Season 1, Episode 28: Island of Illusion, Part 1

"Island of Illusion, Part 1"
Episode 28
Air Date: November 2, 1993

Well, this two part episode starts off strong because it gives the show a varied structure than the usual Puttie fight/monster of the week formula.  This time Rita decides to summon a great evil from another dimension called Lokar to help her trap the rangers on the "Island of Illusion". The episode starts with Zack practicing for the Dance Competition. While Tommy is teaching two students some karate moves, Bulk gets a milkshake in the face and gets out danced by Zack to the point he and Skull fall over some pillars and the whole Youth Center laughs them. Seriously, how these two not the constant laughing stock of the school that they haven't moved away and changed their names??? I mean they should be so bullied and traumatized by the severe idiocy of their actions that their parents should take them out of school and have their heads examined! Even after making them look dumb as usual, Zack walks off cause he thinks he's not good enough for the dance competition.

Back at the Moon Palace, Rita uses her magic to begin the spell to summon Lokar. But in the meantime, she wants to send a monster as well to defeat the rangers in battle.  The monster itself is probably the most disturbing looking one yet with it looking like a Zombie version of the Frankenstein monster from a couple episodes ago! (In the Sentai, it actually is the same monster, just in a more monstrous form) Rita's spell cause lightning to strike everywhere in the sky and another earthquake starts in Angel Grove. Zordon informs the rangers of Rita's spell causing an energy surge and the rangers run off to find Zack, though Tommy stays behind because his two students are too dumb to run off and escape before the whole building falls apart. Seriously, why are kids so slow in dire situations like this in superhero shows/movies??? O_o Anyway, the rangers find Zack, who seems...pretty calm for what just happened with the earthquake. Geeze, I know you're down about the competition but priorities bruh??? So the Putties come down and attack the rangers in a standard unmorphed fight that's pretty subpar (Can't wait until they get good and improve!!!) Scorpina and Goldar then join in and the rangers morph! They have a decent fight before Rita sends down her giant monster to attack them as well.

Meanwhile....Tommy is just chilling at the Youth Center with his two students playing games when Zordon contacts him about the rangers needing help. Ernie watches over the dense little ones as Tommy morphs into action! Back to where the action is, the rangers have summoned their zords and are getting beaten by the monster. Tommy comes in and summons his Dragonzord.  But it's not only the monster they have to face when Lokar finally arrives and he really is impressive looking. A giant transparent floating head in the sky with horns all around his face. Neat! Lokar uses his power to make the monster stronger and he changes to a more terrifying form.  The monster pretty much immobilizes both zords and all 6 rangers fall out of them into the Island of Illusion.  Alpha is worried and asks Zordon is they can do anything, but the rangers are apparently out of his reach and must face their greatest fears to survive the island. Once on the island, the frightened rangers explore as they have no morphers or communicators to contact Zordon and Alpha with. Someone is watching them and it turns out it's this little guy who hates Rita and blows them off when he realizes she sent them to the island. Goldar's head shows up into the sky to taunt the rangers and old destroyed monsters reappear in front of them. Ready to fight without their powers, the monsters charge the powerless teens but they all then just vanish. Zack freaked out by all this, runs off and spots a snake....wow!! Walter Jones gives a horrific performance as the other rangers wonder what's up with him as they see no snake.  Zack then starts to fade away. Little guy comes back with some silly rhyme and disappears again! Goldar tells them their greatest fears will destroy them as they will one by one vanish...forever! To be continued.....

I  really liked this episode. It's a nice change of pace and while it doesn't move the plot along, it puts the rangers in a new situation that will test their inner strength and not just their powers as rangers. The monster and Lokar were awesome as well as Rita's plan. On to Part 2!

Final Morph: A-