Season 13, Episode 11: Shadow, Part 1

"Shadow, Part 1"
Episode 11
Air Episode: April 16th, 2005

Well after a not so enjoyable filler overall, we get some needed plot movement with yet another two parter, this time centered around the rangers' own mentor and chief, Commander Cruger!!! Wow!! Who would have thought we'd get an extensive mentor backstory already but I'm all for it as Cruger has seemed to be this all knowing, wise and diplomatic head of S.P.D. but soon we realize it wasn't always that way. In a vivid and chaotic opening dream where Cruger is in the middle of a horrific battle between Emperor Grumm's forces, as well as a freakish looking monster leading his army, Cruger wakes and ominously looks at a sword (very cool looking by the way! :) mounted on the wall as Kat comes by his side to check on him.  Apparently, he has had this dream many times before...hmmmmmm..... Meanwhile, B-Squad is doing their thing with Jack and Syd fighting off (more like hilariously struggling! Jesus! O_o) against yet another Orange Head  while the others deal with an enormous monster sent by Grumm to attack the city.  Luckily while Syd heads off to aid them, Jack manages to finally one up the Orange Head and destroy him just as the others capture the monster; defeating Grumm's latest efforts.  While Grumm and Mora humorously get into it because of her overly sensitive monsters literally crying while being captured, the rangers laugh about the whole thing when suddenly Cruger comes out of no where to insult and intimidate the rangers for simply goofing off harmlessly at Command Center.  I really like how intense and uncomfortable this scene is, given some more conflict as Jack nobly stands up to Cruger for insulting his team but Cruger just chastises him and sends them to their rooms.  Jesus, even Cruger stops Kat from saying a word.

It's nice to see this two parter will be taking things more seriously than the season has so far, especially when Kat confronts the rangers to tell them why Cruger was acting so cruel and rash.  Apparently, his home planet was viciously attacked by Grumm....which is all they must know....for the moment.  Meanwhile, Piggy wins some random lottery after being threatened by Broodwing to give him his debt back and Grumm decides to take on human form to get close to Cruger in hopes of using Mora's latest plan of "removing the leader"!!! Yeah, cause that always works out well, right Divatox?! :P Seriously tho, Grumm plans to take out Cruger as a means to defeating the rangers once and for all; leading to the return of one of his finest generals. General Benaag, the hideous monster we saw leading Grumm's army in Cruger's nightmare, arrives and confronts the rangers when they ask Piggy questions about a strange reading in the city.  After giving them his message and playing it for Cruger at S.P.D., an angered Cruger sends the rangers away despite them wanting to stop him. We get another intense scene with some pretty solid acting between Cruger and Kat as she defends the rangers and berates Cruger for not taking action to help them.  She gives him something in a small case but Cruger immediately dismisses it and sends her off for insubordination.

Meanwhile, Grumm continues to stalk and walk around the city...making plants die as he passes by them...ok??? He's soooo evil??! o_o Anyway, after Cruger stops the rangers, especially Skye from taking out a large spike lodge into the city, he once again orders the rangers away until Boom arrives to mention Kat has been missing for a while and isn't responding to her communicator. R.I.C. immediately tracks her down and after a very awesome fight with some Krybots, R.I.C. finishes them off before they can take her away.  Unfortnately, General Beenag appears to attack while Kat dramatically yells for R.I.C. to STOOOOPPPPP!!! Ending Part 1! Overall, lots of plot building and set here; boosted by some tense and nice scenes.  Grumm is becoming more proactive for once and we're seeing a more vulnerable, imperfect side to the rangers' mentor.  Really great stuff so far! :)

Final Morph: B+