Season 17, Episode 1: The Road to Corinth

 

"The Road to Corinth"

Episode 1

Air Date: March 7th, 2009

So.....here we go again and possibly the series I was looking forward to re-watching the most out of all of them.  Power Rangers RPM....makes you just realize how far this franchise has come since the amateurism gimmick and borderline self parody of MMPR Season 1.  The series has evolved so much beyond "teenagers with attitude" to become various incarnations of teen characters taking on larger than life threats and having to balance that with a lot more complex, even mature issues than just dates, volunteering and peace conferences out of nowhere!  If there's ANY season that exemplifies this to an unspeakably shocking level was Disney's final season with the franchise.  Here we have a story and concept that's very familiar among viewers but on a show like Power Rangers, new show runner Eddie Guezlian uses the apocalyptic cliches of the likes of "The Terminator" and "Mad Max" to create something far more engaging and thrilling than even adult fans could imagine.  We open with a very ominous, serious narration that world leaders have lost control of a raging computer virus that soon took over all computers, devices and any form of communication.  It finally took over the world's power and created an endless army of robots to take over the world.....and succeeded 0_0....except for the domed city of Corinth where a radio signal tells many to go to find refugee during the war for humanity against Venjix ("Forever Red": Hey!!! -_-) , the name of the very virus. With the world seemingly taken over by such a seemingly unbeatable threat, the city of Corinth is the last remaining resistance against Venjix that protects the last of humanity.  Yeah.....there's really nothing else to say and just go along for the ride. What a set up!!! 0_0 Tho I must say the opening theme has NOT aged well for me.  I remember liking it back during my first watch but WOW, is it a mess!!! I think it's the initial lyrics and how music feels like it slams you in the face with the metal rock before going into a much more industrial, sci-fi edge melody that is more fitting and wish we heard more of.  Also, I wish they hid the identity of the Black Ranger for the next episode or two but whatever, why am I already looking for flaws in an episode where Colonel Truman, the leader of Corinth and it's defense tells one of his soldiers to "go shoot at something" while dozens of people fun in fear as both sides of the war fire at each other non-stop.

During all the chaos, we are introduced to our three soon to be rangers, a bus driver who arrives and gleefully throws one of the foot soldiers, later called Grinders (You know come to think of it, the sound they make is not only creepy and chilling, but almost sounds like the app notification itself! O_0)  The bus driver's name is Flynn, clearly a Scottish native who Colonel Truman chastises for how he could have made it through Venjix's army to bring these innocent people here but he just smiles and quips until the Colonel has no choice but to bring his troops and innocent civilians back inside the city.  Apparently as everyone makes it inside, the soldier asks him "What about his sons?" and tells him he knows but will give the signal to arm the the city's defenses and closes all walls to Corinth.  After waiting a few seconds, Colonel gives the order to closes the walls...just a motorcyclist and a passenger ride right under the gates in time to make it.  And we even get to see the doom has it's own fake weather system/sky like Terra Venture.  Shame we couldn't get a tie in with that season but you know....different universe and all! :P Anyway, one of the passengers turns out to be one of Colonel Truman's sons named Scott aka Eagle 2 who reports his brother/Eagle 1 "didn't make it". Colonel being father of year, pushes Scott away and dismisses him after that revelation just as the driver of the motorcycle, Summer, tends to his arm wound.  We get some more chilling dialogue about the humans left out there beyond Corinth's reach before jumping 1 year ahead to some badass drag racing throughout the desert or seemingly so given the car his driving and the inspired cinematography here! We don't get see much of the badass driver all in black because of his mask but we can hear from his radio that he clearly heading toward Corinth.  He also has one of those watches that open and plays a very child like tune.  Hmmmmmm.... Mr. Fast and Furious finally reveals himself to be brooding badass with no name but eventually he calls himself "Dillon".  He feeds a lone sunflower some water before realizing he's being watch by the Grinders near by.  But before they can capture him, Dillon leaps out of nowhere and badass cuts away to us hearing him destroying all the Grinders in a fight before tailing it out of there quickly.  That poor Grinder and it's hilarious slow death.....

Anyway, as Dillon heads closer to Corinth, he gets out the car again to check his map and gets a pole in the back.....O_O....I meant gets held up by some geeky, spastastic dude named "Ziggy".  Oh Ziggy! Oh Dillon  and Ziggy! The comic relief foil and the brooder on mission interacting has never put more of a smile on my face! AKA the dialogue is kicking serious ass and the actors are giving some incredibly believable performances.  So after Dillon doesn't need to try hard to make Ziggy look like a fool, he tells him he's going to Corinth to which Ziggy says he can help him get there since he lives in Corinth...tho one wonders what he's doing so far from the city??? Hmm! Anyway, the two decide to head their together as Ziggy helps him finally get there....BUT the only problem is if Dillon stops running the car, they won't be able to get to Corinth by nightfall when he restarts it....so Dillon decides to drive right to Corinth despite Ziggy's obvious fear of Venjix's perimeter outside the city limits...which immediately begin attacking them as they head closer to Corinth.  But don't worry, Dillon brought enough bombs apparently handle the army guarding the area while Colonel Truman is alerted by someone in the city's center base that two bio signatures are heading to Corinth through Venjix's perimeter but....one and a half of them are human??? HMMMMM! O_O  Meanwhile, we cut to Venjix's massive industrial lair/palace place where his generals are telling him about the humans driving toward Corinth and Venjix just menacing says "the need to target practice" as he prepares to fire all weapons on them....gotta give Venjix credit, he is continuing to get sh!t down even after conquering 95% of the world, Jesus!!!  O_O  When it seems like Venjix might actually succeed as his weapons prepare to fire, Dillon manages to save them again with one of his last bombs as the main gates to the city open and they make it.  Unfortunately the celebration is short lived as Venjix immediately sends his Generation 5 Attackbot to go after them into the city with the Grinders. Luckily, Colonel Truman got in contact with Doctor K as she is "sending her team in".  Suddenly the team arrives and look! It's Scott, Summer and Flynn as they prepare to morph; calling out "RPM, Get in Gear!"  Gotta say, as silly and video game that morph sequence is, I really enjoy it; especially the when the belt straps attach themselves with that wiping sound.

So while Ziggy is all excited about the Power Rangers and Dillon looks hilariously lost, I'll talk about the RPM suits.  I oddly ADORE them.  The car/racing motif works sooooo much better here than Turbo because they feel like a call for it being obvious man made powers again as opposed to some intergalactic wizard forgetting about a never ending, power increasing Zeo crystal in exchange for.....cars....-_- Here, it fits with the thematic tone of the season and yeah, I'm surprised too given the source material!!! O_O  I mean sure, they could be more military based in terms of design but given what we learn when we officially meet Dr. K, I'm all for it. Also, I just think it's cool seeing them spinning around and using the tires on their boots as weapons against the Grinder with whole "burning rubber" effect.  It's cheesy and fun in a good way! While the rangers are kicking ass, the Attackbot goes after Dillon and Ziggy, Summer immediately steps in and blasts him; leading the three to go after him. As the rangers catch up and summon their weapons, Dillon asks Ziggy about the rangers as Dillon doesn't know who they are to his shock and TITLE CARD....ummmm....didn't we get that at the beginning tho??? -_-  Honestly, "The Road to Corinth" is a tour de force accomplishment in set-up, story, writing and acting.  There is so much we know, yet so little we know that we need answers to.  The best premieres do this and this is the best premiere episode since "Force From the Future".  Incredibly promising and intensely well written. :)

Final Morph: A+