Season 16, Episode 27: Tigers Fall, Lions Rise

"Tigers Fall, Lions Rises"

Episode 27

Air Date: September 30th, 2008 (Jetix)/October 6th, 2008 (TV)

I think what makes this episode so enjoyable for me is that it has that classic Power Rangers moral tale at the head of it with Casey being a teacher for a class of young kung fu students just like how the original rangers had classes at the Youth Center as well as students they needed to mentor through difficult situations.  Here we have a kid being bullied in Casey's class and it reminds him of when he was a cub; wanting to show that Jimmy can be just as successful as he has been.  What the episode does well is having Casey not only play the mentor role but once again kinda being put into the underdog role as Dai Shi sends Whiger after him for his Tiger spirit.  While RJ luckily saves him and fights the Phantom Beast into retreat, he unfortunately was able to drain Casey of his animal spirit.  Without his spirit, Casey can't more and especially channel his animal spirit; leaving him pretty defenseless.  But like I said, I enjoy how the two stories intertwine as Casey must learn from his own mentor, RJ that his animal spirit doesn't make him but he makes his animal spirit.  Both Casey and Jimmy are put in a position where they are both fearful and seemingly powerless but at the end of the episode, they not only gain their confidence back but learn how powerful they are in their own right despite what they might think of themselves at the moment.

It was awesome seeing Casey being about to fight his way back to being able to morph again and I loved how by him telling Jimmy that he has the spirit of the animal, he is able to help the rangers in defeating Whiger.  Of course, it takes the megazords to finally destroy him but it was a great moment for both characters, making Casey trusting in Jimmy and helping him believe in himself finally without seeing himself as a loser.  Of course, Todd is your stereotypical bully and the resolution with them becoming friends at the end is cliche Power Rangers wrap up where everyone likes each other now but it worked in this story's favor more because of Todd seeing Jimmy's bravery first hand and gaining whole new respect for him whether he wanted to or not.  On the villain side of things, Dai Shi succeeds in temporarily depowering Casey; although one wonders what will happen now that Casey doesn't have his spirit in full going forward.  Also, Dai Shi wanted Whiger to destroy Casey (at least I thought so originally! O_O) but he takes his Tiger spirit himself by seemingly being more than happy with that obtaining of one of the rangers' powers.  It leads to the three finally making Dai Shi the Phantom Beast King as well as Camille a Phantom Beast General with the spirit of the Phoenix.  Gotta say their new looks are stunning designs and really give the impression that the villains once again are growing more powerful against their fight towards the rangers.

They even manage to show just how powerful all 5 are as they defeat 4 rangers sans Casey as not even Theo and Lily's Master Modes can withstand the might of the combined power they all have.  Needlessly to say, the rangers are screwed, even after managing to defeat Whiger during an intense zord battle but clearly they are still too much of a match for the rangers combined arsenal. Damn!!! So as the episode ends, the rangers are left wondering about Casey's condition with his spirit not at full and Dai Shi apparently will be after Whiger for getting defeated by the rangers.  But overall, a truly superb episode with some classic Power Rangers storytelling that feels morally right for this time in the show and plot movement that definitely excites for the final run of episodes!!! :)

Final Morph: A-