Season 12, Episode 36: A Test of Trust

"A Test of Trust"
Episode 36
Air Date: November 6th, 2004

Well, this feels like a real traditional penultimate episode of the show, especially with the usual technique of using various flashbacks throughout the season to show not only how far our heroes have come but how they have grown immensely a individual.  As you know, last episode ended with Trent's secret being revealed and now Tommy is ready to take away his morpher so he can kick him off the team.  Honestly, like I said before, the idea of a ranger betrayal leading to one of them being kicked off a team has never really been explored on Power Rangers or even Sentai for that matter.  The twist of that would be brilliant if written well enough and would make for a refreshing change of pace for the typical story arc for both franchises! God knows, Sentai in particular at this point could use some really creative and innovative ideas considering they are currently going on their 4th...yes...4TH Sentai season with the beyond tired Dinosaur motif even with the medieval Knights twist to it this time. -_- Anyway, while Connor, Ethan and Kira reevaluate their trust in Trent, Mesagog is busy torturing Elsa as soon as he sees her as he knows it was her who tried to betray him.  Gotta Mesagog and how smart of a villain he is!  Lothor would have just laughed it off after finding out who betrayed him and do nothing about it! Luckily, Mesagog spares her as he has found a solution to his duality problem as two Tyrannodrones had him an test tube with a fluid he drinks that finally separates both him and Anton Mercer from the same body.  As Mesagog tells the Tyrannodrones to dispose of the worthless creature (damn! O_O), the three teens continue to go down memory lane as they all remember how much they have changed throughout the year as rangers and people do to their immense calling to save the world.

Like I said, it's a clip show lead-in to the finale and it's even funnier when they show a clip from "Legacy of Power" which is also a clip show episode.  Lol, Clip-ception!!! O_O  Anyway, as Connor reminds them that Trent almost destroyed Tommy by trapping him in ember, Trent arrives with Tommy to finally plead his case and Trent actually does a great job of seeing things from his perspective. While we look back at Trent's journey throughout the season, he makes a very bold statement about being forced into all this but still taking on the responsibility of being a Power Ranger do to all the terrible things he did as the rangers' enemy as well as following his dad's orders of helping them.  Of course, it's still hard for them to trust him, especially Connor but Trent reminds them it's his dad and how hard it's been for him, which is completely understandable.  Meanwhile, Mesagog unleashes his strongest monster yet against the rangers...called...Ugly Monster....o_o........I just.....-_-....  As the monster begins attacking the city, the rangers make a quick call of trusting Trent to fight with them as they need his help defeating the monster even if Connor isn't sure he trusts him again just yet.  The battle between the five rangers and the monster is fierce with even Connor's Triassic Ranger form not being powerful enough to stop him.  When the monster goes for the final blow, Trent miraculously saves him in a badass moment where he proves his undying loyalty apparently to his fellow teammates.  Tho, I mean come on, Trent wouldn't let Connor die guys! I know he messed up but he's still a good person and only human! :P Anyway, the fight concludes with the three megazords being summoned when Ugly (eehhh!) grows and Trent sends the final blow from the Dino Stegazord to finish him off for good.

The episode ends, of course, with everyone on the team trusting Trent again but I love how Connor mentions that when they go up against Mesagog, Trent can't hold back, even if it's he's father.  Trent agrees as they must do whatever it takes to stop Mesagog, no matter what as the final 2 episodes are upon us.  "A Test of Trust" once again uses an old trope of the show by using flashbacks throughout the penultimate episode to move the story directly in the finale but also finding moments of immense character development to make our heroes stand out more by showing how far they have come.  The temporary betrayal of Trent is handled well enough, if only the writers drew it out a bit more to up the intensity of the coming final battle.  Would have also liked to have seen Trent defend himself while the rangers remind him how many times they thought he was reformed but he betrayed them anyway! Anyway, I'm just glad we saw how resilient Trent is despite the overwhelming animosity against him in this episode as we see just how far he has come in particular from being so passive toward his father's treatment of him to being able to stand up to his fellow rangers and prove himself effortlessly in the face of danger.  Not a bad episode before the wrap up of the season! :)

Final Morph: B+