This article is about a four-part episode in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. |
Ninja Quest is the four-part episode and the fourth to seventh episodes of the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
It is the first appearance of the Ninjazords, Ninjor, Rito Revolto, the Tenga Warriors and Lieutenant Jerome Stone. It also marks a complete change in the Rangers' power set and the destruction of the Thunderzords.
Synopsis[]
Rita Repulsa gets a surprise when her brother Rito Revolto arrives, bearing gifts. Lord Zedd and Rita send him and a set of monsters to engage in a sneak attack against the Rangers. The attacks leave the Rangers with their powers completely drained. Zordon and Alpha 5 know of a legend that might allow the Rangers to gain new powers to battle Zedd's army, but will the bearer of the Ninja Powers allow the Rangers to have them?
Plot[]
Part 1[]
Lord Zedd celebrates his wedding anniversary with Rita Repulsa by giving her a new telescope, which she tests by spying on the Power Rangers as they compete for Angel Grove in a volleyball tournament against Stone Canyon. A loud explosion goes off near the Moon Palace, so loud that Billy hears it from Earth, and a skeleton monster comes crawling out of the explosion site. After pausing to lay some eggs in the lunar soil, the monster teleports into Zedd's throne room. To Zedd's shock, Rita introduces the monster as her brother Rito Revolto.
Rito quickly makes himself a nuisance and unlikeable to Zedd and Goldar. He continuously mispronounces Zedd's name as "Ed", teases him over his failure to conquer Earth, and refuses to tell Rita what's inside the eggs he got her as a wedding gift. Zedd is annoyed and yells at Rito to get his name right. As Rito watches the eggs grow, she decides to lure the Rangers into a trap by using him as the unwitting decoy. She summons Finster to bring back some of his best monsters. Zedd likes this plan hoping to get Rito out of sight.
Having won the volleyball tournament for Angel Grove, the Rangers celebrate at Ernie's Outdoor Café as he offers free food to everybody. Bulk and Skull are also enjoying the food when they overhear a pair of girls talking about the Power Rangers and how they love men in uniform. Inspired by these words and a nearby poster, Bulk announces to everyone that he and Skull are going to join the Angel Grove Junior Police Patrol. Everyone present is left in shock, including a horrified Skull as Bulk tells him to think of the uniforms and the girls.
Finster revives Fighting Flea, Lizzinator, Octophantom and Stag Beetle, who along with Rito who arrives outside the city. Rito sits down while his partners take hidden positions. Rito's presence is detected by Zordon and Alpha 5, but they are unable to identify him due to system failures in the Command Center. The Rangers are contacted and sent to meet with this unknown threat.
Rito makes his entrance to the Rangers, who morph and prepare to engage in battle. Before they can throw the first punch, Rita and Zedd cross their staffs to summon lightning and make Rito grow. The Thunder Megazord and White Tigerzord are sent out. Rito proves skilled in fighting, but is still overpowered by the Rangers. Just when the Rangers are about to finish Rito off, the other monsters are enlarged to spring the trap, and the fight quickly turns in their favor as both the Thunder Megazord and White Tigerzord struggle to survive against their combined onslaught.
Alpha tries to feed as much power into the Zords as he can. However, it's still not helping and Zordon warns the Rangers that the backlash from the power surge could cost the Rangers their powers. Tommy decides to take the risk, but things go wrong and the resulting feedback overloads and causes massive damage to the Command Center. Rito and his entourage prove too strong, and the Rangers are forced to escape as their powers vanish and their Zords fall to pieces, beyond all hope of repair.
Part 2[]
No longer able to morph, the Rangers return to the wrecked Command Center in utter defeat as the villains celebrate. Zordon confirms that with the Command Center's power almost gone, there is no way to restore the destroyed Zords. When Adam asks where their powers came from, Zordon explains that beneath the Desert of Despair lies a hidden temple, where its keeper Ninjor forged the original Power Coins. Though it will be dangerous, the Rangers realize that Ninjor is their only hope, and so Zordon uses the last of the Command Center's power to teleport them to the desert.
Back in Angel Grove, Bulk and Skull have just arrived at the police academy. Skull is having second thoughts about having to do so much running, swimming, and physical activity as part of training, so Bulk carries him screaming to the registration office.
On the moon, Rito's eggs are finally hatching to Rita's delight Rito introduces the newly-hatched Tenga Warriors to her as they start flying around the Moon Palace. One of the eggs remains unhatched, and Rito reveals that it contains a Vampirus. Rita is happy nonetheless and commends him. Rito mentions that finding gifts she likes was always difficult. Rita wanted a nice little planet to take over and was offended by the dragon as her gift. She set the house ablaze in retaliation.
Zedd spots the Rangers through his visor as they cross the desert and realizes that they seek the Temple of Power. Rita gets the idea to have the Tengas attack the Rangers once they find the temple, then place the egg near the temple so that Vampirus can steal its power when he hatches.
Using a map given to them by Alpha, the Rangers cross the Desert of Despair and try to ignore the screaming in the air that gives the desert its name. Kimberly pauses to pick up a rock, which sets off a fire trap that the Rangers barely evade but burns the map to ash. Now powerless and lost, they later stumble into a quicksand pit that very nearly buries Aisha. Eventually, Billy spots a rock formation that he thinks is what the map directed them to.
The Tengas arrive to destroy the Rangers, and they prove to be far more dangerous minions than Rita's or Zedd's Putties. As the Rangers run into the rock formation, Adam accidentally triggers a hidden switch and opens a path into a tunnel. With no other way to go, the Rangers follow the tunnel to a dead-end, which is revealed to be an illusion when Tommy steps into a wall and vanishes. As the other Rangers follow Tommy, the Tengas place the Vampirus egg outside the rock formation.
Part 3[]
The Rangers step out to find themselves in a forest leading up to the gates of an ornate temple. As they enter, a voice demands to know what they are doing in the temple. Billy tracks the source of the voice to a blue vase and finds a tiny armored figure inside, who reveals himself as Ninjor.
After growing to his full-size, Ninjor again demands the Rangers to tell him their reasons for intruding on the Temple of Power. They explain to him of Zordon, the Power Rangers, and how Lord Zedd defeated them, but Ninjor shows no interest to their plight and tells them to leave. Tommy tries to console his friends over their loss by explaining that Zedd can never destroy their own power of friendship between them and that they'll find another way. Hearing this, Ninjor is convinced that they are not seeking power out of greed and agrees to help the Rangers.
At the police academy, Bulk and Skull are introduced to Lieutenant Jerome Stone, who has been appointed to train the new recruits. The pair's first stop is at the barber's for a police-regulation crewcut, which is poorly received by both.
The Rangers are guided by Ninjor to harness a new power from deep within their souls, the power of Ninja. They are granted new Power Coins, ninja robes in their Ranger colors, and a set of new Ninjazords.
Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull's police training proves less impressive. At Zedd's Moon Palace, Lord Zedd is furious over the idea that the Rangers have regained their powers and demand that Rito goes back to Earth to launch a full on assault on Angel Grove. Once more, he is annoyed when the skeleton calls him Ed once again and yells out to get his name right again.
With their new Ninja powers, the Rangers leave the temple grounds to battle the Tengas. They prove no match for the Ninja Ranger forms and they flee. Ninjor comes out to congratulate the heroes for mastering their power and sees them off as they morph once again into the Power Rangers and return to Angel Grove. However, Ninjor does not notice the Vampirus egg as it begins to hatch.
Part 4[]
The Rangers return to Angel Grove, and none too soon as Rito Revolto is back in the city and ready to destroy it. Their new Ninjazords prove tougher for Rito to handle, which infuriates Zedd. Bulk and Skull are made to run the Hangman's Obstacle Course, with Lt. Stone snapping at them every step of the way.
Rito draws a flamethrower and begins making a stronger assault. The Rangers counter by bringing the Ninjazords together into the Ninja Megazord and eventually the Ninja MegaFalconzord. This time, the fight is too much for Rito and he goes down exploding, though he slips back to the moon at the last second. Back in the desert, Vampirus is now fully-hatched and ready to capture the Temple of Power for Lord Zedd.
As the Rangers help repair the Command Center, the alarm goes off. Angel Grove is still quiet, but with the Center still mostly offline, Alpha is unable to locate the disturbance. Bulk and Skull, meanwhile, are testing every one of Lt. Stone's nerves as they repeatedly fail the obstacle course and briefly slack off, but then they take it more seriously and improve.
Vampirus orders Ninjor to come out and challenge him in the desert. When he does, Rita and Zedd make the monster grow, but Ninjor enlarges himself to fight his enemy on equal terms. The fight is detected by Zordon as repairs to the Command Center are completed, and the Rangers head out to aid Ninjor in the Ninja Megafalconzord. Ninjor shifts to his Battle Mode to wound Vampirus, allowing the Rangers to finish the monster off. With all his plans foiled once more, Zedd takes his anger out on Rito.
At the Command Center, Ninjor gives his congratulations and thanks to the Rangers for all their help and swears that he will continue to aid them in the fight against evil. Later, the Rangers and Ernie attend Bulk and Skull's graduation into officers of the Angel Grove Junior Police Patrol. Even though Bulk and Skull are now dedicated to helping the community, their clumsiness is still in full force as Bulk accidentally knocks over all the other graduating officers like a bunch of Dominos.
Cast[]
- Jason David Frank as Tommy Oliver (Mighty Morphin White Ranger) (unmorphed only in Part 2)
- Steve Cardenas as Rocky DeSantos (Mighty Morphin Red Ranger) (unmorphed only in Part 2)
- Johnny Yong Bosch as Adam Park (Mighty Morphin Black Ranger) (unmorphed only in Part 2)
- David Yost as Billy Cranston (Mighty Morphin Blue Ranger) (unmorphed only in Part 2)
- Karan Ashley as Aisha Campbell (Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger) (unmorphed only in Part 2)
- Amy Jo Johnson as Kimberly Ann Hart (Mighty Morphin Pink Ranger) (unmorphed only in Part 2)
- Paul Schrier as Farkas "Bulk" Bulkmeier
- Jason Narvy as Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch
- Richard Genelle as Ernie
- Gregg Bullock as Lt. Jerome Stone
- David Fielding as Zordon (face)
- Robert L. Manahan as Zordon (voice)
- Sandi Sellner as Alpha 5
- Richard Steven Horvitz as Alpha 5 (voice)
- Kim Strauss as Ninjor (voice)
- Carla Perez as Rita Repulsa
- Barbara Goodson as Rita Repulsa and Fighting Flea (voice)
- Ed Neil as Lord Zedd
- Robert Axelrod as Lord Zedd, Finster (voices)
- Danny Wayne Stallcup as Goldar
- Kerrigan Mahan as Goldar (voice)
- Bob Papenbrook as Rito Revolto (voice)
- Michael J. Sorich as Squatt, Vampirus (voices)
- Dave Mallow as Baboo, Lizzinator (voices, as Colin Phillips)
Song[]
- Part 1: White Ranger Tiger Power
- Parts 2 & 3: Tenga Bye Bye (Instrumental in Part 2)
- Part 4: Shape It Up, Bulk & Skull
Trailers (start)[]
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: All-Time Favorites (Featuring Ones from: Ninja Quest, White Light, and The Good, The Bad and the Stupid!)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club: The White Ranger Kata
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Morphin Series (Featuring Ones from: When is a Power Ranger Not a Power Ranger, Lights, Camera, Action, and Lord Zedd Waves)
Promos (end)[]
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Message PSA: Crossed Wires
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Video Collection (Featuring Highlights from: The Wanna-Be Ranger, Putty on the Brain, Bloom of Doom, Where There's Smoke, There's Fire, Rocky Just Wants to Have Fun, and Goldar's Vice-Versa)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Books and Soundtrack (The White Album)
- Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers: Alien Rangers and Battle Borgs Action Figures
Errors[]
- Scorpina is mentioned in the closing credits of all four episodes but does not appear in this season.
- Dairanger and “Galaxy Rangers” are credited at the end of the credits of all four parts instead of Kakuranger.
- As the Rangers perform the movements to morph, the formation of each Rangers changes every time the camera cuts. In the first scene, where the Rangers pull out their Power Morphers, they are shown lined up in single file line, facing toward the camera. In the second scene, where the Rangers pulls the Power Morphers to their left shoulder, they are shown side by side. Finally, when thrusting and turning the Power Morphers forward, they are shown in a pyramid formation.
- When the Stag Beetle takes down the Thunder Megazord, it falls in the countryside despite the battle being in the city due to using footage from "The Power Transfer."
- When the Stag Beetle kicks the fallen Thunder Megazord, the legs of the original Megazord can be seen during the explosion of the impact.
- Whilst the Thunderzords are falling apart, the White Tigerzord Warrior Mode has wires coming out from the waist as the head begins to fall off. As the head falls and passes its Tiger Mode head, the wires are gone, then return when the Zord falls backwards.
Notes[]
- Part I of this episode aired the same day as VR Troopers (Season 2) episode 1, Mutant Mutiny.
- Part II of this episode aired the same day as VR Troopers (Season 2) episode 2, Trooper Out of Time.
- Part III of this episode aired the same day as VR Troopers (Season 2) episode 3, Secret Power.
- This four-part episode aired almost three months after the premiere of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. The plot of the saga features a similar scenario to that of the movie, or rather, the "Ninja Quest" Saga is an alternate version of how the Rangers got their Ninja Powers.
- In Part I when Rito Revolto arrives, he calls Lord Zedd "Ed" instead, likely a nod to Lord Zedd's suit actor: Ed Neil.
- This is the last episode to show Sentai footage of Finster in his workshop.
- These episodes combine footage from three different Super Sentai series:
- Rehashed footage of the monsters, and an isolated piece of morphed Ranger stock footage used in Part IV, from Zyuranger/Zyu2 footage.
- Thunderzord, Thunder Megazord, and Tigerzord/Kiba Ranger stock footage from Dairanger.
- Footage of Rito and the Ninja Zords/Ninja Megazord from Kakuranger.
- In Part III, Rita's "Wanted" Poster uses a picture of her featured in the show's early coloring books.
- This is the final appearance of the Thunderzords and White Tigerzord as well as the final appearance of the Dinozords as part of the Thunderzord summoning sequence.
- This is the final episode to play the song White Ranger Tiger Power.
- Part III marks the final appearance of the Season 2 intro.
- This is the final time Finster uses the Monster-Matic on-screen.
- These were the first episodes to feature either bloopers or an extra scene during the end credits. This would last until In Space's "Countdown to Destruction."
- The Desert of Despair is the same desert as the one the scenes around the Command Center are filmed in.
- The Ninja Megafalconzord's fight against Rito in Part IV is the only time that the middle verse of the full theme song is played in the show.
- Rito's line "he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day" is a reference to one of Oliver Goldsmith's quotes: "For he who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day".
- None of the Rangers appear morphed in Part II.
- Part IV marks the first appearance of Bulk & Skull's police uniforms.
- Rito mentions Rita was always picky about her gifts and mentioned how offended she was when not given what she wanted. All she wanted was a nice little planet to take over and their parents having gifted her a fire-breathing dragon. It was revealed that Rito had a humanoid form at one point like Rita and their parents. After she set the dragon loose, it was likely she killed Lady Fienna, transformed Master Vile into his demon form and gave Rito: his skeletal appearance.
See Also[]
- Ep. 1: We Are Ninja - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Seal Door footage)
- Ep. 2: A Dangerous Lady - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Youkai Cloud footage)
- Ep. 23: Blitzkrieg!! The Strange White Bird - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Falconzord first appearance)
- Ep. 24: Ah, It's All Over - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Rito Revolto footage and story)
- Ep. 25: A New Departure! - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Ape Ninjazord first appearance)
- Ep. 26: The Tsuruhime Family's Super Secret - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Crane Ninjazord first appearance)
- Ep. 27: The End Of The Muteki Shogun - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Bear Ninjazord and Wolf Ninjazord first appearances)
- Ep. 29: History's First Super Battle - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Frog Ninjazord first appearance)
- Ep. 30: Reunion With a Traitorous Father - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Zord battle against Rito Revolto)
- Ep. 31: Behold!! A New Shogun - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Zord battle against Rito Revolto)
- Ep. 36: The Hooligan Ninja!! - Super Sentai counterpart in Kakuranger. See comparison page. (Bottled Ninjor footage and Zord battle against Vampirus)
External Links[]
- Watch Ninja Quest, Part I on the official YouTube page
- Watch Ninja Quest, Part II on the official YouTube page
- Watch Ninja Quest, Part III on the official YouTube page
- Watch Ninja Quest, Part IV on the official YouTube page
References[]
Footnotes[]