Season 23, Episode 3: Nightmare In Amber Beach

"Nightmare In Amber Beach"

Episode 3

Air Date: February 13th, 2016

Well, this episode was a DREAM wasn't it!? :P  No but seriously, so far, Supercharge isn't showing any dip in quality but given how the episode is the one the rangers find out that Heckyl and Snide are one in the same is kind of a abrupt shame. :( As awesome as Heckyl's reveal was to the rangers and let me tell you, it was beyond bada$$ on both sides, it's a shame Judd Lynn didn't continue with Heckyl's infiltration of the team as it has been the best aspect of the season so far.  I'm sure over a period of time it would have become difficult for Heckyl to be so close to the team without them finding out already but I wish the reveal was postponed at least to the halfway mark of the season.  It really makes Heckyl come off as a main villain that we haven't seen before who is constantly interacting and manipulating the rangers without knowing it.  Sigh....anyway, the episode still remains to be already a immense highlight of the season not just because of Heckyl and his latest plan to steal the rangers' energems but focusing on Shelby's love for dinosaurs being endanger as he father arrives (Who we briefly saw in the premiere this season) so upset that his daughter got a B in her business class.  Apparently Shelby's family is the famous Watkins Ice Cream brand....which means she's rich as all hell?!!! Jesus and she was working as a waitress just to get closer to her dreams of being a paleontologist for a Dinosaur museum.  Ha! Would have LOVED to have seen Kendall's reaction to that considering her harsh, initial opinion of Shelby! :P

Oh and it's the shame actor who played Scott's father playing Shelby's dad.....Jesus, the acting pool in New Zealand really IS scarce isn't it!??? O_O  But he does an amazing job as Shelby's father by actually making me believe in the chemistry between him and his daughter.  It's the classic dilemma of your parents wanting you to follow in their dreams despite your own aspirations but it's done really well with Camille Hyde doing a solid job in showing Shelby's inner struggle to be true to herself while also appeasing her father.  I also enjoyed how Riley is used to help her with her retake of the business exam given he is the mathematical genius on the team so it makes sense.  I also loved the advice he gives to Shelby that makes her realize to follow her own path and not her dad's.  Like I said, it's cliche but well handled....not to mention leads to that very unsettling confrontation between Shelby and Heckyl when she arrives back from not taking the test.  Seriously, Ryan Carter was looking a bit too menacing and I actually felt really scared for Shelby, especially given how powerful Heckyl is alone besides his Snide half.  But I absolutely adored Shelby figuring it out quickly and realizing Heckyl was their enemy.  The whole plot with Nightmare and the pillow's forcing the rangers to sleep, not to mention experience dangerous hallucinations by the monster were really well written and suspenseful.  The best part would definitely be when Shelby gets initial package with the pillow and Nightmare makes her see the other rangers as Vivix by attacking them.  Seriously, wow! 

Also, the image of Heckyl forcing the rangers to sleep with a pillow was surprisingly disturbing, especially when it looked like he was forcing Kendall unconscious with chloroform! Yikes! O_O  Luckily, Shelby is basa$$ and figures everything out in time to save the others and get their energems back.  Seriously, why do they keep caring them with them and NOT just keep them safe in the base.  It's never explained and just makes no sense when they are already bonded to them, not to mention they only need their gems to power the dino chargers and kept safe until the other two are found.  But anyway....!!! O_O Soon all the rangers find out Heckyl is in fact Snide as he changes into him while they question him.  I love how he threatens the rangers and disappears as they point their blasters at him; Ivan and Chase even trying to go after him.  Just so well directed and written.  Also, Snide not knowing their base means that both can be effected when something happens to the others given they share the same body which is good to know.  As the episode concludes, Fury and Curio are close to getting Riley's energem before the other arrive to wake him up.  Seriously, so close to victory and defeating the rangers this episode! So awesome! :)  The 6 rangers soon morph and fight Nightmare who appears out of Riley's head....tho why the hell they are calling themselves "Dino Supercharge" makes absolutely no sense.  HuH! 0_0  At least with Super Samurai and Super Mega-WHY had a reason to have their second seasons called that since the rangers got an upgrade in their fight against evil that warranted the name change but they are still Dino Charge, nothing super about them yet since even Tyler doesn't get his supercharge mode for a couple more episodes. -_-

Anyway, the rangers fight off Nightmare and the episode concludes with a multi-megazord battle surprising with the Dino Charge Megazord, Ptera Charge megazord and Plesio Charge Megazord all teaming up against Nightmare.  A bit of an overkill since I don't think was THAT powerful of an enemy to justify a good chuck of their zord arsenal to finish him but what can you do, Sentai footage and all.  Of course, by episode's end, Shelby's dad comes around to Shelby's passion for dinosaurs and even gives her a dinosaur ice cream cake as a reward.  Tho I find it hilarious Keeper shows up out of nowhere for some cake...the only time he appears all episode! What is up with the handling of Keeper!??? He could be so much more useful as mentor but he's becoming less and less relevant especially he's suppose to be Keeper of the energems.  Could teach the rangers about their power source, its history, how to gain better control of it, etc. but.....NOPE! -_-  Otherwise, "Nightmare In Amber Beach" is spectacular for the most part in its build up of Heckyl's reveal to the rangers and a really well written Shelby focus episode at the same time. :)

Final Morph: A+