Power Rangers Zeo


Power Rangers Zeo is an American television series and the fourth season of the Power Rangers franchise, based on the Super Sentai series Chōriki Sentai Ohranger. It is the continuation of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which aired in 1996.
Power Rangers Zeo is also the first season of Power Rangers to follow the Sentai practice of annual Ranger suit changes and also the last series to use "it's Morphin' Time" until the Saban Brands era of Power Rangers returns with it as a pre-start command starting with Power Rangers Megaforce.

Plot

After witnessing the destruction of the Command Center, the powerless Rangers discover the Zeo Crystal intact in the rubble—apparently dropped by Goldar and Rito Revolto. The Crystal guides them to a portal, which takes them deep underground to the Power Chamber where they find Zordon and Alpha 5 waiting for them. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers become the Zeo Rangers, a new team of Rangers powered by the Zeo Crystal. The four remaining Mighty Morphin Rangers, Tommy Oliver, Adam Park, Rocky DeSantos and Katherine Hillard become Zeo Ranger V — Red, Zeo Ranger IV — Green, Zeo Ranger III — Blue and Zeo Ranger I — Pink respectively and Tanya Sloan joins the team as Zeo Ranger II — Yellow, while Billy Cranston chooses to become their technical advisor rather than continuing as a Ranger.
The Machine Empire, led by King Mondo and Queen Machina, enters Earth's solar system, seeking to conquer Earth, with the Zeo Rangers serving as the only opposition. Many, even Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, are forced to flee to the M51 Galaxy under the threat of destruction. Unbeknownst to anyone, Rito and Goldar – now amnesiac – are left behind on Earth. They are taken in by Bulk and Skull, who have them serve as butlers. Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull continue to be members of the Junior Police Force until Lt. Jerome Stone is dismissed, when Bulk tries winning the heart of the chief's daughter. Quitting as a show of respect for Stone, they join him at his new detective agency.
Over time, the Machine Empire wears down the five Zeo Rangers, but they are rescued by the mysterious Gold Ranger. Though his identity is unknown, it quickly becomes clear he is there to help the Rangers. After he is injured in battle, it is revealed that the mysterious Gold Ranger is an alien, Trey of Triforia. Split into three separate selves, Trey is forced to temporarily pass his powers to a worthy warrior while healing. They attempt to transfer Trey's powers to Billy, but as Billy acquired excess negative energy during the Command Center's destruction, he is unable to do so. The ultimate successor is Jason Lee Scott, the original Red Power Ranger and team leader. This event also sees the introduction of the more powerful Super Zeo Zords, which were used against a tougher generation of machines. The Super Zeo Megazord is powerful enough to later destroy King Mondo, creating a power vacuum in the Machine Empire.
Secretly returning from the M51 Galaxy, Lord Zedd and Rita seek to become top villains again. Operating out of an RV with Finster, they restore Goldar and Rito's memories, retrieving the pair in the process. After King Mondo's death, they launch their first plan, to use Louie Kaboom to take over the Machine Empire. Though he succeeds, he breaks free of Zedd and Rita's control. He embarks on his own plans to conquer Earth and destroy the Zeo Rangers. Louie is eventually killed by King Mondo's first-born son Prince Gasket and his wife Princess Archerina, who rule until King Mondo's reconstruction is complete, which causes them to flee.
When Billy begins rapidly aging as a side-effect of restoring his proper age before undoing Master Vile's spell in the last series, the Zeo and Aquitian Rangers race to help him and fend off monsters from King Mondo as well as Zedd and Rita. Billy leaves Earth for treatment on Aquitar and chooses to stay to be with Cestria. Soon after, it is discovered the Gold Ranger powers are leaving Jason and draining his life force in the process as the alien powers were not meant for a human. Trey is still in recovery, but a risky gamble with the Zeo Crystal heals him, restoring his powers. Rita and Lord Zedd finally get revenge on the Machine Empire by crippling their leaders with a bomb.

Characters

Zeo Rangers

He is Zeo Ranger V Red and was previously the Green Ranger and the White Ranger. He found his Zeo Crystal in the American Southwest. He is the leader of the Zeo Rangers. Tommy wears a red suit with a star-shaped visor on his helmet. He piloted Zeo Zord 5, Super Zeo Zord 5, and the Red Battlezord. His primary weapon was the Zeo Power Sword. He is portrayed by Jason David Frank.
He is Zeo Ranger IV Green and was previously the second Black Ranger. He found his Zeo Crystal in Korea. He is also Tanya's love interest. Adam wears a green suit with a rectangular visor. He piloted Zeo Zord Four and Super Zeo Four. His primary weapon was the Zeo Power Hatchets. He is portrayed by Johnny Yong Bosch.
He is Zeo Ranger III Blue and was previously the second Red Ranger. He found his Zeo Crystal in Mexico. He was the team's second-in-command until Jason returned. Rocky wore a blue suit with a triangular visor on his helmet. He piloted Zeo Zord Three and Super Zeo Three. His primary weapon was the Zeo Power Axes. He is portrayed by Steve Cardenas.
She is Zeo Ranger II Yellow and the only new member of the core group. When Aisha, the former Yellow Ranger, went for her Zeo Crystal in Africa, she decided that she wanted to help the animals who were sick; so she sent Tanya back with the Zeo Crystal in her place. Initially returning as a child, the Zeo Crystal made Tanya the same age as the other Rangers, which she gradually got used to. She is also Adam's love interest. Tanya wears a yellow suit with two horizontal lines for a visor on her helmet. Se piloted Zeo Zord Two and Super Zeo Two. Her primary weapon was the Zeo Power Clubs. She is portrayed by Nakia Burrise.
She is Zeo Ranger I Pink and was previously the second Pink Ranger. She found her Zeo Crystal in her homeland of Australia. She is also Tommy Oliver's love interest. Katherine wears a pink suit with a circular visor on her helmet. She piloted Zeo Zord One and Super Zeo One. Her primary weapon was the Zeo Power Shield. She is portrayed by Catherine Sutherland.
The original Gold Ranger and also the prince of planet Triforia, a place where everyone had identical triplets. He gave the Zeo Rangers their Super Zeo Zords when he had to return for his planet. Trey of Triforia wears a black suit with a golden vest and had a visor shaped like the kanji for "". He piloted Pyramidas and his primary weapon was the Golden Power Staff. He is portrayed by Ted, Tim, and Tom DiFilippo and voiced by Brad Hawkins in his first appearances.
The second Gold Ranger and previously the original Red Ranger. When Trey of Triforia had to return to his planet, Tommy went and found Jason to take the place of the Gold Ranger while he was gone. Jason became second-in-command upon his return. He piloted Pyramidas and his primary weapon was the Golden Power Staff. He is portrayed by Austin St. John.

Allies

The Zeo Rangers' mentor. Zordon serves as a source of vast wisdom and knowledge for the team. He is voiced by Robert L. Manahan.
Zordon's robotic assistant, in charge of keeping the Power Chamber working. He is voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz.
The former Blue Mighty Morphin Power Ranger and Blue Ninja Ranger, Billy has retired from being a Power Ranger, electing to instead assist Alpha. He is portrayed by David Yost.
Rangers from the planet Aquitar, who helped protect Earth from Zedd and Rita during the events of the previous mini-series. They seek Billy's technological expertise at one point to help defeat new foes, and teach him about their own technology in return; thus creating the Red Battlezord.
A waitress at Ernie's Beach Club and a love interest to Jason. She is portrayed by Lesley Tesh-Pedersen.
The owner of the Angel Grove Youth Center and juice bar. He is portrayed by Richard Genelle.
A former bully, he is first a junior police officer and then a private detective. He is portrayed by Paul Schrier.
A former bully, he is first a junior police officer and then a private detective. He is portrayed by Jason Narvy.
Jerome is a police lieutenant who is the supervisor of Bulk and Skull. After Bulk had a crush on his superior's daughter, he was fired. Jerome later became a private investigator with Bulk and Skull still working under him. He is portrayed by Gregg Bullock.
Tommy's brother, who was adopted by the same Native American Tommy met while retrieving his piece of the Zeo crystal. He is portrayed by Jason David Frank's real-life brother Eric Frank.
She is serves as Billy Cranston's love interest.
An ancient tiki that had been dormant on the tropical Mysterio Island for years. He is voiced by Derek Stephen Prince.
A part-lizard alien who Bulk and Skull befriend when they are prisoners in the Machine Arena in "A King for a Day Parts 1 & 2". He is portrayed by Koichi Sakamoto and voiced by Paul St. Peter.

Villains

Machine Empire

The ruler of the Machine Empire. He is voiced by David Stenstrom.
The queen of the Machine Empire. She is voiced by Alex Borstein.
The son of King Mondo and Queen Machina. He is voiced by Barbara Goodson.
A robot that is loyal to King Mondo and Queen Machina. He is voiced by Oliver Page.
A floating module that is paired with Klank. When swung around by Klank, Orbus will make the monster grow. He is voiced by Barbara Goodson.
A missile-themed robot that was originally used by Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa to take control of the Machine Empire following King Mondo's apparent destruction only for Goldar and Rito to lose the remote control. He can transform into his missile form. When Prince Gasket and Archerina came, Louie was enchanted by Archerina and destroyed by the Super Zeo Ultrazord. He is voiced by Lex Lang.
Disowned older son of King Mondo and Queen Machina.
The daughter of King Mondo's nemesis King Aradon who eloped with. She is voiced by Melora Harte.
King Mondo's loyal general who appeared in Wild Force, and shares the same name with Venjix Virus from RPM.
The Machine Empire's foot soldiers. They pilot octopus-shaped jets called Quadrafighters and are able to blast lasers out of their eyes.
Machine Empire Monsters
The monsters of this show are robots created by the Machine Empire. They are adapted from the monsters featured in Chōriki Sentai Ohranger. To make a monster grow, Klank would swing Orbus around until he latched onto the monster emitting an energy that would enlarge the monster.
Besides some of the monsters listed above, some of the monsters from the last season made cameos in the two-part episode "King for a Day" as members of the Machine Arena's audience. They consist of:
The husband of Rita Repulsa. When the Machine Empire forced them off the Moon, Zedd worked to take revenge on the Machine Empire through whatever way possible. He is portrayed by Ed Neal and voiced by Robert Axelrod.
A witch who became the wife of Lord Zedd. When the Machine Empire forced them off the moon, Rita worked to take revenge on the Machine Empire through whatever way possible. She is portrayed by Carla Perez and voiced by Barbara Goodson.
The leprechaun-themed henchman of Rita. After the Machine Empire forced Zedd and Rita off the Moon, Finster was among those who were evacuated. He later returned with Zedd and Rita in a plot to take revenge on the Machine Empire. He is voiced by Robert Axelrod.
The manticore-themed minion of Rita Repulsa. He and Rito had amnesia following the Command Center's explosion and were roped into Bulk and Skull's plans until Lord Zedd restored their memories. He is voiced by Kerrigan Mahan.
The Gashadokuro/skeleton-themed brother of Rita. He is voiced by Bob Papenbrook.
Squatt is a hobgoblin-like minion of Rita and Baboo is a vampire-like minion of Rita. When the Machine Empire attacked Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa's castle on the Moon, Squatt and Baboo were evacuated and remained with Master Vile while Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa worked on ways to get revenge on the Machine Empire. They are voiced by Michael Sorich and Dave Mallow.
The father of Rita Repulsa and Rito Revolto. Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd had to flee to Master Vile's world when the Machine Empire attacked. Master Vile considered the Machine Empire to be more evil than him as they destroy everything. He is voiced by Tom Wyner.
The crow-like foot soldiers of Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa.

Identity of the Gold Ranger

During the middle of the series, the identity of the Gold Ranger was a constant teaser and a central plot theme. After many episodes of speculation, with other characters like Billy Cranston, David Trueheart, and even Eugene Skullovitch suspected, it was revealed the Gold Ranger was Trey of Triforia, a new character. Former Red Ranger, Jason Lee Scott, obtained the powers of the Gold Ranger after Trey lost the ability to transform. Actor Brad Hawkins, who played Ryan Steele on VR Troopers, voiced the Gold Ranger early on. Saban had supposedly planned to use him after the end of VR Troopers as Ryan and put that series into the continuity of Power Rangers. However, for unknown reasons, he was not used as the identity of the Gold Ranger, and instead Ted, Tim and Tom DiFilippo portrayed the three parts of Trey.

Episodes

Home media releases

Starting in August 1996, several episodes of Power Rangers Zeo were released on VHS.
Release name
Release date
Publisher
Stock Number
Notes
REF
Zeo Quest August 6, 1996Saban Home Entertainment/WarnerVision Family Entertainment42060-3Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning:
Power Rangers Zeo: It Came From Angel Grove
Power Rangers Zeo: 'Tis the Season to be Zeo, Masked Rider: Ferbus' First Christmas
Masked Rider, Super Gold: Special 2 Part Mini-Series, Book and Tape Cassette and Collectible Action Figures, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: A Friend in Need" Parts 1, 2, & 3 )
Power Rangers Zeo: Zeo Quest
And A Promo For:
Power Rangers Zeo: Deluxe Super Zeo Megazord Action Figures Advertisement
"It Came from Angel Grove"August 20, 1996Saban Home Entertainment/WarnerVision Family Entertainment42061-3Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning:
Power Rangers Zeo: Zeo Quest
Power Rangers Zeo: 'Tis the Season to be Zeo, Masked Rider: Ferbus' First Christmas
Masked Rider, Super Gold: Special 2 Part Mini-Series, Book and Tape Cassette and Collectible Action Figures, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: A Friend in Need" Parts 1, 2, & 3 )
Sweet Valley High
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Lord Zedd's Monster Heads
At The End Of The Series:
Bonus! Includes never-before-seen music video! Fright Night

In 2012, Shout Factory announced that it had reached an exclusive distribution deal with Saban for shows such as Power Rangers and Big Bad Beetleborgs. Power Rangers Zeo was released on DVD in August 2012, as part of a Time-Life exclusive boxed set containing seasons 1–7. The show later became available independently of the boxed set in two volumes, each containing 25 episodes.

Comics

began publication of a Power Rangers Zeo comic in August 1996. It featured scripts by Tom and Mary Bierbaum, and art by Todd Nauck and Norm Rapmund. Four issues were drawn but only one was released before Image Comics lost the license.
During the events of "Shattered Grid," the Zeo Rangers existed in their own bubble of reality and are seen fighting the Machine Empire. Upon further revelation, it is revealed that Lord Drakkon has taken Tommy's place and is holding him hostage. He steals Adam's Zeo Morpher to use the Green Zeo Powers to create more soldiers for his army, and slits Tommy's throat before leaving the Zeo Rangers' world. Later, Katherine, Tanya, Rocky, and Jason are summoned from their universe to fight the forces of Drakkon, with Adam being left behind in their world due to the corruption of his Green Zeo morpher.
It has been revealed that Tanya will join a team of rangers formed across the various universes in the follow up to "Shattered Grid" in "Beyond the Grid," alongside the Ranger Slayer, The Magna Defender, Andros, Cameron, and the as of yet unrevealed Dark Ranger.