[DreamSword]

Hola amigos, it's DreamSword. The only Power Rangers fan!

2025 is the year that Power Rangers SPD canonically takes place, and as far as I can tell, no singular PR season has had one of these review threads before.

So I figured I'd give this a shot! SPD has always been one of my favorite seasons of the show, and with the future of the franchise being uncertain, I figured it'd be fun to take a look back and try to talk about why I love it so much.

As I've said before, I can't offer any sort of super "deep" insight like what you might find from the reviews of other users on these boards, but what I can offer is genuine interest and emotion towards whatever I'm talking about. Positive, negative, I always try my best to articulate why I feel the way that I do.

In other words, while you're most likely not going to ever read me talk about a certain episode is some deep analysis on the nature of humanity or society or whatever, you will most likely gain insight into how various aspects of the episode made me feel, and whether or not I had a good time doing so. I am a simple man with simple pleasures.

Did I get that across right? If not, well, then that's all par for the course. So to help things along, here are some general guidelines for the thread as a whole:

This show is 20 years old, so there will likely be spoilers. I'll do my best to be as spoiler free as possible, but the thread will probably be talking about the show as a whole as much as it does each individual episode. This will be like the fourth time I've seen it, afterall. Adding to that, you all are allowed to talk spoilers in this thread if you think it'll help with discussion. If you're coming into Space Patrol Delta for the first time, well, you've been warned.

Please try to keep discussion focused on SPD specifically. I'm not saying you can't make any offhand comparisons to other seasons or tokusatsu or whatever, that's all well and good, but please try not to use this thread as an excuse to come in and go off about some other show you've got a bone to pick with. Try to keep SPD at the forefront, whether you liked whatever the particular episode was doing or not. But on that note...

This thread is celebratory, not derogatory. Not saying you're required to praise every single aspect of this season. Heck, there are certain bits of it that I don't think are as good as they could be, but please try not to come in solely to talk about how much the franchise is bad, or that Saban/Disney/whoever is the worst thing on Earth, or how MMPR is a disgrace to the entire genre, or whatever. Like, sure, I can't stop you from making those comments, but don't expect me to at all engage with them.

And as always, the final rule is to try and respect the opinions of others. We all aren't going to agree on every little aspect of anything, that's just true to life. But what we can do is atleast try to see where the other person is coming from. If we agree, great. If not, well, we're all entitled to our own opinions. It's nothing to wage keyboard wars over.

With all that said, let's get started on (re)watching and talking about Power Rangers Space Patrol Delta...

[DreamSword]

Power Rangers Dino Thunder: Before it Began

... But before that, I wanna talk about the lead up to this show, actually!

"Before it Began" was a bonus feature on one of the Dino Thunder DVDs, and was one of our first peaks into what would become Power Rangers SPD.

The setup involves Ethan and Kira managing to summon a fragment of the Morphin' Grid, which in turns shows them visions of the future and the next season of the show.

Like alot of early previews for toku shows, there are some rather notable differences between what we see here and what'd end up in the final product. Most onvious there's the stand-in voice actors, but there are other details too like the basic plot setup and one of the elite mooks being voiced.

Having already been a diehard Rangers fan, getting me to watch the show wasn't exactly difficult. But alot of the preview really did intrigue me. The Power Rangers as cops(which was last seen during Time Force), the promise of aliens now being common place, and as noted by the characters themselves, those really cool new Zords!

But the thing that really got me excited for this upcoming season was the early commercials for it...

One that would air all of the time both before the show began airing as well as during its early episodes was one that gave us a much closer look at the world and its cast, as well as stating that the show took place in the year 2020, when in reality as soon as the story started it was established to take place in the year 2025. I guess someone in the writer's' room felt at the last second that tacking on another five years would make alot of the stuff seen in the show alot more plausible sounding.

Regardless, the general vibe and aesthetic as presented not just in that trailer, but in alot of the early promos got me super excited for what was to come, and needless to say, I was not disappointed. But more on that when we start watching the show proper.

Also, big shout out to this fan made trailer I found while searching. It's very cool!

[Androzani84]

I’m guessing the reason this experiment was never repeated was because of the obvious limitations of the format (making a pre-series cameo for a cast that hasn’t been cast yet).

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Androzani84

I?m guessing the reason this experiment was never repeated was because of the obvious limitations of the format (making a pre-series cameo for a cast that hasn?t been cast yet).

That and budget cuts, most likely.

[DreamSword]

Episodes 1+2: Beginnings

These two episodes originally aired as a 42 minute special, so that's how I've always watched them. And today is no exception.

And I'll just say it: This is my favorite premiere in the entire franchise.

Don't get me wrong, "Day of the Dumpster" is an absolutely iconic episode and I love both versions of it to bits, but when it comes right down to it, "Beginnings" never once misses a beat, even if it's doesn't 1000% mesh with the rest of the show.

It helps that in regards to plot, not only is the special a great setup for the rest of the show in itself, but there are no conflicts at all. No, the very minor disconnects rely on the characterization.

And I do mean minor. It's stuff like how Bridge's' vocabulary is a bit more "academic" than how we'll normally hear him speak for the rest of the show, or how this is the only time I can recall that we'll hear the "Blue Heads" talk. Things of that nature. But really, if we're talking about these episodes in and of themselves, the characterization is incredibly strong all the way around.

Both the writing and the actors do a wonderful job at giving you a glimpse in how each character operates. Every character absolutely oozes with personality and all in ways that make them very immediately endearing and likable while still having everyone be unique. Even Sky, the "hardass" of the group, is made fun by not only showcasing his faults for what they are, but having other characters notice and make fun of him for it. But in that friendly, ribbing sort of way.

The episode really does fire on all cylinders though, because the characters both are enhanced as well as further enhance everything else that these episodes have to offer. The action, for example, is really intricate and very fun to watch all throughout. There's of course the signature physical and wire stunts that the franchise is known for(thanks, Koichi Sakamoto!), but throw in the very cool dynamics brought about by the civilian powers each Ranger has as well as the interweaving of the Dekaranger stock footage alongside some original visuals, and every single action scene is just a wonderful time all around.

Speaking of the civilian powers though, one common misconception that the show often gets is that the premiere is the only time that Jack uses his power to phase through objects, and that's actually not true. I'll be sure to bring this up again when we see him utilize this power again. And adding to that, another misconception is that the B-Squad is always shouting whenever they're morphed. Watching the second part alone proves this to be untrue, as most of the time they're talking at a very standard volume.

What's that? They're called B-Squad? That's right. Something else unique to SPD is that our main heroes are actually the runner-ups to a different set of Rangers: SPD's' A-Squad, which are designs original to us here in the United States. While mostly their own designs, A-Squad noticeably retools the In Space helmets in their suits. It's something else that the fandom has thrown a fit about over the years, and I feel that it's a bit of a double standard given that whenever shows like Kamen Rider retool old suits/props, no one really complains all that much. But I digress, it's an aspect of the show's' production, and the lack of budget is the blame.

Yeah, for those curious, Producer Greg Aronowitz recently posted on his socials about the decisions behind retooling older stuff for SPD, and while the short answer is "budget" he also elaborates that the In Space helmets were specifically chosen for A-Squad because they were the ones that most resembled the SPD helmets at the time, and they are not meant to indicate any sort of direct continuity with In Space itself. The same logic(sort of) applying for some other reused props that we'll see later on. Personally, it never bothered me when watching the show as a kid, and it still doesn't bother me even now. The suits look cool, and that's all I need, really.

I could go on and on forever about how much I love every little individual aspect of these two combined episodes, but for the sake of brevity, I just want to highlight one other major aspect of any Power Rangers season, and that's that the music is absolutely fantastic, dude! The SPD theme song featured the return of Ron Wasserman composing the theme song for a PR season, and he absolutely knocked it out of the park with a song that never fails to get me hyped up. Major props have to be given to Bruce Lynch too, who is the head composer for the score of the season. He did a great job making background tracks that not only perfectly capture the mood every scene needs, but also stick out as immediately recognizable in a very pleasant way to my ears. Dang near all of my senses get the time of their life with these episodes!

I just... I just really love this two-parter, is what it comes down to.

[Fish Sandwich]

Oh hey, this is really cool to see! The vast majority of this show, I haven't watched since about two decades ago(!), so I doubt I'll be able to actively contribute that much, but rest assured I'll be eagerly reading along, because I really enjoy the passion you bring to the table when talking about Power Rangers.

I can say that SPD has a pretty golden premise, though? The underdog angle to the heroes is such a fundamentally strong concept. Personally, I also recall really liking the idea of the Red Ranger for this team of cops starting out as someone on the wrong side of the law? Even if it were just one of the other colors, that would be fun, but for the big important leader guy to have that backstory is such a fascinating angle.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Episodes 1+2: Beginnings

And I'll just say it: This is my favorite premiere in the entire franchise.

I'm trying to think of premieres of equal or better quality and y'know, this one is probably at least in the top 5. It does a lot of things right with the setup and the twist of the criminal Jack becoming Red instead of Sky is pretty surprising, ignoring the fact that the trailers give it away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

And I do mean minor. It's stuff like how Bridge's' vocabulary is a bit more "academic" than how we'll normally here him speak for the rest of the show, or how this is the only time I can recall that we'll hear the "Blue Heads" talk.

I like it when the grunts talk and show personality. I wish the Blue Heads would've done that more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Even Sky, the "hardass" of the group, is made fun by not only showcasing his faults for what they are, but having other characters notice and make fun of him for it. But in that friendly, ribbing sort of way.

"But sir, she's a girl. A girl can't be the Red Ranger."

Flashback to 2 years ago....

I have to agree with Doggie's judgment here. Sky acts entitled to be Red as the one with the most experience, as well as being uh, male, while Jack.... Admittedly isn't exactly a great choice either, he lacks discipline, but he shows potential and considers the feelings of others, not only himself. I understand that Sky's obvious flaws are part of his arc though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Yeah, for those curious, Producer Greg Aronowitz recently posted on his socials about the decisions behind retooling older stuff for SPD, and while the short answer is "budget" he also elaborates that the In Space helmets were specifically chosen for A-Squad because they were the ones that most resembled the SPD helmets at the time, and they are not meant to indicate any sort of direct continuity with In Space itself. The same logic(sort of) applying for some other reused props that we'll see later on. Personally, it never bothered me when watching the show as a kid, and it still doesn't bother me even now. The suits look cool, and that's all I need, really.

While I think they look kind of lame compared to the B-Squad SPD suits, they're onscreen for so little time that it seems frivolous to complain about them. It's not like the Megaranger suits got dismantled or anything, so I don't see the harm. I think some people just want to complain that PR is cheap instead of enjoying the product.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

I could go on and on forever about how much I love every little individual aspect of these two combined episodes, but for the sake of brevity, I just want to highlight one other major aspect of any Power Rangers season, and that's that the music is absolutely fantastic, dude! The SPD theme song featured the return of Ron Wasserman composing the theme song for a PR season, and he absolutely knocked it out of the park with a song that never fails to get me hyped up. Major props have to be given to Bruce Lynch too, who is the head composer for the score of the season. He did a great job making background tracks that not only perfectly capture the mood every scene needs, but also stick out as immediately recognizable in a very pleasant way to my ears. Dang near all of my senses get the time of their life with these episodes!

It's catchy for sure!

Space Patrol
Space Patrol
Space Patrol
Space Patrol Delta!

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Oh hey, this is really cool to see! The vast majority of this show, I haven't watched since about two decades ago(!), so I doubt I'll be able to actively contribute that much, but rest assured I'll be eagerly reading along, because I really enjoy the passion you bring to the table when talking about Power Rangers.

I appreciate that! And hey, should you ever feel the itch to revisit any piece of the show, it's all on YouTube for free.

Quote:

I can say that SPD has a pretty golden premise, though? The underdog angle to the heroes is such a fundamentally strong concept. Personally, I also recall really liking the idea of the Red Ranger for this team of cops starting out as someone on the wrong side of the law? Even if it were just one of the other colors, that would be fun, but for the big important leader guy to have that backstory is such a fascinating angle.

One could write a whole essay on all of the unique stuff that SPD brings to the table when it comes to Power Rangers, but having a Red Ranger who very much does not immediately fit in with everyone else and by all rights would be a different color in any other season is definitely a big stand out. And they didn't even need to make him a bad guy to pull it off either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I'm trying to think of premieres of equal or better quality and y'know, this one is probably at least in the top 5. It does a lot of things right with the setup and the twist of the criminal Jack becoming Red instead of Sky is pretty surprising, ignoring the fact that the trailers give it away.

I'm interested: What are your other favorite premieres?

And sure, losing the twist of Sky as Blue and not Red is a bit of a shame, on the other hand, it does allow one to instead look into the logic that Commander Cruger has when deciding who to put in what position.

Quote:

"But sir, she's a girl. A girl can't be the Red Ranger."

Flashback to 2 years ago....

It's definitely something that's become more funny over time for sure. With or without the context of Cosmic Fury though, it for sure shows that Sky still has alot of growing to do.

Quote:

I have to agree with Doggie's judgment here. Sky acts entitled to be Red as the one with the most experience, as well as being uh, male, while Jack.... Admittedly isn't exactly a great choice either, he lacks discipline, but he shows potential and considers the feelings of others, not only himself. I understand that Sky's obvious flaws are part of his arc though.

Doggie's' longcon is definitely one of the aspects of the show that I only grew to appreciate more and more upon rewatches of the show. On a narrative level alone, Sky needed to be brought down a peg, whereas Jack needed to be elevated in order to see the bigger picture, and I think that the Commander for sure recognized that.

Quote:

I think some people just want to complain that PR is cheap instead of enjoying the product.

I do not disagree with this assessment.

Quote:

It's catchy for sure!

Space Patrol
Space Patrol
Space Patrol
Space Patrol Delta!

POWER RANGERS, GOOO!!!

[Name]

SPD really does frontload a lot of what makes it great, but the action stands out as some of the best in the franchise. It's fast, has impact, and they don't over-rely on the civilian powers making them a complement to the scene rather than the main point of it. It's a good balance.

Also that Sky guy is a real jerk. I bet he's gonna stay that way and not grow up at all.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

I'm interested: What are your other favorite premieres?

Mighty Morphin' S1, Dino Thunder, Jungle Fury and Cosmic Fury.

Definitely not Samurai.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

Doggie's' longcon is definitely one of the aspects of the show that I only grew to appreciate more and more upon rewatches of the show. On a narrative level alone, Sky needed to be brought down a peg, whereas Jack needed to be elevated in order to see the bigger picture, and I think that the Commander for sure recognized that.

Doggie is a wise mentor. He gave Sky the chance to show he understood what was important in the leader and Sky instead showed that it was too early for him. There'll be more opportunities to bring this up later, but I think Jack and Sky are good complimentary characters who can learn a lot from each other, in a way you can only see in a strict hierarchy-based show like this one.