Season 11, Episode 3: Beauty and the Beach

"Beauty and the Beach"
Episode 3
Air Date: February 22nd, 2003

Well, with this new trio format for the show instead of the typical team of 5 rangers, we are able to explore new issues and dynamics of the group.  In this episode, namely, Tori, who being the only female of the three, feels she isn't getting her dues or apparently, the right treatment considering she's a girl.  Shane and Dustin just see her as "one of the guys" instead of the blossoming young woman she is, especially when a cute guy on the beach is interested in her and Shane is oblivious to the fact that she's...you know....a girl and all and interested!  I liked seeing this side of Tori, especially as she wants to prove herself as an individual and not a ranger like most characters would have to.  It really brings a sense of realism (ehhh...as much realism as possible for this show) to the table. So it's obvious that Lothor takes advantage of this situation, like most main villains on this show would and sends his nieces to do his dirty work for him.  They set up some fake photo shoot on the beach and inviting Tori as she will try to prove herself to the other guys that she can be feminine and girly like the rest of them.

But, of course, it's a trap and after a brief fight with the Kelzacks, Tori gets trapped inside of a camera.  From there, Kapri and Marah make a duplicate of Tori who they tell to lead them to Ninja Ops as well as unleashing a monster named Copybot.  Gottta say, Evil Tori is a definite highlight of this episode and makes it beyond hilarious at times.  From Sally Martin's ear covering performance and how she plays both the real Tori as well as Evil Tori so seamlessly was entertaining af!!! LMAO!!!  Oh and of course, how could I forget the moment where real Tori has to prove herself to her fellow rangers by revealing Shane has a fear of spiders and Dustin's real name is Waldo.  So sad....yet SOOOO funny!  Anyway, from there the episode continues in standard Power Rangers fashion with Tori morphing to join the fight and the 3 rangers making quick work of the monster with their weapons.  But, of course, it's Power Rangers and the monster isn't done yet as Kapri makes it grow with the "Scroll of Tranquility"??? O_o  Seriously, WOW!

After defeating the monster, the guys apologize and even end up setting up Tori to meet her dream guy from the beach.  But the episode ends ominously as usual as Lother is once again, confronted by those two evil rangers on his ship as they both plan to put their evil agenda against the rangers into motion.  I like how they are foreshadowing this arc with this new rangers but it kinda takes away from the very inventive and new aspect of their being 3 core rangers.  Besides that, "Beauty and the Beach" was a carefree, fun episode thanks to evil Tori and her priceless shouting and yelling as well as making Tori relate to other females out there trying to prove themselves as sexy women in their own right. ;)

Final Morph: B