Season 10, Episode 16: The Lone Wolf

"The Lone Wolf"
Episode 16
Air Episode: May 18th, 2002

Well, thus ends the Zen-Aku as a now human Merrick must begin making amends for his crimes underneath the control of the Wolf Mask.  Gotta love that awkward group interaction at beginning of the episode with the core 5 trying to recruit Merrick yet again but poor Merrick's actor just makes me want to cringe as he rejects their request and runs off.  Oh boy, this season in terms of acting (More on that on my overview of course!)  But luckily, while the rangers ponder with Princess Shayla why Merrick is so hesitant to join the club, Merrick interrupt a joyful and silly Jindrax and Toxica as they sing over the destruction of Zen-Aku.  LOVE how they just banter right in front of him as Merrick overhears just as General Nyzar and Master Org approach.  Merrick, of course, pretends to still be under Nyzar's control...until he tries to kill Master Org himself.  It's kind of pathetic as Master Org just brushes it off before Merrick can even strike him and gets blasted for his trouble.  As Jindrax and Toxica hold him up, Merrick overacts and calls out for his animal crystal who have seemingly abandoned him.  As Merrick demands for Master Org to return the animal crystal Zen-Aku stole, Master Org requests them from General Nyzar and uses his dark magic or what not to create a new Org aka Quadra Org, which just looks awesome.  A freakish and very powerful combination of the 4 animal crystal, Quadra Org is ordered to destroy Merrick.

As Merrick gets tossed around, the other rangers arrive to help and immediately morph.  Gotta LOVE how the rangers just...chose to pose and do a roll call during all of this! -_-  Don't worry about poor Merrick....he'll be fine as explosions erupt behind us and we tell the monsters the same thing we do every episode! -_-  Anyway, Quadra Org proves to be too much for the rangers, forcing Merrick to feel even more guilty and wanting to avenge what he did to them.  Between screaming like a car ran over his foot, Merrick gets beat down by the Org continually until he can't fight any longer; despite the tied up rangers telling him not too.  But suddenly, the Red Lion roars...which just forces Merrick's animal crystals to finally give a sh!t and form his new Growl Morpher.  He soon morphs into the new Lunar Wolf Ranger and I have to say, his suit and first fight sequence is BOSS!!!  In typical 6th ranger fashion, Merrick is easily able to out fight and out maneuver Quadra Org, especially with his Lunar Cube which he can use as a sword, blaster and a.....pool cube.......yeah....O_o Anyway, after defeating the new Org, Toxica makes him grow as Merrick summons his three Wild Zords to form the Predazord.  The good version of the Predazord looks actually better than the evil version as it loses it's Duke Org horn and forms a face of a knight almost. Nice!

Soon, the rangers form their own megazord aka the new Wild Force Megazord with the damn Rhino and Armadillo that plays soccer! Like I said...only on freakin' Power Rangers! Smdh!  Both megazords are very badass though, able to handle the Quadra Org together and using multiple finishers (including the Beckem finisher with the soccer ball!) to finally destroy it.  But it doesn't end there, as Merrick goes after General Nyzar and destroys him easily (surprisingly! O_O) in badass 6th ranger fashion to retrieve the 4 corrupted animal crystals.  After Merrick gives each ranger back their respective crystals, he makes a comment about returning his debt to the rangers and must walk alone as they once again try to make him join them.  "Where ever the wind takes him" he says! What the hell dude!? O_o  Also, Shayla just looks on like some type of stalker.  I know the writers are setting up the romance between them, but we is it being done so creepily??? O_o  Anyway, this was a superb introduction to Merrick as the new 6th ranger and despite some grating moments, it was very entertaining in good and bad ways! What? :P

Final Morph: A-