Season 19, Episode 16: Fight Fire With Fire

"Fight Fire With Fire"

Episode 16

Air Date: November 10th, 2012

Hmmmm...I really shouldn't like this episode as much as I do but it's only real episode to feel authentically eventful by moving the story forward, not to mention finally revealing that damn secret he's been hiding since last season.  It's funny because the writers made us so worked up over it by making it such a vital (if not only part) of Jayden's character with any relevance! Yes, he's stoic and the rangers blindingly follow him because he's the leader and apparently is the one with the only sealing symbol power to trap Xandred in the Netherworld for good....or at least we thought! I immediately love Lauren...why??? Because not only is it amazing and refreshing to have a female Red Ranger on a core team (A Squad Red withstanding) but Kimberly Crossman is already caring her role with so much vulnerability and grace than the entire cast combined! Her backstory is not only tragic as she had to be sent away and hidden because of her immense importance in defeating the Nighlok once and for all but you feel so sorry for her having to be thrown into this already established team as her reveal causes some necessary commotion within the ranks of the team.

But with Lauren's arrival...there are A LOT of questions and dumb responses to her importance in the overall goal of sealing Xandred for good. So 1) Jayden's secret was not even terribly or warped as Dekker put it! He is still a Samurai Ranger but since he isn't the true leader, he's the liar???  I mean isn't that why he was blasted away in "Sticks & Stones"??? It was a responsibility put on him to protect the real identity of the leader of the Shiba Clan to help save the world and it is a good thing so huh.  2) So Jayden has to leave automatically because Lauren is here now....ummm what!? Even their Mentor knows he doesn't HAVE to leave but lives it up to Jayden and he does!??? What!?  Lauren may have a more important role in defeating their enemies for good but Jayden has been there since the beginning leading the team, just keep him as leader and have Lauren master her symbol sealing power cause HELLO! 7 rangers is better than 6!  Yeah, the rangers are upset but boy is Jayden leaving a constant flaw in his character more than anything great! O_O  He left last season for the possibility of getting his team destroyed because of them devoting themselves to protecting him....when he knew he wasn't even the chosen sealer???  As a matter of fact, why was this even hidden from the other rangers!!?? -_-  I would think this would have been a moment of Mentor and Jayden telling the other rangers in need of preparing him of such a major change like this but it just shows how stupid they are as well as this secret in general was.

And the funny thing is, Jayden excuses is the rangers being too attached to him and him staying would distract them from following their true leader.  But it's not even the end of the episode that the rangers are whining and missing Jayden at Lauren's expense when she is just trying her best to fit in! It's because he left that his fears happened and...I just....are kidding me!??? I would talk about Fiera as well as Dayu and Octoroo taking charge by planning to destroy Jayden but it's all set up for a reveal that while brings in a wonderful new character with great possibilities , the writing for the rangers, especially Jayden smells of little to no brain cells involved.  Mentor is terrible for not telling them and hiding it from the rangers cause now look how they are handling it when it's already dividing them instead of making them stronger that that Lauren IS here.  But I'll give the show merit for Lauren! That's the only reason to thoroughly enjoy this one if you don't think about how horribly conceived the story around her is.

Final Morph: A-