Season 13, Episode 19: Dismissed

"Dismissed"
Episode 19
Air Date: June 18th, 2005

What's awesome about this episode is we've NEVER seen a mentor relieved of their duties before and seeing how much it effects the dynamic of a team of rangers.  I'd say the only failings of the episode is the unforeseen anti-villain in Supreme Commander Birdie (First, Cruger?? Now, Birdie??? O_o Meh.  It's Power Rangers!)  I mean he just comes off like an extremely smug and overly strict stereotype than a real foil for Commander Cruger and his development as a mentor as well as the last survivor of his homeworld.  The thing with Supreme Commander (I'm not gonna call him "Birdie", I have too much dignity for that after the Doggie Cruger name this season!!! -_-) is he is sooooo one dimensional in his convictions and harsh way of directing the rangers, especially Cruger himself.  It actually makes me wonder how someone of his particular...uhhh...demeanor could become the Supreme Commander of a HUGE police organization bent of protecting Earth from threats.  He's so short tempered and needlessly insensitivity, making such an greatly evil remark about Cruger failing his planet and Grumm taking over as to justify why the B-Squad is as disappointing to him as they are....of...WHAT!!? o_O Now I know most Commanders in his presence harden their heart to be more focus and strict when it comes to leading but something like that being said to lower level Commander doesn't excuse it! -_-  And of course, Cruger is the one who is forced to resign as Birdie (DAMMIT!) takes over. Ehhhhhh!!!

So what can I can say that's the good about this episode??? O_o Well, the fact that Emperor Grumm actually got off his thrown for once and decided to take on the rangers, not to mention the Shadow Ranger on his own.  As jarring and over the top that motorcycle fight sequence, it's ALWAYS welcomed when the main villain takes on the rangers before a climatic battle at the end of the season and Grumm proves he's not all yelling orders to his army and being all crazy by himself.  Tho, watching him on a motorcycle of all vehicles while fighting the rangers is beyond silly at times.  I mean, he's an Emperor of a galactic empire and he decides to battle the rangers on a motorcycle??! O_o  I guess the writers/production team REALLY wanted to do an EPIC motorcycle fight considering these are most obvious and gratuitous Kalshplosions that have been show on this era of the show and they are laughably bigger and more chaotic than they really need to be.  I mean my goodness, the explosion looks like it's actually further away from the characters than actually right behind them....I mean...COME ON!!! -_-

Oh and I don't like the fact that after setting up the Supreme Commander as this extremely opposing new leader of the academy after dismissing Cruger (Episode TITLE! o_O) and ordering the rangers around in the most nonsensical, disrespectful way...he confronts Grumm on his own since the rangers can't apparently fight good enough for him....only to get completely and utterly embarrassed by Grumm all. throughout. their. fight! Ummmm....WHAT!? o_O So how exactly did he become such an honorable and high level Commander of an entire organization is he can't even take on Grumm??! Sure, he may not be a ranger but considering how the writers set him up and how imposing he was to Cruger who is a master fighter himself in ranger form and out....for him to get beaten so easily just so Cruger can come and save him is the worst turn of events in an already lukewarm plot.  Sure, Supreme Commander is saved by Cruger and gives him his position back.  but there was no real development on Birdie's (Damn. IT!) part.  So Cruger saves him and that's it!  Status quo back to normal??? I just....no showing Commander Birdie was wrong through making a horrible decision with the rangers??? No seeing fire hand how the B-Squad are truly impressive rangers despite a losing battle??? Not even the rangers standing up to Birdie and telling him they won't fight without their TRUE mentor??! I just...ehhh! Oh and there's also some random B plot with Z and Syd going after a monster near the beach but it's literally wrapped up so quick, that it was obviously just a need to use Sentai footage since they spent so much money on that explosion orgy of a fight sequence between Grumm and the rangers! Ehwww..  Anyway, "Dismissed" is a MISSED opportunity in character development of an episodic new character and the plot just meanders until it gets to its head scratching resolution.  Just...ehhhh!

Final Morph: C-