August 28th, 1993. On that day twenty years ago, the show “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” later rebranded as simply “Power Rangers,” debuted on televisions across America, and children's programming hasn't been the same since. Centering on five “teenagers with attitude,” the show emphasized the importance of friendship and the benefits of teamwork in the form of a superhero series targeted at the impressionable youth of America.
And since then, the audience for “Power Rangers” has grown exponentially to not only include the five-to-twelve year olds of the current generation, but an entire generation who grew up watching the show from it's original incarnation, themselves between the ages of five and twelve when the show premiered. I, myself, was only a year and a half, but one of my earliest memories was receiving the movie version of the Ninja Megazord toy for Christmas in '95. I wish I still had that thing; fun toy, but worth quite a bit now.
For those who have been living under a rock, here's a basic overview of the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers:” set in the town of Angel Grove, California, five teenagers from the local high school are recruited by an interdimensional being called Zordon to fight a wicked space witch named Rita Repulsa and, later, her evil master Lord Zedd, and stop the pair from destroying the Earth. The five are able to call upon powerful assault vehicles called zords, which can come together to form the mighty Megazord.
Over the years, the cast has changed, as well as the costumes and zords, to keep up with the footage from the show's source material “Super Sentai.” And every year sees a new incarnation of the show, with hardly any lulls in the production of new episodes, save for 2010, which saw the show take a hiatus in favor of rebroadcasting the original “Mighty Morphin” episodes for a time. But the message of the show has remained the same: the power of teamwork overcomes all.
It's a very powerful message for any show, especially one with as much influence as this one. So then, why is this show still simply brushed off as “children's programming?” With a consistent focus on growing up, strong character building and development, awesome fight scenes, and characters who frequently put their lives on the line to defend the innocent (like most modern superhero dramas), has the time come to finally start taking the show seriously? I make the argument for this below.
Though the show is without doubt lighthearted in nature, there have been times when the focus is on more grown-up aspects of life. One example is a strong romantic arc between two lead characters: Tommy (Jason David Frank) and Kimberly; Tommy and Kat; Ashley and Andros; Cassie and the Phantom Ranger (pictured above; I'm still scratching my head fifteen years later over that), just to make a few cases.
Tommy and Kimberly first share an on screen kiss midway through Season 1, igniting an on-again/off-again relationship that would carry through Season 3, when actress Amy Jo Johnson (Kimberly) left the show for good. However, Tommy was able to pick up a new flame pretty quick in Johnson's replacement, Catherine Sutherland (Kat Hillard) with a relationship that, presumably, still exists today.
Another example of this is Ashley and Andros from “Power Rangers in Space”. Ashley is instantly smitten by Andros and his “fish-out-of-water” charm, though it takes a while for him to return her affection. And when he finally does, the result is one of the most believable and realistic aspects of that season.
The same could also be said for the relationship between Jen and Wes in Season 9: “Time Force”. In episode one of that season, set in the year 3000, Jen is asked by her boyfriend Alex to marry him. But his untimely death (itself an argument for the case being made, but more on that later) in that same episode caused her to become bitter and hateful. And that doesn't change even when she meets Wes in the year 2001. Though their relationship was rocky in the beginning, with the pair arguing over who was really leading the team, she eventually softened up to him over the course of the season, culminating with a teary-eyed profession of love to each other in the final episodes.
The way the show has handled the subject of love has been very mature and, though most of the “target audience” groans at the thought of their heroes kissing a member of the opposite sex (same-sex relationships haven't been brought up just yet), you can't deny that some of those more “alluring” female cast members have kick-started many a young man's journey into puberty.
Yeah, I don't know how she got into that suit either.
And in reverse for women, too. There's a reason girl's still swoon for Jason David Frank to this day, and it's not because “It's morphin time” sounded a thousand times better coming out of his mouth, either.
Another topic of discussion is the subject of death in the show. Though the show had made a clearly conscious decision early on to avoid the topic of death like the plague, instead using words like “destroy” and using sparks instead of blood to show injury (a logic-defying choice, sure, but hey, it's a show with giant robots and monsters; we'll bite). But as time wore on, talking about death became less and less taboo. The first instance of killing a major character came in the second part of the Season 7 “Lost Galaxy” crossover episode with the “in Space” Rangers, when Lost Galaxy Pink Ranger Kendrix sacrifices herself to save Cassie, the Pink Space Ranger, who herself was in danger of potentially dying. Though Kendrix was inexplicably resurrected in the season finale, her death had lasting impact on the remaining Lost Galaxy Rangers for the remainder of the season, and was the kick-off for the redeeming story arc for a previous major villain: Astronema, the long-missing sister of Andros, but more on this later.
Death was also present in “Time Force” when the main villain Ransik kills Alex, the Red Time Force Ranger, half-way through the episode. The ruthless murder is made even more tragic by the romance between him and Pink Ranger Jen, who is embittered by this action and becomes focused on getting her revenge at Ransik, even at the risk of her own life.
But in the end, Ransik repents for his crimes, which brings up another subject: redemption and forgiveness.
These are concepts on the show that go back nearly to the beginning with the “Green With Evil” story arc from Season 1. Perhaps the most famous arc of all, the five episode “mini series” (as it was billed at the time) featured the arrival of Tommy Oliver in Angel Grove. Rita kidnaps Tommy and forces him to become her Evil Green Ranger. Tommy broke into the Command Center, shut down Alpha 5, destroyed the command consoles, and cut off Zordon's communication with Earth. And this was just in episode one of that arc; the next four episodes, he repeatedly, mercilessly, handed the Power Ranger's their asses on a silver platter. Eventually, however, Rita's spell over Tommy is broken and, in an act of forgiveness, is offered a place alongside the Rangers as an ally. Though nervous about being accepted, Tommy soon finds himself right at home alongside his new teammates and friends, and continues to prove himself as the most popular Power Ranger.
A similar arc is made for Astronema, the main villainess for “Power Rangers in Space”, and the long-missing sister of Red Ranger Andros. Though it had been proven that she was brainwashed by her evil superiors (at least twice, mind you; she already went through a redemptive arc once during Season 6, but was quickly “reprogrammed” for evil once more), she still found it difficult to make amends with her evil deeds. When the opportunity arose for her to take Kendrix's place as the Pink Lost Galaxy Ranger, she took it and quickly found herself a hero as the new (and, in my opinion, better) Pink Ranger.
Another make for the case is this: the show's longevity itself. In twenty years, the show has produced approximately 780 aired episodes, just behind Dr. Who in that respect, which itself has 30 years on Power Rangers. If that isn't a testament to popularity, I don't know what is.
Though these are all good arguments, perhaps the most supporting evidence for this case is simply this: the fans, and the massive impact the show has had on popular culture.
The fans are the reason this show has gone on for twenty years, with no real sign of slowing down. They grew up watching this show; they've bought the endless stream of merchandise from store shelves; they celebrate with enormous conventions all over the world. Even the original Japanese program that inspired the show, and even lends it's footage to it, Super Sentai, has acknowledged the powerhouse that Power Rangers has become, with small references to the show such as including the phrase “It's morphin time” into recent episodes.
The show is currently in it's 20th season with “Power Rangers: Megaforce”, which will feature later in the season the return of many Power Rangers long past, including the legendary JDF as Tommy Oliver, for what has been dubbed “The Legendary War,” a massive battle that features every single Power Ranger ever.
And also, not only is it what the show has become that makes it a popular talking point, but what it has the potential to be.
Many fans are making the argument that Power Rangers should leave behind the “children's show” roots in favor of a darker, big-screen approach. There are dozens of fan-edited trailers showcasing this possibility (some of the better ones are below):
And then, there's this: a teaser trailer for a fan-production that goes before the cameras later this year.
Already on board with this fan-film are Robert Axelrod, the original voice for Lord Zedd, and David Fielding, the original voice for Zordon. Many other former Power Rangers alums have given their voice of approval, some even expressing a desire to make an appearance. Directed by one Dominick Sivilli, this fan-film is already creating buzz among the fan community, and could set the standard for where the show can go in the future. And while we're discussing this particular project, go to their Facebook and YouTube pages and show them some love.
The people who put so much time and effort into these productions are fans themselves who see the demand for a darker version of their beloved tale, and are longing to provide it, whole or partial.
So while many wait with baited breath for that “Dark Knight”-esque big-screen reboot of Power Rangers, we can all sit back and enjoy the show as it exists today on Netflix and, more recently, DVD (an event that I honestly had long given up hope would happen). Boxed sets containing several seasons sold like wildfire, and with the show's popularity back on the rise (though not quite to the all-time high of the mid- to late-nineties... yet), I think it is fair to say that “Power Rangers” is more than just a simple kid's show; it has become an integral part of not just American popular culture, but internationally, with fans the world over living out their fantasy (mostly in their heads, but for a lucky few who stand before the cameras each week, it's no mere fantasy) by saying that giggle-inducing catchphrase that has come to become the symbol of two different generations of fans: “It's morphin time!”
So is it really time for the science-fiction community to embrace “Power Rangers” as more than just a children's show, and as something more? I don't feel like I can give a definitive answer, but I can say that no matter whether it ever does, or if it never does, the show has become a time-honored symbol of our childhoods, and we wish it another rousing twenty years of success.