[WishfulThinking]

My son and I began watching the original MMPR starting with season 1. We're 2 episodes into the five-parter where Tommy shows up.

I can see why kids thought he was a big deal back then. Up until now, the rangers never seemed to really deal with a major threat. This allowed the "silly" factor to weigh more heavily. But now, the rangers have an actual fight on their hands, where using the Megazord won't necessarily save the day. While there are still laughable moments, the stakes are a bit more higher...giving the series a temporary dark undertone.