Season 16, Episode 12: One Master Too Many

"One Master Too Many"

Episode 12

Air Date: May 5th, 2008

Like I said, the learning aspect of this season's thematic narrative is driving force behind my immense enjoyment of the season (so far anyway! :P) What "One Master Too Many" does the best out of this theme is by highlighting RJ as the rangers' mentor (or master rather), while also exploring his backstory a bit by bringing in his own father when Casey is adamant about getting a new master like Theo and Lily got. We see it extremely worrisome for RJ, for the first time, showing his vulnerability and insecurities with in his character.  If that was problematic enough, RJ's own father, Master Finn, arrives to help out the rangers during a monster attack and Casey immediately wants to start training him.  What I really found touching and interesting is the dynamic between RJ and his father, well played by both actors as RJ is clearly a more than capable master but his father ultimately seeing him as a disappointment by not doing things his way, especially taking on the spirit animal of the shark.  It also leads to some really excellent scenes of RJ and Casey bonding as well as Theo and Lily reassuring RJ that Casey loves him as much as they do despite his concerns of Casey being taken from him by his father when it comes to his training.  Also, the resolution felt very tense but also natural with RJ coming to the aid of his father as during his fight with Dai Shi, he shows his father how extremely capable he is with his own spirit animal aka the Wolf.  Nice!!! :)

On the villain side of things, Jellica is training Dai Shi hard; leading Camille once again to rush to his aid immediately to stop her mistreatment of it.  Of course, Dai Shi pushes himself to be more strict with her because of her continued insubordination but Camille clearly trying to show him how faithful her loyal...not to mention, obviously love is for him.  Jesus, clingy much! Then again she is chameleon......what??! :P They like sticking to things and camouflage after!!! :P  Anyway, Jellica sends out her own monster, Crustaceo, who uses a whirlwind to dig into the ocean of the city and even manages to possess their new Shark zord when they summon its spirit for the first time.  This, leads Master Finn to beliefs in being a worthy master as he didn't see it coming but the rangers reminding him that even Masters can make mistakes...which is what really sold me on the episode.  The students coming to their master's side and encouraging them when they both feel inadequate in some way; showing that sometimes the master should learn from the student as well. Great!!!

Also, this episode introduces new weapons (the Shark sabers for Casey) and once again, the Shark zord which the rangers summon to form the Jungle Pride with Shark power which of course can fight underwater to use its spinning drill attack to finish off Crustaceo at the end. Nice! :)  All and All, "One Master Too Many" does the finest job so far this season of illustrating the wonderful strengths of this series with awesome action (when RJ takes on Dai Shi unmorphed and holds his own, making Dai Shi want to train even harder since he isn't ready! WOW! O_O :), terrific scenes between the rangers and their master as well as stellar plot movement with heartfelt character development. :)

Final Morph: A+