Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd both returned in 2023, and they made the originalPower Rangerslook very inefficient in hindsight. It doesn’t matterhow manyPower Rangersseasonsthere are – the franchise will always be associated withMighty Morphinon some level. From long-time fans of the show to casual viewers, names like Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa will always be iconic. As such, it is no surprise thatboth of the originalMighty MorphinPower Rangersvillains returned in 2023, the year that celebratedPower Rangers’ 30th anniversary.
While Rita Repulsa was the firstPower Rangersvillain, she was technically working for Lord Zedd the whole time. InMMPRseason 2, we learn that Rita answers to a bigger evil, Lord Zedd. Interestingly, Zedd also answered to a bigger threat, Dark Specter, about which we learned inPower Rangers in Space.Lord Zedd was meant to be a more serious, threatening replacement for Rita Repulsa, but they eventually teamed up and became even sillier versions of themselves. In hindsight, it’s curious how theoriginal Power Rangers teamnever defeated their ultimate villains.
Neither Rita Repulsa Nor Lord Zedd Was Ever Defeated In The Original Power Rangers Show
Rita Repulsa & Lord Zedd Were Only “Defeated” In Power Rangers In Space
Rita Repulsa was not defeated by thePower Rangersin season 2 – she was instead trapped by Lord Zedd when the new villain took over. Rita was eventually freed and teamed up with Zedd, which led to a bizarre storyline that concluded with Rita and Zedd getting married. By the end ofMMPRseason 3, both Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa were still active villains and had their minions by their side. At the start ofPower Rangers Zeo, the sequel toMighty Morphin,Zedd and Rita have to run away from a new group of villains, the Machine Empire.
In other words, the originalPower Rangers’ most important villainswere not dealt with by the Rangers themselves but rather by a new group of antagonists. Zedd and Rita would eventually return inPower Rangers in Space, at the end of which Zordon sacrificed himself to purify all evil in the galaxy.Zedd and Rita were redeemed thanks to the Z-waveand turned into good, human versions of themselves. While this was certainly a happy ending, it’s interesting how there was never an ultimate battle between the Rangers and these two villains until much later.
Rita Repulsa & Lord Zedd Returned In 2023 And Gave The Power Rangers A Lot Of Trouble
Rita Repulsa Returned In Once & Always; Lord Zedd Returned In Cosmic Fury
Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd both returned inPower Rangersas part of the show’s 30th anniversary celebration, although in different projects.Rita was sort of resurrected inPower Rangers: Once & Alwaysafter Billy failed to bring Zordon back to life by accessing what was left of the Z-Wave. Rather than bringing Zordon back, the original Blue Ranger restored the evil part of Rita Repulsa. She then took over Alpha’s body and became Robot Rita. Rita’s return led to a very bittersweet moment in which the villain killed Trini, the original Yellow Ranger.
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Cosmic Fury
Once & Alwaysgave Trini’s character closure 22 years after Thuy Trang’s death. The special was focused on the original Yellow Ranger and her legacy and ended with Billy giving the final blow against Robot Rita, avenging Trini in the process. Lord Zedd, on the other hand, was brought back thanks to dark magic and time travel shenanigans in 2022’sDino Furyseason 2.Zedd would then show up again inCosmic Fury, this time as the main villainof the season. With the help of Billy, theCosmic FuryRangers defeated Lord Zedd by trapping him on a loop.
Will Rita Repulsa And Lord Zedd Ever Show Up In Power Rangers Again?
The Power Rangers Show’s Future Is Unclear
Given that 2023 saw the return of both of theMighty Morphinmain villains, I find it difficult to believe that they will appear in live-action anytime soon.Power Rangersis currently on hiatus, and it’s unclear where the show goes next afterCosmic Fury’s ending. WithPower Rangersmoving production from New Zealand and no updates on a newSuper Sentaiadaptation, many assumed that the next project was going to be a reboot.
Power Rangers Finally Delivered The Scene Every Mighty Morphin Fan Had Been Waiting For Since The 1990s
It took 29 years, but Power Rangers finally delivered a team-up every Mighty Morphin fan had dreamed of seeing since the original 1990s show.
However, TV Line recently reported that thePower Rangersreboot on Netflixis no longer moving forward. That said, ifPower Rangersever rebootsMighty Morphin, it will likely introduce new versions of characters like Rita and Zedd. Until then, they and the rest of theMighty Morphincharacters continue to be revisited in the BOOM! Studios comics, most of which take place during the original show and tell brand-new stories set in that world.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
Cast
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is a 2023 film that reunites original cast members from the iconic 1990s television series. The story follows the Rangers as they face a new threat that tests their legacy and bond. With evolving powers and old adversaries, the Rangers must harness their teamwork and courage to protect the world once again. Directed by Charlie Haskell, this film stands as a nostalgic tribute to a beloved franchise.
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury is the sequel to the Dino Fury series and marks the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise. The show follows a new team of Rangers, joined by old heroes, to chase Lord Zedd into the depths of space and stop him once and for all.
