Season 12, Episode 23: A Star Is Torn

"A Star Is Torn"
Episode 23
Air Episode: July 24th, 2004

Now I understand this episode and the message behind it once again...but...I honestly feel like this wasn't a lesson that Kira needed to learn quite frankly. O_o Just think back to this season's sixth episode, "Diva In Distress", was rather repulsed and out putted by her friend becoming some popstar who was more fake than someone worth listening too.  So...it doesn't make sense to me that Kira would just give in to some music producer's idea of what she should look like and what her music should sound like just because Connor and the others are too preoccupied with serious mission this episode.  Kira just seemed more self assured and confident than that by knowingly not giving up her sense of identity is all I'm saying.  In the end, it's only Tommy and the others who make her realize that her whole pop persona that the producer is making more her goes against who she is and she finally finds the strength to be herself again by performing her own song in front a crowd during a concert at the end.  A character centered episode is suppose to either: further develop the character throughout their personal arc or advance the season's overall arc because of the character's own arc being entwined with it....or both! Just lackluster considering Kira doesn't need this sudden re-evaluation of who she is because she wants to be successful, that's all.  Rant over.  Moving on...

The main plot like I said is Ethan and Connor retrieving a special device from Anton Mercer's company as Connor trains on using some new zord that he must operate that will be powered by the Triassic Ranger/Shield of Triumph during a simulation Hayley creates for him.  Meanwhile, Mesagog finds out about the rangers' latest exploits thanks to Elsa snooping and finding out from Hayley's computer....somehow....guess she's been spying on them and such??? O_o  Anyway, when the Tyrannodrones fail to stop Ethan and Connor during an impressive fight sequence, Zeltrax unleashing his Aerial Assault Vehicle again to lure out the rangers and kill Tommy in particular....what a surprise! -_- Luckily, after Kira comes to her sense after some creepy little girls want her autograph and the others tell her he new look and musical style "just isn't you!", the three teens morph as they head out to fight Zeltrax, who also releases some caterpillar zord that is too much for even the Thundersaurus Megazord, leading them to abandon it.  Tommy soon joins them and decides to take on Zletrax in his Assault Vehicle while Ethan and Kira give their powers to Connor to summon the Triassic Ranger.  Really sucks how they are forced to demoprh everytime but the Triassic Ranger design is so sweet, I don't mind seeing it again.  As Zeltrax attacks Connor, their new weapon is finally ready to be unleashed as Hayley introduces Connor to the Mezodon Rover aka A Dinosaur chariot zord!!! Nice!!! :P  At this point, don't even question it as Connor is able to destroy the caterpillar thing with it.  Meanwhile, Tommy and Zletrax engage in their last battle as Tommy apologizes to ole Smitty and strikes the final blow that destroys his ship.  While the others free he died, Tommy soon reveals he made it out and that Zletrax is gone....for the moment at least....

Also, in this episode, Ethan and Cassidy unknowingly go on a blind date with each other after meeting on an online dating site.  The funny thing is, I saw this twist coming a mile away with Cassidy being all dumb and secretive about her computer use and Ethan being so concerned with ironically trying to find a girl with "substance". I'm just shocked this show got away with Ethan saying "Boy Toy"! Wow! O_O All and All, "A Star Is Torn" is a character arc episode that feels flimsy as the main plot with Kira feels superfluous to the rest of the episode's B plot.  It basically tells us what we already know about her and who she is; becoming a  mostly patronizing half hour of television for a kid's show. O_o

Final Morph: C+