In preparation for a big upcoming exam in their class, the Rangers go up to the mountain to study together at Billy's uncle's cabin. Rita devises a plan to activate the Crystal of Nightmares to break the Rangers' self-confidence. While they are sleeping, Goldar is sent down to Earth to use the crystal. With our heroes stripped of their confidence, are the Power Rangers finished as well?
Tropes
- Anti-Sneeze Finger: Skull has to do this with Bulk in order to not give them away. It holds the whole night while they dream until they wake up the next morning.
- Art Evolution: Goldar's head has more articulation with the jaw now more maneuverable instead of his snout rising. Footage of the snout Goldar would still be used until the Season 2 premiere.
- Brought to You by the Letter "S": Remember that "D" is for "detention" and "F" stands for "forever".
- Call-Back: The Rangers' nightmares consist of:
- Billy being devoured by the Terror Toad in "Power Ranger Punks".
- Trini being blasted by Goldar in "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" (which bizarrely was not an episode focused on Trini, but Zack).
- Zack being overwhelmed by Knasty Knight in "Happy, Birthday Zack".
- Kimberly getting sucked into Samurai Fan Man's gourd from "Calamity Kimberly".
- Jason being tortured by Goldar in the Dark Dimension from "Green with Evil Part 2".
- Bulk and Skull's outfits in their nightmare are the same as when they became "The Incredible Bulkster" and "Super Skull" back in Doomsday.
- Not to mention, Bulk's line about Skull driving like a maniac from the Green Ranger arc makes a return, this time with perfect justification.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: Bulk and Skull fall asleep waiting for the Rangers to leave, but are stuck there till morning when they've already left. A combination of being late and not studying causes the two to get Fs, which lands them both in detention "forever".
- Childish Pillow Fight: The boys end up in a three-way contest, triggered by Billy, of all people.
- Clip Show: The Crystal of Nightmares is basically a device to use this trope, not unlike the last episode where Goldar did this to the Rangers.
- Creepy Crossdresser: The cleaning lady when she sees Bulk and Skull.
- Determinator: Jason is the only one with a smidgen of confidence left to get the others to answer Zordon's call. He's also the one to enter the cave where the crystal (and Goldar) is and successfully destroys the former.
- Disguised in Drag: Bulk and Skull pose as female housekeepers when hunting for the Rangers' notes. When the actual cleaner shows up and finds the two sleeping under the bed, she's justifiably freaked out.
- Flashback Nightmare: The crux of the episode as the Rangers (and Bulk and Skull) have crippling nightmares of dire moments they faced while battling Rita's forces.
- Hidden Depths: Bulk and Skull's dream involves them becoming superheroes and saving the world with the Megazord. They can't drive the robot properly, but it's the thought that counts.
- Mr. Fanservice: Jason sleeping without his shirt.
- Nightmare Sequence: The Crystal of Nightmares invokes this on the rangers, and Bulk and Skull, giving them dreams of past battles with them on the losing side.
- Never Recycle Your Schemes: Averted; this is the second time the villains have attempted to destroy the Rangers' self-confidence, and unlike "Island of Illusion", it sticks for most of the episode.
- Plot Allergy: Bulk is allergic to dust and feathers. It ends up costing Mr. Caplan his toupee at the end.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Kim tries to pull this after the teens are teleported outside the cave where the Crystal of Nightmares is located. Unfortunately, she's thwarted by a couple of Putties.
- Shirtless Scene: Jason doesn't have a shirt on while he sleeps.
- Slasher Smile: Goldar pulls off an impressive one when firing up the Crystal of Nightmares; a decent feat given the new mask's limited articulation.
- Too Dumb to Live: Bulk letting Skull drive the Megazord in the dream. Really, he should've known better.
