Season 1, Episode 17: Green With Evil, Part 1

"Green With Evil, Part 1"
Episode 17
Air Date: October 5, 1993

Well, well, well, it took us 17 episodes to get here but we have FINALLY come to the point of the season that really solidified the popularity of Power Rangers up to this point. Sure, the episodes so far have been a mixed bag of predictable comedy, ridiculous monsters, mildly entertaining action and poorly realized moral lessons but here, it's like the writers FINALLY. again! decided, let's just skip all the non-sense we've done before and just make a 5-part episode arc that's true to the badassery of the character they're adapting. Here marks the first appearance of Tommy Oliver, the O.G. Green Ranger! A character who would become so popular he would last 4 and half straight seasons of the show as well as multiple other appearances throughout the Power Rangers franchise. Tommy, on paper, is your typical high school freshman, only he has fighting skills that not only rival Jason's but surpasses his. He easily holds his own against him at the Angel Grove Expo and even manages to handle a whole squad of Putties on his own. A clear indication that he is the right possessor of the 6th Power Coin! How Rita got her hands on a power coin and why she never used it at this point is NEVER explained, only hinted at by Zordon, but this is honestly her best plan yet!

Instead of another gimmicky monster, we get another teen chosen to fight and destroy the rangers; which makes sense as why not have the rangers be destroyed by Zordon's own idea!  What I also LOVE about this episode is that there is no heavy exposition from Zordon or Alpha to help out the rangers this time. When the rangers go to the Command Center after Tommy trashes it, they are pretty much on their own; having to fight Goldar and some Putties without their mentor and bubbling side kick to guide them.  The fight scenes in this episode are awesome, from the ground fight with the Putties to the brief zord battle with Goldar. Then....:).....Tommy reveals himself to the rangers and literally kicks them out of their megazord. Freakin'. BADASS!!!

The Green Ranger debut fight  against the rangers is one of the my favorite moments from the show. They all get their a$$es kicked and gotta love the moment when Tommy throws Jason's blade blaster at him! After getting their butts handed to them, the rangers teleport to the Command Center to where Alpha still hasn't gotten Zordon back and he shuts down after; right when the rangers need answers about their newest foe.

What a great start to the mini-series! We're introduced to a promising new character/villain, Rita's plan is actually brilliant, the rangers are actually put into their most dire situation yet and the action RULED!! Some of the best of the season as well as franchise. Though there are some plot holes like Zordon knowing who the Green Ranger was immediately but seeing Zordon out of commission is refreshing and really puts both the rangers and kids at the time into a place where they are uncomfortable. For the first time, instead of ending on a dumb joke with Bulk and Skull or some other contrived moment of hilarity, the episode concludes on a dramatic cliffhanger as we are unsure how the rangers will get out of this one this time! Best freakin' episode so far!

Final Morph: A-