MMAR Season 3.5, Episode 9: Hogday Afternoon, Part 1

"Hogday Afternoon, Part 1"
Episode 9
Air Date: February 15, 1996

Well, the final battle has begun as the villains gear up to destroy the Earth Rangers and Alien Rangers for good while Aisha is the last to find the final piece of the Zeo Crystal to save the Earth. I liked that Rita and especially Zedd came up with a decent evil plan to send a decoy transmission; Zordon and Alpha would stop it. They manage to get the real transmission to Aquitar when they finally get to talk to Hydro Hog, their equivalent on that planet. He of course is excited at the chance to not only destroy the Alien Rangers for good but drain another planet of it's entire water supply. With Hydro Hog on Earth, the Alien Rangers morph into action and try to fight him but he is much too powerful for them. I LOVE the action here with Hydro Hog able to steal the rangers's swords and use it against them, tricking them to thinking he's defeated and eventually draining them of their hydration.

Hydro Hog himself is just a powerful, cool villain. Not a fan of the voice for him, but he makes for an overall great final baddie for the Mighty Morphin' Era. With the Alien Rangers completely drained, he then causes a whirlwind that stops the Alien Rangers from saving the kids in the lake like Bulk and Skull. Just let them drown!!! :) I'm kidding!!! Sorta.....anyway, as the whirlwind draws down, all the water in the lake is sucked away; leaving the kids' confused and the Alien Rangers with no water to re-hydrate. Alpha is ordered by Zordon to send them to a nearby swimming pool but it is already drained by Hydro Hog who laughs and taunts the severely weakened rangers. With Billy and the other little rangers looking on helplessly, Alpha and Billy try to find a body of water to send the Alien Rangers but Hyrdo Hog is sucking them  ALL dry very fast !!! Wow!!! O_O

Meanwhile, Aisha arrives in Africa for her quest and is almost attacked by the Lion. Sheesh! O_o But is saved by a young girl named...Tanya! :) Tanya is a native of the tribe there who tells Aisha that the animals are very sick and need to be cured of a plague. As Aisha tells her of why she's there, Tanya tells her to hurry as they must get back to camp by nightfall or else the animals will attack....again...SHEESH!!! As Tanya guides her to Ashalla and the tribe, the sunset quickly as they must hurry or they won't make it back at all. Overall, the strongest episode so far in this mini-series. Good action, great story progression, etc. Oh and Rito and Goldar finally made it to right below the Command Center. Only they started the bomb and can't leave until they get the Zeo Crystal.....Sheee....you know what I mean??? O_o

Final Morph: B+