Season 10, Episode 10: Curse of the Wolf

"Curse of the Wolf"
Episode 10
Air Date: April 6th, 2002

I'm not gonna lie, Wild Force has been frustratingly unpleasant at this point. :(  The rangers have been handed victory after victory and not deserving of it in the first 9 episodes of the show.  Its gotten to the point where even the rangers themselves acknowledge how unstoppable they are as Max gloats about their latest victory amongst the team; pretty much saying how easy their job will be from now on because it. But here, we finally have an episode that ups the stakes for the team like never before and thankfully, it doesn't end with them winning out of plot convenience but losing because of overwhelming circumstances.  After the shocking revelation of Master Org possibly killing Cole's parents, Master Org isn't happy to the point he decides to release a powerful General Org from his tomb named General Nyzar.  Design wise, Nyzar looks awesome and I absolutely LOVE his voice.  As Jindrax and Toxica watch in hiding, Master Org gives him a mission for him to carry out as a full moon looms over Turtle Cove and the Animarium. After Cole tells Max a horror story about a "Wolf Beast" and hilariously gets interrupted by Danny's snoring, Cole has a really nice moment with Princess Shayla.  I LOVE the dialogue for a change this episode, especially when Shayla tells Cole she slept for 3,000 years and that's enough for anyone when he asks her why she never sleeps.  It's a small moment but gives us a bit of insight in Princess Shayla besides her uselessness so far this season.

Meanwhile, General Nyzar goes on the hunt for something powerful in the woods on the mountains of the city while the next morning, the rangers must contend with a Vacuum Org (That doesn't get a name, but knowing this season and their lackluster monster names, it's most definitely Vacuum Org) as well as Jindrax and Toxica after they recruit him.  While the rangers battle him, General Nyzar tracks down the remnants of some type of burial ground as well as an enchained sarcophagus as he prepares to release whatever is inside after 3,000 years.  The battle soon escalates into a zord battle where the rangers of course win the day with new Soul Bird and the Sword and Shield formation of the Wild Force Megazord.  But Princess Shayla has been sensing something very ominous about "something" but she could explain it yet until see gets a vision of Nyzar up to no good in the mountains in the sacred water.  Soon she calls on Cole to lead the rangers there immediately as night falls and another full rises to engulf the sky.  But one wonders why the rangers are....crawling and flying there when they could just use their Savage Cycles.....you know??? O_o  Tho is it hilarious seeing Jindrax and Toxica trying to keep up with them. LOL

As darkness falls and a terrifying winds blows through the Animarium, Shayla orders the rangers to hurry...but they are too late as Nyzar introduces himself to the rangers and tells them he can't stop it now it he tried as that very Wolf Beast from Cole's story rises from the sarcophagus.  The following sequence of him attacking the rangers is just so brutal yet so beautiful in terms of the score during it and how effortlessly he demorphs each ranger after attacking them.  While 3 rangers lay unconscious, Zen-Aku (Can I just say how AWESOME that name is??? :)  Almost makes up for all the joke Org names we've gotten so far this season....almost...;)  After introducing himself to the 2 rangers standing, he attacks Alyssa and forces her to demorph as well as lose her Elephant crystal.  Zen-Aku just freezes it to Alyssa's horror as the Elephant Wildzord turns to stone and disappears.  As Zen-Aku just man handles Cole until he is the last ranger to demorph, he tells him he's a Duke Org and back to inflick 3,000 years off vengeance and just throws him off to the side as a warning that he won't be so merciless to them next time.  As Max asks Cole about the Wolf Beast being real, Cole just responds in disbelief as Zen-Aku walks away...  I have got to say, this has got to be one of my favorite villain introduction episodes...EVER!!! This episode was the answer to the show's problems so far and I know it over gets better from here, thankfully!  Goodness! :)

Final Morph: B+