It's Morphing Time!

When looking back at my childhood memories, one particular joy in my life was watching the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The Power Rangers was a popular TV show at the time. If you were seven and watched TV, it was pretty much a requirement to watch this show. It was an enigma of a typical fad; an action-packed slamfest of stereotypes and martial arts.

Oh, and giant robots. Can't forget the giant robots.

See, the Rangers could all use their ninja skills to beat up the sinister Putty Patrol, but when an extra-sinister villain reared his ugly head, the Rangers used their Morph Belts to transform into costumed heroes with strength ten times more powerful than a modern man. They all looked alike, except for the fact that they were each a different color. Those colors depicted more than meets the eye, as you'll find out soon enough.

I'll tell you a little bit about the Power Rangers. There was Zack, the hip-hop African-American guy, who was the Black Ranger. (Typical...the black guy is the Black Ranger. That's pretty lame casting.) Then there was Trini, the Asian Yellow Ranger...Kimberly, the girly-girl Pink Ranger...Jason, the macho-wigger Red Ranger...and Billy, the nerdy Blue Ranger.

But wait! The stereotypical labeling doesn't stop here!

Zack, being an African-American, had a penchant for breaking into dance whenever he wasn't planting a fist into someone's face.. That was his trademark: hip hop dancing. Jason was a gruff, weightlifting musclehead. Trini was a ninja. Billy was an elite hacker, and so on...Wait, Trini has two stereotypes! Not only was she the Yellow Ranger, she was also the only one who could decipher Billy's tech jargon. This, of course, being the stereotype that Asians are good at computers.

But not all of the Power Ranger show was negative. In fact, if we look at the big picture, the Power Rangers had a religious overtone in the show. What I am about to dive into is pure speculation based upon only my knowledge of religion, and the fact that I have too much spare time. Remember, this is based on my observations more than ten years after the show was popular, so bear with me as we cross the sands of time.

First of all, Zordon is God; he is the being that lives inside a giant control console at the Power Ranger Command Center. It is he who granted the Power Rangers their powers, and it is he who watches their progress through his mystical eye. He cannot directly intervene in the struggle of good and evil, but he offers advice and wisdom to his loyal Rangers. That being said, the five Rangers are Zordon's prophets. They spread justice and peace throughout the city and protect it from harm, especially from the evil Goldar.

Goldar was a gold-armored demon with wings and a giant sword. He was also incredibly ugly. He works with the prime villainess, Rita Repulsa, who is just as ugly as Goldar. She commands the evil legions on earth to fight the Power Rangers. But don't make the mistake that Repulsa is the master; Goldar is the master. He has never been captured, and has never been truly defeated. No matter how many times he has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, he has escaped. Goldar, in short, represents Satan: the unconquerable, indomitable evil. Repulsa is merely the puppet to a darker force.

The show itself is somewhat spiritual in appearance-what with Zordon always wishing unto his Rangers fortune is another thing for discussion. According to New Testament, God once said, "Whenever two or more are gathered in prayer in my name, I am with them." The Power Rangers almost never teleported backto base alone. It was always in a group of at least two or three. Strength in numbers...or the prayer-like power they had with Zordon?

We're starting to lean towards Christianity here-and you know what? We're headed that way, anyway. After the first twenty episodes or so, a new Ranger called Tommy joined the ranks of our fearless five. He was the Green Ranger, and he was far more powerful than the other Rangers. However, after a few battles, he was disintegrated by Repulsa's death ray. The rest of the Rangers assumed him gone for good, never to return-and why not? He was zapped by a friggin' death ray!

However, lo and behold, a few episodes later, Tommy seemingly returned from death as...the White Ranger, and now he possessed more power than ever. This "resurrection" of sorts takes the shape of the story of Jesus Christ. Life, then death, and after death came incredible power. Not to mention Tommy was the White Ranger-white being the predominant color that is sacred and holy in quality. It is a color that suits rebirth: Life anew, cleansed of the past. And does it not make sense that Jesus came after the prophets-the Power Rangers themselves?

Wrap your minds around this-Before the Green Ranger joined the Power Rangers, he was evil and fought the Rangers on many occasions. Perhaps this relates to Jesus and his temptations in the desert prior to his work as a messenger? The Green Ranger rejected evil, as did Jesus reject the devil's offer. And in time, he was cleansed of all his past sins against the Power Rangers.

The Power Rangers had giant robot dinosaurs that could change shape and form a huge robot centurion. I bet you're all saying, "Hah! You can't make this anymore than what it is, can you?"

Yes I can.

Maybe the reconstruction of dinosaurs to a more humanlike entity depicts the fall of prehistoric beasts and the rise of mankind? The rise of God's greatest creation-humankind-and the extinction of the dinosaurs?

Shut up, you're just mad that you didn't think of it.

At the end of every episode, there was a short five-minute segment where the Power Rangers would give helpful tips about handling situations like drugs, peer pressure, and anger. Sort of reminds you of a Christian fundamentalist announcement, doesn't it? That's more mystery for you to ponder over your next twinkie, Watson.

All in all, this was a fun and interesting thing to think about, but in the end it just doesn't add up. None of this proves anything. In fact, most of my crackpot theories probably wouldn't even be worthy enough to toss in a wastebasket. See, that's why I'm a good writer: good writers can admit if they are wrong. I admit that I might be a little off track in my meaningless ramblings, but they are worthwhile to pore over if you're stuck in an elevator shaft, or being crushed by a sumo wrestler and you happen to have this piece of disgusting satire nearby.

The Power Rangers may be just what they seem at first glance: an everyday television program meant to entertain young children-and myself. (Yoink!)

The show is no more deeper than a puddle of mud. Face it, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is not an analogy to religion. It's a theory, and like all theories, it sucks. Do you think Einstein really believed his own quackjob stories about relativity? Forget about it. Those are just cheap bedtime stories for eggheads, chump.

So sit down, shut up, and enjoy the show. It has just begun, and it's a good episode--

"It's Morphing Time!"