Go, Go Power Rangers (the entire series on Netflix)

[Gemini_Valley]

^Kim did have some good sassy one-liners and the best non-verbal reactions to everything. I would like to hear what Amy Jo Johnson has to say about the show on the bonus features but she is the least likely to grant an interview for various reasons. This has been the closest...

 

[Gemini_Valley]

So I received my mega-set on Monday and have been trying to cram as much as I can on my days off. I'm making good on my promise and started with Zeo first, which I am surprisingly enjoying. (One of the reasons I stopped watching the show was because of how ugly the costumes were .) In this season everyone seems to be a lot more laid back instead of the loud stereotypes of previous seasons. Kim will always be the Pink-HBIC but Kat is slowly winning me over. Oh and when did Rocky get so cute? I'm currently watching Austin St. John making his return as the Gold Ranger.

The bonus features on both discs were really good, I enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes interviews from the cast, crew, and stunt actors the most. Hearing how much work was put into the show, how each actor auditioned, and the "Galaxy Rangers" easter egg was worth the price alone.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

So I received my mega-set on Monday and have been trying to cram as much as I can on my days off. I'm making good on my promise and started with Zeo first, which I am surprisingly enjoying. (One of the reasons I stopped watching the show was because of how ugly the costumes were .) In this season everyone seems to be a lot more laid back instead of the loud stereotypes of previous seasons. Kim will always be the Pink-HBIC but Kat is slowly winning me over. Oh and when did Rocky get so cute? I'm currently watching Austin St. John making his return as the Gold Ranger.

The bonus features on both discs were really good, I enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes interviews from the cast, crew, and stunt actors the most. Hearing how much work was put into the show, how each actor auditioned, and the "Galaxy Rangers" easter egg was worth the price alone.

The only thing I hated about Zeo Rangers is that they introduced Tommy's brother, dropped teases and hints about him becoming the Gold Ranger, then summarily dropped the character in Limbo in lieu of 3 Abercrombie models and the original Red Ranger. Once again, my Native American brethren got fucked over and dumped on the rez.

 

[slipintothefog]

The show trying to pass Tommy of all people off as a Native American was probably one of the few mistakes about Zeo, lol. It was clear they were trying to represent every major continent with the Rangers in that season, but really, they could have just left him as the white European guy.

Tommy's brother was never going to be the Gold Ranger though. They wanted Brad Hawkins, who voiced those triplet models, to be the Gold Ranger because he was the main star of VR Troopers. In the end they brought back Jason because the ratings were crashing during Zeo.

 

[slipintothefog]

Kim will always be the Pink-HBIC but Kat is slowly winning me over.

I love Kat because she was such a sweetheart and also hot but I HATED how the writers always made her play damsel in distress so Tommy could come save her. She was probably at her best as a hero (since evil Kat was AMAZING and her best role) in Turbo when Tommy was barely around. She got to do unmorphed fights! She actually beat a monster of the day on her own for the first time! She had problems other than needing to be rescued and actually got to tell a girl off!

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

I love Kat because she was such a sweetheart and also hot but I HATED how the writers always made her play damsel in distress so Tommy could come save her. She was probably at her best as a hero (since evil Kat was AMAZING and her best role) in Turbo when Tommy was barely around. She got to do unmorphed fights! She actually beat a monster of the day on her own for the first time! She had problems other than needing to be rescued and actually got to tell a girl off!

I still have much love for Kim, but Kat didn't get enough respect, IMO. I'd love to see her character come back for an episode and show what she's been up to after life as a Ranger.

 

[slipintothefog]

Kat was great, and especially compared to a lot of the crackhead Pink Rangers who have come after her. She looks like Wonder Woman compared to the current Pink Ranger, Mia, whose goals in life are to cook, get married and probably have lots of babies.

All of the Pinks after Time Force are pretty annoying, now that I think about it. SPD had Kimberly-lite with even less depth or purpose; Mystic Force had an annoying, shrieky, manly harpy; Overdrive had an arrogant book worm; Samurai has the world's most stereotypical subservient Asian housewife. So, yeah, Kat FTW.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Kat was great, and especially compared to a lot of the crackhead Pink Rangers who have come after her. She looks like Wonder Woman compared to the current Pink Ranger, Mia, whose goals in life are to cook, get married and probably have lots of babies.

So she's basically Michelle Duggar in a Pink Ranger outfit. Lovely.

 

[slipintothefog]

The part about babies was mostly inferred from the rest of her personality, since nobody has babies in the Power Rangers universe apparently. Though the first time we're meant to see her in the series, she's hanging around with a bunch of kids at a daycare. Presumably as a caretaker, although with the way she's written, it wouldn't be a stretch to say she's one of the kids...

Oh and her main running gag is that she loves to cook even though everybody hates her cooking, and she's too stupid to figure out that they do. It's nearly every episode, even.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

The part about babies was mostly inferred from the rest of her personality, since nobody has babies in the Power Rangers universe apparently. Though the first time we're meant to see her in the series, she's hanging around with a bunch of kids at a daycare. Presumably as a caretaker, although with the way she's written, it wouldn't be a stretch to say she's one of the kids...

Oh and her main running gag is that she loves to cook even though everybody hates her cooking, and she's too stupid to figure out that they do. It's nearly every episode, even.

Now she doesn't sound as horrible as you originally painted her out to be. Not as awesome as Kim, Kat or Karone (KKK...HAH!), but then again, who is?

 

[slipintothefog]

I think what really bugs me about her is that she's supposed to be the tougher girl out of the two. Usually when there's two girls, one's the cutesy girl who is a little more pretty or superficial, and one is the gutsy one who can kick ass, like the dynamic between Kim/Trini, Kat/Tanya or Ashley/Cassie. Mia's supposed to be the latter, but she's written and her actress acts like the former.

The two of them are just TOO similar (sample Mia line: "I hope someday I can find my Prince Charming!" / sample Emily the Yellow Ranger line: "Every girl dreams of wearing a wedding dress!") and the Yellow Ranger pulls off the cutesy girl role better so I can't take Mia.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

I think what really bugs me about her is that she's supposed to be the tougher girl out of the two. Usually when there's two girls, one's the cutesy girl who is a little more pretty or superficial, and one is the gutsy one who can kick ass, like the dynamic between Kim/Trini, Kat/Tanya or Ashley/Cassie. Mia's supposed to be the latter, but she's written and her actress acts like the former.

The two of them are just TOO similar (sample Mia line: "I hope someday I can find my Prince Charming!" / sample Emily the Yellow Ranger line: "Every girl dreams of wearing a wedding dress!") and the Yellow Ranger pulls off the cutesy girl role better so I can't take Mia.

I see your point. The "tough/cutesy" balance between the Pink and Yellow Rangers from past seasons just isn't there.

 

[slipintothefog]

Yeah... I think this is the first season where BOTH girls are just super stereotypical girly girls. Maybe Kim and Aisha back in the day but they were nowhere near as bad because Kim was still a boss bitch who could take down monsters singlehandedly and Aisha was sassy and always stood up for herself.

It's always kind of interesting when the Pink Ranger is the tougher or smarter chick and the Yellow Ranger is the sweetheart, too, since it's usually the reverse. Time Force was probably the most extreme example - the Pink Ranger was a total hardass HBIC, she was actually the team leader in the beginning and tried to take on the head villain by herself ten episodes in. The Yellow Ranger had genetically engineered super strength but she was the nice one who was really loving, helpful and always hugging people (since the joke was that she was hurting people due to her super strength).

And that was the last season that Saban's crew were in charge before Disney took over! They had awesome girl Rangers, and now Saban's team is back and we have one of the worst girl duos ever. Don't know how that happened. :/

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

I miss the Time Force crew, especially the Pink Ranger. The actress portraying her (Damn I forgot her name) really gave it her all and her chemistry with the Red Ranger really clicked. My favorite couple since the Green Ranger and the scientist chick on Lightspeed Rescue (and Kim & Tommy, of course)

 

[slipintothefog]

Jen was played by Erin Cahill! For a American Power Rangers actress (since the ones from New Zealand get plenty of work on NZ TV) she gets pretty consistent TV work even though it's mostly all one episode guest roles.

Time Force was definitely one of the best series for acting. Out of the main six Rangers I'd say only one (Blue) was pretty blah, and even he was better than most of the cast of Wild Force.

 

[Gemini_Valley]

After reading everything you two having been discussing I hope Shout! Factory releases another mega-set later on this year (because I already know what I want for Christmas). I have missed so much.

I have a question, on Zyuranger how different were the rangers from their American versions? Was the Red Ranger considered the hunk, Blue the brain, etc.? Thanks in advance!

I love Kat because she was such a sweetheart and also hot but I HATED how the writers always made her play damsel in distress so Tommy could come save her. She was probably at her best as a hero (since evil Kat was AMAZING and her best role) in Turbo when Tommy was barely around. She got to do unmorphed fights! She actually beat a monster of the day on her own for the first time! She had problems other than needing to be rescued and actually got to tell a girl off!

Yesss! I loved everything about Evil!Kat how badly she wanted Tommy while being BFF's with Kim was fun to watch. That one slow-motion shot of her, after she transforms from a cat into human form behind a bush, has to be one of the sexist moments in Google Page Ranking history. Once Kat became the Pink-MMPR she was so basic... I really couldn't take her at all, but she definitely is coming into her own during Zeo. Looking forward to Turbo based on everything you said.

 

[TheFireGod]

I sorta got bored with Power Rangers, I might go for it again and get to the episodes that are not so formulaic.

Avatar: The Last Airbender show kept me occupied until a week ago when I finished the whole series.

 

[slipintothefog]

After reading everything you two having been discussing I hope Shout! Factory releases another mega-set later on this year (because I already know what I want for Christmas). I have missed so much.

Thanks! I don't know about Fury, but I've actually never stopped watching Power Rangers, and I've seen every episode of every season. Having the first Mega Set is a good start - Season 3, Zeo, and Space are all some of the better seasons IMO. I also like Turbo more than the average PR fan; if you can overlook Justin's presence, it's a pretty enjoyable season, I think.

I have a question, on Zyuranger how different were the rangers from their American versions? Was the Red Ranger considered the hunk, Blue the brain, etc.? Thanks in advance!

I watched about two-thirds of Zyuranger. There's really not too much that's similar about the two shows in terms of storyline or characters. The characters are all ancient warriors from the time of dinosaurs that were in suspended animation until Rita's counterpart is released. A lot of the storylines focus more on annoying children of the day rather than the Zyurangers themselves - they don't even have the basic stereotypes that the MMPR Season 1 Rangers do.

So, yeah, the personalities of the characters don't parallel at all, since a lot of the Zyurangers are poorly defined in the first place. Red's the stoic leader, Green's his brother and he actually dies when the Green candle burns down unlike Tommy, Black is a strong silent fighter, Blue and Yellow are interchangeable tertiary male Rangers who are a bit more on the goofy side, and Pink's the chick.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

I sorta got bored with Power Rangers, I might go for it again and get to the episodes that are not so formulaic.

Avatar: The Last Airbender show kept me occupied until a week ago when I finished the whole series.

Now go check out the series about the next Avatar, "The Legend Of Korra". The whole 1st season is free to watch on Nick.com, last time I checked.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Thanks! I don't know about Fury, but I've actually never stopped watching Power Rangers, and I've seen every episode of every season. Having the first Mega Set is a good start - Season 3, Zeo, and Space are all some of the better seasons IMO. I also like Turbo more than the average PR fan; if you can overlook Justin's presence, it's a pretty enjoyable season, I think.

I watched every episode up until Wild Force, only because it moved to cable and I didn't have cable at the time. Once I got satellite, I caught a few episodes of Ninja Storm, Jungle Fury and Dino Thunder, but didn't really like them. I LOVED SPD and RPM, and I kinda liked Mystic Force and Operation Overdrive. Haven't seen the Samurai or Super Samurai episodes yet.