Season 23, Episode 2: Forgive and Forget

"Forgive and Forget"

Episode 2

Air Date: February 6th, 2016

WOW! I think the most interesting aspect of Heckyl is not only how he decides to infiltrate the rangers from within but how he literally clashes with his other half when plotting against the rangers.  I guess Wrench reanimated Ice Age last episode since he brings back StingRage here (Tho why not just use the hundreds of other monsters that Sledge has captured but whatever! O_O)   Anyway, Sting Rage still has his stinging abilities but this time his venom can apparently make people lose their memories.  Heckyl plans to use StingRage to attack the rangers and make them forget who they are so he can easily take their energems.  Smart plan.....only Snide is too impatient and would rather take a more direct approach by just destroying one of the rangers before taking their energem.  But before we get back to that, we have Riley centered episode plot involving an old classmate or rather bully named Burt who's entering the Amber Beach marathon but stops by the restaurant at the museum to gloat and pick on Riley.  He's not a very good bully but whatever, I'm more amazed by the fact Riley uses his energem not once, but TWICE to try to outdo Burt but pays the price each time.  It's honestly one of the first times, if not very first time we see a ranger using their powers for personal gain; something that was one of Zordon's major 3 rules since the show began.  We've never seen a ranger do this and pay the consequences for it yet the worse that happens is Kendall noticing and yelling at Riley to get back to work followed by Riley superjumping into a tree.

Soooooo Chase's energem becomes problematic and he can't use his Dino Armor X because of teasing Shelby but Riley uses his energem for selfish reasons but no lecture or message about not using your ranger powers for your own interests instead of saving the world!??? -_-  Are you kidding me!? There should have been a moment where Riley couldn't morph or something; leading Keeper to teleport out of nowhere for some random advice again to show Riley why he can't.  But whatever! Moving on to the monster plot! -_- I really enjoyed Heckyl sabotaging Snide's plan by coming up with his own to get himself inside the rangers' base by saving Riley and risking his memory loss.  Once again, Heckyl proves to be one of the craftiest villains and it's really fun seeing the rangers interact with a big bad but unknowingly realizing he is in fact their new enemy.  I mean Heckyl's plan almost led to two victories this episode alone by the rangers getting their memories erased by StingRage's venom when he poisons the water of Amber Beach and by planning to storm the rangers' base after finding out where it is.  Luckily, Riley got the energems away from Heckyl just in time while Curio was useful for once my unknowingly making the villains drink StingRage's venom....even tho there is a bit of a plothole with them just forgetting where the base was/their plan instead of their entire memories but still never has a villain come so close in defeating the rangers so early in a season.  Really loving the hell out of Heckyl as he's proving to me more dangerous and have more ingenuity than Sledge.  No wonder he was trapped in solitary for millions of years. O_O

Meanwhile, the rangers are given a new upgrade for their megazord aka Dino Super Drive mode....which is just an upgrade of an upgrade with Dino Drive mode but whatever, it's a SUPER season so......O_o  It does look impressive tho in terms of giving the rangers more of an armor form in their cockpit as well as giving Tyler the Dino Super Drive Saber he can use to finish off the monsters that is powered by several dino chargers.  I don't see how it's anymore powerful and effective than Dino Drive mode after the first time using it BUT it's just a toy marketing plot device to well....sell more toys!  Also the way the episode is resolved is a bit too abrupt and quick for my taste as Riley helping to bring Burt's memory back suddenly makes him apologize and want to be friends with him.  Jesus, makes it seem like Burt was more than just jealous of Riley's intelligence.  I'm just saying there was definitely a plot point that could have been brought up between these characters but the world simply wasn't ready for that until recently with Dino Fury!  I'm sorry, but that's the only way that explains that tawdry resolution between them at the end, not to mention Riley DOES seem like he could very well be.....O_o lol   But anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed the episode for the villains and how well Heckyl is doing in terms of befriending the rangers to get close to defeating them.  It's so refreshing and creative; making the threat this year more intense and suspenseful so far.  Tho aren't the rangers curious about how Heckyl dresses at least?! lol

Final Morph: A-