Power Rangers: Faithful in Spirit

"When this is all over... are we Power Rangers? Or are we friends?"

There's a sequence in Saban's Power Rangers where, after having learned of their newfound superpowers and responsibilities as members of an ancient legion of warriors, the team begins training without their armor after they discover that they are unable to morph despite the Power Coins having chosen them. During this training montage, the team gradually becomes better at fighting - though it's fairly clear that a bunch of teenagers fighting against giant rock monsters is going to be a tough sell regardless of the circumstances, super strength and durability be damned. In addition, the team gradually starts to get to know each other. Time is running short, however, and Rita Repulsa (evil villain; former Power Ranger) is already out there, killing people for their gold which she's going to use to resurrect Goldar, a massive beast which will uproot the Zeo Crystal, the source of all life on Earth. After Alpha 5 shows them their giant robotic Zords for inspiration, Zack - the Black Ranger - takes his Mastodon out for a joy-ride, but is unable to control it and almost kills the team. Jason - the Red Ranger and designated leader - is angered by this, getting into a fight with Zack. Seeing his new friends in conflict with each other, Billy - the Blue Ranger - stops the fight, getting in the way of both of them. This act of compassion and peace causes him to morph, granting him the battle armor that they've been wanting this whole time. In the end, it was Billy's kindness and devotion to his friends that enabled him to truly become a Power Ranger.

Something I really appreciate about this is that it speaks to the truth of the Power Rangers franchise. It is so incredibly Power Rangers that I cannot help but commend the writers, the producers, the cast and crew for staying true to Power Rangers. Compassion, kindness, resolve, friendship, love, loyalty - all of these positive emotions and the bonds that they form between the team is what allows them to become Power Rangers. In essence, they are forced to confront their character flaws and bare themselves to each other, letting go of the contrarian and self-destructive attitudes that create facades in everyday life.

This happens for all of the Rangers, most explicitly in the campfire scene - which, incidentally, is the most humanizing scene in the entire movie - where everyone goes around in a mock "Power Rangers Anonymous" round robin telling everyone about their secrets, though Jason and Kim are more hesitant to do so. Zack goes first, telling the team about how he fears the day that his sickly mother will pass away because he has no one else in the world. He intones that hanging out with his new team is probably really healthy for him. Billy echoes this sentiment, saying that he used to come up to the mountain so he could feel connected with his deceased father but that coming up there to train as Rangers with the group makes him feel just as good, even better. Trini bares her "girlfriend problems," how her parents don't understand who she is and - even worse - don't seem to care at all about her problems and how trapped she feels living in a household where she can't be herself. It is also Trini who asks the most penetrating question of all: "Are we Power Rangers or... are we friends?"

Later, Kim and Jason have a private heart-to-heart. Kim relates the terrible things that she did, doubling down on blaming everyone after having made her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend (as well as both of their respective families) suffer through a sex scandal. Jason affirms to Kim that just because she did awful things, it doesn't make her an awful person.

After Trini is ambushed by Rita, the Rangers resolve to attack Rita despite their lack of armor and their growing dislike of Zordon (whose plan seemed to have been to use their unlocking of the Morphing Grid to reconstruct his body). This is a wonderful moment, one that echoes a once-a-season trope used in the series. When the Rangers lose their powers (or, in this case, before the Rangers really gain their powers), they go ahead and fight anyway even if it proves a greater risk to themselves than would seem worth it. It is such a Power Rangers moment, especially with the "show of hands," and it feels so faithful to the spirit of the franchise. "Never give up" has always been a huge aspect of every Ranger team, and this one is no exception.

When Billy is killed by Rita, the team reaffirms that every single one of them would have died for him. This is what ultimately unlocks the Morphing Grid and makes Zordon come to the conclusion that these teenagers really do have what it takes to be Power Rangers (and realize how much of a jerk he'd really been this whole time). Zordon uses the Morphing Grid's power to revive Billy, right before the five of them finally morph.

Creating bonds, being empathetic, baring your soul and trusting that others will accept you for who you are - these are so true to Power Rangers. It is an incredibly positive, idealistic message to send with a Hollywood blockbuster. It's something that no other nostalgia-fueled, "dark and gritty" reboot has managed to communicate, especially Transformers and TMNT. This is why Power Rangers deserves an honest-to-God chance at being a successful film franchise. Because the writers get the show. Not just because they use or know the lore. Not just because we get giant robots fighting giant monsters. Not just because we have multi-colored stuntmen in suits fighting rock monsters. But because the heart and soul of Power Rangers - a series that has endured for 24 years - is preserved and forms the center of this new film.

In short, the film understands and respects Power Rangers - all of it.