A smartPower Rangerstheory connecting three different seasons makes me appreciate the show’s timeline more. WhilewatchingPower Rangersin orderis a great experience, most of the seasons can be enjoyed just fine without any previous knowledge. Some of myfavoritePower Rangersseasonsdid not include franchise legends like Zordon, Alpha, or Tommy Oliver. Quite the contrary, the fact that they did not rely on establishedPower Rangersmythos is part of the reason why they were so good. The downside of it is the lack of connections and callbacks to previous seasons.
Apart from things like Tommy leading theDino ThunderRangers or Billy appearing inCosmic Fury, it sometimes feels as ifeveryPower Rangersteamexists in its own pocket universe and only interacts with others during crossovers. The comics have fixed that problem, though they have the advantage of three decades of lore that can be referenced and played with.ThePower Rangersshow was never too worried about chronology or lore consistency, which doesn’t mean fans can’t come up with clever ways of combining these stories.
All 25 Super Sentai Shows Made Into Power Rangers In Chronological Order
While not every Super Sentai show has been adapted into Power Rangers, all Power Rangers seasons have borrowed from the classic Tokusatsu franchise.
Lightspeed Rescue, Time Force, & SPD Are All Connected – Theory Explained
The Theory Claims Earth’s Organizations Were Sharing Ranger Technology
ARedditfan theory tried to put together a cohesive timeline of events linkingLightspeed Rescue,Time Force, andS.P.D, all of which are tech-basedPower Rangersseasons. AlthoughPower Rangersseasons mostly take place in the same universe, the majority of them work as standalone entries and do not intersect much with stories that came before or after. This is why it is quite impressive to have a theory connecting these three seasons. From an in-universe perspective,there is solid evidence that the Lightspeed Aquabase, the Time Force, and the Space Patrol Delta are all connected.
InTime Force, we learn that the Silver Guardians created by Wes’ father would eventually become the Time Force. This created a close loop since Wes’ father only decided to assemble his own private secure force after seeing thePower Rangerssave the day. Regardless, the fact is that theTime Force was a civilian-operated institutionthat somehow had access to the Morphin Grid and was able to create their own Power Rangers. The same thing applies to the Space Patrol Delta fromPower RangersS.P.D., a show that was set in 2025.
From a more cynical standpoint, all of the previously mentioned connections can be explained by a lack of budget or last-minute decisions.
Interestingly, inS.P.D., it’s revealed that the father of Blue Ranger Sky was once an S.P.D. Red Ranger. However,when we see a picture of Sky’s father as a Ranger, he is wearing a Time Force uniform.This added to the perception that all civilian-ledPower Rangersorganizations were somehow connected. To make things more complicated, the helmets worn by the A-Squad inPower RangersS.P.D.looked exactly like the ones fromPower Rangersin Space, who operated outside of Earth most of the time. This theory argues that these teams and institutions all shared technology at some point.
Connecting Lightspeed, Time Force, & SPD Makes The Power Rangers Timeline Much Cooler
This Theory Changes How I See Each Of The Tech-Based Seasons
From a more cynical standpoint, all of the previously mentioned connections can be explained by a lack of budget or last-minute decisions. Sky’s dad wore aTime Forcecostume instead of an S.P.D. one because that was the costume available at the time. Likewise, since theIn Spacehelmets were available, it was easier to use them than to make new helmets for the evilS.P.D.Rangers. That said, finding in-universe connections between these events can be a lot of fun and makes thePower Rangerstimeline way more interesting.
In the comics, former Mighty Morphin Red Ranger Grace Sterling (an original character) created Promethea, Terra Venture’s precursor.
The post-ZordonPower Rangersseasons have a strange feeling to them when it comes to continuity. Apart from the crossover episodes, you would be able to watch mostPower Rangersseasons completely out of order without even realizing it. Even the ones that play with time travel or the future, namelyTime ForceandS.P.D., are very much standalone stories.I like to imagine that the minds behindLost Galaxy’s Terra Venture were somehow connected to the Lightspeed Aquabase, or thatIn Spacetech was used during the creation of the first Earth-based S.P.D team.
Power Rangers’ Tech-Based Seasons Are Some Of The Show’s Best
They Were Usually More Mature Than Other Seasons
I believe it’s no coincidence that tech-basedPower Rangersseasons likeLightspeed RescueandTime Forceare some of the show’s best. Instead of a mystical being or an alien giving teenagers superpowers,the tech-based seasons usually featured some kind of military organization selecting an elite team to become Rangers.Lightspeed Rescuewas the first to do that, with Captain Mitchel assembling a team that included first responders, pilots, and athletes. I liked how, rather than wait for an intergalactic being to save Earth, organizations like Lightspeed took matters into their own hands and came up with their own superheroes.
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Power Rangersnever bothered explaining how could a military organization access the same powers as beings like Zordon or Rita Repulsa. Still,it would make sense if Earth’s governments tried to replicate the Power Rangers’ abilitiesby experimenting with their technology. For example, while the Lost Galaxy Rangers got their powers on a distant planet, they operated from a space station created by humans – Terra Venture. Likewise, whileTime Forcehad access to all kinds of Zords and even time travel, it was created by regular humans instead of space wizards.
Why The Power Rangers Universe Feels So Disconnected (Despite All The Crossovers)
The Power Rangers Universe Has A Strange Sense Of Continuity
Part of the reason whyPower Rangersis such a special franchise to a lot of fans is the fact that the show has never been rebooted. In other words, most stories from the TV series have taken place in the same universe, from 1993 to 2023. Shared universes, as the success of franchises like the MCU has proven, have a charm to them. However, despite all the crossovers and visual references,Power Rangershas very few story threads connecting two or more seasons. This is particularly true for the post-Zordon era.
UntilPower Rangersin Space, which is when Zordon died, everything was somehow tied to Angel Grove. The team assembled inMighty Morphinremained the show’s skeleton crew until Turbo, after which Tommy and the others gave their powers to new characters that were also from Angel Grove. However, from Lost Galaxy onward, every new season started to have its own cast of characters and unique premise. On the one hand, it allowedPower Rangersto evolve far beyond its original premise. On the other hand, it caused the show to feel more disconnected.
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue
Cast
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue is a television series that premiered in 2000, serving as the eighth season of the Power Rangers franchise. The show follows a team of five rescue workers who become superheroes known as the Lightspeed Rescue Power Rangers, tasked with saving the world from demonic forces led by the evil Diabolico.
Power Rangers Time Force
Power Rangers Time Force is a television series that aired in 2001, serving as the ninth season of the Power Rangers franchise. The show follows the adventures of four Time Force Rangers, led by Wesley “Wes” Collins, as they travel back in time to prevent the villainous Ransik from altering the course of history.
Power Rangers S.P.D.
Power Rangers S.P.D. is a 2005 television series and the thirteenth season of the Power Rangers franchise. The show takes place in the year 2025 and follows the adventures of the Space Patrol Delta (S.P.D.) team, a group of Rangers tasked with protecting the galaxy from evil forces.
