Fixing Power Rangers: Megaforce Part 2

Every television series needs strong characters and an engaging story. Let's aim to give Power Rangers Megaforce both of those things.

Here, we'll lay out the cast. However, we'll only cover the main cast for the extent of the first season. They should remain essentially the same for season two of Megaforce but receive further character development. Without further ado, here we go:

THE CAST 

The Power Rangers and Allies

• Troy Burrows - (17) Megaforce Red. A teenaged martial artist, Troy is originally a bit of a lone wolf. He’s responsible and focused, but largely antisocial and seems to have a hard time relying on others. This is due to his rocky relationship with his parents, who sent him off to live with his aunt and uncle in Angel Grove. He knows that he's adopted and feels as if this is the reason why his parents don't love him as much as his natural-born siblings. As he gets closer to the city, he starts to receive strange visions regarding the original team of Power Rangers. These visions only get worse once he becomes a Ranger, ultimately coming to a head near the end of the first season. Troy's conflict for the first season will be learning how to be an effective leader and learning to rely on others. He doesn't know what Gosei sees in him and why he was made the Red Ranger, frustrating him to a great degree.
• Emma Goodall - (17) Megaforce Pink. A very rah-rah environmental activist, she is very involved in student politics and events - organizing no shortage of outings to environmentalist events. She is also a BMX biker, which is telling of her enjoyment of getting down and dirty; she is not a prim-and-proper princess. Emma is happy-go-lucky and cheerful all the time, which isn’t always the most ingratiating characteristic. Still, she is the most extroverted and pure-hearted of the Rangers, but also the most naive and trusting. Emma's main conflict is trying to get people to take her seriously, which can be difficult since they see her as too childlike.
• Noah Carver - (17) Megaforce Blue. The smart guy, the logical one, and the one that everyone can rely on for a helping hand. Noah has to battle some insecurity about who he is; he may be the smartest on the team but he’s also awkward and doesn’t know how to act in certain situations. Learning to overcome these faults and coming to understand that he doesn’t need to change who he is becomes a huge part of his character development. He is somewhat luckless in love.
• Gia Moran - (17) Megaforce Yellow. The “perfect girl” who puts on a facade that she knows exactly what she is doing, but really is crushed by the weight of responsibility that she has to endure. First, she has to conform to everyone’s notion of her: beautiful, smart, athletic, has time for people’s problems. Secondly, she also has to deal with her life as a Ranger. Her neuroticism about maintaining her “perfect life” threatens to tear her in half. Still, for all of this she is genuinely a good, kind hearted person. Se's also the one who holds the team together, her responsible nature rubbing off on everyone else.
• Jake Holling - (17) Megaforce Black. Kind of an arrogant guy who doesn’t seem to realize that being a Power Ranger isn’t about wealth and glory. Has to struggle with learning humility and patience and that not everything is going to be handed to him just because of the powers he’s received. Very much in love with Gia, who initially doesn’t return the feelings until he receives the prerequisite character development. He has the most stable family life of the Rangers, which may explain why his personality issues are mostly attributable to vanity.
• Gosei - (10,000s) Gosei has been trapped in the Morphing Grid for thousands of years, time becoming largely meaningless in the vast expanse of the Grid. He used to fight the forces of evil; we learn that he used to lead his own team of Power Rangers that fought against Master Vile and the Armada, and that the Megaforce Rangers use reconstituted versions of his old powers. Gosei is inexperienced in the ways of being a mentor, but tries his best to be like his master, Zordon. (Appears as a red-colored spirit to the Rangers, still trapped in a ghost-like state for unknown reasons and has to use Zordon's old energy tube to communicate with the Rangers. Apparently, not "all" of him managed to escape the Morphing Grid.) Later in the season, the Zeo Crystal manages to power the Lion Zord, giving him Knight Mode (Gosei Knight). He fights alongside the Rangers until this form is destroyed near the end of the season.
• Tensou - (0s) Tensou is created by Gosei from spare Edenoi robot parts found in the storage rooms of the old Command Center. A fun-loving, childlike robot, Tensou provides the Rangers with technical support and information from the Command Center. (Uses the Datas suit from Goseiger.)
• Farkas "Bulk" Bulkmeier - (38) Moving back from Stone Canyon to Angel Grove after the completion of his samurai duties, Bulk is not surprised that trouble has once again decided to come to Angel Grove. More confident of his abilities these days, he takes over one of the Ernie's juice bars that litter Angel Grove, where the Rangers go to relax. His nephew Spike continues to live with him.
• Eugene "Spike" Skullovich - (17) Gold Samurai Ranger. Placed in a strange position where he has seniority over a team of Power Rangers, Spike initially doesn't know how to act and has trouble getting the Rangers to respect him. However, his experience shines through and wins over the Rangers eventually, especially when his team comes to town.
• Orion - (17) Megaforce Green. An immigrant to Earth from Mirinoi, Orion grew up hearing stories about the Ranger teams of years past. He is very excitable, enthusiastic, and geeky - about the very picture of a Power Rangers fanboy. He is also very knowledgeable about the Power Rangers, his personal favorite being the Lost Galaxy team. He is initially a little cowardly but learns to be braver - which comes to a head when Mater Vile picks him to become Megaforce Green who he sics on the Rangers. Eventually, they turn him back to the light with some help from Gosei. However, the Green Ranger powers are only temporary - much like Tommy's - and him learning to deal with the loss of his powers carries through the end of this season to the next.

The Neutral Ones

• The Pirate Rangers - A group of neutrally-aligned Power Rangers, they roam space in search of booty and treasure. They come into conflict with the Mega Rangers initially but come to respect each other as fellow Rangers eventually.

The Bad Guys

• Vrak - The most consistent villain in the season. He is conniving and mistrusting, but is also incredibly logical and smart. He's a schemer that makes deals with others, often for his own benefit. However, he is very eager to prove himself to his family as the first-born - which is why he's even out here with Warstar to begin with.
• Creepox - Troy's rival who is initially convinced that humans are beneath him (though he gains a burgeoning respect for the species as he continues to fight the Rangers). The general of the Insectoids, he is the most dangerous threat to the Rangers in their early days. Despite his aggresive demeanor, there's clearly a hint of honor or chivalry in his being somewhere - often sparing the Rangers because he wants to fight them at their best.
• Malkor - The Admiral of the Warstar. He is a quiet fellow, preferring to let his actions do the talking. Not much of a fighter, but has a collection of powerful generals.
• The Toxic Mutants - Related to the Orgs by a hair.
• The Machine Empire - Callous, unfeeling killing machines - and all that's left of their legacy after the death of Venjix's generals.
• Master Vyle - Revenge against Zordon for taking away his children is his only goal. Since he's dead, he'll go for the next best thing: Earth.

EPISODES/ARCS

1 - The Mega Rangers are quickly formed by Gosei as a response to the invading Warstar aliens.

2 - Gosei exposits about his past, explaining that he used to be the leader of a Ranger team formed by Zordon on Eltar (using the Dairanger suits; almost as if it were from a lost season of Power Rangers). However, he remains trapped halfway between the Grid and the physical world; he fears that trying to extract him will only tear him apart. For now, he must operate from the Command Center and mentor his own team of Rangers. Gosei also teleports the Command Center away from its previous location, relocating it so as to hide it from the Warstar. Gosei also reveals the team's Zords.

3 - Gosei builds Tensou to be a companion and aide to the Rangers. Bulk becomes suspicious that these color-coordinated kids might be Power Rangers. He asks Spike to find out if they are since he wants to be of help if he can.

4 - Spike follows the Mega Rangers back to the Command Center where he is discovered by Tensou. At first, he is alarmed by the intruder but the misunderstanding is soon cleared up. The team is shocked to discover that the Gold Ranger is, in fact, Spike but they welcome him with open arms - though he notes that he has his own team and that he's excited to play the mentor for once, since he used to be the most junior Power Ranger on the planet. Spike informs Bulk of the Rangers' identities, and the team starts going to the Juice Bar more often to get the occasional smoothie and "sage advice" from Bulk.

5 - Spike attempts to teach the Mega Rangers some new moves, but he's having a hard time trying to teach them. Meanwhile, Troy continues his ongoing rivalry with General Creepox - who has taken an unhealthy fascination with the Red Ranger.

6 - Emma episode. Her attempt to organize an environmental rally are foiled by the school board and her bad attitude about it causes her to lose focus during a monster attack, injuring herself and Troy. She feels ashamed about this, but learns to better herself.

7 - Noah episode. Noah's insecurities are explored. How he lacks confidence in what he does and isn't used to being on a team. His problems aren't wholly fixed by the end, but he learns to overcome his fear of teamwork.

8 - Gia episode. Her parents are putting pressure on her since her grades have been dropping recently due to her Ranger duties. Displays how erratic a Ranger's life can end up being.

9 - Jake episode. Jake (as the Black Ranger) is showing off for people and gets on a talk show, getting dangerously close to revealing his true identity to the world. Gosei warns him that being a Power Ranger isn't about being famous and to watch out for his vanity.

10-12 - Gosei receives a ton of character development here, showing his faults as a mentor - that he is oftentimes too strict and demanding, a side effect of his frustration at being stuck in the energy tube and being able to do nothing. As well, it's revealed that Gosei had built the Lion Zord by modifying an old design of Zordon's. Noah starts investigating the base when he notices strange power fluctuations, discovering the long-buried Zeo Crystal under the base. Using its power, Gosei and Tensou manage to get the Lion Zord running. In the process, it's revealed that the Lion Zord has a "Knight Mode" that Gosei can directly interface with. In essence, the team now has a Sixth Ranger and Gosei's feeling of being useless is no longer an issue. Also, this would be the string of episodes where the Toxic Mutants would be introduced and vanquished - just as side villains being used by Vrak. Meanwhile, Creepox continues harassing the Rangers throughout.

13-15 - Malkor arrives on Earth for the first time, facing the Rangers in open combat. He soundly beats them and it takes all their might to damage him and foil his plans; however, he survives. He intones that they need a new plan; Vrak informs him that he has one.

16-20 - Orion, an immigrant from Mirinoi, arrives in Angel Grove. He gets a job as a tour guide at the Power Rangers Museum. Due to his expert knowledge and surprisingly adept fighting skills, Malkor chooses him to be his champion. His deep understanding of Ranger tactics and techniques allow him to be a mighty foe as the Green Ranger. For several episodes up to this point, Vrak had been studying the Rangers and finds a way to tap into the Morphing Grid and create his own morpher, now giving it to Orion. This five-episode epic is tightly written and pushes the Rangers to the limit. In the end, it comes down to Troy against Orion. When they finally free him, he is offered a spot on the team - and he gladly accepts. However, Vrak notes that the Green Ranger powers were only ever temporary as the methods he used to create the Gosei Morpher were not totally correct - an inadvertent boon in Warstar's favor.

THE MOVIE - The Mega Rangers discover a distress beacon in space. Gosei suspects that this might be a trap but since they're the Power Rangers they can't just ignore it. However, their suspicions are correct and it does turn out to be a trap. It is not the Warstar as they suspect but a team of Pirate Power Rangers who want to steal their powers. These are thieves and miscreants, the opposite of how Power Rangers should act. The Warstar use this as an opportunity to attack Earth, separating the Rangers into five pairs and capturing the Green Ranger and Gosei in Knight Mode. The two teams eventually learn to work together to escape their predicament, defeating the Warstar. Gosei does not like this Ranger team and almost threatens to cut them off from the Morphing Grid until the Pirate Rangers note that they'll pay back the Mega Rangers by showing them "the greatest treasure in the universe" when they next return to Earth. The team is doubtful that they'll actually return but note that they showed nobility and honor at the end of the day.

21 - Orion has to learn the ropes of being a Ranger, finding a friendship with Spike. However, Orion discovers that his powers sometimes short out and don't work properly - which gives an excuse for why he sometimes can't morph. He correctly intones that his time as a Power Ranger is likely limited.

22-23 - Troy and Creepox's rivalry comes to a head as Troy discovers who he really is. A scan in the Command Center reveals that the systems seem to believe that he is Zordon. Gosei mentions that this confirms his suspicions: Troy is an Eltarian, specifically from Zordon's family (long thought destroyed), and the psychic visions he's been receiving are from the Morphing Grid trying to contact him. Troy goes through a set of trials in the Command Center, facing his demons in the form of the original team of Power Rangers. When he emerges, the visions have cleared and Creepox challenges him. In this final duel, he destroys Creepox for good - who finally admits that humans are tougher than he thought. (Throughout the season, we would've repeatedly seen Troy's conflicts with his parents; this is the first time we see them try to get along.)

24 - Gosei and Tensou had been working on the power of Ultimate Mode for a while, helping the Rangers gain its power.

25-30 - Various character development episodes. Troy's parents are kidnapped and he has to save them, and they prove to him that they've improved as people, as well. Jake and Gia go on a date, and Gia kisses Jake. Emma learns how to be more compassionate and unselfish. Noah overcomes the local bullies with the help of Bulk and Spike, and also that being confrontational isn't necessarily the best way to go about things.

31-32 - SAMURAI CROSSOVER. Octoroo, having survived the events of Samurai, is surprised to see that the spirit of Master Xandred still lives. Xandred goes to Earth to make a deal with Vrak, saying that he'll help destroy the Power Rangers if he helps him. Vrak, thinking that he'll create a countermeasure against this later, accepts his offer. The Xandred-Vrak Hybrid proves to be the toughest challenge yet faced by the Rangers, especially when he brainwashes Jayden and forces him on his team and the Mega Rangers. There is a lot of camaraderie between the two Ranger teams, oftentimes clashing - with Orion and Spike trying to be a mediator when it does. Eventually, the two teams gain a mutual admiration for each other - just in time to free Jayden from Vrak's control. The fourteen Rangers foil Vrak's plan and seemingly destroy him. The two teams part ways, Spike going with his old team for the time being and leaving Bulk with the Mega Rangers. Meanwhile, the Pirate Rangers are revealed to still be observing the Mega Rangers - even secretly helping them out by taking out Octoroo's reinforcements. Unfortunately, with Vrak's demise the Green Ranger powers also go kaput for real this time, leaving Orion without any powers for the rest of the season.

33-35 - The End of Malkor arc. With Vrak and Creepox gone, Malkor needs to call for reinforcements. He requests that his mysterious benefactor sends him some help, who acquiesces by sending him some of the surviving generals of the Machine Empire, the Messenger and Metal Alice. They attack the Rangers for a while and manage to destroy some of their Zords, but Episode 35 ends with Malkor's demise. However, the machines discover Vrak's decrepit form - apparently having survived his fusion with Xandred.

36-37 - Vrak is Back arc. Vrak returns, resurrected as a cyborg by the Messenger. However, his programming is fully turned to "destroy all Rangers" mode. He manages to hatch a plan that destroys most of the Rangers' remaining Zords. In the process, however, Metal Alice and the Messenger are killed. Vrak himself is also destroyed by the Gosei Great Megazord - the only remaining Megazord in the Rangers' arsenal.

38-40 - The Rangers are crippled by Vrak's suicide attack and find themselves on the defensive just as the toughest battle of their careers rears its head. The mysterious force reveals himself to the Rangers - MASTER VYLE. Gosei notes that Master Vyle was the great evil that he had fought thousands of years ago. With the Rangers reeling from their losses they've suffered recently, they find it difficult to fight against Master Vyle's onslaught of forces. Gosei also loses the ability to use the Lion Zord and, by extension Knight Mode, when Vyle steals the Zeo Crystal. The Pirate Rangers arrive and help the Mega Rangers against Vyle and his generals, answering their call for help. Meanwhile, the Samurai Rangers help deal with the footsoldiers and massive army. Vyle strips the Mega Rangers of their powers, seemingly destroying the Gosei Morphers for good. The Pirate Rangers sacrifice themselves to save the Rangers. The Mega Rangers take their morphers and the NEW MEGA RANGERS are born, using the Pirate Rangers' powers and Megazord to fight off and destroy Master Vyle. However, Vyle warns them that Vrak is royalty - and his family will be coming to avenge the prince's death. The Rangers are troubled by this news, but Gosei notes that they have become stronger - not weaker - due to the events of the past year. In the final scene of the season, the Rangers are visited by an ally both new and old. Tommy Oliver, in the Red Zeo suit, arrives to tell the Mega Rangers that a new threat is on the horizon and they need to be ready.

Current Timeline

SABAN ERA:
1993: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger)
1994: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Season 2 (Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger and Gosei Sentai Dairanger)
1995: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Season 3 / Mighty Morphin' Alien Rangers (Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, Gosei Sentai Dairanger, and Ninja Sentai Kakuranger)
1996: Power Rangers Zeo (Chouriki Sentai Ohranger)
1997: Power Rangers Turbo (Gekisou Sentai Carranger)
1998: Power Rangers In Space (Denji Sentai Megaranger)
1999: Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (Seijuu Sentai Gingaman)
2000: Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive)
2001: Power Rangers Time Force (Mirai Sentai Timeranger)
2002: Power Rangers Wild Force (Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger)

DISNEY ERA:
2003: Power Rangers Ninja Storm (Ninpū Sentai Hurricaneger)
2004: Power Rangers Dino Thunder (Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger)
2005: Power Rangers SPD (Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger)
2006: Power Rangers Mystic Force (Mahou Sentai Magiranger)
2007: Power Rangers Operation Overdrive (GoGo Sentai Boukenger)
2008: Power Rangers Jungle Fury (Juken Sentai Gekiranger)
2009: Power Rangers RPM (Engine Sentai Go-Onger)
2010: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Re-Version (Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger)

NEO-SABAN ERA:
2011: Power Rangers Samurai (Samurai Sentai Shinkenger)
2012: Power Rangers Megaforce (Tensou Sentai Goseiger)

Fixing Power Rangers will return for Season 2 of Power Rangers Megaforce.