[DreamSword]

Episode 35: Insomnia

Recap episode.

...

What? You're expecting more out of me? Well actually, I do have a bit of a personal history with this one, and it's an episode that's gotten a surprising amount of attention lately.

The short of it is that while I've always had a soft spot for this episode, it's not one that I feel "changes everything" about SPD as some have claimed.

In essence, this is an episode where most of the team meets up in the middle of the night discuss not only how far they've come, but also putting the pieces together on what Gruumm's' larger goal might be. The catalyst being them overhearing Cruger wondering about the fate of the A-Squad.

So let me get it out of the way up front: Yes, this is a good episode, especially as far as recap episodes go. There's a surprising amount of effort put into all the pieces of it. However, it does not infact "change everything" when it comes to the story or characters of SPD. Rather, it reiterates what has been built up over these past 35 episodes for those who don't have all the pieces together.

And in the eyes of an adult viewer, that could easily come across as condescending, but believe me when I say I fully support this episode. I remember when I first saw this episode on TV as a kid. Keeping up with the show weekly, there were plenty of details I'd either forgotten or overlooked, and having it put here at the forefront of the show's' endgame was a huge help; I felt like I was uncovering the mystery alongside the cast!

On rewatch, there are two aspects of this episode that stand out to me: One positive and one negative. Let's start with the negative, and that's that Sam doesn't make an appearance, even as a light ball. Granted, the episode is pretty dense as it is, but even just giving him a few words or just some nods in the background would've helped to keep the idea of him being involved. Sure he does technically get a mention via the flashbacks that Z provides the episode, but him not contributing anything personally is a missed opportunity.

Now, as for the positive, man, I really gotta give it to whoever was in charge of wardrobe on this one. A big chunk of the episode features the B-Squad in their pajamas, and it could've been so easy to just get everyone the same outfit but in different colors, but no! Every set of night wear is unique to each character ontop of matching their Ranger color. And the style of each outfit is very fitting to the characters ontop of that. I especially love the big green onesie on Bridge, which highlights his more goofy and sometimes childish personality. And interestingly, Jack's' clothes have the least amount of color out of everyone's'...

And of course, the episode itself is plot important, because we finally get a shot at the true big bad of the season, but more on... that thing, at a later time.