Power Rangers Jungle Fury: No “I” In Leader

Welcome back to the Jungle Ranger Fans, last time, while the ruthless new warlord, Grizzaka kicked Dai Shi off his throne, RJ was cured of his mystical lycanthropy and officially became The Jungle Fury Wolf Ranger and officially got promoted from mentor to full fledged member of the team.

After the always awesome theme song, which has now been updated to include the Wolf Ranger, we cut to the loft where RJ is sparring with Theo and Lily, and showcasing some kickass martial arts techniques in the process. I cannot stress this enough. While there may be seasons that are more well regarded in terms of story, characters or significance to the overall franchise, but when it comes to fight choreography, Jungle Fury is second to none. Casey arrives, and says he thought he told everyone that training was at three, Theo said that RJ moved it to two. Casey says this isn’t a problem, but it’s clear that Casey doesn’t appreciate his position as team leader being undermined.

Over at Dai Shi’s castle, which I guess is now technically Grizzaka’s castle, Old Grizz is using his vaguely defined Zocato Power to awaken two more Shadow Guards like the one Dai Shi used against the Rangers back in Ghost of a Chance. The Shadow Guards rampage through down town Ocean Bluff and are met by the Rangers, who promptly get their asses whooped, that is except for RJ because he’s the best, easily holding his own against one of the Shadow Guards on his own while the other tosses all three of the Rangers around easily. The others look to Casey for strategy, but Casey fails to come up with something before RJ is able to suggest a winning plan of attack. The battle is won, but Casey is left feeling dejected.

Later on, more training as RJ and the Rangers spar in morphed form. RJ’s new Ranger form is certainly impressive, so much so that he’s even able to deflect a blast from the Huge Mother Fucking Cannon. After training, Casey storms off, RJ sensing that something is up.

Back at the loft, RJ confronts Casey. Casey says that he’s proud of how, thanks to hard work and dedication he’s gone from a mere towel boy, to the team leader, on equal footing with Theo and Lily, and much of that is thanks to RJ’s training. However, now that RJ, a master in his own right, has officially joined the team and brings more skill and experience to the table than Casey, Casey can’t help but feel like a novice again. RJ understands where Casey is coming from, and even admits he got a little overly excited about being a Ranger but still does his best to reassure Casey that he is still team leader. Unfortunately there’s no time to digest this as two more Shadow Guards are seen attacking the city. Theo and Lily head out to fight, but RJ insists that he and Casey hang back.

Meanwhile, we get a brief scene of Dai Shi continuing to master his own Zocato power by training against a Rinshi Horde.

As Theo and Lily engage the monsters, RJ and Casey take a moment to hash things out. In another great RJ training moment, RJ picks up a Basketball and stands far away from the hoop, and tells Casey, “If I don’t make this shot, Dai Shi wins.” RJ shoots and Casey intercepts before the ball can hit the floor and dunks the ball. Two Points! RJ says that a leader trusts his instincts, just like Casey’s instincts told him to sink the ball. With Casey’s confidence restored, the two head out.

Back in the city, Theo and Lily have their hands full with the Shadow guards until the others arrive. Our heroes morph and the fight is on, the Rangers making quick work of the Shadow guards now that the team is once again in sync. We even get this great moment where RJ and Casey double team one of the monsters. Our heroes finish off the Shadow Guards with the Huge Mother Fucking Cannon, reinforced with the energy beam from RJ’s Morpher.

Meanwhile, Dai Shi has finished his training against the Rinshi when he receives a most unexpected visitor, the ghost of Master Mao.  Mao tries to get through to Jarrod’s humanity, but Dai Shi insists that Jarrod is gone, however Mao doesn’t buy it, knowing that Jarrod’s humanity and his Lion spirit cannot be broken, even by the likes of Dai Shi. Mao fades away, but his words seem to have given Dai Shi an idea, mentioning something about a Nexus. Nexus huh… well either Dai Shi is about to recruit a bunch of jobbers from NXT or he’s just going to go make an omelette with Captain Kirk.

Back in Ocean Bluff, after defeating the monsters, our heroes call it a day and go have some pizza. No, of course they don’t do that, have you seen this show? Of course the monsters get huge and the Rangers call upon the Megazords, the Jungle Master Megazord and the Wolf Pride Megazord fighting side by side for the first time.

Back at Dai Shi’s castle, Dai Shi is down in the basement looking for a map to something called The Rhino Nexus, which Camille saying that this particular Nexus is said to contain great power, and possibly NXT Jobbers and/or Starfleet Captains making breakfast.

Our episode ends on a deeply strange note with Fran getting the Rangers to try her chocolate covered anchovies, something I assume Fran is only doing in order to enact a completely justified revenge upon our so-called heroes for leaving her to run the restaurant on her own without explanation so many times that I’ve lost count. Despite thinking the idea is gross, everyone agrees to try one, including RJ, which is odd since he’s supposed to be a vegan. Naturally, the rangers all get sick, that then chase Fran down the street trying to force feed her her own unholy creation.

This episode had plenty of nice moments, but for me, it wasn’t anything special. The stuff with RJ and Casey was great and gave us some great character growth for both, but none of the stuff around it does anything for me. Despite our first mention of the Rhino Nexus, something that will be a major focus of the next few episodes, we barely spend any time with our villains. Hell, despite Grizzaka establishing himself as the new major threat last time, I think he has less than a minute of screen time in this episode. We don’t even get an interesting monster in this episode, instead recycling designs from an earlier outing. And worst of all, we don’t even get Flit on commentary during the Megazord fight. Don’t worry though, our favorite insectoid Tony Schiavone will heavily feature in our next episode, True Friends, True Spirits. Until then, May The Power Protect You.