Season 16, Episode 13: Ghost of A Chance, Part 1

 

"Ghost of A Chance, Part 1"

Episode 13

Air Date: May 8th, 2008 (Jetix)/May 19th, 2008 (TV)

Well, we have now a two parter looking not only to advance the ongoing story of the season but like most seasons, send a team of rangers on a dangerous journey to save the day from the main baddie's latest plot that has cost them the most lost yet.  Like with "A Samurai's Journey" or "Dark Wish", the episode puts in place a lesson for the rangers to learn by the end of the multiparter as the Kung Fu trio is getting a little too overconfident in their heroism after defeating Camille's latest  monster, Mog, aka a frog monster they destroy in a pretty standard battle.  All of sudden the three think they are ready to become Masters themselves and even I'm surprised RJ wasn't harder on them for suggesting such things.  I mean no wonder they are have become cocky!!! Sure they've been victorious but Dai Shi is still out there, not to mention, Jellica sooooo huh??? O_o Of course, RJ is set on humbling the team back to normal by training them back to basics while Carnisoar returns out of no where (so where has been doing this whole time??? O_o) to bring back to life alongside Jellica, the Shadow Guard; his most powerful warriors who served him thousands of years ago...apparently stuck behind Dai Shi's throne the whole time.  Huh! O_o  Basically, it's time for Dai Shi to destroy the rangers by showing how more powerful he's training has made him and considering what he does to the rangers....yeah, I'd say he's improved immensely.

The fight between Dai Shi and the rangers is definitely a highlight, able to easily outfight and outmaneuver them despite their various weapons and individual fighting styles aka just blasting them away so hard that they demorph right in front of him.  But before Dai Shi can finish them off, RJ, who was monitoring the fight, jumps in and attacks Dai Shi to protect them.  Dai Shi then gets the idea to spare the rangers if RJ comes with him and he does to the rangers' shock.  Uhhh ohhh! o_o  After barely being able to talk to  Fran after RJ's kidnapping, the three remember that RJ told them that "They know what to do" and they get the idea that RJ meant head back to the chamber where Dai Shi was freed.  "Yeah, let's go back to where we saw first master die and an unspeakable evil was poorly contained and set free easily because they couldn't put a damn lock on the chest holding him!" -_-  Meanwhile, back at Dai Shi's palace, after presenting RJ to the Overloads, Camille puts him in a cell to await a fight between him and Dai Shi as he prepares to destroy the Pai Zhuq master in front of his masters to show him his gratitude for their mentoring him.  I love how RJ is so laid back about the whole thing, especially just sitting in his cell comfortably knowing that the rangers will find a way to save him as well as defeat Dai Shi. Ha! RJ is such a fun and refreshing character as his actor does a fine job of making him this snarky, easy going character but also maintaining a respectful integrity about him that makes him very wise and very equipped to mentor a team of rangers. Nice! :)

Back at the Order of the Claw academy, they enter the chamber where the chest is just still on the floor empty (So no one else came to this chamber after the Master was killed??? O_O) Great powerful evil released and they could have at least cleaned up! :P  Anyway, after spotting their new masters in the markings of the wall, Master Mao's spirit returns as the rangers quickly tell them they need help to save RJ and want the mysterious masters of the wall to help them do it.  Mao tells them they reside in the spirit world but he can't allow them there as there is no way of them getting back.  But with the three adamant about saving their master and saving the day, Mao reluctantly opens a powerful vortex to the spirit realm.  After heading inside of it, the rangers fall into the realm and are quickly confronted by clearly three powerful masters who have pasted on.  I have to say the fight sequences this season have been exceptional.  Like Ninja Storm was terrific with it's martial arts/ninja choreography, the kung fu action here is very well done and cinematic at times.  Seriously, that New Zealand crew must be commended for such hard, well done work despite the limit budget they have. :)  Anyway, after getting defeated by the three masters, they ominously tell the rangers they shouldn't have come there as Part 1 concludes.  Definitely a very solid first half of this two parter for sure! :)

Final Morph: A-