Power Rangers Zeo

Power Rangers Zeo
Created by Haim Saban
Toei Company
Directed by Isaac Florentine
Vickie Bronaugh
Robert Radler
Douglas Sloan
Terence H. Winkless
Koichi Sakamoto
Larry Litton
Starring Jason David Frank
Nakia Burrise
Steve Cardenas
Johnny Yong Bosch
Catherine Sutherland
Austin St. John
David Yost
Paul Schrier
Jason Narvy
Richard Genelle
Gregg Bullock
Opening theme "Go Go Power Rangers" (Zeo Version) by Ron Wasserman
Composer(s) Shuki Levy
Kussa Mahchi
Jeremy Sweet
Ron Wasserman
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 50 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Haim Saban
Shuki Levy
Producer(s) Jonathan Tzachor
Location(s) Santa Clarita and
Los Angeles, California
Running time 20–21 minutes
Production company(s) Saban Entertainment
Renaissance Atlantic Entertainment
Toei Company, Ltd.
MMPR Productions, Inc.
Distributor Saban Brands
MarVista Entertainment
Saban International (previously)
Release
Original network FOX (Fox Kids)
Original release April 20 (1996-04-20) – November 27, 1996 (1996-11-27)
Chronology
Preceded by Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers
Followed by Power Rangers Turbo

Power Rangers Zeo is an American television series and the fourth season of the Power Rangers franchise, based on the Super Sentai series Chōriki Sentai Ohranger. It is the continuation of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which aired in 1996.[1][2][3][4][5]

Power Rangers Zeo is also the first season of Power Rangers to follow the Sentai practice of annual Ranger suit changes and also the last series to use "it's Morphin' Time" until the Neo-Saban era of Power Rangers returns with it as a pre-start command.

Plot

Power Rangers Zeo begins immediately after the events of Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, where Tommy and the other Rangers (Adam, Rocky, Tanya, Katherine and Billy) witness the destruction of the Command Center. After recovering, the powerless Rangers discover the Zeo Crystal intact in the rubble—apparently dropped by Goldar and Rito Revolto. The Crystal guides them to a portal, which takes them deep underground to the Power Chamber where they find Zordon and Alpha 5 waiting for them. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers become the Zeo Rangers, a new team of Rangers powered by the Zeo Crystal. The four remaining Mighty Morphin Rangers, Tommy, Adam, Rocky and Kat become Zeo Ranger V — Red, Zeo Ranger IV — Green, Zeo Ranger III — Blue and Zeo Ranger I — Pink respectively and Tanya Sloan joins the team as Zeo Ranger II — Yellow, while Billy chooses to become their technical advisor rather than continuing as a Ranger.

The Machine Empire, led by King Mondo and Queen Machina, enters Earth's solar system, seeking to conquer Earth, with the Zeo Rangers serving as the only opposition. Many, even Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, are forced to flee to the M51 Galaxy under the threat of destruction. Unbeknownst to anyone, Rito and Goldar – now amnesic – are left behind on Earth. They are taken in by Bulk and Skull, who have them serve as butlers. Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull continue to be members of the Junior Police Force until Lieutenant Stone is dismissed, when Bulk tries winning the heart of the chief's daughter. Quitting as a show of respect for Stone, they join him at his new detective agency.

Over time, the Machine Empire wears down the five Zeo Rangers, but they are rescued by the mysterious Gold Ranger. Though his identity is unknown, it quickly becomes clear he is there to help the Rangers. After he is injured in battle, it is revealed that Gold Ranger is an alien, Trey of Triforia. Split into three separate selves, Trey is forced to temporarily pass his powers to a worthy warrior while healing. They attempt to transfer Trey's powers to Billy, but as Billy acquired excess negative energy during the Command Center's destruction, he is unable to do so. The ultimate successor is Jason Lee Scott, the original Red Power Ranger and team leader. This event also sees the introduction of the more powerful Super Zeozords, which were used against a tougher generation of machines. The Super Zeo Megazord is powerful enough to later destroy King Mondo, creating a power vacuum in the Machine Empire.

Secretly returning from the M51 Galaxy, Lord Zedd and Rita seek to become top villains again. Operating out of an RV with Finster, they restore Goldar and Rito's memories, retrieving the pair in the process. After King Mondo is destroyed, they launch their first plan, to use Louie Kaboom to take over the Machine Empire. Though he succeeds, he breaks free of Zedd and Rita's control. He embarks on his own plans to conquer Earth and destroy the Zeo Rangers. Louie is eventually killed by King Mondo first-born son Prince Gasket and his wife Princess Archerina, who rule until King Mondo's reconstruction is complete and causes them to flee.

When Billy begins rapidly aging as a side-effect of restoring his proper age before undoing Master Vile's spell in the last series, the Zeo and Aquitian Rangers race to help him and fend off monsters from King Mondo as well as Zedd and Rita. Billy leaves Earth for treatment on Aquitar and chooses to stay to be with Cestria. Soon afterwards, it is discovered the Gold Ranger powers are leaving Jason and draining his life force in the process as the alien powers were not meant for a human. Trey is still in recovery, but a risky gamble with the Zeo Crystal heals him, restoring his powers. Rita and Lord Zedd finally get revenge on the Machine Empire by crippling their leaders with a bomb.

Characters

Zeo Rangers

Allies

Villains

Machine Empire

Evil Space Aliens

Identity of the Gold Ranger

During the middle of the series, the identity of the Gold Ranger was a constant teaser and a central plot theme. After many episodes of speculation, with other characters like Billy Cranston, David Trueheart, and even Eugene Skullovitch suspected, it was revealed the Gold Ranger was in fact Trey of Triforia, a new character. Former Red Ranger, Jason Lee Scott, obtained the powers of the Gold Ranger after Trey lost the ability to transform. Actor Brad Hawkins, who played Ryan Steele on VR Troopers, voiced the Gold Ranger early on. Saban had supposedly planned to use him after the end of VR Troopers as Ryan and put that series into the continuity of Power Rangers. However, for unknown reasons (believed to be scheduling conflicts), he was not used as the identity of the Gold Ranger, and instead Ted, Tim and Tom DiFilippo portrayed the three parts of Trey.

Episodes

Home media

In 2012, Shout Factory announced that it had reached an exclusive distribution deal with Saban for shows such as Power Rangers and Big Bad Beetleborgs. Power Rangers Zeo was released on DVD in August 2012, as part of a Time-Life exclusive boxed set containing seasons 1-7. The show later became available independently of the boxed set in two volumes, each containing 25 episodes.

Comics

Image Comics began publication of a Power Rangers Zeo comic in August 1996. It featured scripts by Tom and Mary Bierbaum, and art by Todd Nauck and Norm Rapmund. Four issues were drawn but only one was released before Image Comics lost the license.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mifflin, Lawrie (1996-04-10). "TV Notes; New, Improved 'Rangers'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  2. ↑ Griffiths, Ian (1997-03-23). "The famous five power back: A new breed of Power Ranger is eyeing your money, warns Ian Griffiths". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  3. ↑ Maurstad, Tom (1996-04-20). "Power Rangers Being 'replaced'". Wilmington Morning Star. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  4. ↑ Mangan, Jennifer (1996-05-09). "Costly Changes - A New Generation of Power Rangers Means New Toys". Chicago Tribune. p. Tempo 3. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  5. ↑ Willens, Michele (1996-04-20). "Can the Rangers Zeonize Back to Mere Hit Status?". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  6. ↑ Lovatt, Rich (2007-05-07). "Rich Interviews Todd Nauck". Comic By Comic. Archived from the original on 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
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