Season One: The Zyu 2 Episodes: Soccer, Football, Cheerleading, and the Oyster.

 

                         Second Chance.

                                                              Up for soccer?

Sentai Notes:

• As usual, no Sentai counterpart. 
• If you look carefully, a shot of Bandora gathering her followers to sing her song is used during the initial Rita scenes. 
• The Soccadillo ball charging up is not Sentai footage, but a prop used with green lightning effects used (remarkably I can't find any notes saying if the original idea for this episode was that Soccadillo was some kind of power drainer and that's the Green Ranger powers being used). 

Strategy Notes:

• Hardly much to go on as Rita relies on pure luck, being that Tommy is unable to answer the call due to his communicator taken away. Meanwhile, she sends in the Soccadillo before it's completely charged. Goldar has to remind her of it the first time around and suggest using the Putties to wear down Jason and Zack. When it comes to defeating the opponent sometimes sending in some kind of zapping strikes, using cannon fodder, is necessary to wear down the strong opposition, before moving in. 

Biblical & Mythological Notes:

• None.

Misc. Notes:

• Look carefully when Tommy's wrist communicator hits the wall. There's a poster about ozone depletion. In the nineties, concerns of the environment were joined by the ozone depletion when a hole was discovered over Antarctica, which was said to be expanding with the heating of the Earth. At the same time, it was said other holes were going to form as long as chemical aerosols were sprayed carelessly. When the ozone layer is gone there is nothing to protect us from the UV ways of the Sun and even sunscreen won't be of any help. But there is some good news I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geicho scientists say after some changes had been made the ozone layer is now healing and by 2050 that hole over Antarctica will have repaired itself.
• I don't know if there are many places of second try-outs. It would be a good idea. 
• Somehow, Roger is made captain of the second team. Yet, the kid also watched the unmorphed Power Rangers hold off the Putties, three of whom randomly showed up to help the other two in the park, and didn't put two and two together. 
• Bulk and Skull are given afterschool detention, something not common in high school. 
• Ms. Applebee refers to Tommy's communicator as a pager. Technically, she is not that far off, though it's a two-way one. 
• The way Ms. Applebee responds to the communicator going off is the 1990s equivalent to having smart phones out on one's desk, doing chat sessions or games, while the teacher is teaching. 
• The same scene brings into focus one issue adults may notice. How would the Power Rangers be of use if Rita attacked during class and their communicators went off then? How are they going to sneak out? Why doesn't Rita ever try attacking then?
• Theory of Survival of the Fittest is the topic of Ms. Applebee's class in this episode, a surprisingly deep topic for a kids show. While associated with the Theory of Evolution, the term was coined not by Charles Darwin but by Herbert Spenser after reading his book, which he believed was the mechanics of natural selection. Modern biologists avoid this phrase, however, since it is misleading. After all, if you look at prehistoric animals you see many that are bigger, stronger, swifter, and more cunning than most we see today, and yet they are extinct. 
• Color error can be seen in the Zord battle where the Dragonzord briefly looks blue instead of green. 
• Sharp eyes can see the wire holding up Soccadillo ball when it flies across the park. 
• Billy mispronounces Dasypodidae as "Days-a-pod-a-dee" instead of "Das-a-apo-dee-da." What he ought to know, also, is the Dasypodidae is mostly extinct, with only the Dasypus genus remaining.
• It seems the Zyu 2 footage was to include the Ultrazord to blast Soccadillo to oblivion but it got changed at some point. The evidence is based on the way the monster dies. 
• It's never shown how Tommy got his wrist communicator fixed.  
• Beepers go off near non-Power Rangers in this episode. Ms. Applebee thinks it's Tommy's friends beeping him while Ernie thinks he's hearing things from all the stress of the tryouts. 

Thoughts:

    "Second Chance" is a typical sports themed episode, with the subplot involving a boy wanting to try out for the team, only to not get in. In any other show, this would have been used as a life lesson sort of thing, where the kid is told there are times where you do your best but don't get what you wanted in the end. Sometimes it's best to move on to something else. Power Rangers isn't one of those shows, since obviously if that was observed Rita would win. Instead, the episode has Ernie be convinced into giving a second tryout. 

    I have to say I feel for Ernie when he says how sad it is when one had to decide who gets in and who doesn't. Recently, I tried casting my friends on Facebook in The Lion King, and there were plenty of people I know I couldn't include due to limited roles. Of course, that's for play and amusement among adults. This soccer tryout is something for the kids and rejections hurt. Ernie feels bad about it, likely from memories of not being picked on any teams. So, after being reminded he has a say in this, he decides to make another tryout. 

    If there is a flaw with the episode, it's that it's unrealistic. Soccer parents are notorious for interfering with the way things are run, often wanting their own kids in certain places over another child. If the decisions of the coach on team placement is not to their liking they'd use it against him or her if there was a loss. So, while Ernie is commendable for wanting to give everyone a chance, there are now dozens of parents who likely are angry that their children, who also worked hard, now must make another try. They'd likely try to have him removed from his position. 

    At least, the episode provides one classic soccer parent in form of Rita Repulsa and another in Ms. Applebee. You might find that odd, considering how nice the latter is. But she becomes that in this episode with the way she takes Tommy's communicator away and gives Bulk and Skull detention on the spot for soccer practicing in the hall. To be fail, the beeping was disruptive and the scene in the hall could have led to someone getting hurt. It would have worked if Tommy was given the chance to say it broke from the incident in the hall and he has no idea how to fix it. That could lead to an excuse to step out and put it in his locker until class was over. As to Bulk and Skull, a simple trip to the Principal's office would have worked better (though knowing Principal Kaplan, they'd wind up in detention anyway). Ms. Applebee becomes the soccer parent in what I described, using something that appears to be a flaw in one of the kids playing, or the kid's status as a minority or having single parents, against them. This prompts the others to do anything to remove the said kid from the team or try to not let them play. 

   Rita is another variant where one is insisting her child be placed on the team and be the main athlete.  This is evident on the fact she doesn't heed the advise of others when Soccadillo is trying to charge up and insist on sending it down to Earth to take on the Power Rangers. And in a stereotypical fashion (which in modern times ought to make Rita get called a Karen), she throws a hissy fit and blames others when she loses once again. 

   The moral of getting something one earns from hard work and practice is a good one, though the episode's typecasting of a white boy with a one dimensional personality as the kid trying out might be a little dated to some. It can still work these days, providing he is given circumstances like poverty or his parents in divorce. He could be given a flaw like his temper or an inferior complex, which could make him more sympathetic, or add tension to show just why he didn't get the team at first. Having the kid be a girl or a minority can also help in this day and age, but we are still forgetting the theme of merit being important in getting somewhere. 

    At the same time, it can be a little misguided. While the kid may cockily tell Bulk and Skull that hard work pays off at the end of the episode, but the lack of any scene to show he worked out makes the implication he got it out of sympathy. This makes his arc another story of a kid getting a participation trophy that people complain about. And wait till he grows up. He's going to be under the impression that if he doesn't make the team in other situations he'll try to pull some heart strings to be given another chance, and he'll be rewarded with something better within that team. One has to be careful in such situations, as the spoiled kid of today could become the soccer parent of tomorrow. Not a definite possibility, but it is possible.

                                     Enter...The Lizzinator.

                                                         Hasta la vista, Rangers!

Sentai Notes:

• More "Zyu 2" footage used so there is not much to talk on, though it could be speculated the story idea has Lizzinator as some kind of demon summoned by Bandora with black magic. Likely the one creature who could defeat Dragon Caesar since it shows it being thrashed in the zord battle. 
• This episode could be cited as reason for Burai's return given how Red and Green Rangers interact during the battle. 

Strategy Notes:

• Not so much of anything new, but the fights show one drawback to fighting solo. Red Ranger takes on Lizzinator solo first and is tossed around like a doll for it. Later, Dragonzord takes on the now giant Lizzanator and gets thrashed (something not seen in a while). It's a lesson on avoid taking on something with the upper hand, a harsh lesson seen in cases where armies or fleets attacked an enemy that outnumbered them. Usually, the victory would come if the smaller force can obtain the element of surprise. 

Biblical and Mythological Homage:

• The Lizzinator is shown to have awesome strength to make one think of Hercules. The hair on his neck and head can be compared to the lion's hide that Hercules wore on his shoulders during his labors. 
• Him bursting through the building can make one thinks of Samson, another man with super human strength. In the Book of Judges, he briefly loses it when the bad guys shave his head, allowing him to be overpowered and blinded. In the end, after praying to God, he gets his strength back the way the Green Ranger returns, and he literally brings the house down on the Philistines. 

Misc. Notes:

• The Lizzinator is obviously based on Arnold Schwarzenegger, from the Austrian accent, to the superhuman strength supplied by those biceps, to the puns he produces. Even the name is in reference to his famous role as the Terminator. He even says, "I'll be back."
• The first car Lizzinator picks up is clearly a Japanese car from the designs. It's given a few changes to look American. The second car is clearly American as the driver's seat is on the left side instead of the right.  
• This the first time since "Green With Evil, Part 5" we see all six Rangers together when they morph. Somehow, Green Ranger isn't present in the next scene for several minutes with no explanation.
• Bulk and Skull appear near the end with the cliché cheer: "(insert name twice), he's our man / If he can't do it no one can." When Bulk rips his pants, Kimberly quotes "Humpty Dumpty," "And no one could put him back together again." 

Thoughts:

   This episode is "Second Chance" with cheerleading. Since cheerleaders are usually considered something for girls it's expected the child of the week is a girl. Fortunately for anyone thinking of calling sexism, this one has a much better storyline. She actually feels down about herself because she is out of sync with the rest of the squad and no matter how much Kimberly tries to cheer her up (get it?), she doesn't have the confidence. 

    She gets kidnapped by Squatt and Bamboo, something that seems to happen with teen girls lately. But one thing to give an empowering message for the girls watching, as if the sight of two female Power Rangers wasn't enough, is the fact she uses cheers to outwit her captors. She even does so by bad mouthing Rita, leading the two into doing the same. Eventually, they wear out and offer no resistance to the Power Rangers when they rescue her. Great enough message of hope, if only it could work on the real Squatt and Bamboo. 

    As to the rest, there's plenty of things to take note on. The final scene with Bulk ripping his pants while attempting to cheer gets a laugh. Also to laugh is how Lizzinator tries really hard to sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger on many occasions. He has the muscles and the accent down. He even says, "I'll be back" on one occasion. When he battles the Power Rangers he is tougher than all six at once (which is interesting to see all six morph in the same place after Tommy being separate all this time). He's even stronger than the mighty Dragonzord, prompting a need for both it and the Megazord to take it on. Not since the Frankenstein monster have seen a monster of the week trash the Dragonzord like that and not since Cyclops was Dragonzord in need of bailing out. 

    Plot wise, the episode does fall on the thin conflict of getting a girl to feel good about herself as a cheerleader, while having very little of anything resembling tension. So, this would be considered mediocre for most of the runtime. 

                                                  Football Season.

                                                      Time For Another Sport. 

Sentai Notes:

• With it a "Zyu 2" based episode, we can speculate the Zyurangers learn of football, likely from the kid of the week being a visitor from the States (would have been meta for the said kid to tell them how Bandora attacks his or her hometown too, only she and her minions go by another name in the States, but thankfully a team of superheroes who resemble the Zyurangers are around to stop her). Inspired, Bandora sends down Football Golem who overpower the Zyurangers and hold them all hostage with the kid, leaving the Green Ranger to rescue. Yet when, shall we say, Dora Unicorn, proves more than a match for Dragon Caesar, we see Green Ranger praying to God for help and Daizyuzin comes to the rescue, asking only a small sacrifice, and they all defeat the monster, freeing everyone in the end. That would definitely be how it would have gone if "Zyu 2" had a plot. 

Strategy Notes: 

• As if knowing the Green Ranger is on limited powers Rita sends in a diversionary action with her putties, which gets the main Rangers taken out. This leaves the Green Ranger to face the monster of the week, and he'll be doing it alone while on limited powers. 
• Green Ranger deploys a trick to make Rhinoblaster, throwing up his Dragon Flute into the vortex, to the offscreen Rangers to use to get out. Then he boards Dragonzord for the second time in the series to buy for time. 

Biblical and Mythological Homage: 

• Green Ranger offering his dagger reminds one of the story of St. Ignatius offering his sword and dagger to the Virgin Mary after recovering from surgery and devoted himself to God. Of course, the key difference is Green Ranger only sacrificing the object that Dragonzord is bound to obey in order to rescue the others, not to discern a religious vocation. Not to mention, Rhinoblaster is an evil monster, in contrast to Mary, the Holy Mother of Jesus. The only other similarity is St. Ignatius leaving the military for religious order, which to modern viewers be noticed with the green uniform, but that's not for a couple of more episodes. 

Misc. Notes:

• Rita says "Smash down" and Squatt says, "You mean, 'Touchdown?'" "Whatever," Rita remarks. 
• The rap heard in the scrimmage done by the Rangers is "I Will Rescue You." It's the only song to not have a separate page link on the episode's entry of RangerWiki. 
• Ernie used to do football, it's revealed. Once again, we have an obese coach leading a team.
• Interesting that Green Ranger has limited powers, yet defeats the Football Putties with ease. This in contrast to the Core Rangers having their rear ends handed to them. 
• Green Ranger tries to sound like a ref during the Zord fight.
• This episode shows the addition of communicators are added to the "Zyu 2" footage which weren't in the original Zyuranger series. 
• Second time Green Ranger pilots the Dragonzord within the cockpit. It didn't work out well before the Green Candle was burned out, and this results in a quicker smackdown.
• Now how can someone who never did football become quarterback? 
• Playing in football does have its advantages. Besides teaching young men teamwork and how to be a good sport, plus getting them exercises, but it also gives them a scholarship for college. Of course, it's not all fun and games. It's work. Those players are out in the fields doing laps and other exercises in the hot sun, sweating gallons of perspiration, and they have to be in good shape for the game. And they have to keep up with their studies too. Flunk a class and consider yourself benched, then you must kiss your scholarship goodbye. Not only that, but not everyone on the team might get a scholarship, even if they win a few games. Shows that not all jocks are pretty boys who have everything handed to them. So given that, Jason, Zack, Tommy, and Billy, who are now on the team, won't get much rest since they have their studies, their extracurricular activities, and fighting Rita to occupy their day. 

Thoughts: 

    Being in the South I can mention how football is such a tradition and to see a Power Rangers episode tackle the sport (pardon the pun) is a delight. Again, we have an episode whose plot is about feeling good about yourself and getting the confidence to do anything. For once, it's one of the Power Rangers, Tommy, who is limited now in his Green Ranger powers. 

    In this episode, we have him come out as a trump card when the core team is taken away. It's amazing to see him single-handedly defeat the Football Putties in seconds, which his friends got trumped by, and he faces the monster by himself. When Rita grows Rinoblaster, Green Ranger summons Dragonzord and they appear to handle things well, until there is a need to send up the Dragondagger to rescue the others. So we get Green Ranger to board Dragonzord and pilot within the cockpit for the second time in the series. Naturally, things don't go so well this time and soon Dragonzord is down and Green Ranger is hoping the others get through. 

    The last part does seem to contrast to the message, but it does get into reality at times. Not to mention, show the drawback to sacrificing your greatest weapon. But it works out in the end as Megazord appears and combines with Dragonzord to form Mega Dragonzord and defeat the monster. Then Tommy enters the football team of Angel Grove High, though we never see him on it afterwards. 

      Above all, a slight improvement over "Enter...The Lizzinator."

                         An Oyster Stew.

                                                         The Final Episode. 

Sentai Notes:

• Another "Zyu 2" based episode, which seems to have Goushi go on a quest to receive a pearl from, I guess Dora Oyster. For what purpose, it's hard to say since no plot notes are provided. Of course, he has to earn it and it becomes apparent he needs help, so the new Green Ranger comes in and offers his shield (apparently Saban asked Toei if another Ranger could wear the Dragon Shield other than Red). 
• The footage filmed for the episode originally didn't have the Green Ranger talking with the Black Ranger. The shot of him running off is from his introduction episode, after defeating the Zyurangers. The original idea, I guess, was to have him come after Zack had morphed, but apparently a last minute idea was to keep Tommy from freezing in the episode's first act. 
• There's some additional shots, including one showing the POV of the Black Ranger. 

Strategy Notes:

• Another divide and conquer on Rita's account, this time having a Puttie to go in and give Zack the stillness pearls disguised as earrings. This causes everyone, including all but two of the Power Rangers, to become still as statues. 
• In the Zord battle, Oysterizer retreats for the sea. It's a tactical move based on defense in depth and tactical retreat, where one would pull away to find more suitable ground for battle. In the monster's case, to the sea where the Megazord is at half strength. Of course, it forgot about the Dragonzord who is at home underwater, and drives it out. Dragonzord then attacks the Oysterizer on land, which is basically attacking an enemy on his own terms, which sometimes works and sometimes not. Dragonzord is good on land as well as at sea, but we see the latter done.

Biblical and Mythological Homage: 

• Oysters are considered the source of pearls, yet in Greek Mythology they were the cradle for the Goddess Aphrodite, upon emerging from the sea. While Oysterizer isn't female, it does come out of the sea, while under different circumstances. Incidentally, Aphrodite was also the mother of Eros, whose arrows cause people to fall in love (the Romans called him Cupid). Considering how this episode features a date it's no coincidence that Bulk and Skull should dress up as Cupid when doing their band.
• The Pearls of Stillness has a kind of affect like the face of Medusa. In Greek Mythology, she was a priestess of Athena who was seduced (or raped, depending on your point of view) by Poseidon in Athena's temple. Enraged, Athena punished Medusa by reducing her from one of the most beautiful women in the world to a gorgon far uglier than most, and one look for her turns any living creature into stone. Unlike in Clash of the Titans, this happens after her head is cut off by Perseus, who uses it after rescuing Andromeda against her mother, Cassiopeia, her suitor, and all the people of Ethiopia who left her chained to be claimed by the Cetus (the Kraken is not in Greek Mythology, sorry). This episode provides a kind of reverse where the Andromeda figure, Angela, and the people in the restaurant, become frozen. Unlike in the Greek Myth, this Medusa affect is cured and people resume normalcy. 

Misc. Notes:

• Last time we ever see of Angela. The whole plot of Zack and Angela becomes scrapped in Season Two, especially since Zack winds up leaving Angel Grove when his actor, Walter Jones, left the show. But what happened to Angela is never explained (I once speculated she later moved to Philadelphia and began dating Shawn Hunter in Boy Meets World, despite the four year gap). 
• First and only time we see Dragonzord underwater. 
• First and only time we see Black Ranger wear the Dragon Shield (kind of resembles Gold Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo, doesn't he?)
• Last time we see Rita's Putties. 
• Last time we see the Megazord, and fittingly it gets to destroy the monster with its finishing move (just as it defeated King Sphynx). 
• Zack mispronounces garçon as "gar-Kahn" instead of "gar-SOHN". Also it's considered rude to yell out the word "garçon" in a restaurant to get their attention, especially when one is in France. In French, yelling the word out is like yelling "boy" (since that is what the word means in French) to get a server over in America, when they are obviously men (and Zack's father and grandfather obviously had to deal with being called "boy" in some places). It is recommended to use your finger or say "L'addition, s'il vous plait" if you wanna say "check, please." 
• I may have given a female friend jewels before, but even pearl earrings seems like over kill on dates (even once in a relationship). Guys, if you meet a girl who can like you if you get expensive jewels, it's best you forget about dating her since someone richer could see your pearls and raise you a diamond. 
• It's also a bad idea to buy jewels from some bum in the park, as Zack does in the episode. The items they sell are likely stolen or fake (something Zack briefly thinks on). The sappy story about his wife having the earrings is enough to raise red flags. A man who lost his wife would have kept the earrings, or had them buried with his wife (I would have done the latter) if he really loved his wife that passionately. To sell them to another, especially a high schooler, is like selling away what he has left of her. 
• Episode's ending shows how far things between Bulk and Skull and the Rangers have come since "The Day of the Dumpster." The bullies are no longer hitting on Trini and Kim, they aren't making any comments on the Rangers, and they aren't acting like bullies. Instead, they help out Zack make his amends with Angela, with his one request no singing. Of course, true to their character, they break out in singing after Zack's solo. 

Thoughts: 

     We made it to the end of Season One!

     Not really a high note to end on. If anything, the episode seems like just another day in the lives of the Power Rangers. Zack has another date with Angela (here we go) and he is taking her to a French style restaurant with impressing her on the mind. From that paraphysis, you likely know it's not going to end good. Zack buys pearl earrings to impress her and she certainly loves them. However, they are cursed and turn everyone into statues. Once the spell breaks, they dissolve and Angela believes Zack played a trick on her. In the end, Zack apologizes for his behavior and they make up for it, and thank God we are done with the Zack and Angela plot line for good. 

    Some better highlights include a battle underwater, with Dragonzord shown in its element, and Black Ranger putting on the Dragon Shield. Plus, Bulk and Skull trying out to make music as a musical duo. 

   Speaking of Dragonzord, a common thread I have noticed in the past three episodes is in the zord battles. The mighty Dragonzord, which rescued the Megazord on many occasions, is now suddenly unable to defeat the monster of the week on its own. If anything, it gets trashed and now it's the Megazord who bails out the Dragon. I suspect it has a correlation to Tommy's decreasing powers, which we are reminded of more frequently now. 

   So, we end Season One of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on a middle note, with Rita still in position to commit more evil the next week and another monster beaten, and Saban still has plenty of "Zyu 2" footage to use up. 

    Up next, Season Two, where we meet...

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