The Charge

"Prepare to be destroyed!"
—Fearcat

The Case

The story so far: to combat the evil plans of Moltor and Flurious, two brothers out to capture the legendary Corona Aurora, a crown that can triggers the destruction of the universe, adventurer and zillionaire Andrew Hartford (Rod Lousich) assembled a new Power Rangers squad and gives them impractical and ugly plastic machines to drive around. The Rangers' task this go-around? Capture all of the magical jewels of the Corona Aurora before the bad guys do, karate chop a bunch of guys in costumes in the throat, occasionally somersault in front of pyrotechnic displays and learn some helpful life lessons along the way. Buckle up, kids, and finish that hard candy! It's time to watch violence!

Volume Three blasts off with seven episodes:

• "Man of Mercury Parts 1 and 2"
The disc-opening two-parter introduces some huge changes to the Power Ranger lineup. Bleached blonde alien do-gooder Tyzonn (who we saw introduced on Volume 2), is recruited to join the Power Rangers as the Mercury Ranger, but he's reluctant. Why? Turns out he used to be a member of something called the Intergalactic Emergency Responders, which sounds incredibly dorky, and sent his team to their deaths in a cave-in. Can he get over his guilt in time to help his new friends in the fight against evil?

Valuable Life Lesson Learned: Can you get over your guilt in time to help your friends in the fight against evil?

• "Behind the Scenes"
The Power Rangers are asked to appear on a popular talk show, but are soon called to duty when the hostess finds herself wrapped up in yet another hare-brained scheme by Moltor and pals. Also of note is the Mercury Ranger's new Zord—a fire-truck!

Valuable Life Lesson Learned: You can make a difference in the world! (Providing you have access to laser guns and cars that transform into giant robots of course.)

• "Just Like Me"
Desperate to fit in, Tyzonn mimics the sweet style of the Black Ranger—and ends up pissing him off. The two engage in a small feud, but when Moltor and the boys hit town, they put their differences behind them and lay down the smack.

Valuable Life Lesson Learned: Just be yourself!

• "It's Hammer Time"
Sweet episode title. The gang meet a bizarre new comrade: Thor. He puts a hammer in a cannon and fires it. Weird.

Valuable Life Lesson Learned: I've got nothing for this one, though it's probably a good idea to avoid putting hammers in cannons.

• "Out of Luck"
The Red Ranger finds himself besieged by an onslaught of bad luck. The other Rangers try to offset the streak by employing all manner of good luck charms. Luckily, he snaps out of it in time to fire laser beams at bad guys.

Valuable Life Lesson Learned: We all have bad days. Just stick it out.

• "One Gets Away"
The Black Ranger is upset with himself for failing a mission and allowing Moltor and Flurious to make off with some precious artifacts. Can he pull himself up by his boot-straps in time to aid in the inevitable violence and explosions?

Valuable Life Lesson Learned: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.

Bottom line: the Capri Sun-cooler moments for the kids will certainly be the addition of the Mercury Ranger to the team, but beyond that expect the same mixture of martial arts and screaming and brain-busting sensory overload that has characterized these volumes and, well, every single Power Ranger show that ever preceded them.

Full frame and a 2.0 stereo mix are still the orders are do and perform adequately and nothing more. For extras, the Rangers dish about their vehicles and that multiple "Ranger Reserve Training Course" trivia game is back for a third time. Have fun with that.

Similar Decisions

• Stealth
• Legionnaire
• Lethal Weapon 3
• Nick Jr. Favorites Volume 4

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