Season 13, Episode 21: Messenger, Part 1

"Messenger, Part 1"
Episode 21
Air Date: July 10th, 2005

So here we have yet another two parter that from the get go raises the stakes the highest they've ever been when Boom's latest creation (as dumb as it looks! O_o) apparently has received a message from space from the future; specifically July 11th, 2040 where a rebel is calling out for reinforcements on the 15th anniversary of the Troobian Empire conquering Earth.  Of course with this very devastating and shocking news, Kruger can't take any risks with that message NOT being true as the rangers ready themselves for a potential epic battle with Grumm to stop that future from happening.  Tho, one wonders why some of the rangers are skeptical of time travel given...ummm....past ranger teams and the fact they protect a world where aliens co-exist with humans but whatever! Doubt for the sake of conflict I suppose! O_o Anyway, Morgana is busy owning a duo of Orange Heads on Grumm's ship when finishes them off and tells Grumm that she's come up with the ultimate plan to destroy the rangers and conquer this galaxy once and for all.  As villains always do! :P

But it turns out Morgana's plan is pretty unexpected and the rangers are completely caught off guard by the introduction of two powerful villains, one named....sigh...Shorty -_- and his big brother, Devastation! Ok, so one brother gets a dumb name and the other gets a badass named???! O_O Only on this show I tell you.  Anyway, after a random fight against Z in the woods (thou one wonders what Z was doing there given the potential world ending threat looming over them considering Boom's message receiver! O_o) Morgana joins up with Shorty who is battling the rangers and easily outmatching.  Luckily, when Z arrives, the 5 rangers manage to fight off the two to a stand still until Devastation is signaled to come to Earth in the most ridiculous manner possible cause SENTAI/POWER RANGERS!!!  I have to say the following sequence of events is beyond awesome from Morgana in her own robot as the rangers face off against her as an enormous machine in the middle of the city is being signaled to destroy Earth while Cruger confronts Shorty (ehw!) on the roof nearby to stop him from call his brother....aka the one with the MUCH cooler name! O_o Morganag manges to know the rangers out of their zords as they demorph but the rangers simply morph again by regrouping with the Shadow Ranger and taking them both on.  But just as the rangers judge both monsters and are ready to capture them, like I said, cooler named brother aka Devastation comes in forth in a pretty awesome arrival scene after Morgana manages to signal him to come to Earth.  Jesus, that fast tho!!? O_O Anyway, Devastation actually isn't just all intimidating in name as he is able to knock back all 6 rangers by just waving his very large blade at them.  DAMN! Clearly he truly is the worst criminal currently in the universe for sure!

But even after being forced to regroup and assess the situation, the rangers STILL aren't able to handle themselves against the trio as their final plan begins.  Shorty manages to beat down the rangers enough to force them to finish them off with their K9 Cannon..but it just makes him apparently more powerful and able to grow on his own (Oh and what has been the monster growing method this season anyway!!!? I  just realized I haven't been keeping track! lol) Anyway, even as Shorty begins destroying the city, the rangers are helpless to look on as the Delta Runners are still being repaired after their fight with Morgana's robot.  As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Morgana and Devastation return to Grumm's Ship as he gleefully prepares for the final takeover of Earth; ending Part 1.  So far, I'm extremely invested in this story and I am looking forward to what Part 2 brings with it as a conclusion to a great set-up! :)

Final Morph: B+