Season 12, Episode 3: Wave Goodbye

"Wave Goodbye"
Episode 3
Air Date: February 21st, 2004

It's amazing how we are only on the 3rd episode of this show and these characters are feeling so fully fleshed out already while new characters are being introduced seamlessly into the show with their own sense of fitting in naturally. I think one thing I really LOVED about this episode was that it finally explored an aspect of the superhero life that Power Rangers hasn't really brought up to this point.  Sure we've seen former rangers give up their lives of saving the world for peace conferences, world gymnastic championships, etc. but there was already a replacement for them ready to take their spot in their absence.  But here, we see Connor already struggling with the inconvenience of being a ranger while having dreams of going pro as a soccer athlete.  I loved seeing Conner so agitated and upset about missing his important soccer tryouts because his recent calling as a ranger is too demanding.  The confrontation scene between him and Dr. Oliver felt natural and completely understandable where Tommy even admits he felt the same way at once point.  Once again, using Tommy's past as a ranger to build character and make him into an even wiser and understanding mentor! Love It! Of course, I could have done without the forced little girl plot point, but it did ultimately help in making Conner realize that being a ranger is far more important and valuable than his own dreams of playing pro.  It's about making connections with the people they save and knowing that they are the city's as well as the Earth's last hope to survive Mesagog's plan...and that's just something even Conner, a self absorbed jock up to this point, can't walk away from.  Once again, amazing character development so far.  I even love the last scene of him and Ethan having a heart to heart and Conner reassuring him he would have chosen the team in the end. Awwwwwww!!! Love these guys and their building friendship already!

In villain plot news, Mesagog threatens Elsa and Zeltrax to the point where they go after Ethan and Tommy, who come upon 3 dino eggs, that Tommy says they will hatch and the rangers will "ride" them....yeah....O_o I gotta say tho, I love this fight scene, not just because the main trio are doing their thing as rangers, but seeing Tommy able to handle BOTH Elsa and Zeltrax UNMORPHED is so f$%&ing boss and just shows you how skilled he is as a veteran ranger that he can handle himself so well without powers.  Nice! :) So after some very abusive hijinks with the creatures that come out eggs, Tommy soon reveals that they are Raptor Riders.  And WOW! o_O  Well, it beats getting another set of cycles this season ( which will happen anyway! O_o) but the raptor riders make the sequence of the rangers chasing after the monster of the week, Birdbrain, around the city.  Also, we learn how the monsters will be summoned this season when Elsa uses the genetic re-animator to bring Birdbrain to life from experimental tubes with strange life forms left inside....yuck! Also, the form of monster growing this year is the Hydro Re-generator which creates a quick rainstorm that makes the monster resurrect into it's giant form.  You just got to love how Tommy guesses the monster grew and he just the zords already like it's typical! Lol This is the type of tongue and cheek humor that Ninja Storm failed to deliver. So kudos on the writing team so far this year! :)  

This episode also introduces us to two more new characters.  One being Hayley, who works and owns "Hayley's Cyberspace", the Juice Bar-eqse hangout spot for teens to eat, drink, go online, play games, music, etc.  I like her so far and how she just seems to know everything about the kids that come hangout there and the confidence in how warm and welcoming she is.  Then there's Trent Fernandez, a student from Reefside High who joins Hayley at her business that day while Kira clearly has a crush on him. Lol Also, I like how the episode ends on a very unforeseen twist of Tommy getting captured then kidnapped by Zeltrax and the Tyrannodrones.  It's honestly the perfect set for the new couple episodes and really ups the stakes already this season as how will this very new team of rangers manage without their mentor this soon!? O_O All and all, "Wave Goodye" was an awesome follow-up to the two part premiere that built lots of character development for Conner, set up more potentially likeable characters and ends on a cliffhanger that eagerly has me wanting to watch the next episode immediately. :)

Final Morph: A