Season 13, Episode 12: Shadow, Part 2

"Shadow, Part 2"
Episode 12
Air Episode: April 23rd, 2005

Well of course we get a 6th ranger introduction!!! Tho I believe we've never had a mentor ranger outside Tommy last season right??! O_O Been watching so much Power Rangers in the past 2 years or so and things are already starting to blur together! Anyway! Part 2 as you would expect builds on the foundation of Part 1 by continuing to explore Doggy Cruger and his personal vendetta against General Benaag.  I forgot to mention last episode that Cruger told the rangers during his story that he was the sole survivor of his home world....which would be beyond devastating to anyone honestly, so you are more empathetic to his aggressive disposition all of a sudden toward everyone around him at S.P.D.  With Kat's life at risk, Doggy orders Boom to find out how dangerous the spikes are in the city when Kat would usually do the diagnostic on something like that.  When the rangers join together to stand up to Cruger's demanding behavior, he finally gives into Kat's advice and tells him about the part of the story he left out about the attack on his home planet.  Turns out when S.P.D. first formed and he led the resistance against Grumm, his wife, Isinia was taken by Benaag; never seeing her again since. Jesus Cruger needs more than an intervention here! More like a long vacation and intense therapy to cope with all this?!! O_o My word!

Anyway, it turns out General Benaag has captured Kat and is holding her hostage in exchange for Cruger confronting him one last time so he can destroy him once and for all.  Back at S.P.D., a damaged R.I.C. returns to the shock of Cruger, Boom and the rangers as Benaag has sent another message to Cruger; ordering him to come alone to his coordinates (of course!) or Kat will be killed....aka destroyed cause of the children! :P Awww Grumm even appears during the message to gloat about defeating them and Cruger's destroyed planet....how nice! O_O While Cruger angrily sends out the rangers to stop the 7th spike dug into the city, Cruger prepares for his first time out on the field since Grumm destroyed his planet; even managing to take that badass sword with him in a nice shot of him looking at it in front of the S.P.D. Dog insignia! nice! :) Meanwhile, as the rangers confront the spike, the General's giant robot appears again to battle the rangers.  Cruger does his "I'm a Boss!" walk to where Benaag is holding Kat and shouts for him that he has arrived alone as well as wanting him to show himself.  Benaag finally shows himself and tells him if he wants Kat, he has to first defeat 100 Krybots before facing off with him....not to mention, he's planted a bomb that will explode in less than 20 mins.  Needless to say, the odds are pretty stack up against old Dog face but luckily, he brought Kat's mysterious gift with him from last episode....what!? A New Delta Morpher!!! Oh boy!!! Here we go! Cruger morphs and becomes the Shadow Ranger.........ok.....The snout disappearing when the helmet appears...how....why??? I mean, this is about to be an epic fight sequence but I truly do get the jarring nature of a dog alien's long nose being jammed inside a ranger helmet like that...and this IS Power Rangers I tell you! O_o

Despite that glaring nonsense, like I said, the following brawl between the Shadow Ranger and the 100 Krybots is just awesome beyond words.  Not only does the Shadow Ranger suit look so well in action but Doggy really shows just how much of a veteran fighter he is as he isn't rusty at all; being able to destroy all 100 Krybots in a matter of minutes! Damnnnn much?? :)  Just goes to show, those 6th Ranger introductions are still exciting when presented on this show, which is saying a lot considering how far into the show the franchise was at this point.  Soon Cruger faces off with Benaag, who is truly a match for him despite Cruger defeating an army of Krybots.  Just goes to show, the boss battle is always harder than the foot soldiers, am I right?! :P  The rangers aren't doing well either as Benaag's robot continues to pummel the rangers while Cruger struggles against his old rival.  Luckily, Cruger finds the strength to get up from a tough beating and fend off Benaag; even using one of his blasts to save Kat from her prison and bomb attached to her.  Geeze! Give this ranger a spin-off show! O_O Also, there's this weird cutaway to the rangers yelling at the camera out of their suits...because AHHHHHHHH!!! lol Before they find their own strength to destroy Benaag's robot for good.  As Cruger finishes off Benaag, the rangers soon arrive to the amazement of their mentor's new ranger calling as Benaag is captured but for some reason, he isn't innocent of the crimes he committed during the attack on Cruger's planet.  Hmmmm...??? o_O After whisking away Kat in his arms, the rangers cheer on their mentor while Grumm....is having some kind of bipolar episode as he tries to talk himself out of another defeat from the rangers.  Seriously dude, just go have some tea with Mora and calm done! Yikes! I guess I could mention the tacked on ending with the rangers, Cruger and Kat having lunch at Piggy's restaurant to celebrate...yet being surprised he served them that disgusting liquid just makes me scratch my head! O_o  What did they expect?? Especially calling his place a dump several times last episode and Piggy being proud of it! -_-  Anyway, "Part 2" was a superbly written quota on this little arc of building up Doggy's return to the ranks as he becomes the Shadow Ranger.  Great action, tense scenes, badassary, etc.  What's not to love? :)

Final Morph: A