Season 1, Episode 26: Gung Ho!

"Gung Ho!"
Episode 26
Air Date: October 25, 1993

You know, I really liked this episode!! Unlike "Teamwork"'s forced message of working together, here Tommy and Jason being unable to cooperate feels more natural and believable! I mean Tommy's still a relatively new member of the team and it's nice to see him and Jason but heads a little.The two are being coached by Zack and monitored by Billy for the upcoming Ninja Finals at Angel Grove (Seriously, these karate/martial arts tournaments are so popular in this town!!) But Jason and Tommy just can't agree on anything as their training together.  Trini and Kimberly join them and Billy and Zack tell them their worried about those two not being able to work as a team. To my shock, Bulk and Skull are training Jason and Tommy's competition. Ummmmm...how much did those idiots pay those straight to video ninjas so they could coach them!?? O_o  But apparently, the two ninjas can work and fight together than Jason and Tommy can. I actually love the humor here as when Billy says "They're so proficient", Zack says "Yeah and they're good, too" to which Billy gives him a quick WTF look??? But of course, it doesn't last long as Bulk is humiliated again. Should have used that money to not be such a dumbass!!

Anyway, Rita, after getting all the clay to make her Super Putties, has Finster form them and put them into his monster matic machine. Out they all pop and Rita is excited to send them down to Earth. Back at Angel Grove Park, Trini and Kimberly are worried about Jason and Tommy when they are attacked and overwhelmed by the Super Putties.  Kimberly contacts Zordon and Zordon contacts the guys to help the girls out. I hope they teleported and didn't just run there because the girls could have easily been beaten to death at that point. While Billy protects Trini (uhh huh, still can't fight huh?), the other 4 try to fight the new Putties but are beaten to a stand still. They teleport back to the Command Center and Zordon gives them the low down on the situation.  Rita created a new indestructible team of Putties and the only thing that can stop them is a weapon that Jason and Tommy must find together. The other 4 rangers are sent out to deal with the Super Putties until Jason and Tommy can rejoin them with the weapon.

The Super Puttie morphed fight is cool, seeing the rangers' weapons not being able to scratch them at first but then when they do manage to defeat one, it only multiples and becomes stronger...WOW!! O_O The stop motion effects are LOL though!! Meanwhile, Jason and Tommy are still not seeing eye to eye as they follow the map up a mountain. They happen upon an altar they see on top of the mountain...but it's not that easy as an enormous new zord comes out of no where and attacks them. It's Titanus! I love how it's first appearance is trying to kill Jason and Tommy just to teach them a lesson. Zordon, you sly asshole, you! :) The two morph and being cornered right underneath the mountain, FINALLY decide they need to work together to defeat it. Jason gives Tommy his sword and for the first time, Tommy lets a ranger borrow his shield. It's so cool seeing Jason wearing it....and so weird seeing Tommy without it!!! o_O  Tommy manages to blast and distract Titanus enough for Jason to reach...weapons that have the name "Zyuranger" on them. Ooops!!! LOL

As the other 4 rangers are continuing to get their asses kicked, two Super Putties are destroyed by two blasts! Tommy and Jason arrive with the weapons and throw them to Zack, Trini, Kimberly and Billy and they destroy all the Super Putties instantly! Poor Rita, losing again! Back at the Ninja Finals, Jason and Tommy look so delicious...I mean prepare for the tournament with the other rangers cheering them on. The tournament itself is....boring....sorry, there have been better and will be MUCH better unmorphed fights like this. Can't leave out Bulk get splashed after Tommy and Jason win the finals! Yayyyy!!!

The episode is an excellent departure from the typical episode structure: no silly monster, no zord fight and no Tommy coming in to save the core 5 during the final battle. This time we get a reasonable lesson about two characters who are stronger working together and a threat that has to do with a more powerful version of foot soldiers we're familiar with yet not.  Gotta love Zordon congratulating Tommy and Jason after nearly killing them so they can learn a lesson. "Yeah, that zord was an ally and friend I got to almost destroy you guys so you could work together, good luck with the tournament. Bye!!!" LMAO!!!  Also, it's cool seeing Tommy and Jason but heads as their friendship grows and will be built upon in future episodes! One of my favorite episodes this season, if not my favorite!

Final Morph: A-