Season 13, Episode 33: Badge

"Badge"
Episode 33
Air Date: October 17th, 2005

After a sometimes problematic but very satisfying team up spectacle, we return to back to norm with a pretty explosive episode here.  What makes "Badge" a bit different from most episodes is that we jump right into the story as Sky is on assignment; investigating Sector 10 of the city when he's immediately attacked by a new villain named Icthior, who is apparently out to send a message to Doggie Cruger as he manages to outfight Sky so viciously unmorphed and then morphed until he powers down and is seriously injured.  As Sky is being treated in the S.P.D. infirmary, Kat tells Cruger that his badge was stolen and why someone would take it. Cruger tells her because the SPD Badge is a symbol of honor and the person who attacked him is trying to send a message.  Soon Syd and Bridge get word from Cruger to head back to the academy when Icthior suddenly attacks again.  This time both rangers morph and immediately activate their S.W.A.T. mode but Icthior once again out fights the rangers until the point where they demorph from even their S.W.A.T. mode...JESUS!!! Let him win guys!!! O_O After stealing their badges as well, we see Broodwing is behind this new villain who has some sort of backstory we don't know about yet...at the moment.  Meanwhile on Grumm's ship, Piggy had been spying on the rangers and tells Grumm of their newest threat...which Grumm says to let Broodwing go through with his plan since this gives him time to focus on more important things...hmmmmm.

Back on Earth, as Cruger looks over now three rangers in serious condition, Kat has found out the identity of their new enemy.  Turns out Icthior is an old cadet at the academy with Cruger when he lost his temper in a fight and nearly killed Cruger out of jealousy over Cruger's future wife, Isinia.  He was one of the best fighters he had ever seen with so much potential but always played dirty.  Cruger figures he's back for revenge and taking out each ranger in doing so to get it.  While Cruger stays behind since Kat knows Ichtior wants him, the Omega Ranger patrols the city as bait....unfortunately it works too well as Icthior attacks him.  Jesus, Icthior, King of Sudden Attacks much??? O_o  The Omega Ranger puts up a decent fight but even his advanced weapons and combat can't stop him.  Ha!  Of course, he defeats Sam brutally before taking his badge but the Shadow Ranger soon arrives to help.  After trading harsh remarks about the past, the two fight with Cruger managing to defeat him...but Icthior uses Isinia's old promise to him to distract him as he attacks and forces him to demorph....ohhh dear!!! O_O He mocks Cruger for being a sentimental fool before taking his S.P.D. Badge....yeah...  Meanwhile, back on Grumm's ship, Morgana is snooping around and stops to try to see inside a secret room when Grumm catches her and literally tells her "It's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"  Bahhhh! I love Grumm by the way, let me just make that clear before I wrap this season up! :) So Grumm promises Morgana he will give her whatever she wishes if he goes down to Earth and retrieves something for him while the rangers are preoccupied with Broodwing and Icthior.

Now here's my only problem with this episode, we're like 15 min in and suddenly Jack and Z appear out of no where....huh??? Where the HELL have they been all episode so far??? O_o  This was an extremely serious matter and you'd think we'd see more of them given their fellow rangers are in intensive care but they just pop up once Cruger is in the infirmary.  Of course, they're worried about Cruger and the others (I guess Sam is just floating around recovering??? Ehhhh, this character is kind of wasted potential...more on that in my over-review. -_-)  Anyway, Cruger tells Jack and Z to not go after him...with Jack proceeding to go after him while Z tries to stop but ultimately goes with him.  Jesus, don't they know by now Jack is ALWAYS gonna disobey orders when the stakes have been this high??? Of the two head to the quarry (Oh this era and the massive amount of quarry fight scenes! lol) and Icthior and Broodwing confront them with an army of Blue Heads, Orange Heads and Krybots.  Uhhh huh...still want to disobey orders Jack?? O_o Jack and Z proceed to fight but even their civilian powers can't keep up with soooo many.  They morph but still can't handle the overwhelming numbers.  Cruger of course gets word of this and wants to go after them but one of the doctors in the infirmary out ranks him and tells him to stay put.  Cruger looks like he may lay down...until the doctor leaves and he orders his rangers to come with him. Kat is stunned and tries to stop them but of course, Cruger ignores her and leads to rest of the team to battle.

While Morgana and some Krybots steal what Grumm wanted from Earth, the other rangers arrive to help Jack and Z, including Sam.  They activate S.W.A.T.mode as the 7 proceed to kick major A$$! Yess! :)  While the S.W.A.T. rangers handle the Krybots, Omega Ranger fights Broodwing and Cruger has a rematch with Icthior, this time not falling for his deception and managing to capture him...but not before Icthior mentions that Isinia is still alive and laughs at Cruger's stupidity.  WOW! Plot twist alert! O_o As all 7 rangers prepare to finish Broodwing, he summons one of his biggest robots and prepares to destroy the rangers.  Kat sends the Delta Command Megazord as both the megazord and the robot trade powerful blasts.  The Delta Command megazord manages to be MUCH stronger and destroys Broodwing's robot but old Broody escapes as usual.  As the episode with Cruger lamenting the loss of his wife and the possibility that she truly may be alive, Kat informs the rangers that while they were busy with Broodwing, Grumm made off with another large amount of mysterious substance from Earth.  Back on his ship, Grumm is pleased by Morgana's succcess and transforms her back into Mora...seriously, what is the story behind this??? It's really creepy and interesting yet the writers have been so casual about it.  Not to mention, Mora is FAAARRR more menacing and sinister than Morgana.  Anyway, the episode ends with a content Mora entering the secret room on the ship...and being horrified by what she sees...DUN, DUN, DUN! o_O Overall, a really strong episode that works on many levels: plot movement, action and stakes. :)

Final Morph: A-