‘DARK WARRIOR’ (MMPR)

Please feel free to comment on my review.

‘Dark Warrior’ features Trini’s Uncle Howard. But this episode isn’t really about Trini. This episode focuses on Billy, as he wants to re-enrol in Jason’s karate classes after being bullied by Bulk and Skull. Billy gets back into shape and even has help from Uncle Howard, who is a scientist and knows karate.

This is an interesting combination for Uncle Howard to be a scientist and know karate. It also puts him in danger when Rita Repulsa wants to have Uncle Howard’s invisibility formula. She sends a group of Putties as well as her latest new monster, Dark Warrior, to kidnap Uncle Howard to get it. 😐

Billy tells the other Rangers that Uncle Howard has been captured after having a karate class with him. Trini then gets a ransom note in black balloons from Dark Warrior that demands the invisibility formula. What’s worse, Dark Warrior has set a time bomb on Uncle Howard that must be defused. 😮

The Rangers manage to fight off some Putties that guard the cave with Uncle Howard inside before they go in to save him. Billy manages to defuse the time bomb, with the use of his scientific skills and karate instincts as guided by Uncle Howard. This all somehow works, and Uncle Howard is set free. 🙂

It’s interesting that Uncle Howard forgot where he put the formula, as he brought it with him into Ernie’s Juice Bar when he was reuniting with Trini and the others. It’s also very interesting that Zordon seems to know all that goes on with Uncle Howard’s invisibility formula and Rita’s evil plans.

The episode concludes with the Rangers fighting against Dark Warrior in their Dino Megazord, first in tank mode and then in Megazord mode. I have to say that Dark Warrior sounds intimidating as a monster compared to previous monsters. It would’ve been nice if he had lasted beyond this episode.

‘Dark Warrior’ is good as a filler episode for ‘Power Rangers’, and it’s interesting how Billy gains his confidence in both science and karate through Trini’s Uncle Howard. Even though Billy has help from Uncle Howard’s invisibility to sort out Bulk and Skull, he still earns the yellow karate belt from Jason.

Incidentally, Billy says that he’s often the one that’s most bullied by Bulk and Skull. Not wishing to dispute that, but it’s often the five Ranger teens as a group that get bullied. When Ernie sees Uncle Howard’s jar of green invisibility formula. I’m surprised a ‘Star Trek’ “It’s green” joke wasn’t made. 😀

‘Dark Warrior’ (MMPR) rating – 7/10