Season 7, Episode 45: Journey's End, Part 3

"Journey's End, Part 3"
Episode 45
Air Date: December 18th, 1999

When choosing a image for my episode review, I try to find images that best represent the episode as whole.  Sometimes it works well, sometimes there are no good ones to use or find, but sometimes there are images like this that are near flawless representation of what I just saw.  "Journey's End", Part 3" is the culmination of not only the season, but one of the most heart wrenching finales from the franchise.  Sure, "Countdown to Destruction" was essentially a major conclusion of the ongoing storyline that started with MMPR but "Journey's End" really gives it a run for its money at times.  I wanted to cheer and cry at times, especially as Leo is thought to be dead but crawls out of the ruble to show he is A-OK.  His helmet is damaged though to the point where you can see him inside his suit; a frightening yet hopeful image of the victory the rangers have scored after such a long, devastating battle. The episode begins where the last left off as Trakeena heads into the cocoon and begins her long overdue transformation into the powerful insect that her father always wanted to be.  It's in this moment you really that not only has she lost her mind but is in a state of complete desperation as she finally willing to sacrifice her beauty just to get her revenge on the rangers once and for all.  Once again, Trakeena's arc as a villain has been sensational this season!

Meanwhile, Leo is still stuck on the moon and heads toward the Scorpion Stinger while the other rangers and his brother are still looking for him on the new world they just landed on! As Leo arrives on the Scorpion Stinger, he sees a giant hole has been made with green slime dripping everywhere! Uhhh, Yuck!!! He realizes it must be Trakeena and heads toward the crashed city dome of Terra Venture where we see a hideous creature, who is obviously Trakeena roaming around the control bridge.  She summons her staff and begins to power up the city dome.  As Leo walks through the remains of the city, he notices the electricity coming back on as the city dome begins to lift off the moon.  Leo is in shocked by the impossibility of this but heads to the control bridge anyway.  He notices the staff in the middle of the room as a disturbing feature moves across the ceiling behind him.  Soon the creature reveals herself as Leo and the audience get a full view of the transformed Trakeena! Let's just say, the Grinch would be proud of her looks!!! ;) Anyway, the two begin to fight but it's obvious, Trakeena is WAAAAAYYYY too powerful for him as she knocks him out of the control tower.  As he falls, he morphs and lands on some rubble as Trakeena follows him to continue their fight.  Back on the new world, Mike contacts the rangers to tell them he knows where Leo is as the GSA watch the battle Leo and Trakeena.  The rest of the rangers immediately head back to the city dome as it heads straight for where the inhabitants of Terra Venture have landed.

As Leo continues to get his ass owned by Trakeena, the rangers finally arrive to help and are of course, horrified by the mutated insect that Trakeena has become.  All 5 rangers attack her one by one but of course, she kicks their asses something fierce.  As the city dome heads toward the new world, the citizens of Terra Venture begin to run as the rangers continue their final battle against Trakeena and its a really awesome one! The rangers use their entire arsenal of weapons to try to defeat her from their Quasar Launchers, Astro Cycles, even the Red Capsular Cycle!  One wonders why they didn't summon the Lights of Orion, but whatever, I'm guessing it was because 1) It probably wouldn't have worked considering how power Trakeena is and 2) The production probably didn't have the money for it considering it already looks like a REALLY expensive finale!  Anyway, Leo goes after Trakeena and manages to strike her good with his saber.  He then summons his...sigh...his battlizer to destroy her once and all.  As the rangers yell for Leo to stop, Leo brings Trakeena at point blank range and fires all his weapons; seemingly destroying them both.  But like I said, as the rangers grieve Leo's death, he rises from the rubble unharmed with his severely broken helmet but gives the rangers a thumbs up! See ya next season Trakeena! ;)

Anyway, as the city dome continues to head straight for the people of Terra Venture, the rangers realize they can't stop its momentum....until the Galaxy Megazord arrives to slow the dome down and crash land it away from the people who duck and cover.  After a huge explosion, the inhabitants fear the rangers' death but soon reveal they are safe on their Galactabeasts.  As the thousands cheer and congratulate the rangers, the Wolf Galactabeast lures Maya, the other rangers and Mike away.  As Maya's helmet demorphs, she walks forward as the other rangers and Mike arrive.  Suddenly as Maya take the branches off a stone, she realizes its Jara; meaning the rangers and Terra Venture's people have landed on Mirinoi! DUN, DUN, DUN!!! o_O Maya, like in the premiere, makes a speech about the significance of the Quasar Sabers and how they finally completed their mission to stop the forces of evil.  As she laments that she wish she could have saved Mirinoi, she puts her saber back into the stone where the rangers originally pulled it out.  The other rangers do the same, even though Leo takes a bit longer to do so.  Suddenly, the power of the Quasar Sabers combine to demorph the rangers and begin turning the people of Mirinoi back to normal.  Then....Kendrix comes back to life?!? Awwwwwww, it makes no sense but it's still a touching moment, especially Kendrix thanking Karone for taking her place as a ranger.  The episode concludes with the Galactabeasts celebrating with some fireworks as everyone is overjoyed that the journey and battle is finally over.  No words!!! Just...WOW!!! :) I just need a moment to collect my thoughts for this overview! :)

Final Morph: A+