Season 23, Episode 16: Freaky Fightday

"Freaky Fightday"

Episode 16

Air Date: October 22nd, 2016

Well, this wasn't the most riveting or funniest episode; mostly filler but it does have some merit in showcasing Davi Santos' versatile when Sir Ivan runs into his descendant named Zach, who is a kid with artistic ambitions but Ivan not so convinced by his modern day artwork.  It's surprising how convincing Davi is as both Ivan and Zach as Ivan tries to make his Great times whatever grandson realize his potential as a real artist while Zach is clearly very talented and wants Ivan to see it....or cousin Ivan rather :P.  The lesson at hand is Ivan of course learning to appreciate Zach's talent and work by encouraging as well as accepting him for who he is no matter how different. It's a nice sentiment that works....but then you have this juxtaposed to the body switching aspect of the main story and it just feels so bizarre.  It's Riley or rather Ivan in Riley's body who has to talk to Zach about their issues but it actually kind of works better than expected.  Oh Michael Caber must have had too much fun playing Ivan, right down to Davi's diplomatic mannerisms.  But the way the body switching storyline was handled did give us some hilarious moments tho I don't understand the need to have the characters' voices change as well?!?? O_o  Is that a Nickelodeon mandate or something because they are afraid the kids won't know who is who because it's so bizarre and a bit forced.  I mean back in MMPR, we didn't need Billy and Kimberly to have each other's voices when they switched bodies but even in the latest season, Dino Fury, the rangers switch bodies and have each others' voices.  It's just too weird and jarring. O_o

Also I don't really understand Snide's plan here in switching the rangers' bodies, especially when it turns out to not work.  I'm surprised Arcanon didn't destroy Snide for his failure instead of spliting him and Heckyl apart like he wanted.  Also, how did Wrench get his hands on the split emitters??? -_-  Why did the rangers just leave them there after their battle with Doomwing??? You'd think they want to take it with them to the base and keep it safe encase someone were to stumble on it.....which what happens and now the villains are one step ahead of the rangers. -_- *Headdesk* Also, all these old monsters being brought back is giving me Season 2 flashbacks when the rangers were facing old monsters like almost every episode because the extremely limited Sentai morphed used.  This time Nightmare and Game Face alongside the newest monster, Professor....Strickler.....because Power Rangers!!! I mean I've been missing the monster pun names but I bit too on the nose and dumber than usual.  Why not call him Detentionator instead?!!! That would have been so campy and more pleasant! :P

Anyway, it's also hilarious seeing the rangers trying to adapt in their morphed forms, like when they decide to switch to their usual Dino Steel weapons and actually manage to hold back the multiple monsters because of it.  Soon Zenowing joins the fight as the Silver Ranger and momentarily switches bodies with Strickler.....HA! But it's soon destroyed by Tyler and everyone is back to normal so the 7 rangers can finish him with the T-Rex Supercharge Victory Maximum blast.  But of course, he's grown along side the other two monsters as the rangers call on the Dino Charge Ultrazord to destroy them for good this time.  Overall, "Freaky Fightday" is pretty entertaining.  Nothing special by any means, but nothing outright bad either.  It's interesting now with Heckyl and Snide now in their own bodies instead of sharing one.  Snide's betrayal makes sense but how with Heckyl pay him back as well as get revenge on Arcanon??? We'll see....

Final Morph: C+