Season 18, Episode 6: Sticks & Stones

 

"Sticks & Stones"

Episode 6

Air Episode: February 27th, 2011

Ummmm ok, I guess I'm suppose to review this but honestly, I'm finding it hard to talk about these episodes because even the moral lessons are becoming so half a$$ed and superficial! O_O I mean, "Sticks & Stones" had some potential at first considering we have a monster of the week who literally attacks people with insults that hurt them physically.  Honestly, I found the whole thing hysterical at first as Negatron went around randomly insulting people who end up flying away or hurt in some form.  Not only were some of his lines actually funny but it actually presented a real threat for our rangers when it came to their flaws as people or secrets being revealed that would cause friction in the team......  Yet....sigh....we get an episode dedicated to Emily being so fearsome against the monster because she can take insults.  Of course....oh boy....there's a backstory on why when everyone is so astonished by her ability to do so.  Apparently, Emily's old sister before she was sick taught her how to take bullying as those words can't hurt her, blah, blah, blah.  I just....I can't get into these characters when these stories feel so forced and poorly written excuses as character development.  I mean I guess we're suppose to feel so bad for Emily cause she was teased so much as a kid and impressed by how strong she is because she learned to cope with bullying but it just doesn't work and I don't understand how kids would even been persuade by such a horrible lesson.

Also, there's this bond between Mike and Emily that the writers try to establish, first when he gets hurt during training and Emily is so clumsy that she reveals she's always messing things up while later Mike accidentally reminds her that those words indeed hurt; leading him to have to go apologize for her.  This show is just painfully straight forward and considering these guys are suppose to be teenagers, they certainly don't act like it.  I know it's a kids show and Emily is suppose to be the most innocent of the group but he dialogue once again feels like a 6 year old speaking.  Not to mention, her ability to withstand Negatron isn't really an obstacle for her to overcome and face since she can already withstand him so......!!!??  Why not have the Emily show the other rangers how to face the things she's insecure about like they did, showing that even tho she's the youngest and wasn't meant to be a ranger originally, that she brings something new and resourceful to the team??? Even I could have written a better script. Oy!

The episode from there pretty much plays out as you'd expect, rangers finish off monster, monster grows, they summon their zords, form the megazord, this time forming the Beetle Blast Megazord and finish him off permanently.  Apparently, withstanding all those insults really tired Emily out and needing Mike to carry her home after the battle.  Awwww that's nice...only for them to run for some ice cream and Emily to be completely fine so.....ewwwwww!!! Bulk and Spike are also in the episode as usual......  "Sticks & Stones" is a waste of a potential strong tale of overcoming bullying through the rangers having to deal with a monster that not only effects them physically but personally...but typical for this show so far, they strip the story of any real morality to be learned or development in favor of being as basic for the kids as possible.  Oy, Part 2!!! -_-

Final Morph: F