Season 9, Episode 10: Future Unknown

"Future Unkown"
Episode 10
Air Date: April 7th, 2001

So last episode we learned 2 new things as the plot developed, 1) Frax is beginning to work behind Ransik's back and 2) the rangers' presence in the past is beginning to alter the timeline. After Ransik gives Frax a hard time for unleashing a robot on the rangers, Frax soon discovers the key to the "X-Vault" aka where the prison's most dangerous criminals are kept.  When he finds the vault, he opens it and grabs one of the criminals to begin working on a new plan.  The criminal he chose was Vexicon, who has a really awesome design by the way and actually looks pretty terrifying.  Meanwhile, Kate is reminiscing as she looks at a picture of her friend.  This will be a Katie centered episode and it's a stunning one at that.  As Circuit and the rangers wonder about the existence of Raimei in this time period, they come to the conclusion that them and especially Ransik being there is beginning to change the course of history and the future that they go back to might not be the same.  This is where the rangers, especially Katie, begin questioning their actions as their friends, family, etc. might not be how they left it.  I love seeing Katie's anxiety and doubts here as Wes says things might be better than when they left the future to which Katie argues she doesn't want things to get "better".  She wants the future to be exactly how they left it.

Meanwhile, Vexicon begins to attack the city as Frax watches on.  When Circuit alerts the rangers to a new mutant attack, everyone except Katie begins running toward the exit.  Trip finally gets her to go but Katie is clearly having some serious reservations about changing the future.  As Vexicon continues to wreck havoc, the rangers finally arrive and their battle begins.  But they find that their Chrono Sabers and especially the combined blasts of their V-weapons are ineffective as he just knocks the attacks aside.  After blasting the rangers back, he goes on to continue destroying the city as they weren't much of a challenge.  As the rangers continue to fight and protect people, Vexicon's toy explosions become too much for the rangers as they are blasted so much they demorph.  As Vexicon runs off, the rangers recover and try to chase after him...except Katie doesn't want to go.  This is a pivotal moment not just for Katie but for the rangers as she seriously questions what's the point of their mission of they future they go back to is changed???  It's another great writing moment this season that makes the other rangers briefly question their actions and I love how each character reacts to Katie's plight.  Lucas doesn't care what the future holds as there are people in trouble now,  Jen goes off because she promised Alex she would stop Ransik, Trip just does it because it's the right thing to do while Wes reminds Katie she has everything to fight for as he gives her back the picture of her family and runs off with the other rangers.

As Katie questions what's wrong with her, she realizes she fears she'll never go home but remembers she needs to fight for a better future for her family, no matter the consequences. WOW!!! :)  I also love the instamorph sequence each ranger does as they run off to stop Vexicon.  As the team reunites,  Katie apologizes and promises not to let the rangers done again as they join forces to cleverly blast him with their V-Weapons.  They soon use the Vortex Blaster but it only makes him grow as he reveals his mutant DNA!  Sigh....Circuit summons the Time Force Megazord as the rangers are excited to see it repaired and back to help them.  They form Mode Blue then Mode Red but Vexicon is just too powerful for them.  Soon the Time Shadow arrives to help but even both megazords aren't strong enough as Vexicon even destroys the Time Force Megazord Saber.  Luckily, Circuit reveals to the rangers they have to combine both megazords to defeat him aka form the Shadow Force Megazord! Ummmmm....Awesome name....even more awesome megazord formation!!!  The rangers use the Shadow Force Megazord to finish off Vexicon in a visually stunning looking sequence.  "Your Time Is Up!" :)  As the episode concludes, Katie vows the rangers will return home and even mentions them being her new family for the time being...awwwww!!! :)  Meanwhile, Ransik surprisingly congratulates Frax for Vexicon nearly destroying the rangers as he makes his way back to the X-Vault and plans to continue his own mission to defeat Ransik! Wow!!! Just a moving and plot heavy episode! No words!!! This season is knocking episode by episode out of the park! :)

Final Morph: A+