Season 8, Episode 32: Sorcerer of the Sands

"Sorcerer of the Sands"
Episode 32
Air Date: November 9th, 2000

Wow, what an awesome arc episode here!!! I mean, there isn't really much of a arc really this season BUT at least this episode moves the main story along very nicely! :)  While the rangers are training, Dana is zoning out because she's thinking about Ryan again.  Meanwhile, our valiant Titanium Ranger is suffering from the intense conditions of the unless desert and passes out...just as some extremely creepy nomad watches him.  Meanwhile, Queen Pain In The A$$ is once again giving her son a hard time for failing so much....ummm....so haven't Vipra, Loki and Diabolico failed too!? O_o  Why are you being so hard on the son that has come the closet to actually succeeding in defeating the rangers....well....by the end of this episode....we'll actually find out!  Anyway a very frustrated Olympius is pissed because he mom plans on giving his star power back to Diabolico if he fails again, leading him to come up with a plan get rid of the rangers for good.  He summons Jinxer and asks him for the key to the Monster Shadow World.  Jinxer is of course against it because of how dangerous it is there but Olympius just scares him into doing so.  Diabolico soon comes out of the shadows laughing as Olympius walks away with the key.  I really like the animosity and double crossing between the villains this season.  It's the only time when they are interesting and especially here in this episode, the way Diabolico manipulates Olympius is just entertaining.

Anyway, Ryan wakes up in a tent in the middle of the desert as that some creepy nomad is about to touch his face!  I'm more surprised dude didn't try to much him for that! Ewwww!!! Back up freak! O_O Anyway, Ryan tells the very odd and potential serial rapist that he's looking for the Sorcerer of the Sands.  The nomad thinks he's seeking the Sorcerer's help for money, wealth, etc. but Ryan tells him he needs his help deciphering the hieroglyphics he copied from the tomb.  The strange nomad then gives Ryan some strange drink which he accepts and drinks!!!?  Seriously,  Ryan what are you thinking for drinking something like that from a complete and obviously crazy looking stranger!? O_o Ryan soon falls asleep from this drink holding his notebook (See! Rapist!!  He pulled the old Cosby comatose drink trick!!! :(  My poor sexy Ryan! You leave him alone you batsh!t bastard!  -_-Turns out he just takes Ryan's notebook and shows it to his crow...okay, really dude!? You have this incredibly sexy guy in you tent all alone in the middle of the desert and your not gonna make a very disgusting move? :P Lol I'm joking guys and girls......0_0......

Anyway, as Olympius makes his way to the gate of the Shadow World, Vipra and Diabolico are watching from behind a pillar.  Soon Olympius opens the gate as the Gate Keeper of the Shadow World comes out to greet him.  As they enter the realm, Vipra and Diabolico come out of hiding as Diabolico stops her from ruining his plan as he plans to trap Olympius in the Shadow World himself.  Once in the Shadow Realm (Great location/set design by the way! :),  Olympius orders the Gate Keeper to lure the rangers there.  He soon arrives in Mariner Bay and attacks the city as the rangers arrive.  They try to blast the Gatekeeper and some Batlings but they just vanish into thin air.  Soon the Gatekeeper reappears and transports them into the ShadowWorld.  As the rangers wonder where they are, Olympius and Gatekeepr arrive to tell them where they are as the Gatekeeper summons past monsters the rangers have defeated to attack them.  The rangers use their V-Lancers to try and destroy them but they just reassemble themselves.  As the rangers wonder what's going on, the Gatekeeper tells them they are in the Shadow World and can't do anymore damage to monsters that are already destroyed.  Jesus guys, I could have told you that! -_-

Meanwhile, Ryan awakes in the tent as the creepy nomad tries to offer him another drink.  Ryan finally says "no!" and tells him he needs the Sorcerer of the Sands to defeat Queen Bansheera.  The nomad suddenly reacts in complete horror and fear as if Ryan just told him the cops on their way! O_o  Turns out, the Sorcerer of the Sands was the pet crow all along as he speaks to Ryan and then transform into his true form. ....Uhh could you guys being anymore forced with the make-up??? -_-  Anyway, the Sorcerer introduces himself as Ryan tells him he is the Titanium Ranger and the reasons why he is there.  The Sorcerer looks over his notebook at the hieroglyphics and tells Ryan he needs the Golden Key to banish the demons....the same key Olympius has apparently.  Meanwhile, Chad mentions they need to destroy the Gatekeeper's staff to stop him from controlling the defeated monsters.  After Carter destroys the staff, Olympius and the Gatekeeper are now vulnerable to attack.  As Diabolico, Vipra and Loki watch in glee, Olympius and the Gatekeeper run to the gate to exit the Shadow Realm....BUT...Diabolico betrays the Prince by stealing the key and telling him that the Shadow Realm is his new home. Daammnnnn son!!! o_O Anyway, as the rangers are getting their asses handed to them by monsters, Dana notices a cave entrance they can hide in from them.  But the monsters soon follow, leaving Carter to cause some boulders to fall in their path to block them....for the moment.

Meanwhile, the Sorcerer uses a spell that reveals the rangers to be in trouble as the mirror shows them in the Shadow World.  The Sorcerer uses some ball of light in a box (Too soon for Sam/Omega Ranger jokes!) and sends it to the rangers for help.  As the monsters makes their way through the rubble, the light speaks to them, telling them it's here to help and was sent by Ryan.  Carter thinks it's another trap but Dana believes it IS Ryan.  With no other options, the rangers follow the light away as the monsters make their way through the rocks.  The light leads them to a pool of green slime, ooze (Ivan! :P), whatever as their way to escape.  Unfortunately, as the rangers are transported back to Mariner Bay successfully, three defeated monsters also escape and grow.  The rangers immediately call on their Rail Rescues to form the Super Train Megazord.  I never get tired of seeing that freakin' massive piece of badass! :) After defeating two of the monsters with it, for some reason, the rangers then form the Lightspped Solarzord to finish off the last one.  Either way, the rangers have won again!  Meanwhile, as Diabolico gloats about trapping Olympius in the Shadow World, Queen Bansheera overhears and....just laughs manically at the fact!  Jesus, that is one cold blooded b!tch!!!  As the demons react to her complete and utter not caring about her son being trapped, the Skull Cavern begins to shake as the Sorcerer begins the incantation to trap the demons again.  But soon Diabolico counteracts the spell and reduces the Sorcerer into dust! Damn, Diabolico soon appears to Ryan to rub it in how he failed as the episodes abruptly ends!  Overall, one of the strongest outings this season! It moves the story along, continues Ryan's own arc of trapping the demons, puts the other rangers into another tense scenario and reveals Queen Bansheera to be more evil than previously thought! Once again, not bad at all! :)

Final Morph: A-