YOPR: 41. Rita's Seed of Evil
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: A new-ish era of Power Rangers.
Why it matters: While still part of the show’s first season, “Rita’s Seed of Evil” could just as easily be thought of as the premiere of season two. It originally aired in February 1994, ending a hiatus lasting more than two months, by far the longest break for the nascent phenomenon. Would the kids still be captivated after what was originally billed as a finale? In short, yes. What were they greeted with upon return? More of the same, mostly, except with a slightly different vibe – the “Americaness” is a little thicker, bolstered mostly by the rock stylings of show musician Ron Wasserman, whose original music from henceforth takes on a much bigger role in the composition of fight scenes.
Episode MVP: Trees. The villain plot centers around a vine-wielding Monster of the Day (Octoplant) whom Rita has planted to distract from the actual plot – the Power Rangers are on another ecological mission! While past endeavors have highlighted things that are relatively out of everyday people’s control – corporate pollution and mass littering – here we’re reminded of the value that trees provide to the planet and its oft-ungrateful residents. The saplings planted by our heroes are effective conduits for humor, self-reflection and plot advancement – they aren’t on screen very long, but their branches are felt for the duration.
A good quote: “We got taken for a ride and then we got dumped.” – Bulk
Rating: 4/5 Port-A-Potties