Coming off the heels of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (and a successful three-season run), Power Rangers Zeo sometimes gets forgotten. The series, however, might be even better than a lot of '90s fans remember. After all, the show retained most of the cast from the third season of the original series and offered plenty of character development against the backdrop of fighting the Machine Empire.
Though not every episode of this Power Rangers series knocks it out of the park, users for the Internet Movie Database have rated these episodes higher than all the rest. This batch marks the top ten of the run of the show. All of the episodes here have at least 7.8 out of 10 stars.
10 S1E12 Instrument Of Destruction (7.8)
The earliest episode in the season, this episode actually makes for some great character development for long time cast members. Adam and, surprisingly, Skull get to shine.
The Machine Empire starts trying to track down a mysterious pianist just as Adam starts trying to challenge himself by playing the piano, breaking out of the comfort zone his creative writing class has offered. When Adam discovers that the mysterious classical pianist at the high school is actually Skull, he's as shocked as the audience. Skull gets to be more than just Bulk's sidekick in the episode, and Adam gets to understand that there's more to people than meets the eye. Even Bulk eases up on his teasing of those who like classical music when he sees how great of a musician Skull is.
9 S1E47 Rangers Of Two Worlds Part I (7.8)
Most of the Zeo season sees Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd on the run as the Machine Empire takes over the evil doing. In this episode, Rita tries to get her foothold on Earth back. Her plan is to turn Kat evil again, but it backfires, and she ends up turning Kat's purse she made for art class into a monster.
If a purse monster isn't enough to keep the Rangers busy, this episode also sees King Mondo turn the Zeo Megazord against the team. And if that's not enough, original Blue Ranger Billy returns from his trip to Triforia, but as a senior citizen. He's rapidly aging! It's a lot going on in 20 minutes of screen time, which is likely why this one becomes a two-parter.
8 S1E19 Challenges (7.8)
It seems like every time Adam finds a new subject that interests him, the bad guys find a way to take advantage of it. This time around, Tanya encourages him to sign up for boxing lessons at Ernie's Juice Bar. Adam thinks it could help him improve his fighting style, and it does, but he still finds himself on the ropes after being confronted by the Machine Empire's latest monster.
When Adam ends up turned into a trophy and the monster challenges Tommy to a fight, Tommy has to take a break from his vision quest. Thanks to a little help from his friends, he's able to focus and win the fight, returning Adam to his real self, and finds his brother on the vision quest!
7 S1E27 The Power Of Gold (7.9)
This episode kicks off the mystery of the Gold Ranger. Just as the Zeo Rangers are split up and overwhelmed, they get help from a pyramid in the sky, and later the Gold Ranger, whose powers seem to be compatible with their own.
In the arc, different characters are teased as potential Gold Rangers, and with Billy missing when the Gold Ranger appears, it's a nice set up for the audience to think it's him.
6 S1E41 Where In The World Is Zeo Ranger Five (7.9)
It's always worrisome when a Power Ranger suddenly goes missing. In this case, it's the longest-running Ranger of the show, Tommy.
Though Kat and Jason search for him, they're unable to track him down, and they have to battle a monster without him. It's really a case of showing that a leader is only as good as the team behind them as the group rallies without Tommy's guidance. The episode also kicks off an important arc as Tommy is actually in the clutches of Prince Gasket being brainwashed - again.
5 S1E42 And 43 King For A Day Parts I And II (8.0)
Following up to Tommy going missing is the reveal of just what's happening to him. Prince Gasket has managed to brainwash Tommy into believing he's the King of the Machine Empire, using Tommy's Ranger powers to power up a monster.
This episode also gives the audience a fascinating concept: monsters fighting in a gladiator-like battle for the Prince's amusement. It's something that would have been fun for more Power Rangers series to include. The storyline comes to a head when the rest of the Zeo team follows Tommy to the other planet, confronting him in the ring, and depowering to show him they're his real friends, not the enemies Prince Gasket has made them out to be. It's Kat and Jason who manage to get through to him, bringing the team back together.
4 S1E50 Good As Gold (8.0)
The season finale (though a holiday special aired after it, out of order) features a desperate Jason on the run. Because of the nature of the Gold Ranger powers, Jason can't keep them forever. As they start to drain his energy, both Lord Zedd and King Mondo go after him, trying to get the Gold Ranger power for themselves.
Ultimately, the team is able to transfer the powers back to Trey of Triforia, leaving Jason a former Power Ranger once again. While Jason is a little bummed, he has his new relationship with Emily to look forward to and some understanding counsel from Tommy.
3 S1E48 Rangers Of Two Worlds Part II (8.0)
Picking up where the first part leaves off, the Power Rangers have to deal with monsters on two fronts all while trying to save Billy! Their Megazord and Super Megazord end up battling each other as King Mondo's monster uses one and Rita Repulsa's monster uses the other.
The Rangers have to split into two teams to be able to take them on, but they eventually win out. Billy, ultimately, is sent to Aquitar with their Ranger allies from the planet. Because David Yost had left the show at this point, Billy decides to stay on the planet even after his rapid aging is cured.
2 S1E35 Mondo's Last Stand (8.0)
It's rare for the show's big bad to take on the Power Rangers directly. The fact that it happens here might be one of the reasons fans like this episode so much.
When King Mondo is tired of the Power Rangers defeating all of his monsters, he decides to do the job himself. When King Mondo makes himself grow, the Rangers use the Super Zeo Megazord for the first time. They manage to cut him right in half, seemingly defeating him, though the machines always come back. Rocky also confronts his fears about Jason replacing him in this episode, realizing that the team works best with all six members.
1 S1E34 A Golden Homecoming (8.4)
It's no surprise that this episode comes out on top as it features the return of a fan-favorite Mighty Morphin Power Ranger. When Trey of Triforia reveals that he's losing the Gold Ranger abilities because his three selves are no longer in harmony, the team sets out to find a new host for the powers.
Unfortunately for Billy, who has clearly been feeling left out of the action, his body won't accept the powers. Tommy has an idea. He recruits original Red Ranger Jason to the cause. Not only does this give the audience another familiar face to root for, but it also gives Rocky some character development as Jason's place on the team starts to make him worry about his own. It's a win-win for the show.