| Power Rangers in Space | |
|---|---|
| Format | Action/Adventure Science fiction |
| Created by | Haim Saban Shuki Levy |
| Starring | Tracy Lynn Cruz Patricia Ja Lee Christopher Khayman Lee Justin Nimmo Roger Velasco Selwyn Ward Melody Perkins Paul Schrier Jason Narvy Derek Stephen Prince Lex Lang |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 43 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Haim Saban Shuki Levy |
| Producer(s) | Jonathan Tzachor |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Saban Entertainment |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Fox (Fox Kids) |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Original run | February 6, 1998 – November 21, 1998 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Power Rangers Turbo |
| Followed by | Power Rangers Lost Galaxy |
Power Rangers in Space (often abbreviated as PRIS or referred to as simply In Space) is a television show that aired in 1998 as the sixth season and fourth installment of the Power Rangers franchise. It was the first full series to be handled by producers Judd Lynn and Jonathan Tzachor.
It was loosely based on, and involved footage from, the Japanese television show Denji Sentai Megaranger, the twenty-first Super Sentai series. However, due to miscommunication between America and Japan as to the contents of the sentai show, much of the space footage is original to the American adaptation. In Space was a turning point for the Power Rangers franchise, as the season brought closure to six seasons of plot, and it ended the practice of having regular cast members act in consecutive seasons. The theme of the series bears little similarity to its Sentai counterpart and its successor, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy.
Though its initial tone was similar to that of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Power Rangers Zeo, Power Rangers in Space eventually took a darker, more emotional turn.
The season was created with the intention to end the Power Rangers franchise, but ratings proved high enough to support its continuation.
Contents |
Picking up where Power Rangers Turbo left off, Dark Specter has captured Zordon and is beginning to completely drain his powers. An assortment of old and new villains praises his victory, but an unexpected figure uncovers his plan: the Red Space Ranger, Andros. Dark Specter orders the new Princess of Evil, Astronema, to eliminate Andros so he can't jeopardize his plans.
Meanwhile, four of the former Turbo Rangers (T.J., Cassie, Carlos and Ashley) and Alpha 6 are traveling in a NASADA space shuttle with the intent to save Zordon. They are pulled aboard the Astro Megaship and later encounter Andros. Though initially suspicious and dismissive of the four former Rangers, Andros realizes he'll need their help to save Zordon and gives them each an Astro Morpher. Additionally, modifications allow the NASADA space shuttle and the Astro Megaship to combine into the powerful Astro Megazord. The new Space Ranger team then returns to Earth for repairs and supplies, but are followed by Astronema.
The Space Rangers alternate between searching for Zordon and protecting Earth. From the Dark Fortress, Astronema seeks to eliminate them via Ecliptor (who raised her), Quantrons and a variety of monsters. (Elgar has also been added to her team, but he remains a comedic bungler.) Over time, allies (such as Phantom Ranger, Justin Stewart and Adam Park) offer the Rangers invaluable aid, with Zhane (the Silver Space Ranger) emerging from cryo-sleep and joining the team. New Zords are also introduced. Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull become assistants to eccentric Professor Phenomenus and join him in searching for aliens.
While dedicated to finding Zordon, Andros has another quest: finding his sister, Karone, who was kidnapped when they were children. Over time, Andros discovers his sister was kidnapped by Darkonda, an old rival of Ecliptor's with multiple lives. Much to Andros' surprise, it turns out that Karone is actually Astronema, who was raised by Ecliptor to be evil. Andros is able to convince Astronema of the truth and she defects with Ecliptor's help. Unfortunately, just as quickly, she (along with Ecliptor) is recaptured and reprogrammed to follow Dark Specter.
Astronema becomes more evil than ever, as she not only wants to destroy the Space Rangers, but also Dark Specter. To that end, she unleashes the Psycho Rangers. The five robotic (and borderline insane) villains possess great power, which secretly comes from Dark Specter. Every time they fight, Dark Specter is drained of power and grows weaker. Only through a great deal of effort are the six Space Rangers able to overcome the Psycho Rangers. Soon afterward, the Rangers suffer setbacks that see two Megazords destroyed, which are The Mega Voyager and Delta Megazord.
Everything culminates in the two-part finale, "Countdown to Destruction", where Zordon is nearly completely drained and Dark Specter orders the villains under his command to attack the entire universe. Across the universe, the Alien Rangers, Phantom Ranger, Blue Senturion, the Gold Zeo Ranger and KO-35 rebels are defeated and captured. The Space Rangers struggle to defend Earth, but are overwhelmed and forced to retreat. Even Zhane and his Zord, the Mega Winger, are no match. Darkonda and Dark Specter destroy each other, leaving Astronema in command as the "Queen of Evil." While Andros boards the Dark Fortress to appeal to his sister, the remaining five Space Rangers engage in one last fight for Earth and are even joined by the citizens of Angel Grove (with Bulk and Skull leading the charge).
On the Dark Fortess, Andros finds Zordon, who requests his energy tube be shattered. Doing so will release good energy that will destroy the forces of evil and save the universe, but also kill him. Following battles with Astronema and Ecliptor, Andros has no choice but to comply. The many monsters are subsequently turned to dust by the energy wave, while Lord Zedd, Rita Repulsa, Divatox and Astronema are changed into normal, non-evil humans. With the universe now safe, T.J., Cassie, Carlos, Ashley and Alpha 6 intend to settle down on Earth. Though initially intending to remain on KO-35 with their people, Andros, Zhane and Karone decide to join their friends on Earth.
Villains from previous series also appeared. Information about these recurring villains can be found in the following articles:
To control the Delta Megazord, the wearer simply speaks commands to the Battlizer Gauntlet. e.g. "Delta Megazord; transform, now."
The Zords in Power Rangers in Space are based on various Space vehicles. The Astro Megashuttle was used by four of the Turbo Rangers to leave the Earth to try to help Zordon. The Astro Megaship is Andros' personal spacecraft that could combine with the Megashuttle to form a Megazord. The Delta Megaship is given to the Space Rangers by the Phantom Ranger. Andros wins Zordon's keycards and the Space Rangers learn the location to the Mega Voyager, five new space vehicles. Zhane is given the Mega Winger by the KO-35 Rebels.
| # | Air Date | Episode Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-02-06 | "From Out Of Nowhere, Part I" |
| 2 | 1998-02-13 | "From Out Of Nowhere, Part II" |
| 3 | 1998-02-20 | "Save Our Ship" |
| 4 | 1998-02-27 | "Shell Shocked" |
| 5 | 1998-03-06 | "Never Stop Searching" |
| 6 | 1998-03-13 | "Satellite Search" |
| 7 | 1998-03-20 | "A Ranger Among Thieves" |
| 8 | 1998-03-27 | "When Push Comes to Shove" |
| 9 | 1998-04-03 | "The Craterite Invasion" |
| 10 | 1998-04-04 | "The Wasp With A Heart" |
| 11 | 1998-04-11 | "The Delta Discovery" |
| 12 | 1998-04-18 | "The Great Evilyzer" |
| 13 | 1998-04-25 | "Grandma Matchmaker" |
| 14 | 1998-05-02 | "The Barillian Sting" |
| 15 | 1998-05-09 | "T.J.'s Identity Crisis" |
| 16 | 1998-05-16 | "Flashes of Darkonda" |
| 17 | 1998-09-12 | "The Rangers' Mega Voyage" |
| 18 | 1998-09-19 | "True Blue to the Rescue" |
| 19 | 1998-09-26 | "Invasion of the Body Switcher" |
| 20 | 1998-10-03 | "Survival of the Silver" |
| 21 | 1998-10-10 | "Red With Envy" |
| 22 | 1998-10-14 | "The Silver Secret" |
| 23 | 1998-10-15 | "A Date With Danger" |
| 24 | 1998-10-16 | "Zhane's Destiny" |
| 25 | 1998-10-17 | "Always A Chance" |
| 26 | 1998-10-21 | "The Secret of the Locket" |
| 27 | 1998-10-23 | "Astronema Thinks Twice" |
| 28 | 1998-10-24 | "The Rangers' Leap of Faith" |
| 29 | 1998-10-28 | "Dark Specter's Revenge, Part I" |
| 30 | 1998-10-29 | "Dark Specter's Revenge, Part II" |
| 31 | 1998-10-30 | "Rangers Gone Psycho" |
| 32 | 1998-10-31 | "Carlos On Call" |
| 33 | 1998-11-04 | "A Rift In the Rangers" |
| 34 | 1998-11-05 | "Five of a Kind" |
| 35 | 1998-11-06 | "Silence Is Golden" |
| 36 | 1998-11-07 | "The Enemy Within" |
| 37 | 1998-11-11 | "Andros and the Stowaway" |
| 38 | 1998-11-12 | "Mission to Secret City" |
| 39 | 1998-11-13 | "Ghosts in the Machine" |
| 40 | 1998-11-14 | "The Impenetrable Web" |
| 41 | 1998-11-18 | "A Line In the Sand" |
| 42 | 1998-11-20 | "Countdown to Destruction, Part I" |
| 43 | 1998-11-21 | "Countdown to Destruction, Part II" |
| Preceded by Turbo |
Power Rangers 1998 |
Succeeded by Lost Galaxy |
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