Recap: Power Rangers Operation Overdrive, Episode 21 – “Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger!”

Recap: Power Rangers Operation Overdrive, Episode 21 – Once a Ranger II

While the Evil Alliance are questioning Thrax’s leadership, Adam brings the All-Star Rangers to Angel Grove to look for someone who can help them restore the Overdrive Rangers Grid connection.

Bridge uses his powers and finds there are Chillers hiding behind some crates. Plan Xander kicks in, but it doesn’t work. The Chillers attack and the Rangers easily take care of them. Afterwards, the Rangers find what they’re looking for.

Back in the command manse, Sentinel Knight appears and is surprised to see Mack hasn’t abandoned the mission. Mack says he still wants to help, but what good is it without any power. Sentinel Knight reminds him of “Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger” and as long as you keep fighting for what’s right, you will always have power.

Mack asks about Thrax saying he knew what could defeat Sentinel Knight. Sentinel Knight says it is the sword Excelsior. Mack suggests they go retrieve it first, but Sentinel Knight says the jewels come first.

Over in Monaco, Ronny has just won another race. But she can’t help but think about the team.

Dax, meanwhile, is in Auckland doing stunts for a movie. But he’s still being treated like crap.

Will advises an art gallery on their lax security system. But the money he gets paid seems meaningless now.

Tyzonn is feeling lonely walking in a field.

And Rose has just finished giving a lecture at the university in London. That’s when Mack pops in. They share a happy hug. But Mack wants to know if Rose knows anything about Excelsior. She says there’s a book about it in the library and he hurries off before having a chance to chat with Rose.

Based on the information he’s found, Mack goes into the forest in search of the sword. But he falls into a pit trap. He is able to get himself out and he arrives right in front of the sword Excelsior.

Thrax, however, has been following him and is ready to take the sword for himself. But out of nowhere, the other Rangers arrive. Rose says she knew Mack would be doing something crazy on his own, so she called everyone.

Thrax says his parents were weak and succumbed to goodness. But he will restore their evil legacy by killing Sentinel Knight with the sword of Excelsior. Thrax tries to touch it, but instead gets zapped. Mack informs him that the warrior goddess is the only one that can bestow the sword on a worthy recipient.

Thrax says if he can’t have the sword, then he will destroy the planet.

Back at the mansion, Adam and Hartford have managed to reactivate Alpha to help with fixing the Morphin Grid. Alpha is teleported into the Grid just as the alarms sound to alert them to an embiggened monster Vulturus. Hartford tells the All-Stars to hop into the Flashpoint Megazord.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are trying to grab Excelsior, but nothing works. They figure if they were still Rangers, the goddess would hand them the sword. The Rangers decide to leave. But Mack remembers Sentinel Knight telling him that as long as you keep fighting, you will always have power.

Mack says he is not leaving without the sword. He goes to the sword and the others decide to join him. Together, they try to pull. But instead, the warrior goddess appears and says their unity and their conviction has convinced her that they are worthy. She hands them the sword.

The All-Stars are struggling against Vulturus. But Mack comes running with the sword and is able to slice the monster with it.

They all return to the mansion where Mack hands Sentinel Knight the sword. That unexpectedly restores Sentinel Knight’s body.

The Rangers also admit to Hartford that they were wrong to leave and want to return. Hartford welcomes them back.

The All-Stars arrive and thank Mack for saving them. Alpha pops back in from the Morphin Grid and informs them that it’s fixed. Hartford confirms and the Overdrive Rangers get their powers back.

Flurious inserts one of his gyros into Vulturus and it gets an upgrade.

The Rangers meet the Evil Alliance and are ready to face off.

The Rangers morph and it is an all-out battle. As they take care of each of the alliance members, Sentinel Knight makes his grand entrance to take on Thrax.

With a few kicks, Sentinel Knight quickly destroys Thrax.

The Rangers team-up and fire at the remaining alliance members.

Back at the mansion, the Rangers prepare to say their goodbyes. Spencer gives Bridge some fresh buttery toast, Tori gives Hartford her calling card, Xander promises he’ll give them a 10% discount at the Rockporium, Kira promises to come by and give them a copy of her latest CD and Adam invites Alpha to help at his dojo.

Episode Thoughts

Now this is how you do an anniversary episode! It was a great two-parter. The first part was great set-up. And this episode was the follow through. And they definitely hit the mark. It was fun, it was explosive, it was exciting. Certainly beats anything from Megaforce or Ninja Steel or the random pandering from Beast Morphers, that’s for sure.

Again, I have to applaud them for how they used the theme songs of the previous (and current) seasons here. Inserting the theme songs during fights and battles and of course with each morph is just badass somehow. Just something about it really makes it all more exciting. And definitely more fun. I guess it would mean more for anyone who’s actually watched the original seasons. Since that’s the kind of nostalgia that works without feeling like you’re getting knocked over the head with it.

The morphing sequences certainly felt cut for time. But just hearing the themes and seeing the classic stock morphs was great.

The best use of the themes though was during the final battle. Since they were for much extended periods of time, it just really upped the ante for what really was a decisive battle.

The battle is the kind of epic action sequence the “Legendary Battle” could only dream of. Koichisplosions, wire fu, it had everything. And the music made it all the more awesome. Lots of different dynamics throughout the extended battle sequence. Exciting and fun.

Also, the fact that the fake Mighty Morphin theme song they used for Adam is better than the bootleg MMPR themes they used during Saban Brands though. lol

More on nOsTaLgiA… Thrax’s line about his parents succumbing to goodness was great. That’s the kind of subtle continuity you throw in without the need for Ranger Classes or Vaults or whatever.

The way they dealt with the Rangers coming back home was good, but they definitely could’ve done more with it. Though these two episodes felt already a little cramped. Still, we got the gist of it. The Rangers were not happy back in their normal lives and knew and felt something was wrong. They realized their rash decision was a mistake and acknowledged it. And ultimately, their teamwork and unity was what got them Excelsior.

It’s certainly a less obvious and condescending way to teach the kiddos about not giving up, giving it your all and teamwork. Recent seasons can learn a little bit about how to do that.

Overall, I very much enjoyed these two episodes. It was a simple, yet effective anniversary/tribute special. Solid story, great action. Everything came together well. Loved it.