Season 12, Episode 11: White Thunder, Part 1

"White Thunder, Part 1"
Episode 11
Air Date: April 17th, 2004

Hard to believe it's the 12th season of the show at this point and we are STILL being introduced to evil rangers that will once again be more than a force to be reckoned when it comes to the rangers....yet there is still something about the White Ranger's arrival that once again shakes up the status quo of the show because of how powerful and unpredictable this enemy is.  What also helps is that this newest nemesis of the Dino Thunder Rangers isn't some ranger under a spell, mind control or talked into destroying the rangers because their current mentor had something to do with their parent's death like last season.  Honestly, the White Ranger is treated like a force that can't be controlled and works for no one on each side, especially considering since the newly discovered dino gem forced itself onto a character who is caught in the middle of all this and had no intentions of being a hero or villain in the scheme of things.  And it's hard to believe it's Trent!  A minor character who's been likable but only focused on ever so slightly because of the ongoing subplot with the uneasy relationship between him and his father; it's really unprecedented to see him become the White Ranger but that just shows you how well the writers really set up this turn of events in the most subtle way possible by making Trent more and more suspicious of his father's past as well as the bizarre things that have been happening in his home. But more on that later....;)

Turns out, Mesagog has known the whereabouts of a dino gem for over a year and just now decides now is the time to unleash it and bond with it as it increase his power immensely in finally defeating the rangers by moving forward with his master plan.  After Elsa uses her fancy laptop to destroy some sacred dino alter, she begins to try to free the gem from it's impenetrable stone but can't seem to with even Mesagog breathing down her neck....well more like Zeltrax is....Jesus dude, this is no time to get into her evil little pants! :P But somehow, Elsa manages to free it...but unfortunately, Trent has discovered his father using an invisi-portal and soon follows him to Mesagog's castle where the new dino gem literally forces itself onto Trent.  So while Else and Zeltrax freak out about the dino gem being taken and a new White Ranger about to emerge since the gem is "pure evil" unlike the other and the chosen wielder will be wanting to look for a fight....yeah....about that...huh??? O_o Anyway, as Trent is in agonizing pain from the gem attaching itself, he finally begins to trenasform into the White Ranger.  Also, Tommy goes to the dino alter with the other three rangers and tells them a dino gem was here and now someone has it; not knowing which side they are on..... After Mesagog mentally tortures Elsa and Zletrax for letting the gem fall into someone else's hands, they immediately come up with a plan to send a monster to track down the new White Ranger.

Back at the Dino Lab, Tommy soon sends the three rangers out to stop the creature but as soon as they are arrive, the monster is quickly destroyed by a white blur that kills it almost instantly.....DAMN!!! o_O Soooo...the monster doesn't even get a name??? O_o While the three Dinos track down what just destroyed the monster, the evil White Ranger soon appears and man, is his voice awesome!!! :)  Also, the design for his suit is pretty amazing in how distinct it is from the others by subverting the original design as well as the Black Ranger's color scheme. :) In uses Evil Ranger introductions, he easily beats the three with his Drago Sword that shoots laser arrows at them before warning them and taking off...ummmm YESSSSS!! :)  Unfortunately, after Tommy mentions that an evil Ranger has happened before (Mmmhmm, still feeling guilty about that  huh Tommy? :P) The White Ranger soon returns and this time, it's MUCH worse than his first encounter with the rangers.  He's able to own all three in a fight with ease to the point where even Tommy coming to back them up isn't enough to stop him....DAMN!!! o_O  Yeah, when a veteran ranger like Tommy isn't even enough to stop an evil but still new ranger, you know this team is f^&*ed for real! O_O After draining and beating all 4 rangers senseless, they demorph and try to pick themselves up before the White Ranger once again warns them or he'll destroy them next time.  So it's safe to say, our heroes are screwed beyond comprehension at this moment! Oh Cassidy and Devin are in this episode because Cassidy's trying to be a real reporter for a news station but only gets a chance to prove herself when she mentions she can discover one of the Power Ranger's identities.  Yeah, cause the White Ranger walking off in pain and bumping into Trent looking all worn out definitely isn't suspicious to the blonde brat??? O_o  Anyway, Part 1 is a definitely a pretty awesome debut for the show's newest villain as it takes some new directions with the usual evil Ranger storyline by making him a problem for both sides instead of a weapon the villains are using against this team.  Nice! :)

Final Morph: A-