Season 12, Episode 22: Triassic Triumph

"Triassic Triumph"
Episode 22
Air Episode: June 17th, 2004

Wait...is it battlizer time already??! O_O Surprisingly NOT as the Triassic Ranger is actually a Sentai original mode that is used to advance the Red Ranger's power on Abaranger.  And I have to say, I really like the design of it!!! :) The episode starts with Trent working back at Hayley's Cyberspace and everyone being glad that he's back...with no secrets between them.... Damn, I feel bad for Trent already!  This is already providing some intense moral dilemma for him and having to carry the truth on his shoulders but considering it's his father who is at risk, I completely understand his irrational and emotional choice to keep this a secret from his new allies.  Meanwhile, Zeltrax has revealed to Mesagog his latest creation with the copied White Ranger as well as formulates a plan where he has taken some of the White Ranger's DNA to create a new and powerful monster, Terrorsaurus to destroy the rangers.  While the rangers' part ways, Zeltrax soon attacks with the Evil White Ranger and Terrorsaurus to Connor and the others complete and utter shock at Trent's supposed betrayal again.  They immediately morph but Terrorsaurus is too powerful for them until Zeltrax takes on the rangers on their own while they both watch.  But before Zeltrax and his forces can finish them off, Trent arrives to save them with his Dino ATV....to the other rangers' very reasonable confusion.  After Zeltrax, the Evil White Ranger and Terrorsaurus retreat, the rangers head back to the Dino Lab where they question how two White Rangers can exists.  Either way, it seems Trent's powers have been duplicated and Terrorsaurus was also made from it.  While Connor is adamant that Trent is still up to something and has something to do with this, Dr. Oliver immediately stops him and tells everyone to cool off while he gets to the bottom of this.  He asks the rest of the team to stay behind while he and Trent go on a mission even though Connor thinks he should be trusted instead of Trent but Tommy says he needs Trent for this mission right now as the rest will contribute their part later.

As for sub-plots this episode, some soccer superstars transfer in town named Alexi Poporoff, who seems to have a serious attitude, especially toward Connor as everytime he tries to talk to him, he gives him the quick brush off.  The funny thing is...this plot amounts to literally nothing! -_-  Now I understand the reveal of Alexi not being American and being afraid of his thick accent making him unable to speak English properly but I just....no....no...NO! I just find this kind of plot, while drenched in realism, immensely throwaway as it doesn't really mean much in terms of character development or establishing some pivotal story that really sends out a positive message to kids.  Sure, being from another country and being around people who speak a completely different language can be nerve wrecking but did Alexi really mean much to help Connor grow or evolve??? O_o  Not really and the character won't mean ANYTHING after this episode so I don't understand the point of this plot when it feels very non-existent, let alone inconsequential to the main one??? O_o

Anyway, while Tommy and Trent head through the forest he tells Trent about an ancient artifact in the woods he heard a legend about and needs Trent's civilian power of cloaking (Oh is that what it is??? O_o) to get it.  Meanwhile, Terrorsaurus attacks the city and Connor heads back to the lab to regroup with the others.  While Kira and Ethan think they should wait for Dr. O, Connor is adamant that the three of them can handle it on their own.  When the two of them finally give in, the three teens morph and call on their zords to for the Thundersaurus Megazord.  Unfortunately, it turns out to be a trap as Terrorsaurus reveals their captured artillery zords: Cephalazord and Dimetro Zord as well as capturing the ranger's primary zords as well as they fall to the ground.  While Tommy and Trent use their dino powers to release the Shield of Triumph from it's hiding place, Terrorsaurus shrinks down and goes after the rangers himself while White Ranger joins to help his offspring.  It's a incredibly brutal fight too as the rangers' Super Dino Mode isn't even powerful enough to stop him as they fall into a nearby river.  As the rangers wash ashore, Connor has been getting some weird feeling all episode and finally goes after it.  As Trent is being overwhelmed by the draining of his power, Connor comes in to retrieve the Shield. Tommy soon tells Connor the purpose of the Shield and how he is connected to it but they must contribute their power to it before he can use it.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Kira face off against Terrorsaurus again as Connor reunites with them and they draw him back a little. Back at the Dino Lab, Tommy contributes the last of his power to the shield before regrouping with the other rangers and giving him the Shield to finally use against the monster.  After Connor asks Kira and Ethan if they trust him, they say they do as they contribute their powers to the shield and Connor quickly transforms into the Triassic Ranger.....NICE! :)  Like I said, the Triassic Ranger design really nice and badass! Couldn't Toei and his production team be in charge of the Red Ranger upgrades instead the US??!! o_O Anyway, with his immense new power, Connor is able to defeat and destroy Terrorsaurus; even sending him to his own dimension for their final battle! Wow!  With the Shield of Triumph, they now have a better chance of facing off against the White Ranger. All and All, "Triassic Triumph" is a McGuffin episode but it's an exciting and immensely entertaining one at that.  The sub-ploy is so forgettable tho that you wonder what the writers were thinking as the episode only lags when that is brought to the forefront. Snore!

Final Morph: A-