Five Pivotal Green Ranger Episodes of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger of the Mighty Morphin' era of Power Rangers wasn't just a member of the Power Rangers, he was also the team's first genuine threat. Created by Rita Repulsa and given the Dragon Power Coin and the Sword of Darkness, Tommy defeats the Power Rangers and their Zords, sending them back to the Earth's core while his Dragonzord, Goldar, and Scorpina destroy Angel Grove.
Eventually released by Rita's enchantment, Tommy joins the team to atone for his actions and is forgiven by the Rangers and Zordon. He becomes a powerful ally and helps form the Dragon Megazord, a weapon that takes down even Rita's most dangerous monsters.
This Wednesday, BOOM! Studios takes us back to the Mighty Morphin' age and explores the aftermath of Tommy's induction to the team and him dealing with everything he's done. Written by Kyle Higgins and newcomer artist Hendry Prasetya, BOOM!'s Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger series starts in after Tommy joins the team, but there's still an air of distrust and doubt about Tommy's place among the Rangers.
Today, we'll take a look at five post-Green With Evil Green Ranger-centric episodes that defined Tommy not only as a warrior, but a teammate and as a friend, and how he shaped up to be the most popular character of the franchise.
Return of An Old Friend, Part 2
With the team's parents captured by Goldar, Jason bargains their Power Coins for their lives, but in typical villainous fashion is tricked by the beast-warrior General. However, the Rangers haven't completely lost just yet as Jason still has Tommy's Dragon Coin. The Dragon Coin is too weak by itself since it's no longer fused with Jason's powers, so Zordon transfers some of his own to stabilize it.
Donning the Green Ranger mantle once more, Tommy heads to Goldar to distract him while the team can retrieve the coins, as well as the Dragon Dagger. Even as his powers were draining, Tommy stood up and took the chance to help the team once more. Eventually, Tommy would need sporadic recharges from Zordon to maintain his powers, until the day the Green Ranger would be depowered forever.
prevnextThe Green Dream
Tommy could feel that he was at the end of his Power Cycle. Each time he morphed into the Green Ranger, he knew that the countdown would resume from the previous time and his days were numbered.
The Green Dream starts with Tommy talking about a dream he keeps having with he loses his powers. After recently regaining them with help from Zordon, Tommy rejoined the Rangers, despite not being able to obtain the Thunderzord upgrade. Tommy is captured by Goldar and placed under another spell, this time with the goal of stealing Jason's Sword of Power.
Uncontrollably betraying his friends once again, Tommy seizes the sword and hands it over to Goldar. It is then that he comes to and realizes what he's done. Overcome by guilt, Tommy morphs into the Green Ranger and goes after Goldar solo, but runs into the episodes' monster, Robogoat.
Getting weaker and weaker, the Rangers see that he's no longer under the spell and swoop in to save their friend. This episode shows that Tommy is still having to prove his place on the team, but not to his friends, to himself. That's twice he's been possessed, and he wonders how long the trust will last among the team.
prevnextGreen No More, Part 2
As the title implies, the Green Ranger is no more.
After speculating that his power would soon be gone, Tommy's Green Ranger abilities are lost forever. Lord Zedd had sent his newest monster, Turbanshell, to drain Tommy of the last ounce of power to create his own Dark Rangers. The moment with Goldar and Tommy in the field is a true character moment for Tommy as his former partner mocks and taunts him, making him feel he is nothing without the Green Ranger powers.
"Do you even recognize yourself, Tommy? Do you see what a gallant hero you used to be, Green Ranger?...Witness the greatness you once were, Tommy, because it's all over now!"
Tommy fights back as being reminder of the good he's done and defeats Goldar not as a Power Ranger, but as Tommy Oliver. He is sent inside Lord Zedd's force field and destroys Zedd's crystal that he was using to power his Dark Rangers, which was the very last of the Green Ranger power. Sacrificing it displayed incredible courage and determination, especially powerless and having to fend off monsters by himself.
Giving up the last of the Green Ranger power was a true test of character, and an end of an era. The episode ends with Tommy realized it wasn't the suit or the power that made him a hero, it was what he was made of on the inside.
Of course, this would far be the last time we saw Tommy Oliver as a Ranger.
prevnextReturn of the Green Ranger
We're cheating here as this was actually a three-parter, but at the time very surreal. Mind you, this was way before Super Megaforce and the "Forever Red" episode.
The team is given a homework assignment about what time period they would want to live in. This gives Zedd an idea to send the Rangers back in time, but needs the help from the Ghost of Darkness and the Wizard of Deception. The Ghost summons the Wizard as a favor from Rita, who uses his magic to make an evil clone from Tommy who lures the team to get trapped in colonial Angel Grove.
The White Ranger and Green Ranger square off, but eventually the clone stays behind in Olde Towne Angel Grove (which is mentioned again in Dino Thunder with Tommy explaining that two of them couldn't exist at the same time because of a glitch in the Morphing Grid).
This episode is important because it is the final appearance of the Dragonzord and the Green Ranger for over a decade. Having both White and Green rangers square off is a one of a kind moment for Power Ranger fans.
Also, this was around the time that Zedd wanted to have a child with Rita, who we eventually saw in Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive as Thrax.
prevnextThe Green Candle
Tommy has basically had to fight to keep his powers from getting into Rita's hands again, and there was more than once he had to retire from being a Ranger.
The first time was with The Green Candle. Again, this is a two-parter, but both episodes display Tommy's cunning and determination to never be a part of Rita's side. It also shows Jason's willingness to fight for Tommy, despite their rocky past. Rita had forged a candle that was connected to Tommy's Green Ranger energy, should it burn out, the power will also be no more.
The thing about The Green Candle was the fact that it had the Rangers in a vulnerable position. Yeah, they'd fight monsters once a week, but we knew they'd prevail in the end. This was different. Tommy had only been on the team for about thirteen episodes at this point and we as fans grew to love him very quickly. He was the hands-down coolest looking one, as well as had the coolest Zord, so it was hard to not think of him as the ultimate bad ass.
But then the Green Ranger was gone. At the end of the episode, Tommy transferred his Power Coin over to Jason and the power transfer was complete. Jason now had the Dragon Shield as well as the Dragon Dagger to summon the Dragonzord if need be. There was a bright side to this, Tommy regained a sense of normalcy and finally asked Kimberly out on a date.
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