Season 4, Episode 34: A Golden Homecoming

"A Golden Homecoming"
Episode 34
Air Date: October 4th, 1996

I LOVE reunions!!! :) Especially when that return of an old character is earned or deserved or in this case, NEEDED. Now this is how you hide the mystery of a character and leave it as an actual surprise to the viewers when it's revealed. I mean a part of me wonders why the writers didn't just make Jason the Gold Ranger from the jump as they set it up as such. He even says two episodes ago, he knew who Zordon and Alpha were as well as Zordon saying that they must know him. So Jason would have been the right candidate in first place so I don't understand why the writers went out of their way with all the misdirection as well as introducing characters like David and Trey is they weren't going to be the Gold Ranger or the Gold Ranger for long respectively. I'm rambling. All I got to say is it's great to see not only Jason back but one of the original rangers back. I don't know how Haim got him back but I'm glad he did as his return definitely rejuvenates the most excitement this season since "A Zeo Beginning, Part 1 and 2".

Also we get an introduction to a new fleet of zords for the rangers to pilot as before Trey leaves, he gives the rangers the Super Zeo Gems, ancient components of the Zeo Crystal. Once Jason uses his Power Staff to energize them, they soon become the Super Zeo Zords, humanoid robots that represents each rangers' color and shapes. I LOVE the Super Zeo Zords, they are an awesome addition to the zord arsenal and their design while clunky is cool. When Mondo unleashes a new army of robots with neo-plutonium armor, the Zeo Zords themselves can't be used against so it was a really nice way to introduce a new set of zords but making them feel needed and deserved. The individual zord fights were cool as it really displayed what each zord could do. You see the jet mode with Super Zeo Zord V, the blast modes from Super Zeo Zords I and II, the weapon modes from Super Zeo Zord III and the underwater mode of Super Zeo Zord IV. This new zords really do seem more powerful and versatile than the rangers' animal and canon based Zeo Zords.

One thing I'm also glad we finally see the end of is Rito and Goldar being Bulk and Skull's slaves. It was a joke that ran out of steam before the first 5 episodes and I don't know why the writers dragged it out for so long as some dumb recurring joke. Finally, Rito and Goldar remember who they are thanks to Rita and Lord Zedd entering their dreams and making them realize their evil. Lord Zedd even gives Goldar back his sword and wings. Thanks goodness old Rito and especially Goldar are back. It was so pathetic seeing them that way and way more entertaining to see them alongside Rita and Lord Zedd. It also looks like Rita and Zedd are coming back which is great because I really have missed these two throughout the season. Not that Mondo and Machina are bad, I guess I'll talk more about that in my overview. I really like how the episode ends with Tommy and Jason having a touching moment about what Jason's been up to, him leaving the leadership of the rangers in Tommy's hands and the overall feeling of him being back. "A Golden Homecoming" is one of the best episodes of the season with a great continuity, an awesome reintroduction of a veteran ranger in Jason and the arrival of the Super Zeo Zords. A very eventful and fantastic episode! :)

Final Morph: A