Power Rangers All Killer, No Filler Watch Order Part 2 - The Crossover Era

Hello my friends, and welcome back to my blog.

Today I wanted to continue my Power Rangers Watch Order, as I try to highlight the very best Power Rangers episodes to watch from this entire 30 year franchise. This has become even more important to me as recent actions by Hasbro, including a Heritage Auction that saw the auctioning off of all props (from some kept in storage for decades to even the newest props created for the 2023 episodes) seems to have suggested that the franchise is effectively over, and that whatever form, if any, Power Rangers takes in the future it will not involve any existing live-action props.

Obviously this is a rather ignominious end for one of my favourite and most beloved franchises, and so I want to do what I can to encourage others to experience some of this legacy for themselves, hence these Watch Orders.

Unlike the first few years of the franchise, which featured a solid and ongoing continuity sharing several characters, allowing an evolution of the story from Day of the Dumpster right through to Countdown to Destruction. However after the end of Power Rangers in Space while there is definitely an ongoing continuity of sorts it is not as intertwined as it was previously. Essentially each series now stands almost entirely on its own, with the exception of a single annual crossover, at least in most cases. However this can also mean that in many occasions there can be more episodes that form a part of the essential story than previously, as attempts are made to develop characters and plots in a shorter run of episodes.

So let's get stuck in shall we?

Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy

Lost Galaxy is the series that has the most direct connections to the previous Zordon Era for a while. Professor Phenomenus and Bulk reappear in supporting roles, as will Karone as the series progresses, and Alpha 6 remains a key ally of the rangers aboard the Astro Megaship. The series takes place on a human space colony called Terra Venture.

E1-E2 Quasar Quest

E3 Race to the Rescue

E4 Rookie in Red

E5 Homesick

E6 The Lights of Orion

• A collection of episodes setting up the status quo for the series, introducing the Rangers, their allies, their zords, and Terra venture, as well as their villains Scorpius and Trakeena and several key dynamics.

E9 The Magna Defender

E10 The Sunflower Search

E11 Silent Sleep

E12 Orion Rising

E13 Orion Returns

E14 Shark Attack

E15 Redemption Day

E16 Destined for Greatness

• This arc centres around the character of the Magna Defender, and sees the return of Mike, Leo's older brother.

E18 The Rescue Mission

E19-E20 The Lost Galactabeasts

E21 Heir to the Throne

E22 An Evil Game

• This arc sees some dramatic changes among the ranks of the villains especially, as well as expanding the Rangers' arsenal.

E27 Loyax' Last Battle

• This is separate from any storyarcs, but is just one of the better episodes of this season, so definitely worth a watch.

E30 To The Tenth Power

E31 The Power of Pink

E32 Protect the Quasar Saber

E33 Facing the Past

• The return of the Psycho Rangers, a team up with the Space Rangers, the death of a Power Ranger, and the reformation of a major villain.

E35 Enter the Lost Galaxy

E36 Beware the Mutiny

• Introduction of a new villain and Terra Venture is sent to the titular Lost Galaxy.

E41 Raise the Titanisaur

E42 Escape the Lost Galaxy

E43-E45 Journey's End

• The conclusion of the series.

Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue

Lightspeed Rescue turns the Power Rangers into a group of first responders with a commander and a full support team as they battle an army of demons.

E1 Operation Lightspeed

E2 Lightspeed Teamwork

E3 Trial By Fire

E4 Riding the Edge

E5 A Matter of Trust

E6 Wheels of Destruction

E7 Cyborg Rangers

• Its a longer run of episodes to start a series, but as the Rangers here are some of the most developed we will ever get its definitely worth it, as their interpersonal relationships are a joy to watch.

E9 Go Volcanic
E10 Rising From Ashes
E11 From Deep in the Shadows
E12 Truth Discovered
E13 Ryan's Destiny
E14 Curse of the Cobra
E15 Strength of the Sun
E16 The Cobra Strikes
E17 Olympius Ascends
E18 A Face from the Past
E19 The Queen's Return
E20 The Omega Project

• Another long string of episodes, but several important developments happen here, including the introduction of the first truly Power Rangers exclusive ranger in Ryan, main villain Queen Bansheera, and the amazing Supertrain Megazord. 

E23 Yesterday Again

E24 As Time Runs Out
E25 In the Freeze Zone
E26 The Mighty Mega Battles

• More developments for the villains, as well as expansions to the Ranger arsenals.

E29-E30 Trakeena's Revenge
E31 The Last Ranger
E32 Sorcerer of the Sands
E33 Olympius Unbound

• As well as the team-up with the Galaxy Rangers to defeat a returned Trakeena this also sees more developments the villains and the arsenal. 

E37 Wrath of the Queen
E38 Rise of the Super Demons
E39-E40 The Fate of Lightspeed

• The final arc of the series.

Power Rangers: Time Force

Time Force has one of the best storylines in Power Rangers, and I highly recommend it. The team of Rangers are also great, having some of my favourite characters in the franchise among them, along with some of the best villains of any series. 

E1-E2 Force from the Future
E3 Something to Fight For
E4 Ransik Lives
E5 A Blue Streak
E6 A Parting of Ways
E7 Short-Circuited
E8 Jen's Revenge
E9 The Time Shadow
E10 Future Unknown
E11 Uniquely Trip
E12 Worlds Apart
E13 The Quantum Quest
E14-E15 Clash for Control
E16 Bodyguard in Blue

• This run is one of the longest, and that's simply because of how well developed the Time Force team, their allies, the villains and all of the character relationships are so richly defined, with nearly every one of these episodes picking up on something that a previous one introduced. There's a very good reason that I say this is one of the best series!

E18 Trust and Triumph
E19 Trip Takes a Stand
E20 Quantum Secrets
E21 The Last Race

• Some more great character moments and expansions of the Rangers arsenal. 

E27 Frax's Fury
E28 Dawn of Destiny
E29 Fight Against Fate
E30 Destiny Defeated
E31 Undercover Rangers
E32 Beware the Knight
E33 Time for Lightspeed

• While Frax and Ransik clash, the Rangers go through a dramatic change at the hands of a new leader, and this run ends with the Lightspeed team up against the retuning Vypra.

E35 Nadira's Dream Date
E36 Circuit Unsure
E37 A Calm Before the Storm

E38-E40 The End of Time 

• The last couple of episodes build up to the pretty epic finale, with some fun character beats leading up to it. A great conclusion to a very good series. 

Power Rangers: Wild Force

Wild Force followed up Time Force, and was not as good as the previous show. It wasn't bad by any means, and there were definitely high points, including a crossover not just with the Time Force team that served as an epilogue to that series but also a tenth anniversary special featuring returning Red Rangers, but the fact remains that the characters, both hero and villain, were not as good as the previous ones. Still there are some incredible moments here, and so I'll highlight the best episodes below. 

E1 Lionheart

E2 Darkness Awakening
E3 Click, Click, Zoom
E4 Never Give Up!
E5 Ancient Awakening

• The team of Rangers come together when lost teenager Cole Evans returns to society after being raised by indigenous peoples and joins the team on the Animarium, a floating island that is home to the Power Animals. Each of these episodes introduces or develops a main character for the series. The following few episodes continue to add new zords to the Rangers arsenal, but this show has a large amount of zords and not all are essentially to learn about.

E10 Curse of the Wolf
E11 Battle Of The Zords
E12 Predazord, Awaken
E13 Revenge Of Zen-Aku
E14 Identity Crisis
E15 The Ancient Warrior
E16 The Lone Wolf

• The introduction of villain Zen-Aku and the Sixth ranger for the series in Merrick. A great run of episodes.

E17 Power Play
E18 Secrets And Lies

• Some developments for the villains and Cole are begun here that pay off later. 

E24-E25 Reinforcements from the Future 
E26 The Master's Last Stand

• The Time Force team up sees the return of all six Time Rangers, as well as Ransik and Nadira, and as I said before is a great epilogue to that series. The episode following sees a large change for Master Org, and some important revelations. The episodes that follow this featuring a new main villain in Mandilok, as well as the introduction of Animus, who briefly takes the zords from the Rangers. Its an important plot point for the series, but ends up as a uninteresting run of episodes with a very heavy-handed environmentalist message, which is a bit of a shame.

E34 Forever Red

• This episode was the tenth anniversary of the franchise, and sees the return of former Red Rangers Jason, Tommy, TJ, Andros, Leo, Carter, Wes and Eric, and Aurico, as well as a cameo of Bulk and Skull, as Cole joins them to stop some Machine Empire villains from bringing back Sepenterra on the Moon. A fantastic little episode.

E35-E36 The Master's Herald 
E37 Fishing for a Friend
E38 Sealing the Nexus
E39-E40 The End of the Power Rangers 

• Everything comes together for a solid conclusion as Master Org returns and fights Mandilok and the Rangers. It all builds across these final episodes to a very satisfying conclusion, despite how some episodes of the series have gone. 

Power Rangers: Ninja Storm

This series is almost a complete reboot of the concepts of Power Rangers, featuring no connections to any previous shows, and this was done due to numerous behind the scenes reasons that I discussed in my 75th Podcast Episode. Its still a decent show though, despite not being as rich as some previous ones.

E1 Prelude to a Storm
E2 There's No “I” In Team

E3 Beauty and the Beach
E4 Looming Thunder
E5-E7 Thunder Strangers
E8 Nowhere to Grow

• This string of episodes introduces the Rangers and villains, and gives us a bit of development for them all as they come together. It's pretty standard fare by this point

E10-E13 Return of Thunder
E14 Boxing Bopp-a-Roo
E15 Pork Chopped
E16-E18 The Samurai's Journey

• A decent run of episodes as the Thunder Rangers and Wind Rangers come together, and Cam becomes the Samurai Ranger. 

E30 The Wild Wipeout

• A pretty fun episode where Tori ends up in a universe where the Rangers are heroes and has to team up with Lothor to save the day and return home. 

E337-E38 Storm Before the Calm

• The finale, as the Rangers all come together to defeat Lothor. 

Power Rangers: Dino Thunder

This series sees the return of classic Mighty Morphin Ranger Tommy Oliver, now in a mentor role to a new team of heroes. This series contains a lot of "back-to-basics" approaches, but still manages to incorporate a lot of legacy moments for the series at the same time. Its a fan-favourite that contains some of my favourite episodes. 

E1-E2 Day of the Dino
Wave Goodbye
Legacy of Power
Back in Black

• The first five episodes not only introduce the Rangers, but lead directly into each other, with Legacy of Power being the 500th Episode, doing a retrospective of the whole franchise so far, and we end with Tommy becoming the new Black Ranger.

E8 Golden Boy
E9 Beneath the Surface
E10 Ocean Alert
E11-E13 White Thunder 
E14 Truth and Consequences
E15 Leader of the Whack
E16 Burning at Both Ends

• This arc is essentially the introduction of the extra ranger for the series, as well as development of several main characters. 

E18 Bully for Ethan

E19 Lost & Found in Translation

• A revelation about Zeltrax, followed by an episode of the Power Rangers watching a Sentai episode, which gets meta, but is much better than it sounds.

E21 Copy That
E22 Triassic Triumph

• Developments for the White Ranger, and the debut of the Triassic Ranger upgrade.

E26 Disappearing Act
E27 Fighting Spirit

• Some important developments for Tommy as he finally gets restored, with Fighting Spirit being an anniversary episode of sorts.

E30 Strange Relations
E31-E32 Thunder Storm

• Trent returns to the side of the Rangers just in time for the crossover with the Ninja Storm team as Lothor returns. This is probably my favourite crossover episode as everyone gets a moment to shine here.

E35 House of Cards
E36 A Test of Trust
E37-E38 Thunder Struck 

• The final arc as the Rangers and Mesogog's final battle approaches.

So that's it for this part of the Watch Order. As I said there is thirty years of Power Rangers to go through, so it will take a while, but we're getting closer. I'm hoping to finish the rest of this Watch Order as soon as possible, so look for the next part in the next few days.

In the meantime my friends as always please look after your physical and mental health the very best you can, and I look forward to greeting you again soon.

Until next time. Bye for now.

Garhdo