Power Rangers has had an interesting history here in North America. Power Ranges is actually a Japanese series called "Sentai" or something. Saban just decided to take the costumes, action scenes, special effects and whatnot, and add English actors and their own plot. And, amazingly enough, they had a national phenomenon on their hands. But phenomenon can last only for so long. A show about five (then six) teens who put on flashy costumes, did some martial arts against rubbery monsters and used gigantic robots (Zords) to fight can only go so far. Not to mention the poor acting and pathetic plots. So Saban tried to add new Zords, change Rangers and villains, and make a movie. Still, that could only stir interest for three years. So Saban tried to change both zords and ranger costumes. Thus came "Power Rangers: Zeo" But little had changed. Saban then decided to get in the habit of changing ranger themes every season, in sync with the Japanese series. Thus, "Power Rangers: Turbo" came next, as did another bad movie. Interest was seriously waning. It seemed like Power Rangers had ran it's course. FINALLY, Saban got it's act together and made "Power Rangers: In Space", a season that didn't focus entirely on flashy moves, spiffy looking Zords, but on overall plot and development. Power Rangers was actually watchable by people other than mindless little children now. And it had an awesome season finale that wrapped everything in previous seasons up. Now, Saban would do precisely the same as Sentai and change cast, plot, ranger themes, zords and everything every new season. It might help to keep interest alive. So next came: "Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy" It wasn't quite as good as "In Space", but showed that Saban at least still knew what they were doing. However, a big step back was taken with "Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue", a season that went back to the needless flashiness and pointless crap of the first five seasons. I didn't bother watching most of it. But things looked bright again with "Power Rangers: Time Force", where the focus was actually on the overall character development that took place over the season, mainly between the dilemma of the Pink Ranger (Jen) slowly learning to soften up and falling in love with the ancestor of her fiance, and the Quantum Ranger's (Eric) development into a less solitary and spiteful character, as well as understanding that Wes (Red Ranger) never did look down on him. And Now... Power Rangers: Wild Force. Verdict? So far: Not good. It seems as though Saban is AGAIN returning to the habit of having the rangers do needless flashy things, such as poses, and adding new Zords every six seconds to try and make it interesting rather than use character and plot. And what plot there is seems to wrap up in one episode rather than be strewn out over the whole season. But, it is fairly early, so it may be too soon to judge. "In Space" had a rough start, so this one may turn out for the better. Let's hope so. If Power Rangers can maintain genuine interest, I wouldn't mind seeing it go on. Otherwise, let it die and see if we can get something better in it's place.
Review of Power Rangers Wild Force
