'Forever Red' was an episode of the television series Power Rangers: Wild Force, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Power Rangers saga, followed by the 15th anniversary episode Once A Ranger which took place in the 15th season, Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive. Wild Force was also the tenth incarnation of Power Ranger, and its Super Sentai equivalent, Gaoranger, was the 25th incarnation of the Super Sentai series. Hence, this episode is often compared to the Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai special, despite the fact that the two specials have little in common. Forever Red, like Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, reunited every previous Red Ranger (with the exception of Rocky DeSantos, who otherwise would have had to share the original Red Ranger costume since the Red Ranger Suit from Dairanger was never used in the second season.) The ten Red Rangers featured, in order of appearance in Power Rangers continuity were:
The inclusion of the Quantum Ranger from Time Force was controversial, as in the series he was considered a 'sixth Ranger'. However, Eric's inclusion was partially justified by Rocky's absence and by the fact that Wes and Eric effectively led the Silver Guardians together at the end of Time Force and during Reinforcements from the Future, an earlier crossover between Time Force and Wild Force. Since the series, many non-Red Rangers have been similarly termed Red Rangers, including Hunter Bradley (the Crimson Thunder Ranger) in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm.
Other than the inclusion of the ten Red Rangers and the cameo appearance by the Wild Force regulars, there were many references to previous Power Rangers series, including:
ContentsEdit[hide]*1 Synopsis
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[2]The Red Rangers face off against the Machine Empire Generals.
Added by Squishy Vic
Four years after the destruction of the Machine Empire, surviving members of the empire remain, seeking to destroy Earth (how they had survived Countdown to Destruction, Parts 1 and 2 remains unclear). Tezzla, Gerrok, Steelon, and Automon (and many Cogs) are all that is left of the Empire, as well as General Venjix, acting as the head leader. They learned that Earth's Moon was the resting place of Serpentera, the Zord created and used by Lord Zedd with the power to destroy a planet. Ever since Zedd's 'death' in Countdown to Destruction, Parts 1 and 2 the location of Serpentera remained a mystery for many years. Venjix found it and began using Cog soldiers to dig it up, refitting it with a Neo Plutonium reactor to power it.
Andros, the Red Space Ranger, discovered Venjix and found out about his plan after following him for several years. Andros went to the moon to gather video evidence of their plans. He succeeded and sent the tape to Tommy Oliver, the Red Zeo Ranger. When Tommy learned of Venjix's plan, he asked Andros to gather all the current Red Rangers on Earth and meet him at the NASADA space port on Earth. Although it was not explained how each Ranger would be contacted, it's assumed that Andros had contacted Carter, probably recommended by Leo as Leo had met Andros and Carter in two different teamups, who in turn used governmental connections to track down Cole and Wes and Eric of the Silver Guardians. T.J. was easily available as he also served as Andros' second-in-command, while Aurico and Leo were contacted by Andros. However, Tommy contacted his former teammate - and original Red Ranger - Jason Lee Scott himself. However, Jason didn't give Tommy a definitive answer as to whether or not he would show up at all.
Cole, the current Red Ranger, was contacted by Carter as the Wild Force team were gathered at a park. Despite the other Wild Force Rangers wanting to help, Carter had stated that only Cole was needed. The two proceeded to NASADA's space port, where they met up with Andros, T.J. and the Silver Guardians, of which the latter two were immediately recognized by Cole, as he already met the two in the Wild Force and Time Force teamup. Tommy appeared and explained that he would be leading the team of Red Rangers. At the last second, Jason pulled up to the group on a motorcycle, surprising Tommy somewhat. Jason explained that he didn't think the mission would feel right without the original Red Ranger. He then proceeded to rib Cole, 'the new guy' of the group, who originally offered a handshake. The Red Rangers boarded the Astro Megaship Mark II, created specifically for this mission, and proceeded to the moon. With new Alpha robot, Alpha 7, Tommy further explained the mission to the other Rangers and that they must stop the Machine generals and destroy Serpentera. Venjix and his other generals prepared to board Serpentera, but they were then interrupted by the Rangers. Venjix sent Cogs to distract the eight Rangers while he and the others fled to Serpentera. The Rangers battled the Cogs unmorphed and easily defeated them. Eventually, Cole escaped the barrage of Cogs and chased the generals. Venjix fired at him, but Cole was rescued by Leo and Aurico on Leo's Jet Jammer. Then all the Rangers gathered, morphed with their respective 'morphing calls' (except for Aurico, who never appeared demorphed), and battled the Generals. Cole and Jason fought Venjix, where Jason showed the new Red Ranger a corkscrew kick. Tommy and Wes fought Gerrok and Tommy destroyed him with the Zeo Flying Power Kick. Eric and Aurico fought Tezzla and destroyed her with Eric's Quantum Defender. T.J. and Leo fought Automon and destroyed him with Leo's Quasar Saber, Transdagger, and T.J.'s Turbo Blade and Turbo Lightning Sword. Andros and Carter fought Steelon and destroyed him by combining power from their blasters. Cole severely damaged Venjix with his Crystal Saber. Venjix then jumped into Serpentera and took off. With no time to get to the Ship, the Rangers relied on Cole with his Wild Force Rider to battle Venjix. Cole used the rider to fly into Serpentera and destroyed it from the inside. Both Venjix and Serpentera were destroyed. Afterwards, the nine human Rangers part ways, and Cole remarks how Tommy appeared to be the 'greatest Ranger ever', with the other Rangers (except Carter) bragging of their exploits.
In all, Forever Red is considered one of the greatest Power Rangers episodes ever made. However, many parts of the episode have become controversial in fan discussion, making it difficult to classify as canon to the rest of the series. Whereas some have cited them as inaccuracies, others merely point out that they can be explained away, and information regarding the issues was merely omitted from the episodes. The following are the most notable issues:
Due to the controversial nature of this episode and over analyzed by fans, most message boards consider the subject 'off limits.' The subject of its inaccuracies has been 'beaten to death.' One particular website went as far to say that the points of controversy in Forever Red are unimportant compared to the enjoyment of the episode, and that the writers needed to bring all the Red Rangers together and did not have enough time to explain all the details of the episode. This however is not accepted by diehard fans due to the fact that they view the series as an art form. Most fans now come up with their own explanations. Western Super Sentai fans however, point out that the issue regarding the restoration of the several former Red Rangers' ability to morph again stems from the fact that Saban made the Ranger suits into 'powers' rather than as 'tools' like its Japanese counterpart (Note that there has been at least one sentai special featuring the then current team and at least 2-3 of the previous teams on that same episode which is seen in the Turboranger special, featuring the Turboranger team and their predecessors from Battle Fever J to Liveman and the Super Sentai world featuring the Turborangers' next 5 successors from Fiveman to Kakuranger in which all the teams featured in those specials including the then current teams Kakuranger and Turboranger never appeared in their human forms). The episode is dubbed 'The Forbidden Episode' due to the numerous questions surrounding it; in addition, the frequent permanent bans done to posters who bring up the episode in forums during that time.
Scorpion Rain was a fan film created by Amit Bhuamik, Derik Smith, and Joe Rovang, among a few others. It was a low-budget attempt to explain the gap between Zeo and Turbo featuring Tommy and Kat going up against Serpentera in Zeo Zord 5. The group turned it into an elaborate April Fool's joke. However, reports on the newsgroup circulated that it was an Australian-only finale of Power Rangers Zeo. The original plan was to admit that it was an April Fools joke and release the footage, but Gordon Dickinson debunked the hoax and exposed it as a joke. Thus, the decision was made not to release the fan film at all, at which point Scorpion Rain remained an urban legend in the fandom. Amit Bhuamik eventually became the story editor of Power Rangers Wild Force and penned Forever Red as an unofficial sequel of Scorpion Rain, thus making it unofficially canon in some fans' eyes. Others refuse to accept Rain as anything more then a fan film. Scorpion Rain has generated many fan recreations. In 2007, Chris Funaro and Derik Smith released footage of Part 5 of Scorpion Rain on Funaroverse, but only for one day. Later, on March 25th, 2010, Part 5 of the serial aired on Youtube.
When asked about Scorpion Rain in interviews[1], Amit Bhaumik has claimed ignorance of it.
In order to get younger viewers up to speed in a short time, the script abbreviates and simplifies older continuity. This includes:
Power Rangers notable episodes |
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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (season one): 'Day of the Dumpster' • 'Green with Evil' • 'Island of Illusion' • 'The Green Candle' • 'Doomsday' • 'Return of an Old Friend' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (season two): 'The Mutiny' |