YELLO! – SPOILER – FREE
WOW. WHAT A TIME TO BE A POWER RANGERS FAN! Never have I been more proud to say that I am part of the ranger nation! Power Rangers Cosmic Fury is SO CLOSE to being the PERFECT season of Power Rangers. I DARE SAY IT! I DARE.
MY PR BACKGROUND
I want to say that I have seen EVERY season and episode of episodes produced for Television, probably a couple of times over. This is a franchise that I could, would, and very much will continue to watch over and over and NEVER get tired of it ever. As a child, I was introduced to MMPR just like the rest of us. In fact, Power Rangers is just three years older than I am. The first very Power Rangers team whose series I watched from beginning to mostly end was actually Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, which was my favorite season of ALL time up until Dino Fury, and now Cosmic Fury.
Filmerdues, I freaking LOVE Power Rangers… Likely more than Spider-Man (I KNOW BLASPHEMY!) // I have not read the comics yet. I fully intended while they were coming out, but it got too wild and big for a college student who paid for every cent of his tuition; financially, I wasn’t able to keep up. BUUUUT i plan to change that now that Power Rangers… is OVER.
IS POWER RANGERS ACTUALLY OVER?
Is Power Rangers actually over? No, of course, not. As long as there is a cash flow for an existing IP, especially if it’s one for kids, then it’ll always be around. However, this ERA of Power Rangers from MMPR thirty years later to Cosmic Fury is, indeed, over. Sad.
No worries, the finale to Cosmic Fury is actually a satisfying one. Some hardcore fans miiiiiight be upset JUST A TIDDLES because of a narrative choice, but, honestly, I didn’t mind it at all with just how much was already happening in the show alone. For me, yes, it was a very weird choice, but I accepted it. However, with that being said, the show does leave you wondering, “is this actually the end for the MMPR era of Power Rangers?”
Well, according to Simon Beckkkett, the amazing showrunner for Power Rangers, Netflix/Hasbro are wanting to switch their focus on Jonathan Entwistle’s reboot for Power Rangers. There are many videos out there that can explain their plans way better than I can, and it’s still way too early to make any guesses, but they did say 2024 would be a hiatus year (of course), but to expect big news about their plans throughout 2024. No spoilers, but I do think if Cosmic Fury is to have any type of continuation, which I do suspect it will, we will likely see that continuation in the form of graphics novels. I do suspect that in a couple of years, we might get an Infinity War/Endgame style Power Rangers team up movie with as many actors returning as possible. I would be BIG MONEY to produce this myself if I could. A two-hour movie to finally end the Power Rangers proper timeline once and for all without any promises for potentially more. Otherwise, we are just going to have to wait to see what Netflix/Hasbro has planned for the future of Power Rangers next year.
TOO SHORT
The number one complaint from everyone who watched Cosmic Fury was that the pacing seemed a bit fast and that the entire show was far too short. A fun ride, but a short one. While I do agree that the season is entirely too short and I wanted a bit more Power Rangers goodness, I also realize that that is just my geeky fanboy being selfish and wanting more, like Kylo Ren. A LOT definitely happens, but I never felt like anything was rushed. I think the fast paced storytelling served to really sell the fact that what the rangers are facing is a HUGE DEAL. I just wonder why Cosmic Fury wasn’t given Netflix’s classic Daddy’s Money production like it had for One Piece, Shadow & Bone, and pretty much any other Netflix show Netflix produces. Yes, the story would’ve benefited from having a bit more episodes and seeing a few more rangers rather than just hearing about the rangers, and oh boy, do you hear about MANY RANGERS.
THE WRITING
The season isn’t chalk full of easter eggs galore that a PR fan could sit and pick out endlessly like Marvel or DC movies, but the easter eggs that are there exist to serve the overall story of Power Rangers, which is an insanely nice touch in the writing. You HAVE to remember this is a kids show, so, the dialogue is a LITTLE on the nose and can come across as a little cheesy, but the overall tone is quite serious for a Power Rangers series. It reminded me a LOT of RPM. I would say RPM is still the darker show, but this gets pretty dark and pretty serious at times, especially with Javi and Ollie. I was surprised. I was like, “Oh, they actually went there,” and did it really well!
The overall story is pretty fantastic. It is INSANELY different from what we are used to with Power Rangers. Do NOT expect episodic episodes and a final Megazord battle at the end of each episode. All I will say is expect ANYTHING to happen, because they said, “GET OUTTA HERE WITH THESE DUMB MANDATES AND HOLD MY MILK… imma show you what Power rangers COULD be!” I very much enjoyed this narrative style of Power Rangers. Especially with all the shifting colors and craziness that is Cosmic Fury’s dire situation. I have to warn you, if you’re going to watch this, be READY for a binge! I sat down to watch this, not knowing that each episode ends with AMAZING cliffhangers and I just had to keep going! It was late and I had work in the morning, but I didn’t care! They REALLY pull you in and hold onto you SO tightly, so be READY.
THE ACTING
I don’t want to spend too much time here, but I now understand Russell Curry’s choices for Zayto. That is ALL I will say about that. His arc is STUNNING. His sacrifice at the end of Dino Fury made me CRY and his arc here… blew me away by the end of the series.
Hunter Deno as Amelia, the Pink Dino Fury Ranger and the red Cosmic Fury ranger, leveled UP. Hunter understood her assignment and the way that Amelia became the Red Ranger felt SO organic and satisfying. It was honestly such a HECK YEAH moment for Amelia. Honestly… Amelia might be not just one of the best Red Rangers, but best LEADERS I’ve EVER seen, which is all thanks for Zayto’s amazing leading in Dino Fury. But Amelia absolutely deserves to be not just red, but the leader of her team. ‘
I didn’t think David Yost did a particularly good job reprising his role as Billy in Once and Always. I thought his acting veered a little on the cheesy side, but that’s Billy Cranston as a character for you, so I accept it. But, man… I hate to diss an OG Ranger, but I didn’t like Yost’s performance. I just thought it was a little weak and not well acted.
Javi’s arc got DARK. But he easily became one of my all time favorites during that first or second episode. He always was a headstrong, go for it type of guy, but that ultimately leads to his personal arc and journey for the rest of the season, one that is truly inspiring to see. And Kudos to Chance Perez, who’s a SINGER btw, for really selling Javi’s concern and emotions throughout Dino and Cosmic Fury.
Izzy, I feel, gets put on the backburner just a bit. I know people will think overwise, but I think she was. Her arc and what she had to learn to balance as a college student, as a ranger, and as a girlfriend was really well handled, especially in her relationship with Fern, her girlfriend. But, I never felt like we got all that much of Izzy, but that’s fine because we got a LOT of Izzy during Dino Fury.
Speaking on Fern… LOVE Fern, but she can’t act… I’m sorry. She has her moments, but then she’s given a joke and her delivery is off. I think it might be the fact that she’s supposed to be the happy, positive, let’s look at the bright side character, but I am not sure if the actress knew how to deliver the lines convincingly. I think it’s because she was intended to be Izzy’s athletic rival at first turned lover and she handled the Stern Fern very well. I just am not really a fan of this hesitant sounding positive Fern.
Aiyon’s child-like attitude is always welcome as a ray of sunshine, but this guy REALLY gets put through the emotions ringer this season. It’s a great arc for someone of this archetype to go through; you do feel for him a LOT. Though, I never liked the acting choices for Aiyon. But I accept it if this is how Rafkonians speak, cue the “ellowell.”
OLLIE… GLOW UP? TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY? That’s all I will say, but for those of you complaining about Ollie in Dino Fury, both the actor and the character STEP. IT. UP. Honestly, everyone does, but this guy in particular SHOCKED me in a GREAT WAY.
CONCLUSION
Is it time for the Power Rangers to end? I don’t know. I love them SO much at this point, pretty much anything they make, I will devour, good or not. However, Cosmic Fury is a season that I could watch and rewatch because of this narrative format. They tell a singular STORY; that’s impressive! As I said, this has easily become my newest favorite season and I will definitely be rewatching the season VERY soon. Am I sad this era is over? Absolutely. But Cosmic Fury did NOT disappoint with wrapping up 30 years of storytelling. The MCU could never.
I give Cosmic Fury a 9.5 out of 10 and tag on, for temporal relevancy, “if you know you know.”