Another great episode from Power Rangers Dino Charge is what you’ll get from the third installment! In this episode the villains arrive on Earth and do more and get further than many of the previous villains! We learned more about the Energems, Koda gets a backstory and the Rangers learn they work better together! Plus new weapons, power-ups & Zords to unlock! This series, again, serves us not only action but character development, small moments for the trained eye/ear and genuine heart which I know we are all wanting in Power Rangers.
Let’s take a look back at some of the moments I loved and laughed at in Dino Charge Episode 3!
Riley and Chase: Although certain Rangers fall to the wayside and get slightly less attention when the episode isn’t focused on them, we get tiny moments from each of them that make them shine! I especially loved the awesome touch of Riley’s practice session with the Dino Saber and of course we got to hear Chase sing for a tiny bit! While Chase may appear cocky during these episodes, I took it more that that’s just his personality. Perhaps this can be a learning vehicle later on.
Koda’s Story: For the first time in this episode we were finally told that Koda is indeed a caveman from 100,000 years ago! Inside of the secret base, Koda sleeps in a small cavernous area where he keeps his spears and continues his petroglyphs on the walls. It was here that the Rangers discover that they’ve all come into contact with Fury many times!
I was a little wary of how this character would be conveyed to us and I have to say that I am really rather happy with how Yoshi Sudarso is playing the caveman. The broken English is rather adorable not to mention the obligatory shirtless scene, which we all knew were coming, are very welcome here!
Immortality & The Energems: I was rather intrigued by this idea when Kendall revealed it to the Rangers. It turns out that when an Energem bonds with someone it gives them eternal life. While this idea is pretty cool, it did make Koda’s story make a little more sense. Koda stayed alive for 100,000 years after finding his Energem. However, this does not take away the question of what he’s been doing for the past 100 centuries! Many wonder why he isn’t smarter or speak fluent English; but think of this for a moment, Koda most likely would’ve secluded himself in a cave no matter how long he’s been alive. There was also no mention that he was in the USA the entire time which would explain why speaks broken English.
Sledge & Poisandra on Earth: I love love loved when Sledge and his forces arrive on Earth to confront the Rangers and Keeper. Poisandra was on fire as usual, I am sure by now you’ve heard of my love of her! Her intro of Sledge was very cute and yet very dramatic in only a way that Poisandra can! Sledge descended using a faulty jet pack which led to hilarity when he had to slap it to get it to work!
But, the real stars here was the confrontation between Sledge and Keeper which felt like the standard good vs. evil confrontation, in a great way!
Keeper’s Smoke Effect: I didn’t mention this last time but I absolutely love the smoke effect being used for Keeper, or to a lower extent Sledge as well. One of the many things that Dino Charge is succeeding at is their special effects which feel more in place and streamlined than in previous Neo Saban series’.
Wrench: I was so happy when this happened! While I don’t normally want an over-saturation of Sentai references but in the entirety of this episode the Kyoryuger references were subtle and totally worth it!
Wrench, threwback to his Sentai counterpart, and wiped away his tears and proclaimed “Ow! That stings!” and cried! This, I can get on board with!
Knocked Out of a Morph: I have been reveling in the accomplishments of the Dino Charge villains in such a small amount of time. First, the Rangers were knocked out of their morphs during the fight with Sledge’s forces. This is normally reserved for battles that come much later, but when it happens near the beginning it shows that the villains are actually a threat, something we hadn’t really seen from previous baddies.
Plus, in this scene Chase channeled his inner Ian and called himself the Hotshot! Love!
Finding the Base: The second instance showing the villains’ power is when the monster of the day, Scrapper, discovers the entrance to the Secret Base. While, he did not succeed in telling Sledge the location it is still a rather momentous achievement in the 3rd Episode.
Hit and Run: I have no idea how I missed this moment but it took til my 3rd watch to retain it apparently. But Tyler totally rams into Scrapper and sends him flying across the parking lot. That made me laugh for a good long while when I figured out what I was watching! But, that’s one way to stop the monster, Tyler!
Dino Steel: Nice Names! It was another wonder of mine what they would call this armor upgrade! I loved that it was explained by Kendall was something new she has done to their Dino Chargers!
While I can’t say much about this, as it is all Sentai footage, but I have always loved this upgrade and the weapons that came along with it!
Small complaints still? Why do they have to talk so much during the fight?! Just Kyah and be done with it!
Full Morph Sequence: The morphing sequence used in this episode was a little more expanded than the previous episode. I was a little taken aback but the use of skin tight black and white spandex to morph was an odd choice but, it actually made it rather funny. Mostly because the faces the Ranger Actors make are hilarious!
Regardless of that, I love the way that it looks! From the dark colorful lighting, the spin of the Morpher’s wheel and the poses were great!
Dino Charge Megazord: The Sentai footage here is beautiful to see in HD and I was so happy that they named the Megazord formations! The first combination is of the Tricera-Zord and Stego-Zord and Rexy is called the Tri-Stego Formation!
New Megazord Cockpit: We haven’t gotten a new Megazord cockpit since the Samurai days and it couldn’t be more welcome than now!
Inside are new podiums to insert the Dino Charge morpher, a new background image of the T-Rex and a beautiful slate colored background!
This new cockpit took the beauty of the original cockpit and created and even better atmosphere for the Power Rangers audience!
I can’t wait to see how the cockpit looks when more Rangers are added!
Kyoryuger Easter Eggs: There were several throwbacks to the source Sentai in this episode and I love these little Easter eggs! In this instance we enter the kitchens where the male Rangers are busy cooking and performing their duties. We see a closeup of Tyler flipping burgers but in the background a faint humming can be heard from Koda! Listen carefully, it’s the Kyoryuger theme!
The Lesson: I loved the lesson learned at the end of the episode. Chase and Tyler had a few run ins during this episode regarding Tyler’s “hunches” and separating from the team. The two both learned that they work better as a team and settled their beef at the end of the episode. More character development through conflict! Thank You DC Writers!
Final Thoughts
This episode continues the traditions that Dino Charge are attempting to implement. The character development focused on Chase, Tyler and sometimes Koda. While Shelby and Riley fell to the wayside, they still had small moments we would remember them from throughout the episode. No Ranger is really left behind.
I very much enjoyed the friendship dynamic we got to see between Chase and Tyler, which showed that although two people can have a confrontation and then amicably come together at the end. These two have no connections to each other prior, but for the better of the team they both know it’s better for them to work together! An over-arching lesson that saw fruition at the end and that can only come from great writing!
This episode, the Sentai and Power Ranger footage blended beautiful and I gotta say that so far Dino Charge has no where near disappointed me!
Story: 9/10
Action: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
All Together: 10/10
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