Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel Overview

 

Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel: Season 25

Air Date: January 27th, 2018-December 1st, 2018

Episode Count: 20 + 2 specials

Sigh....I honestly don't blame Chip Lynn at all for the season's failings and bizarre shortcomings. Ninja Steel and to a MUCH lesser extent Super Ninja Steel seemed liked season(s) that tried so hard to be more than they were given.  Honestly, more than ever, those mandates given by Saban or Nick or both have really held the show back from reaching the kind of quality of some of its best seasons.  Ninja Steel and Super Ninja Steel mark the official end of the Saban Brands era which for better or worse, helped reintroduce Power Rangers to a new generation and well as giving long term fans a lot to look forward to in merchandise alone.  But yes, the show was significantly stripped of much of what made the franchise so stand and unique in the first place. Even if Samurai/Super Samurai was a hit overall that relaunched the show back in 2011 (Can't believe that year is so long ago! Seriously! O_O), fans of the franchise absolutely hated it and to be followed by empty, substance lacking season like Megaforce which was suppose to be the 20th anniversary season only to be far more disappointed by the anniversary butchering of the 21st and right there are 4 seasons of wasted potential.  But with Jonathan Tzachor let go and Chip Lynn gloriously returning to the franchise with the wonderfully realized and genuinely exciting Dino Charge it seemed like we were finally back to the standards the show had set for years.  Sigh....but sadly, Dino Supercharge is almost completely undermined by its horrendous nonsensical finale and while Ninja Steel was mostly alright, Super Ninja Steel was more the last reminder of how this era of the show was by far the worst to come from it (so far at least!) -_-

And it's a shame when Ninja Steel (both seasons) had plenty of ideas that could have made for great stories.  Honestly, the best thing I can say about Super Ninja Steel is the 25th anniversary episode and even there's not much to say there when it should have been two parts as well as written far better.  I'm sorry but just being better than "Legendary Battle" is NOT gonna cut it for fans of this franchise. -_-  The worst thing I can say about.....nothing really happens!  I dare say this is one of the most lacking seasons in terms of story yet.  I mean yeah, Megaforce was just a bunch of action scenes on top of action scenes to keep us waiting until they could actually do the anniversary stuff but Super Ninja Steel is simply better because the characters are far more fleshed out and likeable but that's about it.  Every storyline from the first season has been wrapped up with virtually no new stories or direct continuations from last season.  The only difference is Madame Odius is the new antagonist and having a new general in Badonna....who doesn't do anything but pine over Brax and one fight with the rangers. -_-  Yeah, I'll admit, Odius was far more active in coming up with plans than Galvanax shouting orders while sitting on his a$$ but there is no significant difference between the villains this season like the past.  I mean at least Samurai shook things up with Serrator in Super Samurai and Heckyl definitely gave the Dino Charge a more menacing feel for Supercharge and hell, Megaforce and Super  Megaforce had two different sets of villains for both seasons no matter how completely vacant they were as a threat. 

Yes, Madam Odius is a better threat but being better doesn't exactly mean great or standing out.  She was decent at best and even by the end of the season, her plan for universe domination wasn't as spectacular in execution like other villain master plans from other seasons.  Not to mention, between both seasons, the rangers while still being fine characters go through no significant change or struggle individually in their personal arcs.  Considering how Brody's story was at the center of the first season....he literally has nothing to do to push his character forward and I mean NOTHING! -_-  I'd say Brody as a character is perfectly fine, a bit naïve and overly cheery for someone who spent 10 years as a slave on an alien ship (Like seriously! O_o) and should theoretically more stoic, broody than the other rangers but that's fine if the writers actually do something with it!  The only episode that Brody sort of has to himself is "Caught Red Handed" when a teacher thinks he's lying about stealing her precious grandma's compass but Brody standing his ground that he is telling the truth despite the principal being clearly in the wrong.  It doesn't really do much of anything for Brody's character and that's something most people would do in the situation.  Once again, Brody's story and personal arc should have been tied in with the villains. I find it so hilariously absurd that he has no deep personal feelings toward the monster that captured him for years like Madame Odius by not at least wanting revenge for his father or how he was treated in those 10 years on Galvanax's ship.  Seriously, why even give Brody that backstory is you're not gonna do much of anything with it???

No progression or even problems within Brody and Levi's brotherhood after away from each other for a decade! No moment of Brody acknowledging how his father being gone for ten years and on an alien ship affect him emotionally, even mentally!???  It just seems odd when Chip has explored far more complex and thought provoking subjects.  This is what I mean by clearly being overseen by the higher ups who want the show to be more of what they want instead of the showrunners' vision. Look we all know the main selling point for show is in marketing and toy sales but main, I don't like that show during this season has felt like a show that has stories to tell but doesn't have time for it and things get wrapped up far too quickly, not to mention easily by episode's end.  This show has no long term consequences when comes to the villain's plans and the rangers' actions.  I mean look at Preston??? The Ninja Steel gives him the power to wield magic because it gives that person their greatest wish or desire.....yet once again, nothing is done with it during the second season!  One wonders why the Ninja Steel didn't grant Brody's desire to reunite with his brother and find his dad since last season!??? O_o  I mean, think of the story possibilities there with the Ninja Steel granting other desires to other members of the team??? I mean, why didn't it but only Preston did???  This season sees the aspiring magician not deal too much with his magic outside a couple of random spells here and there.  The most significant episode is "Magic Misfire" when he accidentally gets one of the teachers fired by putting them to sleep when a spell goes wrong.  He shows immediate initiative and responsibility for fighting to get his teacher back by teaching the principal a lesson for once.  That's it, the rest are just random episodes dealing with ANY but his character development like "Love Stings" when asking a girl to the dance but thinking she's under a spell but she's not or how bout the horrendously terrible "Game Plan" with that stupid Goblin game and the most ludicrous solution to a monster plot I have  ever seen on this show. I just....WOW what utter garbage writing!!! O_O

I mean by season's end without the Ninja Steel, Preston is right back to where he started and hasn't made in major progressions in his pursuit of being a great magician at all.  I mean what was the point of learning those lessons about spells and taking your time when he ends up NOT keeping the magic or even getting accepted to magician college or something!?? (What!?? :P)  Then there's Sarah, who gets the most development....or should I say episode devoted to her this season.  She learns with Hayley to not interfere in her mom's love life while also learning that despite her vast intelligence, she can't just blow things off if the previous challenge was easy when things get harder for everyone even her.  ("Prepared to Fail")  Then there's "The Need for Speed" when she needs to beat some speed record but is fooled by Victor and Monty when clearly they had cheated! She and nobody else noticed that!??? O_o I mean by season's end she's still an athletic genius but nothing has change about her character significantly at all. :(  Levi, our stud of a country singing Gold Ranger is just kind of...there....-_-  "Fan Frenzy" could have been an awesome look into the pitfalls of being a celebrity but it's so horribly undermined for some forced lesson at the end to make his crazed, stalker(ish) fan look good instead of him! -_-  The only other significant and honestly good episode centered around him this season is the 3rd aka "Tough Love" where Levi learns he doesn't have to change himself to impress a girl he's falling for.  He's still Levi Weston, the famous country singer and never really progresses past continuing to sacrifice his career for his ranger duties until they are complete.  No progression between him and Brody as brothers??? No scene between him and his father about where he's been!???  I guess I should also mention "Happy to Be Me", but in all honestly, it could have gone to anyone and doesn't have any long lasting impact on Levi himself. :(

Lastly, we have the couple on the team, Hayley and Calvin, who.....are really only interesting when dealing with their relationship issues more this season than last.  As individuals.....they are kind of.......there as well with no real progression.  Ok there is "Car Trouble" where Calvin learns to stay in school and continue his learning to become an even greater mechanic, but once again, that's about it.  Hayley is very sweet compassionate and plays the motherly role in their relationship but....she isn't given anything to do outside of her relationship issues with Calvin.  Yes, there is conflict between them several times like in "Moment of Truth", "Attack of the Galactic Ninjas" and the final two episodes....but what about her as a person??? We see her face her fear of acting that she overcomes in "Attack...." and she even continues it by auditioning in "Doom Signal" but we never get to know anything about her outside that, which doesn't have much significance to her character at all. O_o  I mean there's the whole our parents dating thing in "Making Waves" and we learn her father is a marine biologist......moving on!  Even as a team, the rangers are given some tedious and lackluster lessons to be learn like in "Outfoxed" with this inane concept of priorities when the rangers are caught in their toughest conflict yet.  Helping people is what they do on a daily basis as rangers, they don't need to stop what their doing just to help with basic civilian problems, the world is at stake! -_-  How that's even conceivable to be taken seriously as lesson for children, let alone heroes is the most obnoxiously insulting plot twist ever!  

I guess I should talk about Mick and Red Bot....they were there!  I mean Mick becoming Odius' slave for a master plan is honestly the most memorable thing I can think of....ummmm.....  And they are both just sticking around...because! O_O????  Victor and Monty...sigh......the Bulk and Skull of a new generation didn't work for me these past two seasons at all.  If anything, their only selfless act at the end of the season comes as a tawdry resolution to their idiotic journey the past two seasons.   Victor is an overly confident moron despite his good looks and apparent jock status with Monty being his sidekick with no real personality of his own besides looking dumb with Victor and constantly chasing after him! I wouldn't have minded if the two were given some depth like Bulk and Skull were at times, explore why Victor is so obsessed with being the center of attention at the expense of how he'll look or Monty tired of being Victor's number#1 with no appreciation.  The Disney seasons for sure would have done something like this no doubt.  But he just gets his 50th trophy for being a hero and Monty....holds the trophy with him...what duo huh??? *Vomit inducing suffering begins* Oh there was Sheriff Skyfire........in "Sheriff Skyfire".......and General Tynamon......My god this season's entire theme could be summed up by what was the point??? I guess "Dimensions in Danger" did introduce the Ranger multiverse in an awesome way as well as showing that rangers from different worlds are not only teaming up but keeping in touch to align with each other again!  The actual tribute was decent by my goodness, some serious exposition on Lord Draven, his past and this new ranger syndicate between worlds was formed.  I know Chip would have done so much more with the writing but clearly he was creative suppressed by network and Saban himself.  Would have loved to have seen from Power Ranger ultimate base like the Justice League's Hall of Justice or something...ehhhh....:(

Alas, that was Super Ninja Steel, the last season under Saban's retaking of the kids/toy franchise that became a worldwide phenomenon 25 years before this season.  The Brands era was for sure rough, frustrating, idiotic at times and underwhelming in what could have been.  Chip tried to do the best he could but he was clearly told to make the show a lot lighter and in a lot of cases this season was one of the lightest on story and tone.  Not enough stakes to even talk about, characters that changed the status or human development to make the rangers stand out among others.  By that fact, it is for sure one of the most mediocre seasons that manages to only top the first 4 seasons of Neo Saban seasons by mere competence but Dino Charge being the only exceptional exception and Supercharge, outside that polarizing finale, being pretty solid as well. A shame really as it seems the show being under Nickelodeon seems to be the greatest obstacle here and even with the transition to Hasbro acquiring the series with Beast Morphers, Nickelodeon still meddled waaayyyy too much in the show's production to apparently not make it what it could have been either.  I guess I'll finally get to see myself won't I??? Until then......

Pros:

• Managing to keep Hayley and Calvin's relationship interesting until the end of the season by the actors and writing for their relationship being better.
• The 25th anniversary episode was decent to say the least.
• A strong run of opening episodes
• Madam Odius initially as the new main villain
• I enjoyed the finale! :)
• The Poisy Show was a surprisingly fun episode and expands the Rangerverse (Can I copyright that??? O_o) lol

Cons:

• The Galaxy Warriors theme becoming more tedious than original than the first season.
• The season dipping in quality after the first 4 episodes.
• Dipping in quality in even more after the 25th anniversary episode!
• The entire and utter forgettable Galactic Ninjas arc. -_-
• The season feeling so empty and severely lacking in story as opposed to Ninja Steel.
• Continuing nuisance of the horrible Victor and Monty.....FART jokes!!??!?!
• Not enough character development, especially for Brody, the Red Ranger.
• Too many missed story opportunities with Brody and Levi's dad and others.

Best Episodes:

1. "Tough Love"-Definitely the most unexpected episode with a plot twist I never saw coming! Also some nice development for Levi.
2. "The Poisy Show"-It's Christmas with some cross dimensional adventure with a return from Sledge and the some of the other Dino Charge villains.
3. "Echoes of Evil"-Such a strong start to the season and seemed already like Madame Odius would be the type of villain that the rangers should fear unlike Galvanax.
4. "Reaching the Nexus"-Definitely solid, pretty superb end to two seasons worth of story......well not this season anyway! :P
5. "Caught Red Handed"-Finally some plot movement and the rangers unforeseen defeat by Madame Odius was pleasant little cliffhanger of suspense. :)

Worst Episodes:

1. "Game Plan"-The dumbest and most insulting episode of the franchise in a while! WOW! O_o
2. "The Need for Speed"-Sarah cheating??? Victor and Monty not getting caught for such an obvious plan??? Ewwwww no thanks!
3. "Fan Frenzy"-This had the potential to be a great episode but quickly becomes the problematic turn of events type storytelling that became all to common in this season.
4. "Prepared to Fail"-Yet another Sarah centered episode that felt pretty lackluster and lukewarm on the character development front.
5. "Sheriff Skyfire"-What was even the point of debuting Sheriff Skyfire for only one episode and never seeing him again!???? O_o -_-

"As the franchise entered its 25th anniversary season for the show, the only good thing to say about it as a whole is that it was far better than the 20th season, but isn't really saying much when "Ninja Steel", Season 24, was a lot BETTER and had a purpose.  Outside of a decent if not slightly underwhelming 25th anniversary episode, "Super Ninja Steel" is a weak, pointless season with far too much filler and not enough story to warrant its existence. Things that were set up well at the beginning of the season become vacant and unnecessary by the mid point of the season as the season meanders and tries it best to keep viewers invested but Chip's show has too many problems and not enough excitement to be anything more than the 25th anniversary season. A rather disappointing end to the Saban Brands Era that pretty much sums up the unfulfilled potential that plagued the majority of its run."

Final Season Verdict: D+