Power Rangers: In Space

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:Infobox television Power Rangers in Space (often abbreviated as "PRiS" or referred to as "...In Space") was a television show, the sixth season of Power Rangers. It was the first full season of Power Rangers to be handled by showrunners Judd Lynn and Jonathan Tzachor.

It was loosely based on, and involved footage from, the Japanese television show Denji Sentai Mega Ranger (or Electromagnetic Squadron Mega Ranger), the twenty-first Super Sentai series. The show was a turning point in the history of the Power Rangers franchise, as the season brought about the end of six years worth of storylines and was the ending of the practice of having the Power Rangers be a continuous serial-style show with a regular cast that carried over from one season to the next. It is also one of the most popular seasons of "Power Rangers" in the franchise's history and is credited for saving the franchise from cancellation after the dismal "Power Rangers: Turbo" season.

Contents

[edit]

Production

If Power Rangers: Turbo had been a struggle regarding constant changing in the show's cast and adapting humor-driven sentai footage to match a more serious themed storyline, PRiS would be an even bigger nightmare. With a reduced budget (due to the failures of Turbo) and rumors that the show would be cancelled if the ratings did not improve, the writers decided to go all out in terms of providing PRiS an interstellar finale which would draw the various storylines from the previous seasons to a close. The decision to make the series space-centric, came after seeing preliminary character designs for the MegaRangers and their respective mecha/Zords. The preliminary sketches showed the MegaRangers riding surfboards in outer space and mecha/zords that went from spaceship to giant robot. But there was one small problem, due to the fact that Saban and Toei failed to communicate with each other regarding the plot for "MegaRanger". Saban assumed it would be an outer space-themed sentai series; in truth Toei had created a video-game/electronic gadget themed sentai series that never left earth.

Faced with an impossible task of reconciling the wants of the writers and the footage at hand, it was decided by Judd Lynn to go ahead with the "space war" storyline in spite of the problems with the "MegaRanger" footage. A great deal of the budget would be spent creating cheap green screen space footage for the Zords travelling in space as well as shooting new fight scenes with the "...In Space" Rangers which were tinted a different color for broadcast so as to create the appearance of the battles taking place on alien worlds.

Two team-up episodes were commissioned along the way bringing Blake Foster (Justin from "Power Rangers Turbo") and Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam, the second Black Mighty Morphin Ranger, Green Zeo and the original Green Turbo Ranger) to the show to try and tie up loose ends. The Phantom Ranger, whose identity was never revealed in "Turbo", was also brought back for a multi-episode arc but plans to reveal his identity fell through due to budget problems forced Lynn to cut the episode where his identity was to be revealed.

Also, the show would be the first Power Rangers series to be completely serialized, in that the entire season one whole story with plots continuing from each episode. This series also featured plot devices and storylines never before seen in a Power Rangers series. It is also notable in that it is the first to feature a power-up for the Red Ranger (the Battlizer), which was also an original creation and not originally from Sentai (though the Battlizer "Tool" was originally an attack-enhancer in Megaranger , known as the "Battlerizer" ). This would become standard practice in the following seasons, as every Red Ranger after Andros would get his own enhancement (in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm and beyond, the name 'Battlizer' would be used again). However, in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, the Blue and Green Rangers would receive enhancements as well, and in Power Rangers: Time Force, the Quantum Ranger, also considered to be a Red Ranger, would receive a power-up himself. The series is also highly regarded for being the first Power Rangers series to feature sympathetic and multi-dimensional villains in the form of Astronema and Ecliptor. Astronema was Red Space Ranger Andros' sister, Karone, who was kidnapped by the cruel Darkonda as a child and raised by the cyborg Ecliptor to be the evil Dark Spectre's harbringer of evil. When Astronema learns the truth about her identity, she is tortured and brainwashed into staying evil by Dark Spectre and Darkonda. Ecliptor, who sees himself as Astronema's father due to him raising her, gains a level of depth not seen by many villains on the show when he tries to defend his adopted daughter, only to be cruely tortured by the sadistic Darkonda, who forces a merger of the two into a singular entity that leaves Ecliptor broken both physically and mentally.

[edit]

Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

When the Power Rangers: Turbo lose both their Megazords, and have their Power Chamber destroyed by Divatox and her army of Pirahnatrons, they (minus Justin Stewart, who stays behind to live with his father) leave for space, in search of their old mentor, Zordon. They come across the new Red Ranger, Andros, who initially doesn't trust them, but after they help him in battle and help save his Astro Megaship, he awards them all new Astro Morphers, allowing them to transform into new Space Rangers. With the aid of new allies and old, such as the Silver Space Ranger, Zhane, and the Phantom Ranger, they face the monstrous Dark Specter, his herald of evil, Astronema, Astronema's loyal general and adopted father Ecliptor, and the homicidal "Psycho Rangers".

For the bulk of the series, the plot involves the Space Rangers trying to find Zordon, who's being prepared for death at the hands of Dark Specter so that the monster could absorb his powers into his own. To keep the Rangers from doing this, Astronema and Ecliptor launch attacks on Earth to keep the Rangers busy saving the planet instead of traveling to alien worlds. This culminates in the eight episode "Psycho Ranger" arc when Astronema releases evil, insane robotic Rangers on Earth to hunt down and kill the Space Rangers. The arrival of the Psycho Rangers came on the heels of Andros discovering the truth about Astronema, that she was Karone, his sister. It takes time for her to come to grips with this, but she proves to the Rangers who she really is by turning against Dark Specter and re-joining her brother. The remaining Rangers realize they were wrong about her and accept her. This does not last, as the arrival of the sadistic Darkonda results in Astronema being re-brainwashed and Ecliptor being defiled when Darkonda (who has multiple lives) forcibly gives Ecliptor cybernetic implants to remove any trace of good within him.

In the final two parter of the series "Countdown to Destruction", everything comes full-circle when Dark Specter attacks the Earth and all remaining strongholds of good in the universe while absorbing Zordon's life into his own at long last. The Space Rangers, the Aquitian Rangers, the Phantom Ranger, the Blue Senturion, the Gold Ranger, and the KO-35 rebels fight hard but they are outnumbered and outgunned. The Space Rangers, having lost two out of four Megazords, fight hard to defend Earth, but even with weapons such as the Battlizer, they are overwhelmed and forced to regroup. Darkonda decides he's done with being an underling and destroys Dark Specter with a weapon meant for Earth, but he is wiped out as well. Astronema is now the "Queen of Evil" now that Dark Specter is gone, and Andros, in a last-ditch effort, goes to the Dark Fortress to try to turn her back to good.

As the five remaining Space Rangers fight on Earth, Andros finds Zordon on the Fortress, no longer in danger of losing his power, and tells him to shatter his energy tube, allowing his energy to wipe out the forces of evil (those allied with Dark Specter). He would perish in the process. Before he can do so, Astronema attacks him, and Andros is unable to hurt his own sister, and gets beaten badly in the process. She is about to kill her own brother, but Andros deflects her fire, back at her, killing her. Ecliptor comes in and sees what happened, and his caring for Astronema returns. The two of them fight, with Andros winning, but then the unthinkable happens. Andros shatters the tube, allowing Zordon's essence to expand throughout the universe. Almost all of the known villains in the Power Rangers universe are obliterated, reverting into sand. Lord Zedd, Rita Repulsa, and Divatox are changed into human form, no longer evil.

The Dark Fortress touches down on Earth, and Andros, with his sister's lifeless body in his arms, emerges. As he cries for her, she comes back to life. The Rangers are overjoyed.

Evil has been defeated.

[edit]

Rangers

Image:Andros unmorphed.jpg

[edit]

Allies

[edit]

Villains

Template:Main

Villains from previous series also appeared. Information about these recurring villains can be found in the following articles:

[edit]

Arsenal

  • Astro Morpher - Morpher of the Space Rangers, developed on KO-35; utilized for morphing and communication.
    • Morphing Call: "Let's Rocket!"
  • Astro Power Weapons - Ranger special weapons; all weapons (except the Red Ranger's Spiral Saber) combine into Quadro Blaster.
  • Astro Blaster - Standard Ranger sidearm.
  • Battlizer - Special gauntlet worn by Red Ranger; It possesses 3 functions.
    • Delta Megazord controller
    • Energized Punches
    • Battlizer Armor - grants the Red Ranger an armored battlesuit that fires missiles and the power of flight.
  • Digimorpher - Morpher used by Silver Ranger.
  • Super Silverizer - Weapon of the Silver Ranger, serves as blaster and sword.
  • Galaxy Gliders - Surfboard-like transports used for both atmospheric and interstellar travel.
  • Silver Cycle - The Galaxy Glider of the Silver Ranger can also serve as a motorcycle.
  • Megatank - Armored transport used for interplanetary missions.
  • Galactic Rover - Dune buggy used by the Silver Ranger.
[edit]

Zords

Template:Main

  • Astro Delta Megazord (combination of Astro Megazord & Delta Megazord)
    • Astro Megazord (combination of Astro Megashuttle & Megaship)
      • Astro Megashuttle
      • Astro Megaship
    • Delta Megaship/Megazord
  • Winged Mega Voyager (Mega Voyager with the Mega Winger's wings attached)
    • Mega Voyager (combination of Mega Vehicles)
      • Mega V1 (Robo Voyager) (Red/Andros)
      • Mega V2 (Shuttle Voyager) (Black/Carlos)
      • Mega V3 (Rocket Voyager) (Blue/T.J.)
      • Mega V4 (Saucer Voyager) (Yellow/Ashley)
      • Mega V5 (Tank Voyager) (Pink/Cassie)
    • Mega Winger (Silver/Zhane)
[edit]

Trivia

  • The final battle between Ecliptor and Andros is a homage to the ending of Super Sentai series Gosei Sentai Dairanger (which had it's Zord fight scenes called for use in the second season of Power Rangers), in which the Ryuu Ranger (the Red Dairanger) duels with a villain one-on-one to the death, to resolve the season running conflict once and for all.
  • This was the last series to take place in Angel Grove, California.
  • This also was the last series to employ the built-in teleportation ability seen in all the previous seasons.
  • This was the first generation to feature individuals (Andros and Zhane) who were already rangers previous to the start of the series. This would be repeated in Power Rangers: Wild Force and Power Rangers: Mystic Force. (Note: You cannot count the MMPR Rangers, the Zeo Rangers nor Turbo Rangers because in all those cases it was the same individuals who were simply getting power upgrades in their respective following series).
  • The Power Rangers in Space team were the first to guest star in a Power Rangers series other than their own (second if you count the Alien Rangers).
  • It was also the second series to feature rangers from the previous seasons, with Adam (the second MMPR Black Ranger) and Justin (the Blue Turbo Ranger) making appearances. Power Rangers: Zeo was the first with the addition of Jason (the original MMPR Red Ranger) as the temporary Gold Ranger.
  • This was the first series to feature a Power Ranger as a blood relative to a villain, as Andros and Astronema were siblings. This would be repeated in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm with Cam the Green Samuari Ranger and Lothor, who would prove to be nephew and uncle.
  • It was the first series to feature a Red Ranger that receives Battlizer Armor.
  • This is the second series after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Metallic Armor, where the Power Rangers would use equipment that did not exist in the Super Sentai version, such as the Battlizer Armor and Galactic Rover. This is also the first Power Rangers series that would start a trend of adding in non-Sentai equipment for Power Rangers, in order to help market the PR toys that are sold by Bandai. This tradition continues even to today.
  • The only series so far featuring Megazord combinations without the term "Zord", Mega Voyager and Mega Winger. Both Megazords are also the only ones to share names with their Sentai counterparts.
  • The PRIS episode Always a Chance, featured Adam (MMPR-Turbo) return to help Carlos regain his confidence as a Power Ranger. Adam risked his life by using a damaged morpher to morph in the Black Ranger, which Alpha 6 warned Adam would destroy him. It is not known (inside canon) why he did not use his Zeo morphing power to help Carlos, as there is no evidence showing he lost or gave them to another Ranger. The production team's idea was, obviously, make the colors match, although they didn't count with such plothole.
  • This was the last series to feature the added scenes and bloopers which started back in Power Rangers: Zeo.
  • This was the first series to address the concept of death. In the episode Carlos on Call, it is revealed that Silvy's older brother died from a terminal illness (it is the first time a cemetary was featured on a Power Rangers series, Cole visiting both his own and his parents grave would be the second and last time in Wild Force), It also marks the death of Zordon. NOTE:(The concept would be repeated in Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy with the death of Kendrix the Lost Galaxy Pink Ranger and several main characters, Power Rangers: Time Force with the seeming demise of Alex the first Time Force Red Ranger, Power Rangers: Wild Force with Cole the Red Wild Force Ranger's parents being killed by Master Org, Power Rangers: Ninja Storm with the death Sensei's wife and Cam's mother Mrs. Wantanbe and Power Rangers: SPD with the death of Sky's father at the hands of Mirloc.
[edit]

See also


Template:Power Rangersfr:Power Rangers: Dans l'Espace ja:パワーレンジャー・イン・スペース nl:Power_Rangers:_In_Space pt:Power Rangers: In Space

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Power_Rangers:_In_Space"