Season 20, Episode 4: Stranger Ranger

"Stranger Ranger"

Episode 4

Air Date: February 23rd, 2013

Well, at least this episode has a moral to it that feels like one that kids should learn and doesn't feel to hamfisted into the viewers' minds.  We've actually never had a story like this before with some random teen pretending to be a ranger and winning the adoration of all the people around him.  Tho, how exactly did Jordan convince all these people he was a ranger without...I don't know....a morpher? Or at least showing off some impressive fighting moves??? Turns out we learn later in the episode the guy isn't even that athletic and can't fight, aka even Noah would beat the crap out of him yet dozens of people believe him because his stories...without any proof??? -_-  Oh give me a break! Even for Power Rangers, that is so unbelievable! I think kids would be smart enough to be like, "If you're the red ranger, prove it!" :P But whatever, let's dumb this down to make a point about wanting to be a hero without the proper training and getting yourself hurt.  I guess I appreciate the rangers handled this situation maturely and actually took Jordan aside on more than one ocassion to show him how dangerous it is for him to pretend to be something he's not, not to mention getting in harms way like he did during that first attack with Creepox's latest monster. I actually liked the advice about him just being himself and how that can make a difference.  Sure the ending with him catching that cup of frozen yogurt was a bit too corny for me but at least it was emphasizing that there are ways to help people without being superhero.  Nice! :)

As for the rest of the episode, it is business as usual for our multicolored teen heroes who have to face off against Creepox's monster, Dragonflay, who is much too fast for the rangers to fight.  Turns out, all the rangers have to do is sense him and they are able to pin point his exact location during a fight to strike despite him moving so fast.  Well...at least according to Troy! Seriously, what's up with him??? O_o  He gets that random dream of the Legend Battle again but how is he getting them??? Why is he getting them??? Can't wait to find out and it not being some random line thrown in at the end of the second season! HAHAHAHAH!...-_- Also, his martial arts skills??? His obsession with using plastic bottles as a mines to practice??! Seriously, who is this guy and why aren't the rangers at least asking more questions about the new kid in school who happens to be their leader???  Would make for some genuine conflict and build on him as a character as well as the dynamics of the team but whatever.  Troy gets the rangers in on training with the plastic bottles but I wonder how the hell he could set that up in such a short amount of time!??? O_O Also, why are the rangers running everywhere when they. can. TELEPORT!!! -_-  At least they were smart enough to sense Jordan coming and morph! I actually really enjoyed that reveal. :)

But as far as the final battle goes, it's the usual megazord battle but of course, the rangers get yet another deus ex machina in the form of brand new summoning cards aka the Land Brother Zords.  ....Uhhh huh.....-_-....now the rangers are able to race up to Dragonflay and fight him one on one without him being too fast.  The new configuration, the Land Megazord.....WOW!!! I mean....what a title for a megazord! How exciting!!! -_- Anyway, the rangers quickly use their new zord to destroy Dragoflay; leading to said resolution where Jordan confesses he lied and Troy being proud of him....even tho it's very suspicious some random guy is proud of me like the red ranger...hmmmmm....  Stranger Ranger could be worse! It tries to tell a moral lesson that works for the most part outside of how contrived it is for so many people to believe in him and cheer him on without even seeing him MORPH!!! -_-  But I'll take what I can get from an episode of this era not wanting me to vomit profusely like most so....:P

Final Morph: B