Season 10, Episode 30: Team Carnival

"Team Carnival"
Episode 30
Air Date: September 21st, 2002

Sigh...you know what I'm noticing???  The villains this season are SOOOOO much more interesting than the rangers themselves this season.  With the continued exception of Mandilok who literally eats all day and has done crap since his initial debut against the rangers, the villains are proving themselves to be more entertaining, riveting, intimidating, complex and ironically, have more heart than the rangers themselves!  Yes, the villains of the year aka the Orgs, who we know have no hearts, have two villains this season who not only contradict that but exemplify what it means to have a heart wholeheartedly.  Isn't that funny??? Jindrax and Toxica have been best friends for thousands of years and clearly that has something to do with it, especially since after the death of the original Master Org, they roamed the Earth for 3,000 years until his return.  That's a lot of time to spend with someone and clearly as time went along, they developed a heart/connection/bond with each other that defied what Orgs are at their core.  I'm saying this because here we have an episode centered on Jindrax and how Mandilok mistreats him to the point where he feels worthless...he's an Org, why should he feel anything??? Hmmmmm...what's even more interesting that Jindrax uses this opportunity to rejoin forces with his brother, Juggalo, who turns to have a personality just as charismatic and silly as his brother.  So did Juggalo also survive the war 3,000 years ago and roam the Earth??? I'm asking these questions is because this moral grey areas is a very black and white season are pushed aside at best!  It's like the most interesting thing about the season is neither explained or explored because the writers just don't have to concern or capacity to make this season have more depth than "Never Give Up!" -_-

And it's a shame too because in just this episode, I really loved the dynamic and relationship between Jindrax and Juggalo.  A brotherhood that's both entertaining and touching as they truly care about each other as Jindrax is even willing to sacrifice himself in the end to help his brother defeat the rangers!!! WOW!!! O_O Not to mention, when Toxica comes along to get her staff back, when she realizes Jindrax is gonna make himself grow and possibly get destroyed, she desperately tries to warn him and stop him! Even further, when everything is all said and done (I guess burping reverses the effects of the peanuts...ohh I'm sorry beans! O_o), Toxica is there to comfort Jindrax in his hour of need and remind him that he may have lost his brother, but he still has her.  Seriously, why wasn't this type of complex dynamic further explored because I would have really would have liked to have known why these two are so fascinating, entertaining and whimsical despite being evil.  Never the less, I'm enjoying what I'm getting from the villains so far despite Mandilok being the evil version of Princess Shayla. -_-  But alas, this hint of promising and potentially wonderful aspect of the season is juxaposed with...

........Max and that damn annoying Kite joking and running around like this was an episode of "Rugrats".  Scratch that!  I've seen more adult and funnier episodes of "Rugrats", what am I saying!!?? O_o  The problem is, there is nothing and I mean absolutely NOTHING to this Kite/Animus arc.  The rangers suddenly figure out that Animus' return means he might have been reincarnated...but that random kid that steals, is rude to people and kicks them...that couldn't be Animus could it??? -_-  Then again, the rangers for some reason don't reason that little trip to dark place, so whatever!  The thing is, there is no need for the rangers to be focusing THIS much on Kite.  It would have been more subtle if Kite kept randomly appearing to the rangers in a cryptic way and in that damn white outfit he was wearing before.  Giving the rangers clues about his existence instead of this forced and drawn out arc with Kite that will only get worse!  I just...I digress....whatever, it's been like 16 years since this season and it happened...moving on.  It just would have made more sense if Cole was the only one who identified with Kite because of not having parents thing or Max because their "kids" but the arc, even now, doesn't make sense.  The whole foreshadowing with Kite knowing Merrick was nice but still this arc will only get worse like I said, so potentially interesting cliffhanger was ultimately a waste...kinda like this episode outside of the villain plot and scenes!

Final Morph: D+