Power Rangers: From Best to Worst

The best incarnation of Power Rangers. You still get that nostalgia of seeing the old heroes, yet it's also the first season to start the yearly tradition of changing everything. Oh, and did I mention it was done well?
For the longest time I thought the Machine Empire was lame, but have come to accept them as a decent faction. Especially considering the fact that Gasket and Archerina were UNTOUCHABLE prior to their giant-sized battle.
My only problem being that they relied on the stunt team a bit too much. I could count on one hand the amount of times someone fought unmorphed. Something not possible in the majority of the other seasons.

Top 3 Characters
Katherine Hillard | Archerina | Eugene Skullovitch

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Katherine - Tommy - Rocky - Jason - Adam - Trey - Tanya

Favorite Villain: Archerina
One True Pairing: Tanya/Jason(/Emily)
BrOTP: The Remedial Twins (Tommy & Jason)
Favorite Episode: A Mystery to Me
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Kat or Adam

Least Favorite Villain: Queen Machina
NOTP: Jason/Katherine
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc: Tanya's origin story

Watched Before or After Ohranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Yes

Ninjas, dude!
A great way to kick off the move of production from California to New Zealand. It has a certain feel that Mighty Morphin had, yet it's been updated, and in some cases seems even better. Most might get turned off by the fact that the mentor is a guinea pig... but is that really any different than a giant, floating head?
In fact, the only thing I would change would be Hunter's hobby and gender. (I don't dislike him, but they could have easily passed Crimson off as Pink, and one less person doing motocross would not hurt anyone.)

Top 3 Characters
Lothor | Marah | Tori Hanson

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Tori - Dustin - Blake - Cam - Shane - Hunter

Favorite Villain: Lothor
One True Pairing: Dustin/Marah
BrOTP: Shane, Tori & Dustin
Favorite Episode:
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Hunter

Least Favorite Villain: Shimazu
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode: N/A
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Hurricaneger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Yes

I originally didn't rank this as high on my list -- despite it featuring the return of PR's savior, Tommy Oliver (portrayed by Jason David Frank). The characters just didn't gel with me. However, re-watching select episodes, I've grown to appreciate it more. I even like Isn't it Lava-ly now -- which was the first PR episode I had watched after a six year hiatus, and thought it was awful.

This season also holds the record of fastest time that I've ever watched a full PR season: two days.

Top 3 Characters
Ethan James | Cassidy Cornell | Trent Fernandez

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Ethan - Trent - Conner - Kira - Tommy

Favorite Villain: Elsa
One True Pairing:
BrOTP: Conner, Kira & Ethan
Favorite Episode:
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain: Mesogog
NOTP: Kira/Anyone that's not Trent
Least Favorite Episode: N/A
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Abaranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Yes, although I still haven't finished Abaranger.

This is the season that has the best use of a sliding scale of silliness vs seriousness, without giving the viewer a serious case of mood whiplash. IMHO, that is what makes everything so great. It's not a "dark" season, despite what some people will tell you. It's just as campy as any other season, but the writers blend it into the plot seamlessly.
Case in point, take my two favorite episodes of the season: Movie Madness and Time Force Traitor. The former turns the camp meter up to eleven, while the latter just takes the ball and goes running in the opposite direction. And they take place right after each other!

Top 3 Characters
Katie Walker | Jen Scotts | Alex Drake

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Katie - Jen - Alex - Trip - Eric - Lucas - Wes

Favorite Villain: Ransik
One True Pairing: Alex/Jen
BrOTP: Trip & Katie
Favorite Episode: Time Force Traitor
Best Story Arc: Wes (He goes from annoying, spoiled rich kid to a decent person when he wants to be.)
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain: Gluto
NOTP: Wes/Jen (in that the relationship is SUPER unhealthy and kinda creepy)
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc: Jen (She goes from competent woman with her own agency to someone that Wes needed to "fix.")

Watched Before or After Timeranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? It depends who the focus is on.

Sure, it had that one spotlight hog like previous seasons; but the focus was still evened out as much as they could. I give them props for really pulling a 180 with the source footage. When comparing it to it's Japanese counterpart, it really is like looking at the negative of a photograph. (eg. Making the comedic stuff serious and the serious stuff comedic.) Although, that is also partially it's fault, as well, due to the major mood whiplash it causes.
I sort of get the feeling that [Executive Producer] Eddie Guzelian really didn't want to be working on Power Rangers. The first eleven episodes fight the franchise a lot, and not in a good way. Any actual Ranger stuff is just an afterthought. However, the last 2/3 are flawless and cancels out most of the bad.

Top 3 Characters
Dr. K | Tenaya | Gemma

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Gemma - Flynn - Gem - Summer - Dillon - Ziggy - Scott

Favorite Villain: Tenaya 7
One True Pairing:
BrOTP:
Favorite Episode: Ancient History
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Flynn

Least Favorite Villain: General Shifter
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode: The Road to Corinth (Yes, the first episode.)
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Go-onger? After
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? No

The original. It's not the greatest piece of work. In fact, it's most famous for how bad it was. You're not gonna get an Emmy-worthy show with six walking stereotypes, running around in spandex, taking orders from a floating head.
The first season is about average, only just starting to find itself after the Green Ranger joins. The second season starts and ends fine, but it's TERRIBLE in the middle. The only upside is that the unmorphed fights during that time were top notch. When we get to the third season, we finally get some real arcs and quality in storytelling that had previously been missing for the most part. If I could separate seasons, season three would definitely jump up to #3. But, since I can't, I have to average it out.
My only problem with season three was -- like it's successor, Zeo -- it relied too much on the stunt team. They'd always jump into ninja mode at the first sight of danger.

Top 3 Characters
Kimberly Hart | Zack Taylor | Katherine Hillard

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
(Original Team)
Zack - Kimberly - Trini - Billy - Tommy - Jason
(Replacement Team)
Katherine - Rocky - Adam - Tommy - Billy - Aisha
(Alien Rangers)
Delphine - Cestro - Tideus - Aurico - Corcus

Favorite Villain: Rita Repulsa
One True Pairing: Skull/Kimberly
BrOTP: The Remedial Twins (Tommy & Jason)
Favorite Episode: Ninja Quest
Best Story Arc: Evil Kat
Favorite Fighter: Adam

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP: Jason/Kimberly
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Zyuranger, Dairanger & Kakuranger? Before all three.
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? I hands down prefer season one to Zyuranger, but the other two are a bit tougher do decide.

I can't help but feel that anytime Haim Saban or Elie Dekel gives an interview about Samurai returning the show to it's roots, that this is what they should be going for. It really does have the classic feel, without having to go back and rehash the High School aspect yet again.
The Master-arc was great (I'd still count Good Karma, Bad Karma, if only for the hilariousness of the MOTW) and the final episodes were terrific. Add in the Spirit Rangers and you've got a pretty good season.

p.s. R.J. is awesome
I also don't know what's worse, Jason Smith acting tough or Austin St. John's constipated face when he tried to act in season one.

Top 3 Characters
Robert James | Camille | Dominic Hargan

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
R.J. - Dominic - Lily - Casey - Theo

Favorite Villain: Camille
One True Pairing:
BrOTP: R.J. & Dominic
Favorite Episode:
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Gekiranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? About the same.

Once you get past the fanwank of the anniversary team-up, you start to realize that it's just the Mack and Will show with Tyzonn and three suit fillers. However, I like the chemistry of this team. It also had promise and tried to do new things. It didn't always succeed, but at least it TRIED.
Also, this season is the epitome of "so bad, it's good." I mean, there is a crossdressing butler and an episode about Thor for crying out loud!

Top 3 Characters
Rose Ortiz | Dax Lo | Ronny Robinson

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Rose - Dax - Ronny - Tyzonn - Mack - Will

Favorite Villain: Miratrix
One True Pairing: Rock & Roll (Rose/Mack & Ronny/Will)
BrOTP:
Favorite Episode: One Fine Day
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain: Moltor
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode: Pirate in Pink
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Boukenger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Yes

Top 3 Characters
Emily | Mentor-Ji | The Neighborhood Cat

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Emily - Antonio - Jayden - Kevin - Mia - Mike - Lauren

Favorite Villain: Deker
One True Pairing: Jayden/Kevin & Spike/Mia
BrOTP: Mentor & Antonio
Favorite Episode: The Strange Case of the Munchies
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Emily (Really, both Mike and Emily's actors deserve so many props for doing lots of flips with pointy swords in hand.)

Least Favorite Villain: Master Xandred
NOTP: Jayden/Girls
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Shinkenger? After
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Surprisingly, yes.

I'm kinda partial to this season, as it got me back into the series full swing -- The Gatekeeper in particular. That's not to say it doesn't have it's faults. The characters (apart from Nick) aren't really fleshed out. However, that's not really specific to this season. The seasons surrounding it did the same thing. In fact, I love when Madison made note of this and stole Nick's focus episode for once.

Top 3 Characters
Madison Rocca | Itassis | Leelee Pimvare

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Madison - Vida - Udonna - Chip - Nick - Xander - Daggeron

Favorite Villain: Itassis
One True Pairing: Phineas/Leelee
BrOTP: Chip & Vida
Favorite Episode: The Gatekeeper
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Phineas (He literally mopped the floor with a mook!)

Least Favorite Villain: Sculpin
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Magiranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Yes

The last season to retain any of the original cast. While it is widely panned as being one of the worst seasons of PR, it does not deserve most of the backlash. With an underrated movie to kick it off and possibly one of my favorite finales ever really giving it a boost.
We also got the return of unmorphed fighting, which is probably the best it's been. Ever. For BOTH of the teams. When you see the Pink Ranger do a perfect scorpion kick in an unmorphed battle, you gotta give props to where it's due. (Other Rangers since have done it as well, but they either don't get the proper arc of the leg - and just kick straight out - or it's obviously a stunt person.)

Top 3 Characters
T.J. Johnson | Divatox | Katherine Hillard

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
(First Half)
Katherine - Adam - Tommy - Justin - Tanya
(Second Half)
T.J. - Carlos - Justin - Cassie - Ashley
(Ashley was originally at #1 but the following season completely ruined her character for me.)

Favorite Villain: Divatox
One True Pairing: T.J./Pizza
BrOTP: Carlos & Justin
Favorite Episode: The Song of Confusion
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Katherine

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP: Justin/Any Other Ranger
Least Favorite Episode: Weight and See
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Carranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Yes

While the second half is not as bad as people make it out to be, the first half isn't as good as people say either. It's just kind of playing-it-safe.
However, I have words for End of Extinction - and a few "shout outs" prior. Fuck "Sentai 6!" Fuck "Kamen 5!" Fuck "Keruga/Kyoryuger Galaxy!" And fuck that ending!
Dino Charge's "happy ending" is literally the same ending that the Dino Thunder Rangers were trying to stop! In fact, Dino Charge making it so that the asteroid never hit the dinosaurs makes it so the Dino Thunder team never existed. But the dinosaurs still could have went extinct in other ways and we're now living in a world where Mesogog actually succeeded in bringing the dinosaurs back! You done fucked up, Dino Charge.

Top 3 Characters
Koda | Ivan | Kendall Morgan

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Koda - Ivan - Kendall - Shelby - Chase - Tyler - Phillip - James - Riley - Zenowing

Favorite Villain: Fury
One True Pairing: Kendall/Shelby
BrOTP: Koda & Everyone
Favorite Episode: Let Sleeping Zords Lie
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: N/A (While it's not bad, every fight has that one moment where a stunt person gets antsy and has to jump in to completely ruin the mood with their over-the-top antics.)

Least Favorite Villain: Poisandra
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode: Double Ranger, Double Danger
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Kyōryūger? After
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Yes

Top 3 Characters
Kendrix Morgan | Takeena | Damon Henderson

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Kendrix - Damon - Maya - Leo - Kai - Mike - Karone

Favorite Villain: Trakeena
One True Pairing:
BrOTP:
Favorite Episode:
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain: Scorpius
NOTP: Leo/Karone
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Gingaman? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Not as a whole, but despite most of the episodes being beat-for-beat Gingaman plots, there are one or two where I do prefer the Power Rangers take on it.

This season really doesn't deserve a lot of the hate it gets from the fandom. Although, I will admit that most of the season is rather forgettable.
It's biggest fault is probably sticking so close to Gaoranger, and then taking out filler from the arcs, making them seem entirely too rushed. For example, Zen-Aku returns out of nowhere and Kite comes off way too preachy because his counterpart had a slightly longer arc, and thus a little more character development.

However, if you tell me that your favorite episode is one of the team ups (especially Forever Red), I'm going to assume that you've never actually watched the whole season.

Top 3 Characters
x | x | x

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Cole - Merrick - Taylor - Danny - Max - Alyssa

Favorite Villain:
One True Pairing:
BrOTP:
Favorite Episode: The Master's Herald
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Gaoranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? It depends on the episode.

Holy bad acting, Batman! Unless their names are Joel Rawlings or Angela Fairweather, I'm usually cringing when someone opens their mouth.
Okay, it's usually just Vypra. But some of Carter's lines were just awful and the Mitchell family scenes just felt awkward.
This season is also pretty much a prime time drama with superheroes thrown in. It has probably the least amount of camp out of any season, despite what others may tell you.

Also, the resemblance of these Rangers to the previous Rangers is a bit too uncanny. And while the previous team may have just been kinda bland, these Rangers are extremely bland. They really need to get out more.

Top 3 Characters
Kelsey Winslow | Diabolico | Joel Rawlings

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Kelsey - Joel - Carter - Chad - Ryan - Dana

Favorite Villain: Diabolico
One True Pairing: Carter/Kelsey
BrOTP: Chad & Kelsey
Favorite Episode:
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Kelsey (When has your favorite fought on rollerblades?)

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP: Kelsey/Nancy (I'm a rebel and I ship Dana/Nancy.)
Least Favorite Episode: In the Limelight
Least Favorite Story Arc: The cobra tattoo.

Watched Before or After GoGoFive? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? No

Top 3 Characters
Sarah Thompson | Levi Weston | x

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Sarah - Levi - Calvin&Hayley&Preston - Brody

Favorite Villain:
One True Pairing: Monty is the son of Percy from VR Troopers and Trip from Beetleborgs. Fight me.
BrOTP:
Favorite Episode: Hack Attack / Gold Rush.
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter: Hayley (She kicked a monster in the face with her motorcycle!)

Least Favorite Villain: The fact that they kept bringing back suits for MAJOR villains of the past, only to call them different characters. (Looking at you Mig, Venjix, Necrolai and Snapper suits.)
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode: Sheriff Skyfire
Least Favorite Story Arc: All of Brody's family stuff

Watched Before or After Ninninger? After
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? No

Picking up straight where Turbo left off with it's cliffhanger ending, we're introduced to the evil Astronema. One of the best female villain in PR history.
Although, I'm not a big fan of the claustrophobic atmosphere of being cooped up in the spaceship all the time. (I'm fine with it elsewhere, but PR sets just make it extra bothersome.)
The Rangers themselves are also the worst friends ever. T.J. is a saint for putting up with the other five. You've got Ashley the high-maintenance slob; Cassie, who hooks her BFF up with blackmailers; Carlos the quitter (the most tolerable of the five); Andros the emo loner; and Zhane, the jerk that you can't help but love.

Top 3 Characters
T.J. Johnson | Astronema | Zhane

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
T.J. - Zhane - Carlos - Cassie - Andros - Ashley

Favorite Villain: Astronema
One True Pairing: Zhane/Astronema
BrOTP: T.J. & Carlos
Favorite Episode:
Best Story Arc: Astronema
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode: A Rift in the Rangers
Least Favorite Story Arc: Ghost Psycho Rangers (Or the fact that the show as a whole randomly decided that Ashley was going to be a lot less Buffy and a lot more like the vapid teen girls that Buffy was a response to.)

Watched Before or After Megaranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? No

Ever wonder what Time Force would be like if they showed the team acting a bit more like cops? Look no further, because that's basically the premise of SPD. Well, and it's not as far into the future.
There are a couple cool story arcs (like the A-Squad), but nothing to really get excited about. The thing I like most about it is the little nods to the previous seasons.
In fact, it comes off (unintentionally) sexist. Like threatening to make a girl leader to teach the [male] Blue Ranger a lesson, making our first ever female Red turn to the dark side, and just not fleshing out the girls in general.

Top 3 Characters
Charlie | Anubis Cruger | Bridge Carson

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Doggie - Bridge - Sydney - Z - Jack - Sam - Sky

Favorite Villain: Charlie / A-Squad Red Ranger
One True Pairing: Bridge/Syd
BrOTP:
Favorite Episode: Beginnings
Best Story Arc: What story arcs?
Favorite Fighter: N/A (All of their stunt doubles have horrible ADHD.)

Least Favorite Villain: Omni
NOTP: Sky/Girls
Least Favorite Episode: Sam
Least Favorite Story Arc: The one where Sky whines like a baby, offends people, and yet still gets what he wants in the end.

Watched Before or After Dekaranger? Before
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? No

After an "homage" to the first episode of the original series, the show just became so lackluster. The characters have no personalities whatsoever and very little of the episodes actually give me enjoyment. At least "bad" seasons can be made fun of or make me angry. This series I just don't care. And that's kind of worse in my opinion.

Then "Super" Megaforce aired, and it got so much worse. It's supposed to be a celebration of POWER RANGERS, but teams that have never been seen outside of Japan got more screen time than actual Power Ranger teams! Lightspeed Rescue was not seen AT ALL (outside of the extended finale) while the Japanese exclusive Dairanger suits were in the top five most used pre-hiatus. Fuck this show.

Also, they filmed ORIGINAL FOOTAGE of the fugly sports bra team (Changeman). I repeat, "fuck this show."

Top 3 Characters
Jake Holling | Robo Knight | Emma Goodall

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
Jake - Robo Knight - Emma - Troy - Orion - Gia - Noah

Favorite Villain: Vrak
One True Pairing: Troy/Robo Knight
BrOTP: Jake & Noah
Favorite Episode: Robo Knight
Best Story Arc:
Favorite Fighter:

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode: Just pick ANY Super Megaforce episode and there's a 99.9% chance that I hate it.
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Goseiger & Gokaiger? After both.
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? No, also in reference to both.

You know how angry Megaforce made me? Well scratch that because that at least gave me some enjoyment. Beast Morphers - AT IT'S BEST - just made me go "meh." And those other times were either the shittiest attempts of "fanservice" or actively doing things to make me upset because I already ranted about them in other seasons (like wasting TWO EPISODES just to use the footage of the Gavan crossover that did not need to be used).

And I don't know how they f'ed up the Go-busters fights so damn hard, but they did. Every time I saw a fight that I recognized, the show immediately ruined all of the tension by either adding original footage of the Rangers being "boring, invincible heroes" or bad ADR.

Oh, and Grid Connection is literally the worst PR team-up to date. Yeah, I said it.

Top 3 Characters
Cyber Roxy | Commander Shaw | Robo Roxy

RANGER HIERARCHY OF PREFERENCE
You actually think I care about any of these Rangers?

Favorite Villain: Roxy (although that's not saying much)
One True Pairing: This Season/A Garbage Can
BrOTP:
Favorite Episode: N/A
Best Story Arc: N/A
Favorite Fighter: N/A. This season just sucks all of the drama out of fights in order to be flashy.

Least Favorite Villain:
NOTP:
Least Favorite Episode:
Least Favorite Story Arc:

Watched Before or After Go-busters? After
Do I Enjoy Watching This More? Hell No