For the 30th anniversary of the 1993 series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Netflix’s special, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always reunites most of the original cast for an epic battle against their greatest adversary: Rita Repulsa. Zordon is missing, and the rangers are still doing their best to protect the planet from evil forces, even though they are no longer teens with attitude. Trina Kwan’s daughter Minh will join the fight this time because Rita Repulsa’s tactics have turned deadly. This latest nostalgia trip in no way changes the tone or styling to adapt to modern entertainment standards. Once & Always is a direct sequel to the original series. The 1995 film of the same name adopted a more cinematic style to bring the Rangers to the big screen, but Once & Always brings it back to basics. The special effects, clear digital photography, and drone camera is the only notable improvement. However, much is the same, including the dialogue.
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This special is a trip down memory lane and nothing more, bringing back Billy Cranston, Zack Taylor, Rocky DeSantos, Kat Hillard and more for a very familiar epic battle. Fans shouldn’t expect a Saved By The Bell-esque reboot, where a younger cast is introduced, and the older original cast carries on with their own stories. Mighty Morphin Power Ranger: Once & Always doesn’t have such grand ambitions; it is merely a reunion with a borrowed script tweaked to account for notable characters not returning. Expectations should be very low for Once & Always, as the special is more of a one-off expression of love and admiration for the show’s legacy than an earnest reboot of the original series.
Related: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always Cast & Character Guide
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always does beg the question, “Who is this for?” Unlike the 2017 Lionsgate film adaptation, which was catered to contemporary audiences, Once & Always specifically speaks to the audience that may have watched or grown up with the original 1993 series. With specific references and callbacks that would only matter to people who would have been the right age to watch the franchise from the beginning — audiences who would be well aware that Trini would never return to the franchise because actress Thuy Trang died in 2001. Acknowledging the iconic character and her legacy being honored with Charlie Kersh playing Trini’s daughter Minh is only relevant to older audiences. Sadly, Once & Always does not bridge the gap between the older generation of fans and potential new ones.
It seems the goal was for those who watched Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and the subsequent 1995 film, to relish seeing David Yost, Walter Emanuel Jones, Catherine Sutherland, and other old favorites reprise their roles. But there is no forward momentum or illusion that the anniversary special is meant to bring forth a new era. Mighty Morphin Power Ranger: Once & Always continues the stories of the characters who have long been placed on a shelf in fans’ collective memories. And while it is thrilling to see some Mighty Morphin favorites return to the screen, the project fails to do something interesting with them. Even if this is meant to be a one-time reunion, the special doesn’t have fun. It is almost too serious. These characters are stripped of their personalities, with notable quirks or character traits only manifesting through their chosen career paths.
The story misses a massive opportunity that is greatly teased with Minh’s presence, which is bringing in the children of these heroes to suit up and take up the mantle. Earnestly recapturing the tone and style of the original series, with a cast of characters who are the children or proxies of the original Power Rangers, would have been more emotionally effective. There is something extra special about the idea of a new group of Power Rangers comprising the offspring of legacy characters; even if it were strictly kids’ programming, the nostalgia would be enough to draw in older audiences, too. As overly hooky and sentimental as the series was, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is a happy reminder that there is still a place for it in audiences’ hearts and the entertainment landscape.
The 30th anniversary special succeeds at pulling at heartstrings with its sincere embrace of nostalgia. It is heartfelt in its embrace of silliness, and for that reason alone, it is worth a watch. One must be a long-time fan to appreciate what is happening here because no real effort is made to expand beyond the core fans who care about these characters. Yes, there are many mistakes, but at the end, when credits roll with a tribute to the original series and Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank, there is no doubt that this reunion is effective. Tears will be shed.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, April 19. It is 55 minutes long and rated TV-Y7 for fantasy violence and fear.
