'Power Rangers' 25th Anniversary Special Is Unbecoming for Such an Important Milestone

Just like almost everyone who grew up in the 90’s, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was my jam.  And just like everyone who watched Power Rangers in the 90’s, I stopped watching when I got older, moving on to better TV shows.  Meanwhile, the show has remained on air, undergoing different incarnations through the years, and finding new audiences with the younger generations.

This year, the franchise celebrates its 25^th anniversary, and with that in mind, the current Power Rangers show – Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel – has recently presented a special episode titled “Dimensions in Danger.”  Now, I don’t watch the show anymore, but once every couple of years, I picked up an episode – usually a special.  So I had to check it out, and was disappointed.

I didn’t really have high expectations for it.  I was prepared for the mediocre CGI, laughably bad acting, and cheesy dialogue.  Still, for something intended to commemorate a silver anniversary, it’s pretty underwhelming.  The plot involved the Rangers going up against a robot-clone army of themselves, and if that concept sounds awesome – and it should have been – I’m sad to say that what was executed on screen is significantly inferior.

I guess I was hoping that this special could top or equal the epicness of “Legendary Battle”, the finale of Power Rangers Super Megaforce, which used the footage of Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle (the Super Sentai franchise’s 35^th anniversary movie special which had every Super Sentai hero ever at that point – 199 of them) to feature (theoretically) all Power Ranger teams at that point.  On the other hand, aside from the present Ninja Storm lineup, “Dimensions in Danger” could only muster Rocky DeSantos (Red Ranger), Katherine Hillard (Pink Turbo Ranger), T.J. Johnson (Blue Space Ranger), Wesley Collins (Time Force Red), Trent Fernandez-Mercer (Dino Thunder White Ranger), Gemma (Ranger Operator Series Silver), Antonio Garcia (Gold Samurai Ranger), Gia Moran (Megaforce Yellow), Koda (Dino Charge Blue Ranger), and – of course, the face of the franchise – Tommy Oliver (shifting between his Green Ranger, White Ranger, Zeo Ranger V Red, and Black Dino Ranger costumes).

Sure, I know it’s impossible to bring all Rangers once again.  What footage will they use?   But I think the sense of epicness of “Legendary Battle” could still have been matched if “Dimensions in Danger” had brought in, not just Tommy, Rocky, and Kat, but all the OG Rangers – particularly fan favorites Kimberly, Jason, and Billy.  It could have been an effin’ reunion!  Seriously, that’s the only Power Rangers special/movie really worth seeing.

In the end, die-hard fans will probably have a blast with “Dimensions in Danger”, while even the most casual fans can still find some delight in seeing all those past Rangers teaming up.  I myself felt a bit of giddiness during that climactic battle between the outnumbered Rangers and their clone counterparts.  Nevertheless, all in all, as far as having a proper 25^th anniversary special for the show, Saban definitely dropped the ball.