Season 24, Episode 5: Drive to Survive

"Drive to Survive"

Episode 5

Air Date: April 23rd, 2017

You know....I would have liked this episode A LOT more if......OMG!!! I just can't with Victor and Monty anymore and it's only episode 5!!!! -_-  Do you know how insufferable of a shtick it has to be when Bulk and Skull's antics seemed wayyyy more believable in comparison!?? O_O Because Victor and Monty are literally living, breath cartoon characters at this point as this episode seems to want to hilariously point out but only makes the show seem even more unrealistic when these are trapped in a monster's spider-web filled with relentless fart gas that ends up sending them flying into the stratosphere after getting popped by a flag pole!!! I mean......I have absolutely no words as I had no idea the comedic duo shtick could reach such cartoonish insanity even in the over the top silliness of the Power Rangers world....but it has unfortunately has!!! This must have been apart of the mandates that were being forced onto the show by the Nick Execus/Saban because Megaforce/Super Megaforce and Dino Charge/Dino Supercharge didn't need a comedic duo yet they were at the opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of quality regardless. O_o  Honestly, it's not only becoming an irritating distraction but a complete tonal shift during episodes when everything else is being handled seriously and naturally lighthearted without feeling like the show needs to suddenly pander to its kids targeted audience. -_- *Headwall returns again!*

I really enjoyed Calvin's story and getting to know him a bit via his fear of driving and I really finding his relationship with Hayley to be the most adorable coupling of the show.  It's nice to have two rangers already dating from the very beginning of the season and both actors have enough chemistry to make it work.  Hayley really seems like this very heartwarming female role in his life that yes she's his girlfriend but has the nurturing encouragement of a mother which isn't so bizarre as it makes you see why Calvin would fall her and vice versa.  Of course the other rangers try to help him face his fear as well but it just ends up frustrating him even more before Galanax's latest, Tangleweb is sent down and ends up sucking the team into it sans Calvin.  This leaves Calvin to try to find some way to save the others, especially Hayley as he rushes to Mick in the base for help.  He sees a vision of his bike inside the monster via the Prism and believes he must find a way inside the monster to save the others via the motorcycle.  Mick also helps Calvin create a new ninja star which he ends up using to turn his bike into the Mega Morph cycle aka a new weapon and vehicle for kids to buy...I mean rangers to use in battle.

We are also introduced to a new zord via another ninja star that Mick creates when the rangers' zords become trapped by TangleWeb. It's....an elephant zord or rather Rumble Tusk Zord that can suck all the webs away.....WOW!!! But that's not all, it can also transform into the Rumble Tusk Ninja Zord as well as combine with the Ninja Steel Megazord to create the Rumble Tusk Ninja Steel Megazord.....because god knows we need more lengthy megazord titles after Dino Charge/Dino Supercharge!!!  Anyway, the new megazord formation is used to destroy TangleWeb once and for all.  Episode ends with the rangers now able to have their own Mega Morph cycles as Mick has created 4 more stars for them to activate them.  Then comes that atrocity of an ending with Victor Vincent and his sidechick, Monty. -_-  Seriously, since when does the high school jock and school nerd hang out so much together.  You see them more together than Hayley and Calvin and they're dating!!!! Mother of ......*HEAD CONCRETE*  Overall, pretty good outside the Looney Tunes that are those two.  

Final Morph: C+