Season 1, Episode 42: A Pig Surprise

"A Pig Surprise"
Episode 42
Air Date: February 8, 1994

You know, I shouldn't like this episode!! But there's something about it that's just so darn cute!!! :) Maybe it's the fact that Pudgy Pig, one of the most iconic first monsters the rangers faced comes back or maybe it's because Zack manages to take on a squad of Putties on his lonesome!! Either way, this episode is just so much fun.  It turns out it's Adopt-A-Pet Day in Angel Grove and of course, are heroic teens are leading the charge in being socially active by giving out most of the pets.  Suddenly, an old woman out of no where comes over with an overweight pig named Norman; pretty much crying and begging the teens to give poor Norman away for her. They agree and she takes off. Meanwhile, Zack is literally running late when he sees the same old woman literally jumping around! O_O Old people in Angel Grove are funny!!! Nah, but it turns out to be a Puttie in disguise as Zack is soon surrounded by them. We get our first solo unmorphed fight with one ranger facing a squad of Putties and like I said, it's pretty awesome to finally see one of the rangers, aside from Tommy, able to fight off a group of foot soldiers on their own. After the fight, Zack notices that weird device that one Puttie in disguise was holding and grabs it.

Meanwhile at the Moon Palace, Rita and her goons are excited about her latest plan going into motion as that pig is secretly a monster; countdown to reveal itself.  Back at Angel Grove High....oh yeah...before the teens gave Norman to Bulk and Skull (Why endanger that poor little pig like that with those idiots, I don't know!! O_O) So they are showing off their pig to everyone in school and show they are even worse at owning a pet! -_- Meanwhile, Billy is studying the device with Trini in his garage when Zack stops by to see how things are going. Turns out the device is counting down to something; to what you say? They don't know yet but we do!!! Dun, dun, DUN!! O_o Trini then realizes that Zack mentioned that old woman turning into a Puttie and they come to the conclusion that Norman must be apart of Rita's latest plan. They immediately head to Angel Grove High where they run into Jason and Kimberly. Telling them what they know, the rangers split up to find Norman. At the Youth Center, Bulk and Skull are showing off their pig when finally Norman becomes old Pudgy himself! :) God, I love this monster! He's so cute and ridiculous all at the same time. When Pudgy Pig corners Bulk and Skull,  Zack comes in to pretty much remind Bulk either he gives the monster his sandwich or he'll be lunch! Oh come on Zack, let Pudgy eat them!!! :( You're no fun!!! Anyway, after those idiots run off after giving him the sub, Zack is prepared to fight Pudgy when he teleports away.  Zack then contacts Zordon and reunites with everyone at the Command Center.

Zordon debriefs the ranges on the situation and they tell Zordon that the pig is still Norman on the inside. To which I say, "how do you guys know that???" O_o Anyway, the rangers morph and head to the city to face Pudgy Pig. I love seeing him knock them around. It's a big old Pig monster fitting five multi-colored suited heroes....glorious cheese at it's finest. After a brief but entertaining battle, he monster escapes. Zordon and Alpha quickly track him down as Rita puts the next phase of her plan to action by making Goldar grow and attack the city.  This was actually a pretty good plan on Rita's part: using an old monster to detract the rangers while her main general destroys the city. Back at a random farm, the rangers teleport in and split up to find Norman. Turns out, old Norm has fallen in love with another Pig.....awwwwww!!! :_) But cuteness aside, Zordon quickly contacts the rangers and tells them Pudgy Pig's resurrection was just a distraction and they head out to face Goldar.  When they arrive in the city, they fight Scorpina and a squad of Putties before calling their zords.  The zords rise and form the megazord. The megazord vs Goldar fight is fun, if not a bit short. I love how he retreats before the rangers can finish him. Also, it's the Power Sword, not Mega Sword. Come on writers, figure it out! -_-

Anyway, the teens return to the farm and Billy is able to use the device to transform Norman back to normal. Kim is all like "awwwww, isn't that cute???" Yeah, it kind of is actually. The next day, Trini informs the other rangers in class tht Norman has a new home in that exact farm. Yay!!! Mr. Caplen is substituting for Ms. Applebee when he brings a pig into class. Bulk and Skull are traumatized and jump on a table at the back of the class. Wow! -_- Anyway, I loved this episode, sure most of the action was reused Sentai footage already used earlier in the season but the plot was simple yet adorable. Like I said, I love Pudgy Pig and is one of my favorite monsters from the first season, so I was more than pleased by the rehashing of the same plot.

Final Morph: A-