Season 25, Episode 16: Car Trouble

"Car Trouble"

Episode 16

Air Date: September 14th, 2018

Hmmmmm, it seems Super Ninja Steel is getting make to a more natural way of storytelling as we get a Calvin focused episode that surprisingly develops his character in a way that makes him even more motivated in his skills as well as interest at being a mechanic.  Honestly, I forgot about Calvin's mechanical intellect, maybe because it has been used sparingly or.....the fact the last episode to really focus on that was the one where Calvin was trying to impress the cast of Happy Days....does anymore even remember that show??? O_o lol  Anyway, he finds that his mechanical knowledge is good enough to warrant him a new job via Joe, an owner of a mechanics shop that wants Calvin to work with him given how well knowledge he is.  And I like the dilemma is poses with Calvin getting so high off his dreams that he wants to leave school and become a full time mechanic.  Of course, his friends are very worried and apprehensive of his decision, especially Hayley who is always his motherly figure in the relationship by looking after him.  I think I've enjoyed their relationship more this season than the last.  Both actors are selling it much better and I think that definitely has to do with time. 

As for the monster of the day, it feels like a flashback to a monster from Time Force (Electropede, I  believe??? O_o  In "Uniquely Trip"???)  This time, it's Voltipede who is also a centipede themed monster who can drain electricity!  Seriously, Sentai mush be running out of ideas for their monsters!??? O_o  Anyway, Calvin while working with Joe, soon discovers Voltipede is absorbing electricity from cars when they constantly have to fix a lot of customers' car batteries. When the rangers soon arrive to assist Cal, Brody tries to use the Lion Fire Zord on him but thanks to absorbing so much electricity, he is able to throw damage the zord as Brody makes it out while it crashes.  After sending the monster packing, Calvin believes he can fix the zord given his expertise with engines....but soon realizes he is completely out of his league. O_O  Thanks to Mick being there as well to assist in fixing it, Calvin realizes he much continue to go to school as Mick's knowledge of zord engines makes him want to learn about planes and spaceships mechanics as well.  Meanwhile, the other rangers are searching for Voltipede when Red Bot finds that he is sucking all of the power from the city's power plant which is leaving the city completely without electricity.  

Thankfully, the rangers are able to regroup and form a plan of attack to destroy him.  Even Calvin gets the idea to use the Lion Fire armor and it works, as he is able to finish off the monster on his own. .....What no random vision from the Nexus Prism about it??? O_o  Anyway, while the rangers summon their zords to form the Ninja Blaze Megazord when Voltipede is made to grow, General Tynamon returns and takes one of the rangers ninja stars, the ninja fusion star, and tells Madame Odius as the villains come up with a plan to use it against the rangers.  Meanwhile, Calvin gives up his job and tells Joe he's going back to school.  And he learned all by himself with no one having to spell it out for him. :P  Oh and of course, Victor and Monty have a subplot....but I actually found this one pretty funny with 00 Sven! LOL Anyway, "Car Trouble" is a pretty good episode as a whole that naturally progresses one of the rangers without hitting them over the head with the answer to their dilemma. :)

Final Morph: C+