YOPR: 26. Gung Ho!
On April 19, MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: ONCE AND ALWAYS premieres on Netflix. I’m writing about all 60 episodes of MMPR’s first season in the lead-up to that premiere.
If you’d like to follow along on this rewatch, entirety of MMPR’s first season is available for free (with ads) on YouTube
One-sentence synopsis: Nearly halfway through the series, a reminder about teamwork is needed.
Why it matters: From the outset, Power Rangers established that the Red Ranger is, almost exclusively, the leader of their team. The unspoken truth, at least within the show, is that since the introduction of Tommy, the Power Rangers now have two members who are, more or less, the same character archetype. Jason and Tommy are unique enough in their personalities to not be confused with one another, but both are the “jock/alpha/etc.” of this group that, for quite a bit of time, consisted of five distinct parts. The show refrains from diving into this dynamic on a super-deep level, but here it does spotlight the fact that they’re cast members who overlap rather than easily complement one another. What I enjoy about it is that their inability to be on the same page isn’t rooted in their superpowers, but their martial arts abilities. It’s a solidly constructed episode willing to focus on the competitive turmoil that can bubble up, even between friends, but it’s more so a terrific exhibition for two real-life martial artists to showcase their incredible talents (and impressive abs).
Episode MVP: Jason. Outside of “Green with Evil,” the Red Ranger through the first 30 episodes is given little in the way of character development. Even there, one could argue it was less “development” than it was “a terrific showcase of this character’s importance to his team.” In “Gung Ho!,” though, we get a really good look at what drives this guy. Having a physical equal to push him, in and outside of the red spandex, is something Jason didn’t know he needed – to make him a better leader and to make his actor, Austin St. John, a better performer.
A good quote: “That’s what losers look like.” – Bulk
Rating: 4/5 Thunder Slingers
