Power Rangersachieved an impressive 500-episode milestone in 2004, and it celebrated it with a nostalgic episode that essentially broke the fourth wall to honor the franchise’s history.Power Rangersbegan in 1993withMighty Morphin Power Rangers, a localized version of aSuper SentaishowcalledKyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. The idea of combining the action scenes of a Japanese show with American footage worked better than anyone could have expected, andPower Rangerssoon became a worldwide phenomenon. WhileMMPRended in 1995,thePower Rangersfranchisewould continue for decades to come.
Power Rangersturned 30 in 2023, a year that saw the release ofPower Rangers: Once & Alwaysas well asCosmic Fury, both of which celebrated the show’s history and were full of callbacks to the original series.Power Rangershas always been great at anniversary episodes, most of which were crossover episodes. WhileDino Thunder’s “Legacy of Power” was not exactly an anniversary special, it wasPower Rangers’ 500th episode. As a result, it didn’t follow the show’s usual formula, delivering instead a homage to the franchise.
“Legacy Of Power” Was A Meta Episode About Power Rangers’ 500-Episode History
The Dino Thunder Rangers Watched A Recap Of The Entire Show
Power RangersDino Thunderepisode 4, “Legacy of Power,” sees the Rangers learning that their high school teacher and mentor, Dr. Oliver, was once a Power Ranger himself. While the Rangers knew that Tommy Oliver had access to morphers and Zords, they had to find out that he was once the original Green Ranger. In “Legacy of Power,” Tommy has been kidnapped by the villains, leaving the Power Rangers to investigate his whereabouts.The heroes go to their secret lab and find a recording left by Tommyon his computer in which he narrates the history of the Power Rangers.
Power Rangershas released 973 episodes as of 2024.
The recording featured scenes from everyPower Rangersshow between 1993 and 2004, starting withMighty Morphinand going untilNinja Storm. “Legacy of Power” works as an extensivePower Rangersrecap in which Tommy Oliver goes from season to season and explains the history ofevery Power Rangers teamthat came beforeDino Thunder.It was almost as if Conner, Ethan, and Kira were discovering thePower RangersTV show, especially because the footage Tommy was presenting was actually scenes from the previous seasons. The three Dino Thunder Rangers also make comments as they watch the recording.
Tommy Becoming A Power Ranger Again Made “Legacy Of Power” Even Better
“Legacy Of Power” Was Followed By “Back In Black”
“Legacy of Power” was about the history of thePower Rangersfranchise, but it was also a celebration of Tommy Oliver’s character ahead of his triumphant Black Ranger debut. Tommy hadn’t been part of a proper Power Rangers team since 1997, although he did appear inWild Forcefor the “Forever Red” crossover. The next episode after “Legacy of Power” was “Back in Black,” during which Tommy got a new morpher for the first time in seven years and became theDino Thunder Black Ranger.
This 22-Year-Old Power Rangers Episode Fulfilled The Dreams Of Every ‘90s Kid
One of the greatest Power Rangers episodes of all time delivered an interaction that every 1990s kid who watched the show had dreamed of seeing.
The first five episodes ofDino Thunderwork as one big origin story for the core team, with Tommy being the fourth addition to the squad. Seeing Tommy back in action right after revisiting hisPower Rangershistory was very special, and it made his first Dino Thunder morph even cooler than it would have already been.Dino Thunderknew how to play with nostalgia, and “Legacy of Power” is a great example of it.
Power Rangers Dino Thunder
Cast
Power Rangers Dino Thunder is a television series that premiered in 2004, serving as the 12th season of the Power Rangers franchise. The show follows three high school students who become superheroes known as the Dino Thunder Power Rangers, tasked with saving the world from the evil Dr. Tommy Oliver and his minions.
