Power Rangers Series With The Best Stories

Summary

• Power Rangers series have surprisingly fleshed-out plots that resonate with both kids and adults.
• Lightspeed Rescue and Lost Galaxy are standout series with detailed worldbuilding and captivating storylines.
• Cosmic Fury sets up a grand finale for the franchise, balancing narrative depth and closure for fans.

While it’s true that Power Rangers is catered for children, some stories within the franchise are actually surprisingly fleshed-out and well-developed for their target audience. In fact, it’s precisely because of riveting plots of some Power Rangers series that made them quite iconic not just to kids but even adults today. While it’s true that viewers need to extend some sort of suspension of disbelief when watching these teenagers save the world, the level of detail production has put into some of the series has made a Power Rangers team even more awesome than they already were.

Thankfully, the show’s rich history has provided fans with a plethora of themes, motifs, and even story beats that a Power Rangers show has either followed, paid homage to, or even subverted entirely. In the context of seasons with the best story, just which Power Rangers series hit the mark?

10

Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue

An Epic Introduction To A True Post-Zordon Era Power Rangers

• Release Date: February 12, 2000

When ancient demons from beneath Mariner Bay threaten the populace, Captain Mitchell and the organization Lightspeed task its recruits to defend the civilians and eliminate the demonic threat. In Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, the Lightspeed Rangers aren’t created through magic or some hyper-scientific powers but sheer human ingenuity. While Lost Galaxy “technically” starred a completely new team outside Zordon’s influence, some remnants of In Space meant the season is still tied to its MMPR roots – Lightspeed Rescue gave viewers an almost Zordon-independent Power Rangers season (sans “Trakeena’s Revenge”) and set the bar for a standalone series.

Lightspeed Rescue’s worldbuilding is another class for its time, featuring a team of first responders and human-made Zords that remain grounded to the season’s rescue theme. Although sandwiched between epic seasons (In Space, Lost Galaxy, Time Force) and possessing some oddities (such as the Ranger suits and villain dynamics), Lightspeed Rescue is home to interesting storylines such as the mystery of Mariner Bay, Carter Grayson’s stellar development as a Red Ranger, and even the constant backstabbing among its villains.

9

Power Rangers Lost Galaxy

A Stellar Reconciliation Of Space Stories Despite Production Woes

Greenlit after the relative success of In Space, the story of Power Rangers Lost Galaxy begins when a group of teenagers from Angel Grove depart in the space colony Terra Venture to search for planets like Earth. However, a chance encounter with Quasar Sabers transforms them into the Lost Galaxy Rangers – a much-needed help against the forces of the alien Trakeena. Despite production woes that could often bog down a Power Rangers series, Lost Galaxy manages to bring forth one of the more mature yet narratively impressive seasons of the franchise to date.

An unfortunate side plot involving the season’s name aside, Lost Galaxy is home to some of the most interesting arcs in the series – particularly Trakeena’s true nature, the mystery behind Magna Defender, and the fate of some of its Rangers. Perhaps all the more impressive is that the space-themed Lost Galaxy’s source material, Seiju Sentai Gingaman, is nature-themed – making the reconciliation of high-octane space battles with jungle-themed scenes quite interesting to check out.

8

Power Rangers Beast Morphers

Hasbro’s Charged Introduction In A Post-Saban Era

When a sentient computer virus named Evox made fighting with machines almost impossible, the Grid Battleforce agency used special Morph-X with animal DNA to create their Rangers: the Grid Battleforce Rangers. When Evox creates evil clones of their two best Ranger candidates, Grid Battleforce is forced to turn two new cadets into Rangers – making the war to save the Earth even more perilous in Power Rangers Beast Morphers.

Although the chosen source material Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters is more of an “extra” Sentai season than an official entry, Hasbro managed to up the ante and provide a well-paced narrative for the cast. All Rangers now have more serious motivations – Battleforce Blue Ravi needs to save his girlfriend Roxy after being turned evil, Battleforce Yellow Roxy strives to prove her worth after her cadet demotion, Battleforce Gold Nate reconciles his need for sibling love, and Battleforce Silver Steel studies what it means to be “human.” Perhaps more interesting is how Beast Morphers also reconciles some plotlines from other Power Rangers series, specifically a surprising connection to RPM.

7

Power Rangers SPD

It’s Men-In-Black Meets Power Rangers

Humanity faces an inevitable future with aliens (and superpowered people), and it’s up to Space Patrol Delta to maintain peace throughout the galaxy. The story of Power Rangers SPD begins when the rookie B-Squad is assigned to the forefront when their A-Squad comrades go missing and, in a weird twist of fate, are put under the leadership of the delinquent Jack Landors – instead of the well-trained Sky Tate, who is now designated SPD Blue Ranger. This early dynamic places Power Rangers SPD as more or less a pseudo-police procedural, where the B-Squad uses their superhuman powers to solve a case and transform into the SPD Rangers when criminals decide to play hard to get.

Tensions between Jack and Sky are always a delight to see, especially when they finally put their differences aside. The series is also among the few seasons where extra Rangers are both plentiful and active, marking the debut of the time-travelling Omega Ranger (sadly just a ball of light), the badass Shadow Ranger (their commander Anubis Kreuger), and even the resident scientist as the Kat Ranger. Discovering the fate of the A-Squad is also a treat to fans, as SPD closes this arc with quite a suspenseful approach.

6

Power Rangers Dino Charge

A Breath Of Fresh Prehistoric Air From The Controversial Neo-Saban Era

Dinosaurs in Power Rangers lore weren’t just made extinct by a random asteroid, but collateral damage in the fight between the Keeper entrusted to keep the mystical Energems safe and the intergalactic bounty hunter Sledge. And when Sledge returns to Earth in the present after being trapped in deep space, Keeper searches for the teens who got their hands on the Energems to train them as the Dino Charge Rangers. This convoluted backstory aside, precisely this attention to detail made Power Rangers Dino Charge one of the more memorable Neo-Saban entries in the franchise.

Dino Charge becomes a compelling watch for fans who want a decent mix between narrative cohesion and comedy, as the series loves its quips without going too overboard. Fans who love seeing many Rangers will also appreciate Dino Charge, as the series is notable for having the largest Ranger roster in one season beyond its sixth Dino Charge Gold Ranger. The season is also notable for its decent take on character development, especially when establishing the dynamic between the main Rangers and their villains, the arrival of their sixth Ranger, the entry of the extra Rangers, and a compelling rival-to-ally arc of a specific villain.

5

Power Rangers RPM

Ending Disney’s Run With The Terminator’s Worst Case Scenario

With Go-Onger dazzling fans with its racing motif complete with talking mecha, it’s become quite a surprise for Disney to end its stint with Power Rangers with a concept that is almost the complete opposite theme: a story in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity’s last city of Corinth deploys Ranger Operators – Power Rangers RPM – to fight an evil AI called Venjix from completely dominating the world. Initially led by military-trained Scott Truman and teammates Flynn and Summer, the RPM Rangers are soon joined by comedic Ziggy, the mysterious Dillon, and wonder twins Gem and Gemma.

Despite its dark storyline, Power Rangers RPM delights fans with a cohesive narrative and solid character development – with all of its cast members having personal stakes that all get weaved into an overarching plot. Behind the awesome gadgets (and hilariously-explained meta elements like explosions and oddly cartoonish mecha in a desolate world) of Doctor K are ties related to Venjix’s ride, while the tension between amnesiac Dillon and murderous villain Tenaya is more than meets the eye. While RPM has a short story and a rather mature premise, it’s an underrated entry in the series that is worth a visit.

4

Power Rangers In Space

A Fitting Closer To The Zordon Era

While notable today as the final act to the “Zordon Era” in the franchise, Power Rangers in Space was initially conceptualized as the last Power Rangers series “ever” with the dismal ratings of Power Rangers Turbo. As with early-era Power Rangers, In Space radically goes away from its source material Megaranger’s story and becomes its own thing. Immediately following up on Turbo’s events, the Rangers venture into space to save Zordon from the hands of the United Alliance of Evil – with a reluctant Andros eventually inviting the former Turbo Rangers to become Space Rangers and stop the new Princess of Evil, Astronema.

Although the series is no stranger to twists and turns, Power Rangers In Space has its fair share of storylines enough to get new fans hooked and older fans remembering exactly what made the franchise iconic. With no mentor like Zordon as a guide, the older Andros becomes both a leader and a tour guide to the intergalactic aspect of Power Rangers lore. In Space also becomes the venue of a surprising TMNT cameo (courtesy of Saban’s own Turtles: The Next Mutation that was airing at the time), and the appearance of the first “true” evil Ranger counterpart – the Psycho Rangers. In Space is undeniable proof that Power Rangers can still become a hit even with a completely new team of Rangers.

3

Power Rangers Cosmic Fury

A Cosmic Level Up For A Franchise Finale (So Far)

A lot is riding on Power Rangers Cosmic Fury, especially with its set-up as a 10-episode “franchise finale” before Power Rangers entered its indefinite hiatus. While initially set up as unofficially the third season of Dino Fury, Cosmic Fury is a celebration of Power Rangers and a preview of what it could become. Taking place just after the events of Dino Fury, Lord Zedd’s return and Zayto’s demise forces Amelia Jones to retire her mantle of Pink Dino Fury Ranger and take charge as the Red Cosmic Fury Ranger – embarking on a race against time with the entire Morphin Grid at stake.

Despite the lackluster suits and somewhat mixed pacing, Cosmic Fury is a definite step-up since the series’ return post-RPM. The short run cut a lot of unnecessary filler, raised the stakes, and set up much-needed closure on arcs opened in Dino Charge and even way back in MMPR. Narrative depth became a priority in Cosmic Fury as the season respects its decades-long history and broke new ground in storytelling – specifically the charged character arcs of Javi and Zayto and Amelia with her leadership role.

2

Power Rangers Time Force

A Riveting Adaptation Of An Equally Mature Sentai Series

Aside from Ohranger, fans consider Timeranger as one of the more mature stories to ever grace Super Sentai – and Power Rangers Time Force is an appropriately serious adaptation of the entry. Set in the far future where the Time Force Rangers also protect the world from temporal threats, Pink Ranger Jen Scotts leads the Rangers in a race against time as crime lord Ransik travels to the 21st Century in a bid to secure a foothold on Earth so he’s never caught in the future. Jen isn’t leading the Rangers out of a sense of duty, however, as she’s also chasing Ransik for killing her fiancé Alex Drake who happens to be the team’s Red Ranger.

Their trip to the past makes her cross paths with Wesley Collins, Alex’s distant ancestor, who reluctantly accepts the role of Red Time Force Ranger.

The death of Alex as early as the first episode can be quite a shocker to Power Rangers fans who almost always never had to encounter tragic deaths. Not to mention, Jen’s leadership of the team is a historic first in the franchise, as there hasn’t been anyone who isn’t a Red Ranger that led a Ranger team. Relationships among the cast are always tested through the series, such as Alex constantly earning his role as the new Red Ranger while also coming to terms with his conflicting relationship with his close friend Eric Myers, who becomes the Quantum Ranger.

1

Power Rangers Dino Thunder

A True Spiritual Successor To Mighty Morphin

While it’s true that Power Rangers has had its fair share of anniversary celebrations, none can compare to Power Rangers Dino Thunder when it comes to paying homage to the series’ roots. Taking place in Reefside, Power Rangers Dino Thunder will place three teenagers with nothing in common – athlete Conner, rockstar Kira, and nerdy Ethan – in the crossfires of a war against Mesogog and his plans of returning Earth to the age of dinosaurs. With the power of the Dino Gems and guidance of paleontology professor Tommy Oliver (the Tommy), the Dino Thunder Rangers perfectly represent a more modern generation of Mighty Morphin’s teenagers with attitude.

Compared to other seasons, Dino Thunder works with a small cast of four, eventually five, Rangers – providing a lot of room for character development. Each of the Dino Thunder Rangers also hide personal struggles they eventually help sort out throughout the series, all while fans get a blast from the past with an aged Tommy and a redemption story in the form of Trent Mercer’s White Dino Ranger.