Season 12, Episode 15: Leader of the Whack

"Leader of the Whack"
Episode 15
Air Date: May 15th, 2004

You know, usually, episodes like this can be not only filler but potentially grating as the rangers are put under some kinda spell; forcing them to act uncharacteristically the whole episode in the silliest and most over the top ways that it almost becomes a choir to watch.  I mean it's Power Rangers and I certainly NOT gonna forget previous 500+ episodes I've been re-watching so far like Tommy being made to excessively eat or Dana turning into a self absorbed diva....ohh wait...nevermind! -_- But what "Leader of the Whack" does is not just make our characters act like fools for a half hour but we get to explore aspects of their personality that they surprising have.  The episode begins with Trent on his way out of Reefside while he's in the forest. Devin and Cassidy are there of course, still trying to find out the identity of the White Ranger.  I love how Cassidy is all knowledgeable and says the White Ranger being an anti-hero and all would hideout in some cave or isolated location in the woods, runs into Trent and quickly dismisses the fact that the White Ranger could be him because....Jesus, now she's just abusing her stupidity!!! O_o Anyway, a small meteorite then falls near them and smashes into the forest.  Of course, Cassidy's all gung ho (ha! :P) about finding out what it is! Just keep on with the logical NOT thinking gurl! -_- Thank God, Trent follows them to keep them out of harm's way.  Meanwhile, Hayley is working on continuing to free Dr. Oliver while Zeltrax tells Mesagog about a powerful new monster for him, Rojobot, who turns out to be more meek and cowardly than Notacon from Time Force. Poor thing! But Mesagog hilariously in his usual very intimidating demeanor orders him to go after the strange radiation that just fell into the forest.

After we get more of Connor, Kira and Ethan making fun of each other about their individual personalities as a quick remainder before they go all zany, soon Hayley quickly sends them out to the forest as well to investigate.  I absolutely LOVE how Connor and Ethan are immediately antagonistic and confrontational when they see Trent there but Kira reminding them this isn't the time and place for this right now. Awesome!  But the rangers as well as Cassidy and Devin are soon surrounded by Rojobot and a group of Tyrannodrones.  Luckily, the 4 rangers put their differences aside to fight off their enemies while Cassidy and Devin of course run for the hills...but not before the meteorite suddenly effects them before they go.  It also soon affects Rojobot, who suddenly becomes really mean and vicious by attacking Connor in the back!  Seriously, that looked like it hurt!  The rangers soon morph to finish them off but not hearing Hayley's warning about staying away from that meteorite's radiation as they are in the middle of battle. Soon they are finally hit by the meteorite's rays and start hilariously changing while Rojobot and the Tyrannodrones retreat.  It's actually really interesting and entertaining seeing not only the rangers changing personalities but what their personalities turn into.  Connor is suddenly very smart and studious, Ethan is extremely athletic and competitive and Kira is now so feminine and vapid....and kind of Cassidy-ish at first, ehhhh!!!  But it turns out the meteorite's radiation some how forced out the recessive parts of their personalities and brought them to the surface which mean while the rangers are acting completely opposite of who they are, they are all capable of being that way, they just choose not too; which says a lot about them as characters in a way and develops them somewhat as they are each reflective of the respective teammate and have more in come individually than they think.  Cool!

Of course, being under the effects of the radiation, they unfortunately aren't able to work well as rangers, let alone a team as their exaggerated new personalities can't even make them work competently as a team anymore as Rojobot defeats them very easily before taking off.  Meanwhile....we've some how time traveled to the 1970s where Devin is now some Saturday Night Fever reject that every girl in school can't help but follow while Cassidy looks like the biggest nerd cliche I have EVER seen! Yikes! O_O  I mean I get what the writers were going for with the recessive personality traits but since when would girls in modern day 2004 be so attracted to and eager to please Devin's sense of what being "cool" and "confident" is.  Mind you, Cassidy isn't even that popular to begin with and at this point, should be considered a big joke around town so their new personalities aren't really that reflective of each other at all.  But once again, I assume it's the radiation also effecting the girls in school because once the radiation effects reverse, the girls and everyone who thinks Devin is so cool goes back to their senses!  But what is nice tho is also seeing that both Cassidy and Devin have feelings for each other.  It made sense to me why someone like him would follow and take orders from someone like Cassidy but seeing she feels the same way about him deep down is really sweet. :)

Meanwhile, Hayley regroups the rangers back at the Dino Lab and realize the key to freeing Dr. O is in the meteorite as it has enough radiation to break him out of the ember he is trapped in.  After a hilariously priceless morph call, the three rangers finally get to work fighting Rojobot properly this time, summoning their stupid...I mean...helpful Super Dino Mode and finishing him off with their Z-Rex Blaster.  After Mesagog quickly punishes Elsa and Zeltrax, he uses the Hydro Re-generator to make him grow; forcing the team to call for their zords per the usual.  Once again, they use the Ankylozord to form the Shield and Spear mode of the Thundersaurus but when Rojobot tries to escape, the Dino Stegozord comes out of no where as Trent comes in to briefly assist them so the rangers can destroy him for good.  Yeah, it turns out, Trent was effected by the meter as well and temporarily turned good since he has always been deep down, proving Kira right...but it's honestly not surprising considering it's the Dino Gem forcing Trent to be evil so...huh??? O_o  Anyway, after blasting the meter with their Dino Cycles, the rangers bring back a piece to Hayley to use as their normal finally personalities come back.   Awww, I'm gonna miss smart Connor....he was kinda :)....ANYWAY! o_O As Hayley uses the fragmented meteorite to free Dr. Oliver, the machine blows out and the meter is ultimately damaged because of it.  Luckily, Tommy is successfully freed....but is now unable to demorph....uhhh ohhh??? O_O  All and All, "Leader of the Whack", besides its bizarre title and contrived Devin/Cassidy subplot, is a pretty great episode with insightful looks into the rangers' themselves despite the usual Power Rangers hijinks of being under some kind of spell for an episode. :)

Final Morph: B+