Season 13, Episode 26: S.W.A.T., Part 1

"S.W.A.T., Part 1"
Episode 26
Air Date: August 15th, 2005

Well after a pretty awesome two parter, we get yet ANOTHER two part episode story that sees the rangers having to work their way to earning a mysterious new mode called "S.W.A.T. Mode" in order to further their success in defeating Emperor Grumm.  Meanwhile, our heroes are...continuing to bicker non-stop as Kat even reminds Cruger in a pretty hilarious scene that they're 5 teenagers stuck in tight quarters while having to save the world....the fact that they aren't worse is honestly a surprise! Lol  Though, I wished we had gotten more bickering scenes between the rangers for a couple of episodes leading to this but then I would just be asking for too much.  I mean there was that whole episode where they each told a fake story about the other rangers loving them and wanting to follow his or her lead..while Bridge has trouble counting!!! O_O Anyway,  Grumm forces Piggy to put his next plan into action by Piggy finally becoming EVIL when he runs into two criminals at his cafe, Stench and Thresher, just as Z and Kat need a spare quantum enhancer from him.  The criminals catch on to Piggy's plan and use the enchancer to break into SPD hardware to steal the blueprints for S.W.A.T. Mode while Thresher distracts the rangers while Stench breaks into the Command Center of the Academy through the internet....of course! O_o  Unfortunately, Kat and Cruger are unable to stop Stench as he upgrades and using S.P.D.'s latest tech to fight the rangers and free his brother.  Turns out this S.W.A.T. Mode armor is incredibly powerful as it's able to beat the core 5 rangers (while the Omega Ranger just...disappears offscreen for some reason!? huh??? -_-) and hold itself against Jack's Battilzer.

But before Jack can finish them off, they escape as the rangers return back to SPD Headquarters.  During the fight, Cruger once again saw the rangers bickering and it was extremely upset with how they handled themselves during their latest mission.  Even after Kat shows the rangers their new S.W.A.T. Mode, Cruger believes they are not even close to being ready for such power and sends them off to a distant planet to meet an old friend of his. After some more childish bantering between the immature heroes, they crash land onto the planet and head out on foot.  This old friend turns out to be Commander Silverback....An Ape human Drill Sergeant that introduces himself by...firing at the rangers...HUH??? o_O  Ok let's just throw our B Squad into harms way without further instructions or cause for such measures but anyway!  Silverback....yeah, he looks utterly ridiculous (I guess they used all the good make up and prosthetics on Cruger??? O_O)  Meanwhile, back on Earth, Stench finds Thresher his wrist activator to dawn his own armor against the rangers.

After chastising the rangers for a bit and forcing Jack to do 60 push-ups thanks to his smug arrogance, Silverback lets the rangers battle an army of Krybots to...I guess test their skills as rangers??? I mean my goodness, these tactis are beyond extreme but whatever!  The rangers can't stop bickering again and are beaten before a HUGE and disgusting monster approaches them.  The rangers morph and prepare for battl just as Part 1 concludes....So far, a pretty great start despite some glaring issues I had with it. :)

Final Morph: B