Power Rangers Dino Charge

Hey everyone. So I realized we don't have a forum for this show yet. So feel free to post thoughts on episodes, behind the scenes, comparisons, etc.

Now, as to this new episode on finding the plesiozord? Pretty good. The first time the bad guys decided to target a zord for destruction rather than capture, first time using a civilian for their dirty work, poking some fun at Koda's caveman Does Not Like Shoes. Oh, and Sledge getting off the throne just in time for the last 2 episodes this season. Cool. I've also noticed that the rangers are a lot more open to having individuals know their Secret Identity, but keep it from their family? What's the sense in that?

Anyways, any other thoughts?

Actually we have a thread for the whole franchise in here.

We do, but Dino Charge almost never comes up in conversation there.

Interesting. I'm... actually about ten episodes behind. I need to start catching up...

Since we're in the middle of the winter hiatus, thoughts about Season 1 of Dino Charge. I personally feel that this series thus far is on par with some of the better Power Rangers seasons. Especially in the fact that with 10 rangers to introduce, they could very easily have skimped on a ranger here and there. While there are rangers who aren't as important, they at least give a good reason for it. It's an interesting balance they're trying to strike between strong continuity and maintaining that Monster of the Week feel. Especially since the series feels more low key compared with other series. Probably in part because they're not trying to save the world per se. Just protect something from greedy hands.

Also, I REALLY hope that Sledge and crew come back next season. They were a fun bunch to be around without compromising their integrity as legitimate combat/planning threats. (curio aside, but he's pure fun)

As for the season finale? Good. I admit, in the moment I was absolutely thrilled by it all. The Purple energem, Keeper going in, the megazord fight, the new combinations, the crash. All great stuff. Looking back though, I'm guessing my feelings might change depending on what comes next season. Cause as a heightened threat, it works great in changing the status quo. As something that would mark an ending for all these great villains, I would hate this sendoff if this was the last we saw of Sledge and his crew. I'm guessing they'll be back, but if they're not, this really feels underwhelming.

What about all of you?

I like this show, but this weekend's ep, Home Run Koda? Saban, Herman Munster and Jethro Bodine want to have a talk with you about plagiarism.

When is the hiatus going to be over? It's driving me up the freaking wall

August 20th is when the series resumes.

So, we have 8 episodes to go.

Regarding Catching Some Rays, there were some...odditities going on about it, particularly in that I didn't know if Koda really had any beefs with his grandfather before. It also really seemed to embrace Sentai goofiness whole heartedly with the vacation antics, and the last villain scene.

Though there was an interesting idea not quite elaborated on how Loafer said that the rays didn't affect monsters, and also didn't affect Fury, Poissandra or Curio. This seems to indicate that alien biology interacts with powers differently than human biology. Which only has me wonder, what exactly did Loafer do to get captured by Sledge? If his rays didn't affect monsters, why would he be in prison?

On the other hand, I have a suspicion that the silver ranger transmission might be a trap. After all, why wouldn't the silver ranger ask for help but rather ask for their zord technical readouts? Kinda suspicious!

And on a final note, I like the subtle touch that this series has embraced regarding its villain format. Namely, a sense of crowds diminishing. In scene 1, there were tens of guards patrolling the corridors, every cell was crowded with a criminal (some were repeats, but that's besides the point), and even the bridge was lively and full of activity. However by this episode, the corridors of the ship are REALLY feeling more empty, like they're almost out of vivicks, spikeballs and prisoners. I half expect in 2 episodes for Fury or Heckyl to comment they're almost out of men, growing their desperation and frustration.

Finally got around to Recipe for Disaster. I called the zord deception, but meeting a Bigger Bad? That was a bit more unexpected.

Although, I liked the arc welding that Archenon created for the series as a whole. Who Singe's master was, Sledge's employer, the question Silver Ranger data and why he's in space. It even gives a partial origin of the energems, which is something I never expected to come out of a series that relies on "It's magic. We don't have to explain it."

And I also admit that what I really liked about this episode was that it showed the villains being smart. Wrench's new monster was built on past defeats, and thus could adapt to normal moves. And Archenon used the heroes own weapons without their permission, which seems to indicate that the dino chargers can be "tricked" even if the energems can't.

However, what I find most telling about the state of the series right now is actually in the subtle moment right near the end as a matter of details. When Sledge first arrived orbiting earth, he had a ship filled with prisoners. Prisoners who were slowly let out one by one, quietly emptying the ship as they went. The prison crew went from crowded, the packed, to having pacing room for some monsters, to even having empty cells at one point. Then Heckyl took over and let the remaining monsters out, but overall there weren't exactly that many at his parties, and generally we never see monster group shots in Supercharge. And now we have Archenon taking control of the ship, throwing Heckyl back in solitary. But all the cells around them are dead empty. Heck, if Wrench had to resort to building a monster, that means they're almost out of prisoners at the very least, and all out at the very worst. Regardless, Archenon's not going to be happy that Sledge and Heckyl squandered his "army" on seeking the energems.

Well, let's see what's in the home stretch!

I have no idea how to feel about that finale. Your thoughts?

While good in its own right, it kind of felt underwhelming. I mean, the ending is good because it allowed the Rangers to go on with their lives. But defeating Sledge in one quick motion like that is... eh. To be perfectly honest, Super Megaforce made the final battle still feel more epic. Don't get me wrong, that was a clearly weak version of the Super Sentai, but there's a bit of justification(they can't do a proper zord battle due to many megazords not existing, since, ever, and that they had a tiny slew of episodes to work with compared to the original Super Sentai). As for Sledge, the fact he actually looked like he cared about Fury's death was good to see. I think it was Poisandra that turned him against Fury, and that they were friends before that. Thousands of years later...