Season 11, Episode 29: Shimazu Returns, Part 2

"Shimazu Returns, Part 2"
Episode 29
Air Date: August 23rd, 2003

Well, I gotta say, the fact this episode starts off with a straight zord is refreshing and unique for this show as usually they come during the final 5 minutes of the show.  But here, we see just how powerful and intensely vicious the Wolf Blades are able to not only handle the Storm and Thunder Megazords at the same time but manages to seriously damage the Thunderstorm Megazord after the rangers think the zord's finishing move worked! Damn! All things considered, the rangers are very screwed but luckily Cam manages to teleport them back to safety at Ninja Ops just in time.  Meanwhile, Shimazu alerts Lothor to the rangers recently acquiring that mysterious artifact from the museum and they come up with a plan to stop Cam from reaching the whereabouts of artifact's power so the rangers can't defeat them.

Meanwhile, with the zords damaged, Cam suggests they use the unknown artifact since now this is a serious emergency and they need reinforcements. While everyone is excited at the possibility of this new weapon, Cam opens the chest to reveal....a giant scroll....to everyone's utter disappointment.  Turns out Cam must gather an extreme amount of power to lead him to the portal to access the new weapon to add to the rangers arsenal. Oh and between these two part episodes, the rangers have been preparing for this talent show competition which is pretty non existent and makes no sense at the end of the episode so....whatever....skipping over that whole lackluster B plot. O_o Anyway, Cam soon tells the rangers to return to Ninja Ops and asks for their power discs temporarily to gain access to the portal.  Of course, this will leave the other rangers' powerless and unable to morph but Cam assures them they will still be able to use their zords in civilian form despite that is the Wolf Blades return.  After giving him their power discs, Cam quickly morphs and heads to the portal in his Samurai Copter...which alerts Lothor as he sends Shimazu to stop him.  Shimazu quickly arrives to summon his Wolf Blades so they can combine and form the enormous three head monster that grows rapidly and knocks Cam to the ground; seemingly damaging his zord.  Soon the other rangers arrive in their respective zords after seeing this on the screen at Ninja Ops to give Cam time to gain access to the portal.  While the rangers struggle to keep the Wolf Blades at bay, Cam, in his Super Samurai mode for some reason (I guess to get to his destination quicker? O_o), finds the portal and enters it.  He soon arrives inside a cave and uses the rangers' power discs as well as his own to unlocked the powerful weapon within a cabinet in the cave....which turns out to have a.....guitar inside of it....yes.....THIS is the rangers' new all powerful weapon that will save the day.  And what can this freaky looking guitar do you ask???  Summon the rangers' new Mammoth zord of course....Oh Power Rangers.....LOL

So while the rangers are still struggling to hold the monster back, Cam arrives with the guitar he calls... The Lightning Riff Blaster....yeah, even Blake can't believe how dumb that sounds but whatever!  The rangers can now morph again as Cam gives them back their powers discs as well as summoning the Mighty Mammothzord to help aid the rangers in defeating the Wolf Blades. After forming the Thunderstorm Megazord, the Mammothzord shoots out a bunch of spheres out at the monster....for some reason??? Guess that's it's primary solo attack??? O_O  Anyway, the Thunderstorm Megazord soon rides on top of the massive Mammothzord to fire all combined weapons at the Wolf Blades which destroys it instantly.  A nice victory all things considered but I just love how Lothor finally just outright says all his geenrals fail, so theirs no use in threatening to banish them anymore! Jesus, what are you trying to say Lothor??? O_O Too late to admit you guys suck at this point in this season!!! :P  Oh and the episode ends with the rangers all performing in the talent show where Cam is suddenly a guitarist all along and Blake and Hunter....are some kind of hip hop duo....oh brother!  Don't want to talk about Marah and Kapri and their involvement....just wrap up this episode in a corny and forced message about them all being winners....like HUH??? Lol  Anyway, "Shimazu Returns, Part 1" is a weaker follow-up to Part 2 as the follow through with Shimazu was weak and he was barely even featured in his own two parter named after him! The Wolf Blades were really the primary antagonists that really did ANYTHING and the revelation of the Lightning Riff Blaster as well as the Mammothzord were a bit underwhelming when usually these new weapon/zord intro episodes are more epic and have more impact but whatever...

Final Morph: B-