Season One: Episodes Twenty-Six and Fifty-Six.

#standwithisrael. 

               Gung-Ho!

                             Red and Green went up a hill to fetch some tools to beat clay.

Sentai Notes: 

   The Super Putties are based on the improved Golems in the Sentai show, made of a special clay, Dokiita. Pleprechaun uses this clay to make new and improved monsters, which includes the Golems. The source of this new clay is the dirt underneath Tokyo, where a special restaurant that the Blue Ranger takes up a job in, and the mining of this causes the earth to cave in, destroying the section of the city. 

   The reason for the goof of seeing the Frankenstein Monster in one scene is because, in the Sentai version, this story line was the start. Also, the plot where Burai and Geki retrieved the slingers in the Sentai show is the actual introduction of King Brachio, who is called Titanus in Power Rangers. He becomes officially an ally later on and merges with the others within three episodes. 

Strategy Notes:

    Tommy and Jason are tasked with retrieving Thunder Slingers, located in some kind of shrine on a hill, guarded by Titanus. Upon morphing, the two now try to figure out how to deal with a large brachiosaurus like zord and retrieve the slingers. Jason then decides to use their strengths and weaknesses. He points out he can run up the hill quicker than Tommy, who is the better swordsman. He hands him the sword to compliment his dragon dagger. Tommy returns the favor by handing him his Dragon Shield. This allows Tommy to act as a diversion, to keep Titanus distracted while Jason retrieves the Slingers. 

Biblical and Mythological Homage:

    (See Day of the Dumpster for a word on the Putties). 

Misc. Notes:

   "Gung-Ho" is defined in the dictionary as "unthinkingly enthusiastic and eager [when it comes to taking part in war]." The expression was coined in World War II, based on the Chinese term "gonghe", from which comes the more famous definition, to work together. 

    Look carefully and you'll see a goof. Not just Frankenstein Monster being present in Rita's palace, but also when the Thunder Slingers are retrieved, the word "Zyurangers" is visible on them. Now who might these Zyurangers be who left the Slingers for the Rangers to use? You can also see Japanese words on a few signs at the factory the Super Putties were attacking. 

    While Power Rangers is generally seen as a show for kids, there are things that adults appreciate. One thing adults often appreciate is a little fanservice in the way they dress. Of the six, only Billy and Zack are dressed in less fanservicey outfits: Billy's overalls and Zack's colorful shirts. The girls in the show are seen in sleeveless tops and shorts (or short skirts). Jason and Tommy are shown in tank tops, also, and at the end of this episode the two are shirtless. Considering Billy is the token nerd in the bunch and Zack is the comic relief, that is justified, same with the other four. 

   It's never shown how Bulk and Skull got the ability to find these ninjas who serve as secondary antagonists in this episode. 

Thoughts.

    There's a lot to be said of "Gung-Ho!" It's a mixed baggage of an episode. Several things to detract it in quality are many, beginning with Frankenstein Monster being visible in one shot and he gets his episode in "Life's a Masquerade," where they are digging up the clay to make the Super Putties with. A newbie to the franchise might wind up going around and around in circles trying to think up the continuity of the two episodes, but "Life's a Masquerade" is first chronically, but why Frankenstein Monster wasn't edited out in some fashion from the footage suggests an example of Saban's cheapness run amok. 

   Another issue is the framework of the story. Here, we have a chance to see how Tommy and Jason would fare well if they had some issues with one another. Yet it's never really tapped into. Instead, we just see them having issues with working together as teammates in an upcoming karate match. It really isn't until they take on Titanus that they begin to realize teamwork requires being willing to admit one's faults and help with the other. In short, no place for pride (there's no "I" in the word team, they say, but there is one in the word pride). 

   The Super Putties are also a wasted opportunity, something that even Mistare Fusion pointed out in his video review. They start out good, being so tough girl power is no match for them. Then the guys come in to help, but even they are no match. So, the Rangers later morph, but even in their suits they can't stand the Super Putties. In the past, the Rangers handle the Putties easily when morphed (even Billy seems to win out when morphed and never when unmorphed), which is why we see more occasions of them fighting unmorphed, but these are brand new. 

   There are a few redeeming qualities to "Gung-Ho". We get to see Titanus for the first time and he becomes a vital asset to the Power Rangers. How? The Megazord and the Dragonzord combine with him to form the Ultrazord. When the Power Rangers form an ultrazord, the monsters never stand a chance (with a few exceptions). Also, it's great to see Green Ranger do more than just summon the Dragonzord during the episode's climax and some contrived coincidence needed to keep him busy before then. In the Sentai show, this gave Geki and Burai quality time together as brothers, however short it was. Since Tommy and Jason are not brothers, the quest allows for another development in their arc where they learn to fight together as partners (something a challenge to them as Tommy doesn't arrive until the end thus far). We also see how the dragon shield works when someone else is wearing it, while also showing that another ranger can wear it. In other words (🚨🚨spoiler alert🚨🚨), this won't be the last time we see Red Ranger wearing the dragon shield. 

    Finally, it's always great to see Jason and Tommy win in the karate match against the ninjas and once more to see Bulk and Skull brought down a peg. So, I'll list this as one of the level-D-on-the-tier-list episodes. 

                               

                 On Fins and Needles.

                                                    Shark attack!

Sentai Notes:

     This episode is later in the season when they were out of footage from Zyuranger. The Sentai series had fifty episodes and Saban originally intended to use forty episodes in the show. However, when Power Rangers proved a hit, Saban contacted Japan for new footage. This led to Toei to shoot some new footage in what fans dub "Zyu 2." The plot is non-existent. Instead, the added footage just as the Zyrangers fight some odd creatures who may, or may not, be Dora Monsters. Several elements of Power Rangers are added, such as the use of communicators, the Blue Ranger being a tech wiz, and a romance between the Green and Pink Rangers.

    Considering the way the Red and Green Rangers interact there seems to be a competition between them on who can get the shark (turning them both into something like Captain Ahab in Moby Dick), something that never happened between Burai and Geki. After they reconciled earlier, Geki and Burai were always on a friendly bases with each other and acted like perfect siblings, even as the latter only showed up to summon Dragon Caesar in battle and retreat to the Lapless Room. 

Strategy Notes:

     Jason and Tommy have two means of catching Slippery Shark. Jason sees him as a flier and wants to go above. Tommy keeps low lying as he sees him come out of the ground. Both don't seem to work, until they decided to combine their efforts and work together. Thus, another message on teamwork. 

Biblical and Mythological Homage:

     None. 

Misc. Notes.

    Title comes from the phrase, "On pins and needles."  

   If you thought the shark in Jaws the Revenge looked fake in some shots, the fakery in this show is worse. In some scenes with the fin sliding along the dirt, you can tell it's a prop. 

     Jason David Frank and Austin St. John didn't get along very well, we are told, while filming Power Rangers. This could explain how these two really got into it in their argument, more so than their comradery. 

    Either that or this new spell got into their subconscious minds, where what they really felt for one another was exposed and they let it out inhibited, like when someone drinks alcohol. This is noticed in the first argument where Tommy lets it out that he is sick of hearing Jason giving the orders. Jason in turn tells him to leave if he doesn't like it, adding, "The Power Rangers were doing just fine before you showed up!" Recall how in "Green With Evil Part Five", Jason appeared to hesitate before saying, "Tommy, we need you" when he invited him into their ranks. That reservation on letting Tommy end obviously came through with this spell. 

    Billy mentions his fear of fish. There is a previous episode to this, "A Reel Fish Story" where that happens. 

    Tommy and Jason make the call at the same time. Tommy is not letting Jason speak for him and Jason is not letting Tommy speak for him. 

    An unintended foreshadowing is in this episode: Tommy will one day become leader of the Power Rangers in place of Jason, and even become the Red Ranger, while we will be covering an episode at a later date where Tommy winds up turning over his morphing coin to Jason (spoiler alert) although that episode happened before this, there's no references to the Green Candle anywhere.

    There was a show in the nineties called Street Sharks. In it, four teenage boys are transformed into shark like creatures by a mad scientist who wanted to merge humans with fish. Slippery Shark has the characteristics of the Street Sharks in how he pops out of the ground or goes through it with his exposed fin. 

Thoughts.

    This is an improvement over "Gung-Ho". The issues Jason and Tommy have with one another is finally explored and it took a spell to do it. Jason and Tommy fall under Rita's spell that pits them against each other and they really lay it out on the line with one another. If this weren't directed to kids, you can bet there'd be some cussing in their arguments. Still, they say words can hurt, especially when said in moments of anger. I noticed it when Jason says to Tommy, "The Power Rangers were doing fine before you showed up." At the same time, Tommy had by now gotten a kind of lone wolf persona from the constant being separate from the Power Rangers, being the guy with the shield, and Ranger No. 6, that he apparently doesn't like being subordinate to Jason. So, when they make a challenge out of it, he says, "If I find the shark first, I become the new leader of the Power Rangers." 

     One thing I recall in watching as an adult is how Tommy and Jason don't attempt at fighting over the Rangers' loyalty or challenge Zordon while at each other's throats. Jason doesn't even corner Kim when she talks to him, claiming she is always on Tommy's side as she has her eye on him. In fact, he doesn't so much as say, "We've been friends before he showed up and we have been in places before he showed up. We even took care of things without him. Then he shows up with his pony tail, his devil may care attitude, his constant showing up late in a project, his constant forgetfulness, and yet you are constantly drooling over him. Why didn't you ever pay me any attention Kim?" Sound like teen angst? Well, it is. In real high schools, plenty of teen guys would say something like that when fighting for the loyalty of a female friend who crushes on his new rival. 

    Unlike in the episode, the issue of teen rivalries cannot be solved by having them go on a fishing trip (pun intended) and resolve their differences in teamwork. Teenage guys who become enemies often will go through months or years of bickering and they can destroy friendships in the process. Fights can even happen in schools over it, which is what comes at some point. Some of it is due to the hormones getting in, along with testosterone and the still developing minds they possess which leads to them seeing things in black and white (toxic masculinity can also be a factor, but that's rabbit trailing as one college professor I had would put it). And it isn't just two guys fighting due to these factors. Teenage girls can also get into rivalries that cause a great deal of drama. Sad thing with real world cases is they last a while and eventually, when they grow up and get out of high school, they realize too late how much they could have had with the other, forming a friendship or something, and yet were too busy fighting to notice. By then, it's usually too late, as the other might have moved away or is dead. 

    Another real world thing is the shark fin that splits Jason and Tommy up can also be seen in the outside world, I noticed. The fin takes form of politics, religious beliefs, the fact one is in love with the same person, class differences, moral differences, etc. I've seen some of the real world shark fins used over the years, including the Presidency of Donald Trump, whose election split the country more so than the Civil War. The murder of George Floyd and the Jan. 6th Event divided the nation even more, with people now decrying what they see as examples of white supremacy intrenched in American society. People who are like Jason in saying things were fine before are expressing it, I noticed, as are those who are like Tommy and demand to take over as leader since they are sick of being second fiddle. The fin even goes into petty issues that include diversity representation, cultural sensitivities, and transgenderism. As with teens fighting, they too take more than a fishing trip to fix. 

    Bulk and Skull once again provide comic relief, acting as those who exploit a conflict going on for personal gain. In this case, they set up a match in the juice bar and sell tickets for the rematch between Jason and Tommy. And the hilarity comes as they try to be the umpires too and keep the rest of the Rangers out. Thankfully, Rita's attacks with the Slippery Shark ruins that idea for them, as Zordon calls up Zack who, as second in command, calls a time-out on both guys and reminds them (without saying so) of bigger fish to fry (no pun intended). Bulk and Skull get their comeuppance when the audience demand a refund and then have the audacity to demand a fight owed to them. Entitled, I say. At least, Tommy and Jason teach them a lesson by once again making them look stupid in front of everyone. 

    Will add in light of the recent events going on in Israel, and with the Invasion of Ukraine now in its second year, the timing of getting to this episode is, well, timely. Unintentionally, timely. At least, no one is acting like Bulk and Skull when watching Israel and Hamas duke it out now. If anything, people are favoring Israel over Hamas, just as Ukraine was favored over Russia. So, let us pray that peace will come in the two areas and the United States can be united once again, just as Jason and Tommy settled their differences in these two episodes.