[yasr_overall_rating]
A new team of superhuman power rangers must work together and use their new ninja powers to prevent evil from dominating the human race and from destroying the planet earth and the universe.
You ever hear that expression: The more things change, the more they stay the same? Its oxymoronic nature makes it particularly confusing. How can something be the same if it’s changed? That’s not how change works. I’m here to tell you that “Power Rangers Ninja Steel: The Complete Season” perfectly embodies the idea that you can update, improve, and add to something but it’s core never really changes.
“Power Rangers” exist somewhere in the pleasant echoes of memory in my head. Having lived through the earliest format of the show and intermittently enjoyed newer variations I thought I put the show behind me after I caught onto the Toonami anime block. This season of “Ninja Steel” did drag me, kicking and screaming, into the world of kid’s television in a semi-nostalgic way.
I forgot all the little tics that make up a “Power Rangers” show. The elaborate villain costumes, the gratuitous gymnastics jiu-jitsu, the giant robot fights. Sure the previously released blockbuster movie helped remind me, but not in the visceral way a season of “Power Rangers” does. Nothing about this show is normal and we celebrate that!
What I failed to remember was the truly kid-friendly tone of the show. I’m no stranger to children’s shows/cartoons, but this was a strong reminder that some shows are specifically for children. A constant scoring (I swear this show uses slide whistles more than any other show out there) and dopey demeanor deliver on the goofy atmosphere. A child can’t pick apart the low-budget moments (since their imagination isn’t hindered like all adults) so adults tend to see the flaws more than the shine.
What I’m reviewing here isn’t something new. Technically, if you’ve seen one “Power Rangers” season you’ve seen them all. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad show. It’s an enjoyable one, with such a strong aesthetic that you’re liable to melt your face off if you go in unprepared. Just remember: It’s a kids show. That’s what you should expect and that’s what you’ll receive. No more, no less. If you’re an adult fan you’re already watching this show for a reason and you don’t need my review. If you’re a curious adult I would choose to celebrate what this show does right and hone in on its few wins. Say what you will, but I doubt I have seen such elaborate villain costuming in ANY movie or tv show outside of “Power Rangers.” That’s a massive win and that’s my takeaway.
Available on DVD & Digital August 14th
