Ever since the release of the live-action Power Rangers movie, my childhood obsession has been renewed and I don’t want to stop this awesome trip down memory lane. Even though I’m hoping for a potential sequel to the movie, after a less-than phenomenal financial debut in China there are some rumors that another movie may not be in the cards. I’m a little disappointed, especially since I was looking forward to the potential appearance of the fan favorite Green Ranger, but I at least appreciate that such a morphinominal and respectful adaptation exists.
Since there is a chance that a sequel won’t be made (and I don’t have much else to do this summer) I have been spending a lot of free time on Netflix, rewatching some of my favorite Power Rangers series that I would watch every Saturday morning as a kid.
Here is a short list of five Power Rangers classics that everyone who wants to revisit their love for Power Rangers should definitely check out.
1. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
This is probably the Power Rangers series that everyone thinks about when they hear the phrase “Power Rangers.” It was the first in a long line of Power Rangers series with all kinds of campy action and corny puns. It also features one of the best story arcs in all of Power Rangers, “Green with Evil”, which introduces Tommy Oliver (played by Jason David Frank), the Green Ranger.
2. Power Rangers in Space
After Mighty Morphin, Zeo, and Turbo, Power Rangers in Space was the next and final series in what many consider to be the Zordon era of Power Rangers. To be honest, I didn’t see too much of this series as a kid and I think my appreciation of Power Rangers in Space only grew as I got older and understood more of the narrative behind Power Rangers. It actually serves as a pretty satisfying ending to the Power Rangers series and I hear that many would have been happy if Power Rangers had ended here.
3. Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue
I like Power Rangers that don’t have a clearly defined theme (like dinosaurs, cars, and pirates) and are more of a super powered law enforcement team. I don’t really remember for sure what Power Rangers series I started off with, but I am pretty sure that it was Lightspeed Rescue. I even remember I used to have an action figure of the Green Lightspeed Rescue Ranger. This series is also known for having the first American Power Ranger, the Titanium Ranger, whose scenes were not taken from the original Japanese Super Sentai series and dubbed over.
4. Power Rangers Wild Force
The reason I mention Wild Force is because of one specific episode: “Forever Red”. It was the first time that every Red Ranger since Mighty Morphin was together to fight against a powerful evil. The story was pretty typical for Power Rangers, but as a kid, “Forever Red” seemed like the coolest thing ever. I also remember the Wild Force and Time Force team-up that was probably the best Power Rangers team-up of all time!
5. Power Rangers Dino Thunder
This series was a kind of return to the original formula that made Power Rangers so cool. Teenagers with attitude powered up by the abilities of dinosaurs to battle an incredible evil force, including a corrupt and brainwashed ranger. Besides the return of dinosaur themed costumes, Dino Thunder also brought back Tommy Oliver, this time as the mentor of the new Rangers and the Black Dino Ranger.
So, if anyone is like me, and wants to relive their Power Rangers filled childhood, get on Netflix right away and indulge in epic battles between an elite force of justice in brightly colored spandex versus strange rubber monsters.
