Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special: Once and Always Discussion Thread

Bringing Back the Cast



Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers is one of the most iconic television shows of the 90s, and it has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world. The s7eries has continued on since 1993 with season themes ranging from dinosaurs to ninjas, to space travel, and more. Three feature films have been produced over the years – the first a standalone movie released in 1995, the second that falls in line with series canon released in 1997, the third a reboot released in 2017 – but nothing has captured the essence of the original show quite like the latest entry into the franchise, “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Once & Always.”



Fans of the original television series have been eagerly awaiting this release, and newcomers to the franchise are sure to be entertained by the action-packed adventure.



“Once & Always” was 55 minutes of nostalgia, sure, but it also was 55 minutes of modern storytelling that will appeal to both old and new fans. The special occurs in real time, allowing the overall Power Rangers story to grow and continue the characters’ developments from the last time we saw them. It is also the first time we’ve had 3 eras of the Mighty Morphin’ team represented at one time with season one’s Walter Emmanual Jones as “Zack Taylor, Black Ranger,” and David Yost as “Billy Cranston, Blue Ranger;” season two’s Johnny Yong Bosch “Adam Park,” Karan Ashley’s “Aisha Campbell,” and Steve Cardenas’s “Rocky DeSantos, Red Ranger;” and season three’s Catherine Sutherland’s “Kat Hillard, Pink Ranger” all appearing and interacting with each other.



Without giving away too much, the episode strikes a good balance between honoring the original series and updating it for today’s audience while giving the the characters the chance to feel more three-dimensional than they have in the past. Yet, it does still have its cheesy moments. But that’s just what Power Rangers is. It’s not too mature, and it’s not too dark. It’s pure action-packed fun. The acting performances can be weak at times, but they deliver their lines with sincerity and conviction. Especially in the more emotional moments. It is clear the actors slipped back into their roles as if no time has passed, and that they have the same charm and energy that made us fall in love with them in the first place.



“Once & Always” does an excellent job of fleshing out each character’s personality, and exploring their past and present struggles. Every character has their unique moment to shine and contribute to the plot. Fans will appreciate the interactions and jokes between the Rangers, and Ranger actors, that we never got to see share the same screen before.



Rocky still served as the comedic relief as we saw his character growth in Power Rangers Zeo (personally, I think he’ll be one of the standouts to viewers), and it is hammered home that Kat is married to Tommy and are raising a son together – not only keeping in the storyline of the BOOM! Studios comic “Soul of a Dragon,” but with the Power Rangers Zeo Christmas special “A Season to Remember.” And the Rangers have all kept in contact, and keeping up with Ranger duties while off-screen, being led by David Yost’s “Billy Cranston.”



The chemistry between the original cast is a highlight of the film. It is heartwarming to see how the actors have aged gracefully and how well they still interact, and act, with each other. The lead actors give top-notch performances, and their chemistry and camaraderie are palpable. The movie also does an excellent job of balancing the action with the emotional moments, which makes for a well-rounded viewing experience.







The Story


The special has the same beats you can expect to find in an episode: a civilian fight, the Rangers morphing to deal with a threat, a Megazord fight, and a feel-good moment to end the episode – STAY FOR THE CREDITS! IT IS WORTH IT – but the extra 25-minute run time gave the story room to breathe.



I was one of the ones who was vocal about not feeling particularly OK with the idea that Thuy Trang’s (who tragically passed away in 2001) character was due to suffer a tragic fate in the special. Of course, even I can agree that David Yost and Walter Jones, as close to Thuy as they were, would not have taken part in this special if anything offensive or disrespectful were to be done with her character or her name. I am happy to say that Trini’s tragedy was handled very, very well, and it did work as a central storyline for this special.



It helped bring some maturity to the special that fans have been asking for in a while, but not in a melodramatic way or, on the flipside, an overly dark way. It gave Walter and David room to show their acting chops, and to bring more levity to how hard it is to be a Power Ranger. Jones even had the great line of asking what one thought being a Power Ranger meant; “Cool fights? Quippy one liners?” (Paraphrased.) It is about making tough decisions, even when you are working through anger, hurt, and worry to protect and serve justice for everyone – not just one person.



Newcomer Charlie Kersh, who plays Trini’s daughter “Minh”, is not only effective in the role showcasing a real “teenager with attitude” going through grief, but it also gives her the chance to show off her martial arts background. Kersh is a talented martial artist and stunt actor, and is given time with the Ranger actors, and on her own, to show off her talent. Continuing her mother’s legacy, it is apparent why she was hired to portray Trini Kwan’s daughter. There is a gracefulness and quiet power the two actresses shared (and there is even a similar fight move that is quickly seen in the special by Minh, reminiscent of Trini) that makes Thuy’s absence felt not just in the special but to the viewers watching the episode. Tied in with Ron Wasserman’s scoring under the somber beats, you are sharing Minh’s and the Rangers’ feelings in regard to the absence of their dear friend.



Since it was revealed that Rita Repulsa makes an appearance in this special, many hardcore Power Rangers fans wondered how she would return knowing her fate in the main series. This special explained this result in a way that makes sense and continues to push the limits of what we already know to be true to the Power Rangers universe. It, and the roles that Adam and AIsha play in the series continues to weave together storylines and plot points of the Power Rangers universe that many fans felt were confined to their respective seasons.







Weak Points



“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always” is a fun and entertaining movie that will please fans of the original series. The film’s cinematography and camera techniques are excellent, and the filmmakers manage to create an immersive atmosphere. The camera work is smooth, and the film uses different camera angles and shots to convey the characters’ emotions and the story’s stakes.



However, there were one too many slow-motion actions shots I felt wasn’t necessarily needed. Whether the Rangers were morphed or taking part in a civilian fight, each time a fight came around, there was at least one slow-motion action shot. There are moments that it stood out and worked with the plot (such as the trailer shot with the Blue Ranger flipping over Robo-RIta’s sceptor), but a simple jumping motion to indicate an oncoming attack in the streets of Angel Grove, or whenever a Ranger took their shot center camera to charge towards an enemy was a bit too much.



We also didn’t get the chance to fully understand where Adam and Aisha were, what they were doing, and the overall ties it has to this special. I wish we could have seen more of these two with the never-before-seen S.P.A. they are a part of (as emblazoned on their uniform-like jackets), how they got to be a part of S.P.A. and what all that entails. The special did do an excellent job of bringing back as many people as possible, and who knows if Karan Ashley, Johnny Yong Bosch, Steve Cardenas, and Catherine Sutherland’s characters would be there if Austin St. John and Amy Jo Johnson were slated to return.



In that regard, the special was already filled with getting as many returning cast members as possible, and references to other seasons so it’s understandable why it wasn’t done. It just would have been nice to see as it was new to the Power Rangers world vai this special. Maybe if this was a two hour special (or maybe even a mini-series with hour long episodes) we could have gotten more of a full explanation to where and how the Rangers got to where they are.



Another weak moment was how often they rehashed Minh’s continuous anger at Robo-Rita Repulsa and her recklessness. While it did tie in to the behavior of a real “teenager with attitude,” and it gave Charlie Kersh enough time on her own to prove Minh’s worth, the conversations and Minh’s being told to “stay put” came one too many times for my liking.







Conclusion



If you’ve been around the fandom for a while, you know details including filming photos, voice actors, and character roles can and will be shared by me - and these may be spoilers for the production. That being said, even knowing how spoiler-filled posts I post can be, it was better that I went into this with little information.



Spread the word about this special. Spread it as far and wide as you can. It was an anniversary episode that was clearly made with love and respect for the brand, characters, actors, and the overall story. It could be a one-off thing, but there is room to move forward from here that could keep the Power Rangers story engaging, and ready for even the next generation to welcome it with open arms. Just remember that this is a special celebrating 30 years of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and not Power Rangers as a whole – though there are clever references and Easter Eggs to other seasons in the franchise. If you remembered



Overall, if you’re a fan of the Power Rangers franchise or just looking for a fun and entertaining hour of action, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always” is worth checking out. For those who grew up in the ’90s, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was probably one of the coolest things we watched on TV. It was the perfect combination of action, humor, and science fiction that captured our imagination and this special contained those elements.



It is for every Power Rangers fan who has stuck with the brand since 1993. It is for the Power Rangers fans who stopped watching and have slowly come back to confirm for themselves that, yes, “that show is still on.” It is for anyone who would like a fun introduction to the world of Power Rangers, and maybe it’ll serve as a driving force to binge-watch the series all over again. While the special may not be perfect for everyone, it was better than what I could have ever asked for. And I can’t wait to watch it again.



Standout Character(s)/Actor(s): Steve Cardenas (Rocky) for comic relief and Walter Jones (Zack) for his acting in the slower, more sentimental scenes. David Yost (Billy) is truly the lead of this special and it’s great to see more from him.



Standout Moment(s): “It’s Morphin’ Time!,” The Angel Grove Juice Bar Putty fight, Minh and Zack’s fighting styles, and the MMPR theme.