NOTICE: This is a Recap page, so all spoilers will be left unmarked, per wiki policy. Read ahead only with caution! You Have Been Warned.
Evil: It has many faces, and sometimes even a good-natured soul may become its unknowing pawn. Oh, did you say something? I couldn't hear you over GIANT FIGHTING ROBOTS! Seriously, what's cooler than giant robots? Absolutely nothing!
The White Tigerzord, the Sixth Thunderzord. And Epyon, the Sixth Gundam.
The thirty-seventh episode brings two Sixth Ranger fighters that are among the best fighters in their respective universes, Tommy Oliver and Zechs Merquise. They both come from 90's action shows, have a checkered past, and pilot elite mechas, showing themselves to be a huge asset to the heroic factions. Wizard and Boomstick shall examine their armor, weapons, and skills to see who would win a death battle.
The hosts start off with the Thunderzords, huge fighting machines piloted by five teenagers that assume the role of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The Rangers have defended the world several times from Rita Repulsa and her forces, but as soon as Lord Zedd came in they needed additional help, thus Zordon has christened the new White Ranger, Tommy Oliver. His White Tigerzord stands over fifteen stories high, weighs roughly 150 tons, and is powered by the White Light of Goodness. Tommy's power started off when he was bewitched by Rita to fight the Power Rangers, but the spell was reversed after they destroyed his blade. Tommy wields Saba, a sentient sabre capable of shooting lasers and controlling the White Tigerzord... and is uniquely multilingual.
The White Tigerzord has a tail that doubles as a huge, golden sword in combat that can light itself on fire. It can also knock foes asunder using its sonic blasts, travel at hyperspeed, and even shoot powerful White Tiger Thunderbolts from its chest. It is also able to emulate the pilot's every move as he performs various martial arts moves. While it's hard to determine the individual strength or measurable feats of each Ranger, all of them are derived from the same Morphing Grid that draws out the potential in strength, speed, and agility. To be able to mimic such high potential for the Rangers, the Zords had to match up to their speeds, the White Tigerzord being no exception.
As strong as it is, the White Tigerzord cannot stand on its own, so the other Power Rangers would step in with their Zords, but Rangers on their own have been known to have called other Zords in dire situations. The result of the Zords combining with the Tigerzord is the Mega Tigerzord, an even bigger and deadlier weapons with a huge energy shield, huge blasts of energy balls, and a Phoenix Strike, a finishing move that involves shooting an immolated Phoenixzord towards his foes. It is also so durable that said finishing move had been deflected right back at it, and it went right back up with little trouble. A high enough force can overload the Morphing Grid and destroy the Tigerzord though, but there's no denying that it is a force to be reckoned with.
Saba: White Ranger, I'm ready when you are!
Tommy: Alright! Tigerzord, power up!
Wiz and Boomstick move to 195 AC in the Gundam universe, where Earth and its colonies had been enduring several years of governmental strife, with one constant being the five freedom-fighting mechs called Gundams, also piloted by teenagers. The disgraced commander Treize Khushrenada then developed a sixth Gundam for Zechs in hopes of turning the tide: the Gundam Epyon. Its build is not so commanding, standing at 57 feet and weighing just under ten tons, but its speed of 250 MPH is immense enough to close in on foes and take them down with a single strike.
An experienced pilot is required through such immense speeds, and this is where the Lightning Count, Zechs Merquise steps in. He is a valedictorian of a prestigious military academy, a member of an elite OZ force, and had been a pilot to an unstable prototype Gundam. He is also fairly detached from the politics of war, especially since Treize staged a messy coup, and Zechs had wandered through his past. He did in fact have a past that he concealed, that of being the true heir of a pacifistic kingdom named Milliardo Peacecraft, his girlfriend Noin being one of few that knows.
Treize's sense of honor is still reflected in Epyon's combat style since it is first and foremost a dueling machine with its beam sword being the mainstay of its arsenal and not much in the way of long-range combat. The power of the beam sword is also tied to the Epyon's power source, which means that Zechs can focus the machine's energy to make the blade bigger at any time. Epyon also has a shield that sheaths a heated chain whip called the Heat Rod, which can also cut through armored opponents. Epyon also has an enhanced ZERO System that links to the pilot's brain and predicts the outcomes at mid-fight, even showing the opposing pilots' faces as they are about to get killed and even possible outcomes where Zechs loses. This is potentially risky since it would require sorting out reality from fiction in those hallucinations, but used well it can be a deadly force since it held off four Gundams at once and destroyed the 26,000 foot-long Barge with a single stroke of his blade. Zechs had emotional issues and was never the soldier he aspired to be, but Boomstick is quick to point out that he remained with Noin at the end (worth it!).
The bases have been touched upon, and all that needs to be done is to settle the score. IT'S TIME FOR A DEATH BATTLLLLLLLLLE, ROBO-STYLE!
In the middle of nowhere, Tommy and Saba took the White Tigerzord for a routine weapons test. Saba started to fire, and Tommy requested turning on the safety systems a bit too late. Meanwhile, on the far end, Zechs was brooding over almost destroying the Earth again, and Noin was trying to cheer him up. Zechs was receptive to her offer, but then that stray energy ball destroyed her Mobile Suit, killing her. Understandably upset, Zechs summoned Epyon and went charging towards the source of the attack.
Tommy and Saba decided that the energy ball may have dissipated and went on their way in the Tigerzord, but then the latter picked up readings of a target charging at them at high speeds. Epyon struck from the back, with a highly livid Zechs threatening to destroy.
FIGHT!
The Epyon strikes first, driving Tommy to send out a sonic burst at the next attempt. He then assumes control of the Tigerzord, with both mechs locked in a swordfight. The Epyon tried to outmaneuver the Tigerzord, but the latter quickly caught up at hyperspeed and sent it hurtling to the ground. When the Tigerzord tried to stamp for a finishing blow, the Epyon quickly darted out of the way then quickly sent a flurry of bullets. The Tigerzord responded by sending out a White Tigerzord Thunderbolt, which Epyon took the blow of through its shield. The Epyon System just estimated this to be the extent of his foe's arsenal, enabling it to dodge the attacks and prepare a finishing blow when...
Everything went dark. The Epyon was alone through the hallucination when a huge, hulking, shadowy figure appeared right behind it, poised to strike. The hallucination ended through a blinding amount of energy, and back in the real world, Epyon's attack was delayed, opening up Tigerzord's opportunity to Attack Its Weak Point... which just ended in a pathetic tink and dumbfounding Tommy and Saba. Regaining his senses, Zechs had the Epyon trip up Tigerzord with the Heat Rod, forcing Tommy to summon the other Zords to form Mega Tigerzord.
The tables were about to turn, and the combined force of the Zords juggled around the Epyon for a good while and having it barely defend itself from a huge energy ball. And then Tommy prepares Phoenix Strike... which Zechs could see coming through the past hallucination. He focused all energy on thrusters to dodge the strike and get behind the Mega Tigerzord, refocusing all energy on the beam sword and preparing his final strike for the fallen Noin. Tommy and Saba barely had any time to react when the sword went right through, bisecting the Mega Tigerzord and claiming both through a huge explosion of the torso.
K.O.!
What follows is a great amount of mourning, from Zechs for the death of Noin and from Zordon for the death of Tommy. Boomstick also bemoans his childhood hero getting killed off in this way. While the Tigerzord has a commanding presence and can keep up with Epyon for a while (even duping the Epyon System at one point) when Epyon could destroy Barge, there's little doubt it can also overload the Morphing Grid, and it can adjust its fighting style to the opponents it faces. Also, Zechs Merquise has more experience under his belt, with Tommy just being drafted from high school.
Wizard: The winner is the Gundam Epyon!
Tigerzord vs. Gundam Epyon contains examples of:
- Accidental Murder: Noin is killed by one of the Tigerzord's weapons misfiring.
- And This Is for...: "NOIN!"
- Downer Ending: Even though Zechs defeats Tommy, his girlfriend Noin is now dead, leaving him to cry over her demise amongst the ruins of her Mobile Suit, while Zordon mourns the loss of the White Ranger.
- Humongous Mecha: Among two of the greatest in their series.
- Ocular Gushers: Poor Zechs and Zordon have a great deal of grief.
- Oh, Crap!: Tommy and Saba when Zechs was about to commence his final strike.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Zechs is fighting to avenge Noin, who was accidentally killed by Tommy.Zechs: "I'LL BREAK YOUR FAAAAAACE!"
- Theme Music Power-Up:
- "White Ranger, Tiger Power" plays as Tommy attacks the Epyon while Zechs is distracted. Subverted when the attack barely phases the Epyon.
- "White Reflection" blares as the Epyon destroys the Mega-Tigerzord.
