Final PR entry
At least, final PR entry for now. I actually finished watching SPD on Sunday, but I've spent the past couple days either working outside or packing--I'm dogsitting for a couple weeks. I did have a minor scare when my car decided not to entirely work earlier, but we think that's because I haven't turned in on in a couple weeks.
So, yeah, SPD. This is the series that reignited my interest in Power Rangers. Still, this is the first time I've actually seen the entire thing in order instead or skipping around to specific episodes and then filling in the gaps between them. Yeah, it's problems are a bit more obvious when watched in order and in a large chunk, but I think I just love it more now.
Okay, it's problems are pretty obvious. Syd and Z just kind of slip out of focus as the season goes on, and as much as I love Bridge (he kinda turned into my favorite Ranger ever), he pretty much ends up being used as a deus ex machina more than anything else; I think it actually says something that he's still a pretty great character despite that. Likewise, it seems like the writers forgot that they gave the Rangers civilian powers after a while. Plot points occasionally were introduced and forgotten within a couple episodes (Grumm having the SWAT armor, for example), and then there's the thing with Omega, which the producers have since admitted was a really bad idea. Also, what is it with PR mentors being fun as characters but sucking as actual mentors?
It's main strength is probably the Rangers themselves. This season took the bold step of acknowledging that five people in their late teens/early twenties (Dawson casting; go with it) who met through not stellar circumstances and are now pretty much forced into contact with each other 24/7 might not like each other all that much; to that end, the five of them spend about the first half of the season arguing with each other (or, really, four of them arguing and Bridge putting up with them). It's pretty huge character development when Sky (the emotionally constipated one) flat out says that the entire team are his friends and he respects them. While this generally does happen in every season, it actually feels real this time because of all the inter-team strife earlier.
Also, I noticed something about the seasons I like verses the season I don't: world building. SPD felt like an actual world, with more stuff going on than just what the Rangers were dealing with. Same with Lightspeed Rescue; just having extras in labcoats and uniforms going about their business in the background did help give it the sense that there was stuff going on. Operation Overdrive and Mystic Force suffer because it really does feel like it's just the Rangers, their allies, and their enemies. Rangers interacting with the world at large is far more interesting than Rangers interacting with themselves.
So, yeah, SPD. This is the series that reignited my interest in Power Rangers. Still, this is the first time I've actually seen the entire thing in order instead or skipping around to specific episodes and then filling in the gaps between them. Yeah, it's problems are a bit more obvious when watched in order and in a large chunk, but I think I just love it more now.
Okay, it's problems are pretty obvious. Syd and Z just kind of slip out of focus as the season goes on, and as much as I love Bridge (he kinda turned into my favorite Ranger ever), he pretty much ends up being used as a deus ex machina more than anything else; I think it actually says something that he's still a pretty great character despite that. Likewise, it seems like the writers forgot that they gave the Rangers civilian powers after a while. Plot points occasionally were introduced and forgotten within a couple episodes (Grumm having the SWAT armor, for example), and then there's the thing with Omega, which the producers have since admitted was a really bad idea. Also, what is it with PR mentors being fun as characters but sucking as actual mentors?
It's main strength is probably the Rangers themselves. This season took the bold step of acknowledging that five people in their late teens/early twenties (Dawson casting; go with it) who met through not stellar circumstances and are now pretty much forced into contact with each other 24/7 might not like each other all that much; to that end, the five of them spend about the first half of the season arguing with each other (or, really, four of them arguing and Bridge putting up with them). It's pretty huge character development when Sky (the emotionally constipated one) flat out says that the entire team are his friends and he respects them. While this generally does happen in every season, it actually feels real this time because of all the inter-team strife earlier.
Also, I noticed something about the seasons I like verses the season I don't: world building. SPD felt like an actual world, with more stuff going on than just what the Rangers were dealing with. Same with Lightspeed Rescue; just having extras in labcoats and uniforms going about their business in the background did help give it the sense that there was stuff going on. Operation Overdrive and Mystic Force suffer because it really does feel like it's just the Rangers, their allies, and their enemies. Rangers interacting with the world at large is far more interesting than Rangers interacting with themselves.