Max/Danny (Power Rangers Wild Force)
Title: Sharks and Bsions: Nature's Best Friends
Author: Mariko Azrael
Fandom: Power Rangers Wild Force
Pairing: Max Cooper (Surging Shark Ranger)/Danny Delgado (Iron Bison Ranger)
Disclaimer: Not mine
Warning: Spoilers for the series, the crossover with Power Rangers Time Force and the multi crossover 'Forever Red'. Due to school starting and my personal life being less than pleasant, this wound up being very rushed and un-beta'ed. And there are a lot less photos than there usually are in my essay, sorry. I also apologize the the less than stellar quality of the images that I do have. Hopefully, I'll be able to edit/put in more images once I have more free time. The character pictures and opening picture are from Rangergallery.com.
Fairy Tale
Power Rangers Wild Force was the tenth season of the long running franchise Power Rangers, premiering February 9, 2002 and ending November 16, 2002. It had a run of forty episodes and used footage form Super Sentai’s twenty-fifth anniversary season, Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger. Like Garonger, Wild Force was an anniversary season and noted this in the fan favorite multi crossover ‘Forever Red’. They also had a cross over with preceding season Power Rangers Time Force. Like ‘Forever Red’, it is considered one of the better crossovers among the fans.
Three thousand years ago, there was a kingdom called Animaria. This kingdom was threatened by the evil Orgs, and their leader, Master Org. To protect the Wild Zords and Princess Shayla, Animaria was lifted into the sky and the Princess fell in a state of suspended animation. Eventually, the Orgs were defeated, but Animaria remained in the sky.
However, thanks to pollution weakening the earth, Orgs (and an apparently resurrected Master Org) begin reappearing and attacking humans. Princess Shayla awoke and recruited new warriors to guard the Earth: stern Air Force pilot Taylor Earheart Soaring Eagle Ranger, caring college student Alyssa Enrile as the Noble Tiger Ranger, youthful would be pro bowler Max Cooper as the Surging Shark Ranger, and gentle hearted plant specialist Danny Delgado as the Iron Bison Ranger. As the new battle with the Orgs escalates, Princess Shayla recruits jungle boy in search of his parents Cole Evans to become the Blazing Lion Ranger. They are later joined by lone wolf Merrick Baliton (the Lunar Wolf Ranger) in a storyline that is way, way too long to describe in this essay.
Eventually, it is revealed that Master Org is really a human once known as Viktor Adler, the man who worked with Cole’s parents to find the Animarium… and was driven insane with jealously and eventually killed them both. He kidnaps Princess Shayla to create an Org heart, and succeeds. The Rangers lose their powers, but refuse to stop fighting for the Earth… and are aided by the remaining missing Wild Zords to finally defeat Master Org once and for all. With the threat of the Orgs gone, Princess Shayla takes the Morphers and goes back to sleep until she and the Zords are needed again. The Rangers return to their normal lives, but will always think of her when they look to the sky.
Surging Shark, Max Cooper
Max Cooper is the Surging Shark Ranger-- which he'll probably tell you within a few seconds of meeting you. But underneath that bravado is just as much (if not more) heart.
Like most Power Rangers, we don't know much about Max's life pre-spandex. What we do know, however, is that he was an accomplished amateur bowler (he placed first amateur in at least one contest). He was talented enough to attract the attention of a veteran pro bowler named Don, who helped him train to go pro. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for Max: while returning home from training one day, he saw an Org terrorizing two girls. After a botched escape/rescue attempt, he was rescued by the Soaring Eagle and Noble Tiger Rangers and he was revealed to be the Surging Shark Ranger. Realizing that his mission to the Earth was more important than his dream, Max had to give up bowling... and because he wasn't able to tell Don why he was leaving, his coach assumed he was just quitting because it was too hard. This led to a rift between the two that would not be repaired until 'The Tornado Spin'.
Since he's the youngest member of the team, Max tends to be thought of a kid by his teammates (especially Taylor), along with being immature and emotional. The fact that he is immature and emotional doesn't help. However, Max is also very courageous and determined, refusing to ever give up. He has managed to pull Danny out of doubt and self-pity more than once.
After the Earth was saved, Max traveled around the world with his best friend, Danny.
Iron Bison, Danny Delgado
As the Iron Bison Ranger, Danny Delgado has enough strength to take on a large group of Putroids without even trying. But really, he'd rather be gardening.
Before he became a Ranger, Danny worked in a floral shop with the woman he loved, Kendall. However, poor Danny was too shy to tell her his feelings, even after he became a Power Ranger. The closest he came was a note he hid after losing his nerve (and Kendall found after he was gone). Kendall would continue to be a bright/sore spot for Danny over the course of the series: he did see her again, but she was also being wooed by a wealthy elitist named Collin. Collin and Kendall eventually found out his identity as the Iron Bison Ranger, something Collin tried to use to his advantage by pointing out to Danny that he can't take care of her if he's taking care of the world. Kendall, however, supported him all the way... even telling him to forget about her as long as he had his mission. Danny reluctantly agreed.
Despite his strength, Danny is very gentle-hearted and possesses a lot of quirks that you don't usually see in the 'big guy' archetype (such as sleeping with a teddy bear). Even though he's probably one of the least aggressive Power Rangers in the entire franchise, he will fight without hesitation when necessary, and has been driven to anger at least once (which we'll go into further when I recap 'Wishes on the Water').
After Master Org was defeated, Danny traveled the globe with Max. It's worth noting that Kendall was originally supposed to join them, but she was written out. It's also worth noting that a character in a later season (Power Rangers SPD), Z Delgado/SPD Yellow, shares his surname-- and since SPD takes place twenty years in the future, many fans have speculated that she may possibly be his daughter. However, this is purely fanon (and can be disputed by SPD canon itself-- Doggie Cruger says that the SPD Rangers' parents worked on the technical aspects of SPD, something that seems out of the range of a plant specialist).
Their Relationship
We are introduced to both characters in the premiere episode, ‘Lionheart’. They are already Rangers, and already close, as demonstrated when Danny tried to help recruit Cole Evans and Max helps him when his shyness gets the best of him. However, it wouldn’t be until the fourth episode (‘Never Give Up!’) that we saw just how deep their bond goes.
The aforementioned episode begins with Max and Danny about some strange things occurring in the woods, and Max, convinced an Org is behind it, wants to investigate. Danny is a little hesitant at first, but after some assurance from Max, he agrees. Unfortunately for Max, this is also the episode where Danny’s old crush Kendall is introduced. Danny is immediately captivated, and forgets about Max as he leaves with her. Max is less than thrilled, but resolves to go by himself. However, things don’t go as he would have liked: after wandering around in the dark (something Max isn’t terribly fond of), he gets spooked by an old man and winds up getting himself hurt while trying to escape.
The next morning, Danny and his teddy bear are on cloud nine after his last meeting with Kendall… until he sees Alyssa tending to Max’s wounds. He rushed to Max’s side, even offering to dress his wounds for him… but between Danny’s breaking his promise and the other Rangers not believing his claim that there was an Org there, angrily tosses Danny’s teddy bear at him and storms off. Danny tries to apologize, calling Max on his Morpher, and even telling Kendall he has to go when she drives by him, but Max refuses to listen. The fact the Org captures Max later on didn’t help, either.
As the other Rangers search for him, Danny explains why Max is so important to him: on an earlier mission (well before Cole joined the team), the Wild Force Rangers were chasing an Org across the rooftops of the city. Danny, with his terrible fear of heights lagged behind. Max noticed and encouraged him to keep going. Danny steeled himself, made the leap…
And fell.
Luckily for him, Max caught him before it was too late, and after telling him to never give up (this will come into play later), he manages to pull him up. They were best friends ever since.
After that recollection, the Rangers fight Toxica and Jindrax, and Danny finally discovers where Max is: Bell Org trapped him in one of his bells, and he’s losing oxygen fast. Even though it’s high up and Bell Org is still trying to kill him, Danny doesn’t hesitate as he tries to reach his friend. Meanwhile, Max wakes up just enough to hear Danny calling out to him. Overcome with guilt, Max asks him to forgive him. The battle gets worse, but even when all seems lost; they tell each other to never give up.
Danny breaks open the prison, and holds Max close to him, begging him to say something. Before it can get too melodramatic, however, Max wakes up… and tells him to stop yelling in his ear. Together, they defeat Bell Org.
In ‘Wishes on the Water’, Max makes the mistake of falling asleep while Alyssa read out loud. Danny tries to help save his skin by pantomiming the plot to him. It works, and Max is able to guess that she read a story about writing a wish down and throwing it into the lake… which Max decides is a pretty cool idea, and runs off to do it himself. Danny stops by to ask what he’s doing, but Max ducks the question. Unluckily for him, his bottle (and his wish that the other Rangers would stop treating him like a kid) winds up becoming a part of Ship Org. When Max tries to recover the bottle, he is seriously injured, and would have most likely drowned if not for the intervention of a shadowy figure. When the other Rangers find him washed up on the shore, Danny immediately rushes to his side… and back on the Animarium (and holding Max’s hand while Princess Shayla tends to his wounds); he promises that he’ll find whoever hurt Max. Angrily. Pounding a fist against his hand. The easily least violent member of the team is now more than ready for a fight to avenge his friend.
When Max awakes, he realizes that the shadowy figure was actually a Wild Zord. With the rediscovered Zord’s help they defeat the Org… and with Danny’s help, Max is finally able to make his wish.
‘Curse of the Wolf’ was primarily to introduce Zen-Aku/Merrick, but there was an almost painfully blatant Max/Danny moment: after Cole successfully manages to scare Max with a ghost story, Max decides to keep Danny (who is snoring away) company for the rest of the night. He pulls a blanket over them and nods off. The next morning, he’s stolen the blanket.
In the episode ‘Predazord Awaken’, Max has to give up his Giraffe Zord crystal to save the people on a bus. He tosses it out a window before the Org can grab it, and it quickly becomes a free for all. After Danny struggles with Toxica for it, it winds up falling into the ocean. For a moment, Danny is frozen as he realizing what a long way down it is to the water… but he tells himself to never give up, and retrieves the crystal for Max. ‘Secrets and Lies’ was a Cole-centric episode, but I think it’s worth noting how incredibly adorable Danny is when he’s impressed by Max’s deductive reasoning.
‘The Tornado Spin’ is when Danny, and the audience, learns about Max’s life before he became a Power Ranger. After helping Max move out some old things, he finds an old trophy, and is very impressed, even after Max shrugs it off (he brags to Cole about it later on). Although the real moment comes later, when Max is trying to convince his old mentor Don to teach him a shot so he can stop Bowling Org: Danny actually tells Don, point blank, that he’s wrong about Max. When you remember how naturally introverted Danny is, this is huge.
‘Three’s a Crowd’ focused on Danny and Kendall’s relationship. While Danny competes with an upper class elitist for her affections, she finds out he’s a Power Ranger. She supports him and is proud of him… but tells him to forget her, since his mission to the earth is more important than her. Danny is less than thrilled with this turn of events, but as usual, Max manages to snap Danny out of his in his own, unique: he kicks him in the backside, quips, ‘Oh, you think you’re stronger than me?’ and then runs off with Danny in pursuit. Kendall and the viewers are left with the impression that Danny will be all right as long as he has Max and his friends. And he does this again, when he tell Don not to call Max a kid (although Max then states that it’s okay when Don calls him that).
Like several Power Rangers seasons, Wild Force had a two-part crossover with its preceding season, Power Rangers Time Force. While both teams are trying to stop a trio of villains called the Mut-Orgs, Danny wonders if they will be able to defeat them. Max reminds him to never give up. This enthuses Danny so much that when they bump chests, he winds up knocking Max on the ground. He does his best to apologize.
In the finale of Power Rangers Wild Force (‘The End of the Power Rangers’ part II), Alyssa becomes a teacher after the Orgs are defeated and tells the children about what happened to the Rangers after the battle was over: Cole made his peace with Doctor Adler, Taylor went back to the Air Force… and Max and Danny went to see the world together. And sent her lots and lots of post cards. This is the last time we see either character.
Why I Like Shark/Cow Love and You Should Too
As I mentioned previously in my Katie/Trip manifesto, most relationships in Power Rangers, canon or not, don’t tend to go any further than a little flirtation and the occasional glance. And since this is a show where the majority of the characters are still in their mid-to-late teens, this makes sense. Danny and Max are one of the few exceptions to this rule. Not only are they virtually inseparable over the series, it was stated in canon that they are best friends. This alone gives the pairing an amount of depth you don’t see in most children’s television shows.
Another part of their relationship you won’t usually find on a children’s show is how far they’re willing to go for each other. Max helps Danny out when he’s at a loss for words, and has kept his spirits going when he would have given up a long time ago. Danny fought the Bell Org to save Max, conquered his fear of heights to retrieve his friend’s Giraffe Zord crystal and is willing to speak up for him.
Max obviously cares about Danny a great deal, to the point where he became visibly upset over Danny’s first accidental reunion with Kendall. And while Danny does have feelings for Kendall (especially at the beginning of the series); he let her go so he could focus on saving the world. Except when the world was saved, he went off to see the world with Max, not her (although originally the three of them were supposed to go together-- make of that what you will).
There are a lot of things I enjoy about this pairing enough to write a manifesto for it, but if I had to choose what I like about it most, it would have to be just how deeply they care for each other, and how naturally it comes to both of them. Even after the war with the Orgs was over and Princess Shayla left with the Wild Zords, they knew that they would always be there for each other.
References
www.rangerwiki.com
http://www.rangercentral.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Rangers_Wild_Force
spandex_report
http://mariko-azrael.livejournal.com/748990.html My Max/Danny fic. Written for 30_kisses.
My tongue in cheek comparison of the episode 'Never Give Up' to its Gaoranger counterpart.
Author: Mariko Azrael
Fandom: Power Rangers Wild Force
Pairing: Max Cooper (Surging Shark Ranger)/Danny Delgado (Iron Bison Ranger)
Disclaimer: Not mine
Warning: Spoilers for the series, the crossover with Power Rangers Time Force and the multi crossover 'Forever Red'. Due to school starting and my personal life being less than pleasant, this wound up being very rushed and un-beta'ed. And there are a lot less photos than there usually are in my essay, sorry. I also apologize the the less than stellar quality of the images that I do have. Hopefully, I'll be able to edit/put in more images once I have more free time. The character pictures and opening picture are from Rangergallery.com.
Fairy Tale
Power Rangers Wild Force was the tenth season of the long running franchise Power Rangers, premiering February 9, 2002 and ending November 16, 2002. It had a run of forty episodes and used footage form Super Sentai’s twenty-fifth anniversary season, Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger. Like Garonger, Wild Force was an anniversary season and noted this in the fan favorite multi crossover ‘Forever Red’. They also had a cross over with preceding season Power Rangers Time Force. Like ‘Forever Red’, it is considered one of the better crossovers among the fans.
Three thousand years ago, there was a kingdom called Animaria. This kingdom was threatened by the evil Orgs, and their leader, Master Org. To protect the Wild Zords and Princess Shayla, Animaria was lifted into the sky and the Princess fell in a state of suspended animation. Eventually, the Orgs were defeated, but Animaria remained in the sky.
However, thanks to pollution weakening the earth, Orgs (and an apparently resurrected Master Org) begin reappearing and attacking humans. Princess Shayla awoke and recruited new warriors to guard the Earth: stern Air Force pilot Taylor Earheart Soaring Eagle Ranger, caring college student Alyssa Enrile as the Noble Tiger Ranger, youthful would be pro bowler Max Cooper as the Surging Shark Ranger, and gentle hearted plant specialist Danny Delgado as the Iron Bison Ranger. As the new battle with the Orgs escalates, Princess Shayla recruits jungle boy in search of his parents Cole Evans to become the Blazing Lion Ranger. They are later joined by lone wolf Merrick Baliton (the Lunar Wolf Ranger) in a storyline that is way, way too long to describe in this essay.
Eventually, it is revealed that Master Org is really a human once known as Viktor Adler, the man who worked with Cole’s parents to find the Animarium… and was driven insane with jealously and eventually killed them both. He kidnaps Princess Shayla to create an Org heart, and succeeds. The Rangers lose their powers, but refuse to stop fighting for the Earth… and are aided by the remaining missing Wild Zords to finally defeat Master Org once and for all. With the threat of the Orgs gone, Princess Shayla takes the Morphers and goes back to sleep until she and the Zords are needed again. The Rangers return to their normal lives, but will always think of her when they look to the sky.
Surging Shark, Max Cooper
Max Cooper is the Surging Shark Ranger-- which he'll probably tell you within a few seconds of meeting you. But underneath that bravado is just as much (if not more) heart.
Like most Power Rangers, we don't know much about Max's life pre-spandex. What we do know, however, is that he was an accomplished amateur bowler (he placed first amateur in at least one contest). He was talented enough to attract the attention of a veteran pro bowler named Don, who helped him train to go pro. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for Max: while returning home from training one day, he saw an Org terrorizing two girls. After a botched escape/rescue attempt, he was rescued by the Soaring Eagle and Noble Tiger Rangers and he was revealed to be the Surging Shark Ranger. Realizing that his mission to the Earth was more important than his dream, Max had to give up bowling... and because he wasn't able to tell Don why he was leaving, his coach assumed he was just quitting because it was too hard. This led to a rift between the two that would not be repaired until 'The Tornado Spin'.
Since he's the youngest member of the team, Max tends to be thought of a kid by his teammates (especially Taylor), along with being immature and emotional. The fact that he is immature and emotional doesn't help. However, Max is also very courageous and determined, refusing to ever give up. He has managed to pull Danny out of doubt and self-pity more than once.
After the Earth was saved, Max traveled around the world with his best friend, Danny.
Iron Bison, Danny Delgado
As the Iron Bison Ranger, Danny Delgado has enough strength to take on a large group of Putroids without even trying. But really, he'd rather be gardening.
Before he became a Ranger, Danny worked in a floral shop with the woman he loved, Kendall. However, poor Danny was too shy to tell her his feelings, even after he became a Power Ranger. The closest he came was a note he hid after losing his nerve (and Kendall found after he was gone). Kendall would continue to be a bright/sore spot for Danny over the course of the series: he did see her again, but she was also being wooed by a wealthy elitist named Collin. Collin and Kendall eventually found out his identity as the Iron Bison Ranger, something Collin tried to use to his advantage by pointing out to Danny that he can't take care of her if he's taking care of the world. Kendall, however, supported him all the way... even telling him to forget about her as long as he had his mission. Danny reluctantly agreed.
Despite his strength, Danny is very gentle-hearted and possesses a lot of quirks that you don't usually see in the 'big guy' archetype (such as sleeping with a teddy bear). Even though he's probably one of the least aggressive Power Rangers in the entire franchise, he will fight without hesitation when necessary, and has been driven to anger at least once (which we'll go into further when I recap 'Wishes on the Water').
After Master Org was defeated, Danny traveled the globe with Max. It's worth noting that Kendall was originally supposed to join them, but she was written out. It's also worth noting that a character in a later season (Power Rangers SPD), Z Delgado/SPD Yellow, shares his surname-- and since SPD takes place twenty years in the future, many fans have speculated that she may possibly be his daughter. However, this is purely fanon (and can be disputed by SPD canon itself-- Doggie Cruger says that the SPD Rangers' parents worked on the technical aspects of SPD, something that seems out of the range of a plant specialist).
Their Relationship
We are introduced to both characters in the premiere episode, ‘Lionheart’. They are already Rangers, and already close, as demonstrated when Danny tried to help recruit Cole Evans and Max helps him when his shyness gets the best of him. However, it wouldn’t be until the fourth episode (‘Never Give Up!’) that we saw just how deep their bond goes.
The aforementioned episode begins with Max and Danny about some strange things occurring in the woods, and Max, convinced an Org is behind it, wants to investigate. Danny is a little hesitant at first, but after some assurance from Max, he agrees. Unfortunately for Max, this is also the episode where Danny’s old crush Kendall is introduced. Danny is immediately captivated, and forgets about Max as he leaves with her. Max is less than thrilled, but resolves to go by himself. However, things don’t go as he would have liked: after wandering around in the dark (something Max isn’t terribly fond of), he gets spooked by an old man and winds up getting himself hurt while trying to escape.
The next morning, Danny and his teddy bear are on cloud nine after his last meeting with Kendall… until he sees Alyssa tending to Max’s wounds. He rushed to Max’s side, even offering to dress his wounds for him… but between Danny’s breaking his promise and the other Rangers not believing his claim that there was an Org there, angrily tosses Danny’s teddy bear at him and storms off. Danny tries to apologize, calling Max on his Morpher, and even telling Kendall he has to go when she drives by him, but Max refuses to listen. The fact the Org captures Max later on didn’t help, either.
As the other Rangers search for him, Danny explains why Max is so important to him: on an earlier mission (well before Cole joined the team), the Wild Force Rangers were chasing an Org across the rooftops of the city. Danny, with his terrible fear of heights lagged behind. Max noticed and encouraged him to keep going. Danny steeled himself, made the leap…
And fell.
Luckily for him, Max caught him before it was too late, and after telling him to never give up (this will come into play later), he manages to pull him up. They were best friends ever since.
After that recollection, the Rangers fight Toxica and Jindrax, and Danny finally discovers where Max is: Bell Org trapped him in one of his bells, and he’s losing oxygen fast. Even though it’s high up and Bell Org is still trying to kill him, Danny doesn’t hesitate as he tries to reach his friend. Meanwhile, Max wakes up just enough to hear Danny calling out to him. Overcome with guilt, Max asks him to forgive him. The battle gets worse, but even when all seems lost; they tell each other to never give up.
Danny breaks open the prison, and holds Max close to him, begging him to say something. Before it can get too melodramatic, however, Max wakes up… and tells him to stop yelling in his ear. Together, they defeat Bell Org.
In ‘Wishes on the Water’, Max makes the mistake of falling asleep while Alyssa read out loud. Danny tries to help save his skin by pantomiming the plot to him. It works, and Max is able to guess that she read a story about writing a wish down and throwing it into the lake… which Max decides is a pretty cool idea, and runs off to do it himself. Danny stops by to ask what he’s doing, but Max ducks the question. Unluckily for him, his bottle (and his wish that the other Rangers would stop treating him like a kid) winds up becoming a part of Ship Org. When Max tries to recover the bottle, he is seriously injured, and would have most likely drowned if not for the intervention of a shadowy figure. When the other Rangers find him washed up on the shore, Danny immediately rushes to his side… and back on the Animarium (and holding Max’s hand while Princess Shayla tends to his wounds); he promises that he’ll find whoever hurt Max. Angrily. Pounding a fist against his hand. The easily least violent member of the team is now more than ready for a fight to avenge his friend.
When Max awakes, he realizes that the shadowy figure was actually a Wild Zord. With the rediscovered Zord’s help they defeat the Org… and with Danny’s help, Max is finally able to make his wish.
‘Curse of the Wolf’ was primarily to introduce Zen-Aku/Merrick, but there was an almost painfully blatant Max/Danny moment: after Cole successfully manages to scare Max with a ghost story, Max decides to keep Danny (who is snoring away) company for the rest of the night. He pulls a blanket over them and nods off. The next morning, he’s stolen the blanket.
In the episode ‘Predazord Awaken’, Max has to give up his Giraffe Zord crystal to save the people on a bus. He tosses it out a window before the Org can grab it, and it quickly becomes a free for all. After Danny struggles with Toxica for it, it winds up falling into the ocean. For a moment, Danny is frozen as he realizing what a long way down it is to the water… but he tells himself to never give up, and retrieves the crystal for Max. ‘Secrets and Lies’ was a Cole-centric episode, but I think it’s worth noting how incredibly adorable Danny is when he’s impressed by Max’s deductive reasoning.
‘The Tornado Spin’ is when Danny, and the audience, learns about Max’s life before he became a Power Ranger. After helping Max move out some old things, he finds an old trophy, and is very impressed, even after Max shrugs it off (he brags to Cole about it later on). Although the real moment comes later, when Max is trying to convince his old mentor Don to teach him a shot so he can stop Bowling Org: Danny actually tells Don, point blank, that he’s wrong about Max. When you remember how naturally introverted Danny is, this is huge.
‘Three’s a Crowd’ focused on Danny and Kendall’s relationship. While Danny competes with an upper class elitist for her affections, she finds out he’s a Power Ranger. She supports him and is proud of him… but tells him to forget her, since his mission to the earth is more important than her. Danny is less than thrilled with this turn of events, but as usual, Max manages to snap Danny out of his in his own, unique: he kicks him in the backside, quips, ‘Oh, you think you’re stronger than me?’ and then runs off with Danny in pursuit. Kendall and the viewers are left with the impression that Danny will be all right as long as he has Max and his friends. And he does this again, when he tell Don not to call Max a kid (although Max then states that it’s okay when Don calls him that).
Like several Power Rangers seasons, Wild Force had a two-part crossover with its preceding season, Power Rangers Time Force. While both teams are trying to stop a trio of villains called the Mut-Orgs, Danny wonders if they will be able to defeat them. Max reminds him to never give up. This enthuses Danny so much that when they bump chests, he winds up knocking Max on the ground. He does his best to apologize.
In the finale of Power Rangers Wild Force (‘The End of the Power Rangers’ part II), Alyssa becomes a teacher after the Orgs are defeated and tells the children about what happened to the Rangers after the battle was over: Cole made his peace with Doctor Adler, Taylor went back to the Air Force… and Max and Danny went to see the world together. And sent her lots and lots of post cards. This is the last time we see either character.
Why I Like Shark/Cow Love and You Should Too
As I mentioned previously in my Katie/Trip manifesto, most relationships in Power Rangers, canon or not, don’t tend to go any further than a little flirtation and the occasional glance. And since this is a show where the majority of the characters are still in their mid-to-late teens, this makes sense. Danny and Max are one of the few exceptions to this rule. Not only are they virtually inseparable over the series, it was stated in canon that they are best friends. This alone gives the pairing an amount of depth you don’t see in most children’s television shows.
Another part of their relationship you won’t usually find on a children’s show is how far they’re willing to go for each other. Max helps Danny out when he’s at a loss for words, and has kept his spirits going when he would have given up a long time ago. Danny fought the Bell Org to save Max, conquered his fear of heights to retrieve his friend’s Giraffe Zord crystal and is willing to speak up for him.
Max obviously cares about Danny a great deal, to the point where he became visibly upset over Danny’s first accidental reunion with Kendall. And while Danny does have feelings for Kendall (especially at the beginning of the series); he let her go so he could focus on saving the world. Except when the world was saved, he went off to see the world with Max, not her (although originally the three of them were supposed to go together-- make of that what you will).
There are a lot of things I enjoy about this pairing enough to write a manifesto for it, but if I had to choose what I like about it most, it would have to be just how deeply they care for each other, and how naturally it comes to both of them. Even after the war with the Orgs was over and Princess Shayla left with the Wild Zords, they knew that they would always be there for each other.
References
www.rangerwiki.com
http://www.rangercentral.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Rangers_Wild_Force
spandex_report
http://mariko-azrael.livejournal.com/748990.html My Max/Danny fic. Written for 30_kisses.
My tongue in cheek comparison of the episode 'Never Give Up' to its Gaoranger counterpart.