Season 7, Episode 32: Protect the Quasar Saber

"Protect the Quasar Saber"
Episode 32
Air Date: November 8th, 1999

There are some really strong underlying themes in this season. One, of course is, sacrifice as we keep seeing character giving up their own lives so that others can continue the fight.  First it was Mike in the second half of the premiere as he sacrifices himself so Leo can carry on as the Red Ranger when he hands him the Quasar Saber.  Next it was the Magna Defender sacrificing himself to save Terra Venture to make up for all he did wrong during his vengeful mission against Scorpius.  Lastly, we had Kendrix sacrifice herself so that Cassie as well as the other rangers could continue their fight against evil.  So there has been A LOT to take in this season in terms of that altruistic theme.  But there has also been a secondary theme and that's redemption! We saw it with the Magan Defender as he saved Terra Venture in the name of good again after letting darkness take over his heart when his son was killed, now we see it here, when an unlikely ally returns to aid the Galaxy Rangers after a devastating loss they just experienced when one of their own has died.

The episode starts with the Pink Quasar Saber landing on a planet called Gwinnet where an alien collector of sorts takes it. One wonders why the Saber fly off and landed on some random planet instead of going back to Mirinoi? Weird!! O_o  Soon after Maya receiving some random message from Kendrix in her dream cause she's all psychic, Maya alerts the other rangers to the message as they head to the planet.  Meanwhile, Trakeena is eager to get her hands on Kendrix's Saber herself and sends out her forces to do so.  I love how we see how resourceful the Galaxy Rangers are in that Kai can randomly sound like bird to distract the monsters.  I also love seeing the aggression and desperation in the rangers as they threaten the alien who knows where the Saber is.  After he sends them off to another planet to retrieve it, it is revealed that Deviot took the form of the alien to set up a trap for the rangers.  Meanwhile, someone is watching in distance as Deviot finds the real location of the Quasar Saber aka Onyx!!!

I always LOVE going back to this planet as you can guarantee the episode will be great when set on that location.  Apparently, the Saber is being sold at an auction as many aliens are eager to buy it...until someone bids 1 million on the Saber...aka Astronema!!! Holy Crap!!! O_O I don't care if this doesn't make sense, seeing Astronema back gives me chills everytime!!! :) But it turns out after she gets her hand on the Saber, it's just Karone disguised as Astronema as Trakeena reveals who she is and Villamax attacks.  After besting Villamax with the saber,  Karone hides and overhears Trakeena getting word of the rangers getting close to Deviot's trap.  By the way, how is Karone getting from planet to planet like this??? Apart of me is wondering if she's still using her Astronema powers but that doesn't make sense given what happens next.  Anyway, after arriving on the false planet, the Galaxy Rangers get blown away by the trap as Deviot and his monsters reveal it was a set up.  Karone arrives just in time to save the rangers and leads them to a safe place.  She tells them she saved the Quasar Saber and wanted to give it back to them to starting doing some good after all the evil she did as Astronema.  As the rangers and Karone make their way to the Jet Jammers, Trakeena arrives to stop them.  After blasting them, the 4 Galaxy Rangers face off against Trakeena's forces as Karone takes the Saber and tries to make her way to safety.  But a fight ensues between Trakeena and Karone as she bests her in battle and leaves her to fall to her death as Karone narrowly grabs onto the cliff.  As Trakeena makes her way with the Quasar Saber, Karone begins to lose her grip and fall....until Kendrix's spirit returns to save her.  She even gives her morpher as she tells her she will be the new Pink Ranger.

As Trakeena prepares to destroy the rangers, Karona arrives and kicks the Saber out of her hands into hers as morphs into the Pink Ranger.  As Karone kicks some ass, the rest of the rangers are shocked but continue to fight of course.  As Villamax and Trakeena retreat to attack Terra Venture, one lone monster is left to finish the rangers off.  With 5 rangers all together now, they summon the Lights of Orion and destroy him.  As the rangers congratulate Karone on being a ranger, Alpha tells them about the attack on Terra Venture as they make their way back there.  So cute seeing Karone trying to summon the Galactabeasts but thanks to Damon, she gets it! They form the Galaxy Megazord and with the help of the Centaurus Megazord as well as the power up mode on the Galaxy Megazord defeat him.  The episode raps up with the rangers giving Karone a warm welcome to the team as well as Terra Venture but her being hesitant about replacing Kendrix.  All and All, this has been a phenomenal little 3 parter with the team up and the Pink Quasar Saber arc.  Karone makes for a great addition to the team allowing her to find her own personal redemption! Excellent! :)

Final Morph: A+