Season 1, Episode 45: Crystal of Nightmares

"Crystal of Nightmares"
Episode 45
Air Date: February 14, 1994

Hmmmmm, this episode seems more like a clip show than an actual episode!!! Which means this would technically be the second clip show of the series, in the same season!!! -_- I mean there is a plot but most of it revolves around the rangers having nightmares of old Sentai footage...I mean....old battles! But this is basically "Island of Illusion" Parts 1 and 2 minus Tommy and Quagmire (giggity!!). Anyway, the episode starts with Kimberly and Trini being worried about the upcoming science test when the guys are like no sweat because Billy's uncle has a cabin in the woods they can say in over the weekend and study. Hmmm, 5 teenagers stuck in a cabin in the woods over the weekend....eventually have terrible, horrific nightmares....did the writers steal this plot from like every generic 80s horror movie at the time!? lol Anyway Bulk and Skull are told by Caplen if they get a D on the test, they'll be in detention for the rest of the year or something...to which I say...huh??? Since when has failing a test or failing in general landed you in detention for so long??? What kind of totalitarian universe are the rangers living in??? O_o Anyway, with their behinds on the line, Bulk gets the idea to sneak into the cabin during that weekend so they can get the notes from Jason and the others.....sigh....this is gonna go so well, isn' it?? -_-

Anyway, Goldar tells Rita it's time for them to use the Crystal of Nightmares on the rangers as it will make them powerless by losing their self confidence! Anyway, the teens are studying while Bulk and Skull get eggs to the face. Soon the teens decide to leave and get some food while Bulk and Skull disguise themselves are maids to get the notes from the teens' cabin. They make fools of themselves as usual before they have to hide from the Jason, Zack and Billy.  Zack is all excited and starts dancing to some music. Unneeded stereotyping latter, the guys get into a pillow fight as feathers fly everywhere and make Bulk almost sneeze to reveal they were there. That night, Jason all shirtless and sexy....I mean....the teens are sleeping while Goldar uses the crystal to make their nightmares happen.  We get clips from Knasty Knight fighting Zack, Billy getting eaten by Terror Toad to Jason being help prisoner and beat up by Goldar in Rita's other dimension. But you got to love Bulk and Skull's dream about being superheroes and crashing the meagzord. LOL

The next day, after waking up in fear, the teens met up terrified of the nightmares they had last night. Zordon and Alpha in the meantime figure out what has happened to them and tries to contact them.  I love how while scared, Jason is still confident enough to answer the call as he tells them where to go to destroy the crystal to get their confidence back. They get teleported to outside the cave where Putties are guarding it.  When Kimberly pukes out and tries to get away, the Putties discover them and proceed to beat them up. Jason, building up a enough confidence, goes into the cave, fights Goldar and manages to destroy the crystal. God, I love Jason! :) With their confidence restored, the rangers now proceed to beat up the Putties in a cool fight scene with "Fight" playing in the background. After the Putties are defeated, they celebrate being back when Scorpina and Goldar attack them. They morph and Rita makes her general grow after. The rangers summon their zords and form the megazord. We get a decent zord fight as the rangers finally get the upperhand and send both of them into a retreat. Back at the cabin, the real maid is shocked and scared to find Bulk and Skull. They are more scared about missing the big science test and run off.

The next day, the teens find out they passed while Bulk and Skull of coursed failed. Caplen tells them they'll be in detention FOREVER. Because that's what their "F"s stand for. Bulk than sneezes the toupee right off of Caplen's head.....hardy, har, HAR!!! -_- Meh, this episode was alright, if not a bit forgettable.....nothing much else to say about it really. Like I said, there were previous episodes that already did the whole "Rangers lose their confidence/remembering previous fights". Here, it just feels redundant for the most part. Oh well...-_-

Final Morph: C