Advance Review: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers “Once & Always”
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by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
Back in the year 1993, a group of teenagers were given powers by an alien wizard and were tasked to save the world from evil space aliens on a weekly basis. Colorful heroes, giant robots, comedic antics, and powerful messages about inclusion & community were prominent throughout each installment. Like many of you, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers were a very important part of my childhood. I remember racing home to watch the “Green With Evil” mini-series. I remember where I was when “Doomsday” first aired. I remember the impact of the prime-time introduction of Lord Zedd in “The Mutiny”. These weren’t just episodes, these were milestones. Tomorrow, fans will get to experience another major milestone in the history of the franchise, as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers “Once & Always”is set to reunite many of the original cast members for the global release on Netflix!
Now, behold the Viewing Globe and beware of minor spoilers:
Photo Credit: Hasbro/eOne – Steve Cardenas (Red Ranger / Rocky DeSantos), Walter E. Jones (Black Ranger Zack Taylor), David Yost (Blue Ranger/Billy Cranston) and Catherine Sutherland (Pink Ranger / Kat Hillard) in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
“Once & Always” features the return of David Yost as Blue Ranger / Billy Cranston, Walter Emanuel Jones as Black Ranger / Zack Taylor, Steve Cardenas as Red Ranger / Rocky DeSantos, Catherine Sutherland as Pink Ranger / Kat Hillard, Karan Ashley as Yellow Ranger / Aisha Campbell, Johnny Yong Bosch as Black Ranger / Adam Park, Barbara Goodson as the voice of Rita Repulsa, and Richard Horvitz as the voice of Alpha. The special also features the introduction of Charlie Kersh as Minh, daughter of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan.
Photo Credit: Hasbro/eOne – David Yost as Blue Ranger Billy Cranston and Walter E. Jones as Black Ranger Zack Taylor in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always.
The special wastes no time getting viewers back into nostalgia mode, as the episode kicks off mid-battle with a newly returned Robo Rita (yay non-linear storytelling!). Having lured Rita and the Putties to the Angel Grove Cliffs, Billy prepares to once again face the Empress of Evil for one of the most important battles of his life. Reinforcements quickly arrive in the form of Jason, Zack, Kimberly, Trini, and Tommy. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers have an explosive entrance, and an amazing opening sequence kicks into high gear as Ron Wasserman’s updated version of the theme song blazes in the background. Rita’s return raises the stakes, as Trini heroically takes a killing blow meant for her fellow Ranger, and the MMPR team are left stunned as one of their own falls. Can the Rangers stop Robo Rita from unleashing her master plan? How did Rita return in the first place? And what will they tell Trini’s daughter Minh about the fate of her mother? All this and more will be revealed tomorrow on Power Rangers!
Photo Credit: Hasbro/eOne – David Yost (Blue Ranger/ Billy Cranston), Walter E. Jones (Black Ranger /Zack Taylor) and Charlie Kersh (Minh, daughter of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan) in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always.
From the moment they appear on screen, you can tell that the returning cast of “Once & Always” were thrilled to be telling this story. The energy that exudes from this group is infectious, and you will feel like a kid again as Walter, David, Steve, Catherine, Johnny, and Karan make their presence known. I was so glad that Walter and David got to take center stage throughout the special, highlighting the importance of their return to the franchise after all these years. The acting of these two in particular was truly impressive, and it was great to see how much their professional skills have leveled up since we last saw them in action. Catherine and Steve getting back to action might have been teased in the clip that was released a few days ago, but you will love the approach that these two took to their returning characters. You can tell that this group just loves being Rangers, and their joy just further enhances the overall experience. I was a bit disappointed by the amount of time that we got with Karan and Johnny (we do get some in-universe updates on what they are up to), but I did love seeing the Stone Canyon Trio reunite on screen. The special also featured the return of Barbara Goodson and Richard Horwitz as Rita and Alpha 9, further recapturing the magic of the original series with stellar vocal performances.
It might have taken 20+ years, but the Power Rangers team finally had the opportunity to address the tragic passing of Thuy Trang. Trini’s presence and heroic sacrifice are felt throughout the story, honoring her legacy in a surprising and impactful way. Charlie Kersh was the absolute standout of the special, as she learned the challenges of being a Ranger and more about the important role that her mother played in all of our lives. This talented young actor nailed the role, demonstrating an emotional range, light-hearted humor, and impressive fighting skills that are reminiscent of the original Teenagers with Attitude. You will be cheering Minh on every step of the way, and she was the perfect addition to channel both growth and loss. Although original cast members Austin St. John, Amy Jo Johnson, and Jason David Frank were not on set for the special, you will absolutely feel the presence of their respective characters as Jason, Kimberly, and Tommy do play an important role throughout the narrative. As much as I would have loved to have them join in for the adventure, I was pleased with the approach that was taken to honor the cultural impact of these characters, as well as the fitting tribute to our lost heroes Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank.
Photo Credit: Hasbro/eOne – Steve Cardenas (Red Ranger / Rocky DeSantos), David Yost (Blue Ranger/Billy Cranston) and Catherine Sutherland (Pink Ranger / Kat Hillard) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
From a production standpoint, everything old is new again. From the Command Center to the Juice Bar, the creative team have crafted the perfect blend of nostalgic, yet updated, set pieces for the return to Angel Grove. I loved the approach to the new Command Center in particular, with the updated digital consoles and technology developed by Cranston Industries. The Moon Palace was equally as impressive, as the aging evil lair felt even more ominous with its sparse and dark set decoration, aligning perfectly with the robotic new version of Rita. Also, you are going to love the new Megazord Cockpit and who takes the center seat.
“Once & Always” also featured the triumphant return of composer Ron Wasserman. He masterfully crafted a score that balanced honoring the original series and raising the bar to the next level. Bringing him back to handle the music was a wonderful choice, and you will be cheering along as the rocking instrumentals and orchestral tones fill your ears.
With all that being said, I have two minor nitpicks. I was disappointed that Paul Schrier (Bulk) and Jason Narvy (Skull) were not included in the special. Although their characters were honored as well, I felt that they deserved more than a slight nod. The only other element that surprised me was how cartoony the CGI was for the Megazord battle, especially with how polished everything else was. Now, considering the original footage featured toys and a guy in a suit, this is still a big step up. Despite this criticism (which again is quite minor), I very much enjoyed the actual Zord sequence and the final battle with Rita’s forces.
Overall
It was fun, nostalgic, and a bit ridiculous at times….all perfectly in line with the show I remember. Most importantly, you can tell that a lot of love and thought went into this release. The story and finished product felt worthy of the anniversary, and I have no doubt that it will resonate well with fans. Ultimately, I felt like a kid again and I loved seeing my old friends reunite for this special adventure.
Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.
Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: “Once & Always” – 5 out of 5 trips to the juice bar.
Photo Credit: Hasbro/eOne
We are pleased to share Part 2 in our Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Interview Series– coming exclusively to ComicsOnline!
Join host Matt Sernaker as he reunites with old friends Walter Emanuel Jones (Zack), Catherine Sutherland (Kat), Steve Cardenas (Rocky), David Fielding (Zordon), Ron Wasserman (Composer), and other surprise Power Rangers Alumni for this unique series of conversations.
Our second installment features Catherine Sutherland, who returns once again as Kat! Topics included the legacy of the franchise, the upcoming MMPR “Once & Always” Netflix special, Power Rangers Playback, Power Rangers Theme Songs, and more!
Disclaimer: For those of you who are concerned about Mighty Morphin Power Rangers “Once & Always” spoilers, we do not reveal any new story elements in this installment (only production elements and previously released footage are discussed).
Be sure to check out Part 1 of our interview series featuring Walter Emanuel Jones:
Don’t miss a morpinominal moment by subscribing to the new COMICSONLINE YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Episode 3 will be released on Wednesday (April 19th) and features musical mastermind Ron Wasserman.
The special hits Netflix on April 19th. Global release schedule is listed below.
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Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for our exclusive Mighty Morphin Power Rangers coverage, including exclusive interviews, Boom! Studios comic reviews, and everything geek pop culture!
(Managing Editor/Director of Media Relations)
Matt interviewed MacGyver once (true story), and was invited on a submarine to the Arctic. It hasn't happened yet, but Matt hopes that some day he will get the call and he and Richard Dean Anderson will go off and have a wacky adventure.
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