With Rita Repulsa removed from power, her master Lord Zedd immediately puts the hurt to the heroes. His new monster, Pirantishead, freezes four of the Dinozords, then takes command of the Tyrannosaurus Zord and Dragonzord. In order to stand a chance, the Rangers need their Zords to be upgraded to brand new Thunderzords based on mythical creatures. However, acquiring them means the old zords need to be reclaimed, and Zedd isn't about to let them loose that easily!
Episode Tropes:
- All According to Plan: Zedd is delighted with Pirantishead freezing four Dinozaords and leaving Tyrannosaurus unharmed. When Goldar asks about the latter, Zedd reveals that Pirantishead's flute has a Technopath ability and that the plan all along was for the Rangers to be attacked by their own Zords.
- Batman Gambit: Zedd banks on the Rangers to continue trying to stop Pirantishead and waited for them to leave the Command Center. He sends the Z-Putties to distract them long enough for the controlled Zords to arrive and begin a devastating assault.
- Can't Catch Up: Because of the Green Ranger's low powers, Alpha said that there is no guarantee Tommy could sustain a new zord.
- Despair Event Horizon: The Rangers don't know what to do, after losing their Zords, giving way to Zordon delivering the Wham Line.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Averted. Though Zedd boasts that the Rangers are defeated, he fully expects them to keep trying to thwart him. He plans accordingly with "a little game of cat and mouse" to finish them off.
- Evil Gloating: Zedd after the Rangers are forced to retreat from their own Zords.
- From Bad to Worse: Pirantishead had frozen four of the Dinozords then takes command of both The Tyrannosaurus and Dragonzord to attack the Rangers
- Going in Circles: Bulk and Skull. They noticed they passed the same trees. They decided to go their own direction, only to run into each other...and just in time for Pirantishead to stumble upon them and send them spinning out of control.
- Hope Spot:
- Dragonzord manages to restrain Tyrannosaurus, at which point Zedd opts to take control of it as well.
- Amid all the chaos downtown, the Rangers try to reach the Zords' cockpits to regain control manually, but they get blasted off the rooftop.
- The Needs of the Many: Zordon urges the other Rangers to just wait for Billy and Trini to finish the device rather than try to stop the latest attack, saying they have no chance of winning without their Zords and that the world needs them in one piece. It works at first, but they ultimately can't wait any longer and head out.
- Pragmatic Adaptation: This actually bears notice because unlike future seasons, the Mighty Morphin team does not gain new powers on top of the brand new zords, the Rangers here gain only the Thunderzords, and do not switch into the Dairanger suits. At least until Tommy becomes the white ranger.
- Race Against the Clock: Billy and Trini work on the device to regain control over the old Zords, with Pirantishead soon beginning another attack. The other Rangers head out to face him in the meantime.
- Riddle for the Ages: What exactly is the "power of thunder" and how does it differentiate from the Dinozords? Billy himself asks what it's all about, but his question is never acknowledged with Alpha merely leading the team outside to show off the Thunderzords and Zordon doesn't elaborate on it either.
- Side Bet: Trying to find their way back to the charity race, Bulk and Skull argue over which way to go. Skull proposes a wager: the first one back gets treated to all the pizza he can eat. Naturally, they just end up bumping into each other farther down the road and are still lost.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Since the Rangers can only get their new Zords if they regain control over the old ones, Jason notes they have a big job ahead of them.
- The Unreveal: Despite Billy's questioning what the "Power of Thunder" is, it is never elaborated on in this three-parter or at any future point.
- Weirdness Magnet: Pirantishead teleports into view at the spot that Bulk and Skull bump back into each other and proceeds to send them on a wild ride.
- Wham Line: "You now need stronger, new Zords equipped with the Power of Thunder to defeat Lord Zedd."
- "You!" Exclamation: Bulk and Skull when bumping back into each other during their Side Bet.
