EJ Moreno looks back at Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and its most iconic moments…
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and we need to look back at the memorable first three seasons that launched a worldwide phenomenon. During its iconic 155-episode run, we saw a group of teenagers fight to protect the world and deliver smiles to every viewer.
For this list, we’ll look at six of the most notable moments throughout the run, looking at episodes from all three seasons and finding out which stuck with us Mighty Morphin fans for thirty years…
Ninjazords Introduction
Following the release of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie, the series needed to catch up in terms of new suits and Zords. That’s where we get the four-part story titled Ninja Quest. During this, the Rangers get their Ninja Powers and new Zords, entering yet another era for the team.
As a fan, this look and era always stand out to me. The inclusion of Rito Revolto, the replacements for the Putty, and the two-costume Ranger moment all came together to make it feel insanely memorable. Oh, and you can’t forget this helped complete the growth of Bulk and Skull as they joined the Angel Grove Junior Police Patrol.
Day of the Dumpster
No recap of Mighty Morphin would be complete without the top-tier series premiere. The episode is far from the best, but there’s not only nostalgia attached but crucial early character moments. We’d never be at the upcoming 30th-anniversary special without this humble beginning.
It’s impressive to see what they squeezed into this episode, giving a complete mythos introduction and a stellar Zord battle within the first episode. Day of the Dumpster is a rare perfect first episode of a series; there are surely faults of its time, but it’s the ideal way to sell a budding franchise. Props to Machiko Soga for being the episode MVP, by the way.
Power Rangers Power Transfer
We’d soon come to know a rotating cast of Rangers, but the power transfer we saw in season 2 felt like a ground-breaking moment. Adding new characters, like the introduction of Tommy, was already a big deal, but seeing Jason, Zack, and Trini leave for Rocky, Adam, and Aisha shook us.
On a personal note, I do enjoy the new members, mostly since I adored Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, and Rocky, Adam, and Aisha all added to it perfectly. Their inclusion in the series always felt great and would pave the way for Rangers to easily leave, like Kimberly stepping away for Kat to join in season 3.
The White Ranger Revealed
Tommy, played by the late Jason David Frank, could quickly fill up a top ten with his best moments, especially spanning all the seasons. What helped cement his legacy, though, was when he became The White Ranger. We’ll get to his very green introduction later, but we’ll look at this epic reveal.
Our White Ranger intro was a defining season 2 moment, further defining the series’ legacy. The White Ranger had all the badass things we loved about Tommy in the green suit; there was just an added ‘wow factor’ to the look. But it was also more than that as we saw Tommy come into his own and start his journey to the group leader.
The Mutiny
If you wanted a small glimpse at the drama that could come from Power Rangers, this Mighty Morphin season 2 premiere gives you all the feels. We saw a seismic shift in our story and characters from The Mutiny, the episode in which Lord Zedd first appeared.
Kicking off season 2 with a three-parter like this showed the creators were looking to push the show’s narratives leaps and bounds ahead of the first season. Not only that, but we also saw the first set of Zords perish and met the just as iconic Thunderzords. Much like the season one premiere, this one is a joy to watch now.
Green With Evil Arc
The Green Ranger is possibly the most iconic moment of Mighty Morphin; not just the Ranger himself, but everything involving this dynamic character. From his reveal in the series to his eventual babyface turn, Jason David Frank ate up every moment of his initial run on the series.
From his start as Rita’s evil puppet to becoming part of the team, it all came together to become a defining and iconic moment for Power Rangers. We’d see Tommy throughout the entire show, and we can not stress enough that we saw a true megastar born through these silly and compelling television episodes.
SEE ALSO: The true stories behind Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
What are your favourite Mighty Morphin Power Rangers moments? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
EJ Moreno
