female Rangers, while the boys select one of the males. Tommy simply walks in to give them a little secret: "They are all awesome." This is Sylvia's final appearance on the show and Tommy's first since losing his powers. 

• Last time we see Jason summon the Dragonzord. 

• In the original script for the episode, this was intended to be the grand finale since no one knew how well the show would do. They chose to make "Doomsday" the finale which explains why the episode has such earmarks of one. It was even filmed that way. But by the time they wrapped everything up, the earlier episodes were being aired and the ratings were shown to be higher than expected that additional episodes were ordered. Instead of creating a new season, Saban chose to have Season One continue past "Doomsday." A slight tweak in the editing and some voice-overs changed the ending so that Rita isn't defeated like her Sentai counterpart, but rather simply retreats back to the Moon to fight another day. However, Zordon's offer remains. 

• This episode aired on November 30, 1993, which happened to be Walter Jones' birthday. He turned twenty-three that year. 

Thoughts. 

      As I said, put "Doomsday" in the title and the story will have the Apocalyptic feeling about it. This episode certainly did and part two carries on where part one left off. Titanus is gone and buried, the Power Rangers see a restored Cyclopsis, and their zords are low on energy. They could wait twelve hours to recharge and possibly risk losing to Rita, or they could go at half power and wind up in a worse situation. Thinking about the citizens of Angel Grove, Jason decides to take the latter choice. 

     Predictably, it goes south for the Power Rangers. It's shocking to watch the Megazord lose an arm, but it holds well with other tricks, like the beam from its head. The Dragonzord comes to the rescue, only to have its tail cut off. Then Lokar adds more discharge that further brings the zords down and Rita zaps them. Now the Power Rangers are without power or zords and the Earth is at Rita's mercy. Fortunately, Alpha was able to get into the data computer and look up all the spells Rita uses. From this, he deduces a weakness in Cyclopsis to explain the defeat in part one: it can't handle too many changes. Meanwhile, Billy is able to fix the communicators and allow the Rangers to morph again. 

    Once that is taken care of, the Power Rangers morph into battle once again and this time they win. It's obvious to see that they didn't intend to go past this episode, originally. With Rita up on the Moon, why would Zordon offer the Power Rangers the chance to leave? They certainly could use the chance to do normal things as teenagers, as Tommy is currently doing. They could take the time to learn to drive, find jobs, study for their SATs, go to prom, graduate, etc. At the time, it wasn't known if they were seniors in high school, but given their actors being in their twenties I wouldn't be surprised. Yet, I don't know how they could remain their age for four years (since the graduating episode happens in Power Rangers Turbo). 

    If there is anything wrong with Doomsday Part Two, it's the lack of consistency. The lack of is noticed in the zords, where first we find out they need twelve hours to recharge. They go in and get trashed, then appear to come apart. But then, Billy points out Zordon had some kind of protection on the zords and what we saw was that. So, the zords are reassembled and now down to absolute zero charge and it will take twenty-four hours to recharge? No, the zords are now at one hundred percent again. But they still can't produce the Ultrazord. No wait, Titanus is back and ready to take names. 

     That lack of consistency comes toward the end. The first time Cyclopsis is defeated, Rita got angry and zapped Titanus. Here, she simply throws another of her hissy fits and Goldar has to order to her get everyone out of there. For someone who draws up more power when on Earth, she retreats real quick in this defeat. But again that was a lack of foresight on the writers part, who originally had Rita Repulsa and her minions sealed away again like in the Sentai show. Now that more episodes are on the way, they need her to remain as the chief antagonist. This makes it ironic as Billy is pointing out the other crimes the Power Rangers need to face and other villains out there. Over the course of the era, we will see these new villains come, but that can wait. 

    One great thing is the sight of Tommy. Knowing Jason David Frank is gone makes his return more glorious and to see him speak with the kids debating on which Power Ranger is best makes it out as a way to remind us that he is not gone. I also like the interaction he has with the Power Rangers there. I like to think under the helmets, Kimberly was smiling really big and whispering, "Oh my gosh, you're here, Tommy!", Jason is smiling, as are Billy, Trini, and Zack. Not one of them could call him by name lest they reveal who they are. They then accept the applause of Angel Grove as the mayor expresses gratitude to them. 

     Overall, "Doomsday" is a great two-parter to watch, with its feel of a finale. And perfect to see again to feel good knowing once again good wins over evil. Especially in wake of the recent tragedy up in Maine and it is thus great to have this review done on All Hallows Eve, another season to see good win over evil. I wouldn't rank it on top on a list of episodes, but it's high. Now to break again and y'all have a great Allhallowstide!