Viewers get to learn all sorts of helpful lessons throughout Power Rangers, like learning how vital it is to stand up for what they believe in. But just because it's a great show for a younger audience doesn't mean it's always light-hearted.
Regardless of its time slot and intended audience, there were moments when Power Rangers got dark. The writers needed to sell how serious certain situations were, and these episodes did exactly that. While each season has multiple episodes where things got dark, these were times that showed just how dangerous being a superhero could be.
9 Ryan's Destiny Forces Ryan To Accept The Cost Of Using His Powers For Good
The evil sixth ranger is a time-honored trope that began the moment Tommy broke into the Megazord and kicked the team out of their own robot. In the 8th series, Lightspeed Rescue, the evil sixth makes a return with Ryan Mitchell, who becomes the Titanium Ranger.
Though Ryan is introduced working for Diabolico, he joins the good guys after learning the true story of how he and his father were separated. But Diabolico is unsatisfied with Ryan’s refusal to work for him and gives Ryan a cobra tattoo on his back that will climb up to his neck each time he transforms. For much of the remaining season's episodes, Ryan has to weigh using his powers to help the Lightspeed Rescue team with the fact that eventually the cobra will reach his neck and take his life.
8 Chase Into Space Shows The Destruction Of The Power Rangers
Chase into Space is Power Rangers Turbo's finale, and they really held nothing back. While the Rangers were used to being defeated before, this was on a scale they’d rarely experienced before.
Divatox manages to destroy the Megazords and destroy the Power Chamber. The Power Rangers are left with no powers, and no guidance after Zordon gets kidnapped. They’re left with no choice but to travel into space just to try and save Zordon, with no evidence they would ever have powers again.
7 Frax’s Fury Shows The Hatred Between Humanity & Mutants
Time Force took a ton of chances with a franchise that, by that point, had been going for quite some time. One of them was creating villains the viewers could sympathize with. One of Time Force’s tragic villains was Frax, who was originally a human being until the series' villain, Ransik, destroyed his life.
Frax’s Fury details Frax’s origin, which included him showing mercy on Ransik only to be repaid with destruction. The episode's ending shows Frax taking out his rage on Ransik by taking the serum keeping Ransik alive and destroying it.
6 Quasar Quest Has Aliens Wipe Out A Planet & The Red Ranger's Brother
Power Rangers Lost Galaxy has the chance to do a lot of experimenting with the franchise. It’s the first series that is barely tied to the previous seasons at all, so it’s able to do things other series can’t. Its opening episodes, "Quasar Quest" Part 1 and 2 for instance, feature the Rangers taking a series of back-to-back losses.
Sure, they get their powers, but it comes at the cost of the entire planet of Mirinoi being turned to stone. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the Red Ranger’s brother, Mike, is also lost in the same episode, having to pass his Quasar Sword onto Leo just so he can escape.
5 The Mutiny Saw The Rise Of Zedd & The First Destruction Of The Zords
After running out of Zyuranger footage, Saban finally begins the transition to bring the Rangers into a new era. With that comes one of the most fearsome designs in Power Ranger history in Lord Zedd: a monstrous-looking being wielding incredible powers and with more powerful monsters than ever.
The three-part series premiere features the Rangers losing most of their Zords in the first episode. But even the Tyrannosaurus and Dragonzord are taken from them, leaving them helpless until they finally discover a way to access the Thunderzord power.
4 The Master's Last Stand Explains Why Cole's Parents Disappeared
Power Rangers Wild Force was the last part of the original Saban era, and has some fan-favorite episodes that stay in people’s memories like "Forever Red," and the entire Zen-Aku saga. But "The Master’s Last Stand" is also a stand-out episode that details Red Ranger Cole’s history.
After spending much of the series trying to discover what happened to his parents, Cole meets his parents’ co-worker, Dr. Adler. In a surprise twist, Dr. Adler not only turns out to be their biggest enemy, Master Org, but turned into Master Org to kill both of Cole’s parents. The rest of the episode is Cole’s battle against Master Org and refusal to turn to vengeance, leaving Adler to suffer alone as his powers left him.
3 Countdown To Destruction Featured Zordon Sacrificing To Save The Universe
"Countdown to Destruction" was a great way to say goodbye to the original era of Power Rangers. After several seasons of building up an entire universe, it begins with all the allies the Rangers have made over the years being brought down by Dark Specter’s United Alliance of Evil: from the Aquitan Rangers to Andros’ home planet of KO-35.
The Rangers lose their Zords and the entire universe surrenders to the Alliance. In the end, though the Rangers win, it comes at the cost of sacrificing Zordon, whose energy purifies most of the Alliance and destroys the rest of them.
2 Dr. K Explains How Humanity Was Destroyed In The RPM World
Though it was meant to be the last season with Disney wanting out of the Power Rangers business, Power Rangers RPM turned out to be a fan favorite. Knowing they were done after this, the writers went all-out, creating an alternate future for the Power Rangers' universe where nearly all humanity had been wiped out by a computer virus known as Venjix.
The only people left to stand against Venjix were the Power Rangers RPM, given their powers by the scientist Doctor K. In the eponymous episode focusing on the character, it's revealed Doctor K actually created Venjix, meant to destroy the lab that kept her locked up her entire life.
1 The End Of Time Part 2 Sentences Wes To Fight An Army Without His Friends
Power Rangers Time Force had a great high concept: a collection of time cops from the future are forced to work with someone from the past to save their time from the threat of a mutant army attacking the past. The series as a whole was great, but the finale is one of the best in Power Ranger history.
The rest of the team is forced to return to the future because their Red Ranger, Wes, is destined to be killed fighting Ransik’s army alone. This leads to Wes working solo to save the city as best he can, with the viewer knowing he doesn’t stand a chance.