Season 6, Episode 26: The Secret of the Locket

"The Secret of the Locket"
Episode 26
Air Date: October 21st, 1998

You know, it amazes me how much story was crammed into this season and yet, Judd Lynn did such a excellent job of balancing the extremely tough task of making a video game themed Sentai into a space war story about a team of Power Rangers searching for their legendary mentor as well as their leader searching for his sister.  As much as I LOVE the Zordon search arc, Andros' search for his sister was always the far more compelling narrative of the season and this next few episodes FINALLY resolve the mystery of not only where she is but who she is!

The episode opens up with an intense and awesome fight between Andros and Darkonda which Andros once again questioning where his sister is.  I like how Ecliptor is just watching from the shadows to gain more information from the whole thing.  Of course, when Ecliptor is almost discovered, Darkonda uses that as a chance to escape when Andros gains the upper hand during the fight.  After teleporting away.  Darkonda sets a trap next time for Andros; planning to destroy him.  Meanwhile, both Andros and Astronema are thinking about their past as we learn more about Astronema's origins. Turns out she was left at Ecliptor's door step and he raised her like a father.  She was made to believe that her parents and brother were destroyed by the Power Rangers; making her animosity against them paramount. I love Melody Perkins' performance here, especially when Astronema mentions how she thinks her brother is alive.  Of course, Ecliptor convinces her otherwise and she orders him to attack Angel Grove.  As her latest monster, Batarax attacks the city, the rangers receives word of it from D.E.C.A. and they head there to fight Batarax as well as the Ouantrons when they arrive with Astronema and Ecliptor.  I love the humanity once again being shown through in Astronema, especially when she blasts a Quantron with her staff to protect Andros and scared family.  It's an amazing moment of morality and complexity to the shock of both Andros and Ecliptor.

As Astronema storms off and Ecliptor goes after her, he sees Andros being lured into a trap by Darkonda as he runs after him.  This fight between them even tops the opening one of the episode.  Such awesome and well choreographed action!!! O_O I love how Ecliptor keeps listening in and begins to understand what's going on between the two.  I always wondered why Ecliptor saved Andros when he was about to step into Darkonda's trap but it makes so much sense and is simply brilliant.  He realizes Andros is Astronema's brother by putting two and two together by saving his life. Too bad Darkonda lost another life!  After Ecliptor leaves Andros wondering why he saved him, Andros heads back to the attack where Astronema blasts him and plans to destroy him herself.  But during the fight, he rips off her necklace by accident.  Before she can get it, the rangers all surround her as she orders the Satell Lasers to be fired onto the Batarax.  After a quick zord battle with the Batarax, Andros returns to area where the necklace fell.  As he opens the locket, discovering the truth, Astronema appears to take it.  This is such an heartwarming yet intense moment.  Astronema is in denial about the whole thing while Andros is eager make her realize they are siblings.  But it's no use as Astronema leaves and is frustrated to the point where she rants at Ecliptor about it after.  As Andros tells the other rangers about him and Astronema, Darkonda begins to meddle behind their backs as he tells Dark Specter about Astronema's alliances being called into question now that she is close to knowing the truth.  Oh Man!!! This is all SOOOO freakin' GOOD!!! On to the next episode!!! :)

Final Morph: A+