Season 3, Episode 29: Master Vile and The Metallic Armor, Part 1

"Master Vile and The Metallic Armor, Part 1"
Episode 29
Air Date: November 20th, 1995

Finally, we're back to some strong story heavy episodes with another multiparter that introduces us to a sinister new villain in Master Vile. I LOVE everything about him, from his epic entrance that literally stopped the Command Center from working to causing a massive earthquake and darkening the Earth to the fact that he's Rita and Rito's father. His design is also wonderful with him looking like an Alien Emperor with 3 heads. I love when the writers introduce powerful new villains onto the show because they always give the show a sense of ominous dread that's about to happen. Once Zordon, Alpha and the Command Center are back online, we learn from Zordon that Master Vile has arrived from the already conquered M51 Galaxy to take over as ruler of this galaxy. Luckily, Zordon and Alpha have created a new mode for the rangers to tap into in Metallic Armor.....we'll get to that!

Meanwhile on the moon, Vile is planning of getting the Zeo Crystal and needs Ninjor to do so. But when Rito accidentally breaks his jar, he escapes and makes his way back to the Command Center. There, Ninjor tells the rangers of the Zeo Crystal as well as Zordon. Apparently, it was an endless power source that was used by the people of the M51 galaxy to ward off evil and they placed it into the Caves of Deception, in a force field, making sure no one evil could ever touch it. I have to say the fact that the writers set up the Zeo Crystal and the mythology around so early on is awesome and it automatically builds anticipation of what this incredibly powerful artifact from space can do as Vile intends to use to to take over the entire universe.

As the rangers try to figure out how to the Falconzord and Ninjor back, the two idiots and Stone are wondering where the others went as they are gonna get a crash course in the safety of Angel Grove city on monster attacks from Stone himself. Meanwhile, as they get attacked by Tengas, the rangers morph into action and save them from the Tengas, but thanks to Vile, the Tengas are MUCH stronger than usual and start tossing the rangers around. As the rangers calls for Ninjor, Vile unleashes his latest creation, the Blue Globber, he create from...uhhh...spitting up a large egg....ewwwww!!! Anyway, as Ninjor makes his way to the rangers, he gets kidnapped by Blue Globber; even after growing in immense size. The rangers as they continue to lose, activate their Metallic armor......and what does this new powerful upgrade look like??? Maybe some hard metal shaped costumes reminiscent of the MMPR movie costumers??? Maybe even leather suits with new helmets??? Nope, this is Power Rangers and it turns out to be glitter on top of their regular suits that just make them shinier in the light. Uhhhhh, the only misstep in this episode really....

Now with Ninjor as their prisoner, Vile sends the Globber out to lure the rangers out while Tommy and Katherine morph and make their way to the Moon Palace to try to get the Zeo Crystal. Meanwhile, Billy creates a device that will allow them to gain control of both the Ninja Zords again and the Shogun Zords.  When the Globber attacks the city, the rangers morph into action summoning both sets of zords and form the Shogun Megazord in the process. But like with Ninjor, the monster begins draining the megazord of it's powers. At the Palace, Katherine puts her part of the plan to motion as she tells Lord Zedd and Rita she wants to be evil again....but will it work??? To Be Continued.... So far, this is a superb start to this 3 parter with the only problem being the pathetic looking new metallic armor.

Final Morph: A-