About Heroes

Written by: Mark Litton
Directed by: Robert Radler

The transition from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers into Power Rangers Zeo begins with this mini-series. This mini-series introduces Master Vile, Father to Rita Repulsa and Rito Revolto. This also introduces the Metallic Armor power up, despite the armor not being used very often in the remaining episodes of the season. Still, this mini series is full of incredible action, sensational zord battles, and uses a ton of Kakuranger Sentai footage.
The story begins with the rangers riding horses on a beautiful day in Angel Grove. Lt. Stone is sponsoring the event which means Bulk and Skull have to tag along despite their fear of riding on horseback. Suddenly, a surge of pure evil arrives at Rita and Zedd’s lunar palace. The sky quickly darkens and the rangers must teleport to the command center at once. At the lunar palace, Lord Zedd demands the intruder leave his throne room while Rita announces that this isn’t just any villain, this is her father Master Vile. Vile is furious that Rita has married Lord Zedd, stating, “Why couldn’t you have married someone with a skull!” Vile quickly takes control promising to destroy the rangers for good. He calls upon his Skull sky base and instructs Squatt and Babboo to feed the Tenga Warriors a special root that will make them unstoppable.
At the command center, Zordon tells his team that a being of pure evil has arrived on the moon. The rangers quickly meet Master Vile while looking at the viewing globe. Zordon states that Vile is the father of Rita and Rito and he has been conquering other galaxies many light years away. Adam is getting tired of Rita’s family stating, “Some family tree. First Rito and now this!” To combat this new threat, the rangers are given their new metallic armor. The metallic armor is basically a shiny gloss like material sprayed onto the regular ranger costumes. The armor will make the rangers unbeatable, but it must be used in only emergency situations. Suddenly, the Tenga Warriors begin their attack and the rangers quickly morph into action. The rangers are quickly surprised at the new strength and savagery the Tenga warriors posses. Tommy instructs his team to activate the metallic armor, and with their new armor the Tenga Warriors are defeated. Master Vile isn’t about to quit and creates his first monster, the Blue Globber. Vile instructs Globber to begin attacking Angel Grove. Back at the command center, Zordon tells his rangers that Master Vile is after the Zeo Crystal. The Zeo Crystal is a source on unlimited power and Vile must not get his hands on it. The Zeo Crystal is stored in the Caves of Deception under Zedd’s lunar fortress. Still, the Zeo Crystal is not unprotected. An energy field surrounds the Zeo Crystal and it will destroy anyone with even an ounce of evil within them. Any person who once committed an act of evil will be destroyed by the crystal’s force field. Tommy volunteers to go after the Zeo Crystal and Kat decides to join him. She is going to pretend to be evil once again in order for Tommy to get into the caves of deception unnoticed. The two morph and teleport to the Lunar Palace and Katherine removes her helmet and tells Rita and Zedd she wants to become evil once again. Tommy sneaks off to the caves of deception and Zedd tricks Kat into stepping into a device that will turn her evil once and for all.
Back on Earth, the other rangers call upon their Shogun Zords and combat the Blue Globber. The Globber drains the Shogun Megazord of its energy and Billy creates a device that will allow the rangers to summon their Ninja Zords. The Ninja Megazord doesn’t fare any better as the Globber drains the Ninja Megazord of its powers as well. Ninjor shows up to help the rangers but Globber is ready for him. The Globber drains Ninjor’s powers and takes Ninjor prisoner. What’s worse, the rangers can’t hit the Globber without endangering Ninjor. Since Ninjor is now connected to the Blue Globber all damage inflicted on the monster will also damage Ninjor himself. Master Vile watches the battle from his Skull Base and Lord Zedd can’t believe that Rita’s father is actually winning!
In the Caves of Deception Tommy faces many illusions as he nears the Zeo Crystal. Tommy confronts the following illusions on his quest: Goldar, his fellow rangers (who claim to have lost and decide to work for Master Vile) the Green Ranger (a very cool cameo) Rita Repulsa, Master Vile and eventually Katherine. Tommy reaches for the Zeo crystal but the force field attacks his body. For those not keeping score, Tommy was evil for a brief period. Clips are shown of evil green ranger Tommy from the Green With Evil mini-series from season one, followed by clips of Tommy fighting the good fight as the Green and White ranger. Due to the goodness in his heart, Tommy retrieves the Zeo Crystal. He teleports inside Rita and Zedd’s throne room and saves Katherine along with the captured Falcon Zord. Katherine and Tommy morph back into action, store the Zeo Crystal inside the falcon zord and show up to help their friends. With the Falcon Zord entering the game, the Blue Globber is caught off guard and things seem to be looking up for our heroes.
Master Vile isn’t done yet and the rangers realize they can’t keep fighting Globber as long as Ninjor is placed in danger. Globber finally drains all the zords of their powers and the rangers are kicked out of their own zords. Master Vile sends the zords to the distant planet in the galaxy he ruled over. The atmosphere of this planet creates a layer of corrosive rust that covers the now powerless zords. To make things even worse, Master Vile now has the Zeo Crystal! The Blue Globber then proceeds to drain the rangers of their powers. Tommy instructs his team to call upon the metallic armor; thus the rangers are able to escape. On his Skull airbase, Master Vile and the villains are celebrating their victory. Lord Zedd is clearly unhappy with the outcome of the battle. Zedd is sitting in a chair and very frustrated that Master Vile has defeated the rangers with such little effort. Rita and Rito tell Zedd to cheer up, and Master Vile decides to throw an end of the world party at Ernie’s Juice Bar. At the juice bar, Ernie and Bulk and Skull wonder where the rangers are when Master Vile arrives with his alien army. Master Vile tells the people of Angel Grove that this is the end of the world party. Zedd even joins in the festivities, despite still being bitter that Vile has won so easily. Another thing that is important about this scene is that this is the first time Bulk and Skull actually come face to face with Rita and Zedd. This will later be referenced in the 10th anniversary special, “Forever Red.”
At the command center, the rangers feel drained. Alpha constructs a device to re-energize the rangers. The rangers realize they must get their zords back, save Ninjor, re-claim the Zeo Crystal and stop Master Vile. While Billy, Adam, and Aisha begin to search for the zords, Tommy, Rocky and Kat go to the Juice Bar. At the Juice Bar, Bulk and Skull tell their friends they are really worried about the rangers and Goldar tells the rangers that there is no reason to fight any more since evil has won. Tommy, Rocky and Kat are instructed to return to the command center since Billy has found where the zords are. The rangers all morph back into action and teleport to the alien planet. On the planet, Billy tells the rangers to use their blade blasters to get through the layer of corrosive rust covering the Megazord. This allows the rangers to enter the Megazord. In the heart of the Megazord all six rangers summon the strength from the morphin grid and re-energize their zords. With the zords back in action the rangers return to Earth and prepare to save their world.
Master Vile once again sends Globber to confront the Zords. This time Globber uses the ranger’s own energy that he drained from them in part two. Notice in the sentai footage that the Alien Rangers helmets appear on the Blue Globber. For those who don’t know, the Kakurangers (alien rangers) were the core team in the Kakuranger series, not the Zyurangers (the MMPR power suits). That is why the ranger power helmets that appear on the Blue Globber look different. The rangers realize they must stop Blue Globber once and for all despite putting Ninjor in danger. Just as luck would have it, Ninjor escapes from Vile’s Skull Base and joins the rangers in battle. Master Vile grows angry and decides to grow to giant size and help Globber out. Ron Wasserman’s incredible rendition of the MMPR extended theme plays in the background during this fight. This helps show the severity of the battle and also enforces that the rangers will never give up despite impossible odds. Blue Globber is eventually destroyed and Ninjor is out of danger. Master Vile isn’t finished though and the final fight begins. Vile states, “Monsters may come and go but I Master Vile am here to stay!” Tommy then replies from his Falconzord, “Time to show you how it’s done, Master Vile!” and the rangers summon all their powers to send Master Vile running. The rangers once again gain control of the Zeo Crystal and Vile swears revenge.
In a deserted field, the rangers prepare to split the Zeo Crystal up into five sub sections. The rangers realize they need extra protection they summon the metallic armor. Zordon sends the pieces through a time stream, hiding all the pieces in various locations throughout time and space. By splitting the Zeo Crystal up no one can ever find the crystal and reassemble it. This plot really comes into play in the Mighty Morphin Alien Ranger 10-part mini-series not to far down the road.
With the Earth safe once more, the ranger teens finish their horseback riding event. Bulk and Skull still dread riding on horseback, and the Earth is safe once more.
Thoughts/Comments:
If any of you guys talk to Chris or Omar or Melanie they will tell you that I love the PR Zeo series. I absolutely love it! I mean, I even made Omar, Melanie, Tommy and Manuel all do the Zeo group morph at a bar on my birthday!(I was Zeo Ranger Five) When this mini series first aired I had no clue that the huge transition from MMPR to Zeo was about to occur. I didn’t think the Zeo Crystal would ever reappear and it’s really cool the writers started dropping hints with this mini-series. I love how the full, extended version of “Go Go Power Rangers” plays during the final Zord Fight in part three. I also enjoyed the evil Green Ranger’s cameo in the Caves of Deception. Also, this mini-series was where Bulk and Skull first meet Rita and Zedd. All in all, this is a historic moment in ranger history and I give all three parts a solid A+. I just wish MMPR DVD sets would be released, my copy of this I taped on VHS years ago is old and kind of static in quality. Still, this mini-series is a lot of fun and a great set up for the Power Rangers Zeo series.