Season 12, Episode 31: Thunder Storm, Part 1

"Thunder Storm, Part 1"
Episode 31
Air Date: October 2nd, 2004

Well, it's time to have some fun this season again and focus on a yearly tradition that was unfortunately missing last season thanks to big switch to Saban to Disney running the show as well as moving to filming from LA all the way to New Zealand.  Honestly, it would have been nice to have gotten a Wild Force/Ninja Storm team-up; especially givin' the fact that Jindrax and Toxica are still around roaming the Earth, doing God know's what!!! O_O Anyway, the episode opens up with some construction workers wrapping up some work on a site when the ground suddenly opens and dear Holy God, it's...it's....Nacho Libra!!! O_O Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Naw, I'm just kidding! It's actually much worse than anything you could possibly image as Lothor is back from the Abyss of Evil......give me a moment :)......*Painfully agonizing screams heard even in the depths of space*..... Meanwhile, back in Reefside, while Kira and Trent are busy studying at Hayley's Cyberspace, Kira notices Blake when he arrives with a friend.  While she wonders why he is so familiar to her, Trent just tells her to go up and talk to him.  Kira eventually does as she can't keep her eyes off him and introduces herself to him.  Turns off, Blake is a big motorcross superstar now and is here for a major tournament in Reefside that he gives Kira tickets to invite her friends as well.  OF course, there's some flirtation from Kira that Trent can't help but notice! Lol....smooth Kira....real smooth! O_O  Back at the Dino Lab, Hayley's computer have been monitoring a powerful wave of "dark energy" throughout California as she tells Tommy it could be a glitch but if not, they are in for some serious trouble.

Meanwhile, back in Blue Bay Harbor, we see a new class of Wind Ninjas training in the woods as they are encountered by their 3 Sensei's: Shane, Tori and Dustin.  It's a truly remarkable sequence seeing how full circle these three have come since last season; able to easily outfight their student with their veteran ninja training and individual ninja powers with truly impressive stunt choreography taken right from last season! Awesome! :) After beating their students terribly to Shane's seriousness and Dustin's usual charming wit, they tell their students what they learned and how much more they need to take their ninja training seriously before dismissing them.  The three then head over to meet Sensei Wantonabe before finding a scroll hung up on a tree telling them he wants them to meet them by the cliffs at sunset.  That afternoon, NOT sunset, the three Sensei's meet their Sensei who quickly tells them Lothor has escaped the Abyss of Evil to their disbelief and they mist once again take on the mantle of the Wind Power Rangers to stop him as he summons a new case of morphers for them.  Toooooo bad it turns out to be a melicaious trick as when they activate their new powers, they turn evil as Sensei transforms into Lothor! Yup, our former heroes are working for him now as it soon reveals Lothor captured their Sensei to plan this trap.  All things considered, Lothor is doing more genuine, productive evil here than ALL of last season....let that just sink in for a minute! O_o  While we briefly catch up with Cam as well as Marah and Kapri at the Wind Ninja Academy, we quickly transition to the motorcross tournament where Cassidy and Devin are unable to enter even tho they are press while Connor, Ethan and Kira watch Blake win the motorcross tournament.

Back at the Ninja school, Lothor arrives with two monsters, apparently friends he made at the bottom of the Abyss (Awww how nice! :) before summoning the Wind Rangers to morph and capture the students for him.  After the monsters and three rangers beat them all, Lothor captures them all in a bottle while only Marah and Kapri remain...what a shock! -_-  Of course, he gives them one last chance or he'll destroy them as they convert to his side again to survive....which is the smartest thing they have done too.....whoa! O_o Anyway, back at the Dino Lab, Hayley once again warns Tommy of the powerful waves of dark energy, especially in Blue Bay Harbor.  Tommy of course becomes very worried as that city is home to the Wind Ninja Academy but Hayley lost contact with Cam once the rangers lost their powers to Lothor.  Meaning trouble is afoot as Tommy tells her to get back in contact with him asap! O_o  Unfortunately,  Cam discovers Lothor is back as well and returns to the school too late to stop him attack.  He quickly contacts Hunter, who he meets in Reefside as they have been keeping in touch in case Lothor ever showed up again! Very intelligent hindsight there guys! Kudos! Back at the tournament, Blake catches up with Kira and her friends before being summoned by Cam.  Soon the Dino Rangers are summoned themselves as they bare witness to the evil Wind Rangers leading Lothor's army through the city.  Gotta love everyone's shock of evil Power Rangers, especially Kira, when Trent was once an evil ranger and tried to kill you guys like 15 episodes ago but whatever! O_o The heck???  Soon Tommy sends the lead trio out there to stop them while he and Hayley monitor the city and Trent stays behind encase Mesagog thinks to get involve; making him a target....ok??? O_o  Anyway, the Dinos morph and confront the Wind Rangers and I got to say, this team-up is already something far more special than previous in that it's so awesome seeing two sets of ranger teams fighting each first for a change.  Of course, The Wind Rangers are too strong and outfight the Dino Rangers easily (No kidding considering their highly experience ninjas with elemental powers on top of their new evil ranger powers! O_O), forcing them into retreat as the three gloat and laugh at them as they leave. Also, Cam, Hunter and Blake were watching the fight.

While Tommy tries to motivate the rangers after their harsh defeat, Mesagog and Elsa also discover Lothor's return thanks to the Kelzacks being back as well.  After making fun of him, Elsa goes off to track Lothor down as Mesagog wants to join forces with them as a way to strengthen his odds against the rangers.  Meanwhile, Lothor and his forces have set up shop in a cave.....yeah....and plans to take a long nap before furthering his plans. Ahhhhhh there's the laziness, anything BUT imtimidating Lothor we know and love.  Elsa soon arrives to give Lothor a message; ending the episode on a pretty nice cliffhanger.  So far, an excellent first half of a two part return of the annual team up episodes. :)

Final Morph: A