‘DOOMSDAY’ (MMPR)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
Here’s another two-part ‘Power Rangers’ story from the ‘Mighty Morphin’ TV series. As I understand it, this story was meant to close off the first season of ‘Mighty Morphin’. But due to the popularity of the TV series at that time, it was decided that the first season should continue with more episodes. 🙂
In this story, Angel Grove celebrates the Power Rangers, as the city marks a large gathering in the park to celebrate Power Ranger Day. This is something the five teens are looking forward to, as the Power Rangers are praised for all the hard work in fighting evil and saving Angel Grove from danger.
Rita Repulsa isn’t happy about this, as she makes her boldest move yet. She makes to bring her Lunar Palace from the Moon to greatly increase her power and transport the entire population of Angel Grove to another dimension. She also summons the long-dormant war-Zord named Cyclopsus.
Meanwhile in Angel Grove, Bulk and Skull dress up as superheroes to show up the Power Rangers. Bulk dresses up as the Incredible Bulkster and Skull dresses up as Super Skull. They of course look silly in their superhero costumes, and everyone laughs at them once they start stealing the spotlight.
There’s a brief uncredited appearance of Renee Griggs as Angela, whom Zach continually tries to impress when they’re in Angel Grove Park. Kimberly is a bit concerned when she doesn’t see Tommy among the crowd in Angel Grove Park, but she assures herself and her friends that he will turn up. 🙂
Eventually, Rita lands her palace in Angel Grove, and she transports everyone out to another dimension. The five teens are all that remain in Angel Grove. They soon morph into the Power Rangers. They fight against Cyclopsus, which is piloted by Goldar, once they call upon their Dinozords.
It does make me wonder why the villains would want to use Zords in their fights against the Rangers, since they can easily grow into giant-sized monsters. I assume Goldar prefers fighting the Rangers in Cyclopsus, as it gives him a chance to retreat should anything go wrong, like in ‘Day of the Dumpster’.
Soon, the Rangers in their Dino Megazord with the Dragonzord and Titanus fight Goldar in Cyclopsus and defeat him easily. But Rita Repulsa calls on the power of Lokar from ‘Island of Illusion’ back to Earth, and drowns Titanus in a sinkhole. The Rangers are temporarily defeated by the end of ‘Part I’.
By ‘Part II’, the assault on Angel Grove by Rita and her forces continues. The Rangers attempt to take their Zords back into battle to fight against Cyclopsus and Lokar, but on half power. It results in the Dino Megazord losing an arm in the process and the Dragonzord getting its tail severed in the battle.
I must admit, the Zord fights in ‘Doomsday’ are very intense, especially when Cyclopsus’ sharp sword manages to defeat the Rangers’ Zords in two fights. I don’t think Lokar is that impressive, since it seems to be a giant head. He doesn’t really do that much, especially when Rita has him summoned. 😐
Thankfully, the Zords aren’t destroyed by Rita, as Billy manages to set a backup for them to be recovered, which is impressive. The Rangers lose contact with Zordon and Alpha. They try to get in touch with them again once they go off to Billy’s place. Billy has their communicators repaired there.
It was tense when Goldar and a few Putties turned up at Billy’s place to try and destroy them before they get a chance to use their communicators. Thankfully, Billy gets through to Zordon and Alpha. The five teens teleport to the Command Center, just as Goldar and the Putties try to destroy them. 🙂
Thankfully, Alpha manages to discover the weakness to Cyclopsus. The Rangers need to change the modes of their Zords frequently to confuse Cyclopsus when it’s adapting its systems. Thankfully, it works. Cyclopsus is overwhelmed before he’s destroyed. Lokar departs and Rita’s palace leaves Earth.
I like how the story ends with the people of Angel Grove returned to the park. The Power Rangers turn up to be thanked. Apparently, Jason David Frank as Tommy, the former Green Ranger, is there in an uncredited appearance. The story also ends with Zordon giving the Rangers the choice to leave.
But the five teens unanimously decide to stay on and continue their fight against the forces of evil as Power Rangers. Zordon is evidentially pleased with them for making the choice to stay on. Had this two-parter been the finale to Season 1 of ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’, it would have been good. 🙂
‘Doomsday’ is a story that challenges the Power Rangers to their limits when Rita steals the people of Angel Grove, has her palace land on Earth, and the Zords are weakened before a solution is given. The celebration of the Power Rangers at the end of the story is fitting to showcase them as heroes. 🙂
‘Doomsday’ (MMPR) rating – 8/10
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