Countdown to Destruction
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| “Countdown to Destruction” | |||||||
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| Power Rangers episode | |||||||
| Episode no. | Season In Space Episode 292 & 293 |
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| Written by | Koichi Sakamoto (story), Judd Lynn (teleplay) | ||||||
| Directed by | Jonathan Tzachor | ||||||
| Original airdate | November 20-November 21, 1998 | ||||||
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| List of Power Rangers episodes | |||||||
"Countdown to Destruction" is the two-part finale of the television series Power Rangers in Space, which marked possibly the most important event in the Power Rangers franchise. It marks the final appearance of almost all the villains from the previous seasons, and is also the final episode to feature Zordon.
The finale's story follows the stages of a full scale assault on the universe, organized by Dark Specter and led by Astronema. The main villains from all previous incarnations of Power Rangers are included and dealt with, giving a conclusion to the six-year story arc that had led up to the episode. This is often considered the last episode of "classic" Power Rangers, the show would reboot itself every year in the seasons that followed and apart from a few very rare instances contained essentially no ties to anything from before this episode.
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[edit] Synopsis
Dark Specter reveals that the time has come for the United Alliance of Evil to take over the entire galaxy. Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa argue with Astronema as she passes on the order, but agree to assist when they learn that Dark Specter is in charge. Astronema mocks Zordon, who has been moved onto the Dark Fortress and is very low on energy.
Scenes of battles are shown from various planets. The forces of evil are clearly outnumbering the forces of good. Zhane, the Silver Space Ranger, leaves the KO-35 rebels to get help from the Space Rangers on Earth. Zhane, now morphed, is attacked by enemy Velocifighters in space, but rescued by the Space Rangers aboard the Astro Megaship.
Zhane informs the Rangers of the danger that the KO-35 rebels are facing, but this is small compared to the threat posed to the rest of the galaxy. Carlos, the Black Space Ranger, informs them that one thousand Velocifighters are heading towards Earth, and the Rangers fly off to help.
On Earth, the city of Angel Grove is suddenly invaded by a combined fleet of Velocifighters, Quantrons and Piranhatrons. The Megaship arrives, and while Zhane pilots it and engages the Velocifighters in the air, the five morphed Rangers travel to the surface of the planet. Initially, the fight goes in their favor. Soon, however, Darkonda joins the fight and attacks Ashley, the Yellow Space Ranger. Andros, the Red Space Ranger, manages to save her by activating his Battlizer - however, they are easily defeated by Darkonda and Ecliptor working together. The two are forced to demorph and go into hiding as a result.
The other Rangers are doing badly. Zhane boards the Mega Winger from the Megaship, but it gets shot down in warrior mode by the Velocifighters and crashes into a building. Meanwhile, after being hit, Carlos, T.J., and Cassie are forced to demorph and go into hiding with the other two Rangers as Quantrons and Piranhatrons round up the citizens.
Back on the Dark Fortress, Ecliptor shows Astronema the newly-designed Super Missiles, each of which can decimate a planet. They are intended to be used on Earth. Darkonda, who is on his last life, realizes that this is his chance to take charge and hijacks a Velocifighter with two Super Missiles attached. He fires a direct hit at Dark Specter, then turns to destroy the Dark Fortress as Dark Specter is consumed in a massive explosion. However, Dark Specter is not finished yet, and swallows the Velocifighter with Darkonda on board. Darkonda's last life is sacrificed, as Dark Specter explodes and pieces of debris fall down on the Earth.
A holographic image appears above all of the conquered planets, revealing that Astronema has taken power for herself, much to Divatox's dismay. Astronema issues an ultimatum to the Earth: either the Power Rangers surrender themselves, or she will destroy the planet.
Back on the Dark Fortress, Zordon's energy is restored after Dark Specter's destruction. He pleads with Astronema to end the battles, referring to her as "Karone" and asking her to search her heart. Zordon nearly succeeds in getting past Astronema's cybernetic programming, which begins to malfunction as Zordon's words hit Astronema hard, but it was not to be. Astronema follows the lead of the programming, and prepares to take Earth once and for all.
Back on Earth, the citizens of Angel Grove discuss the situation. Bulk defends the Rangers when somebody suggests that the Rangers have abandoned them. Meanwhile, the demorphed Rangers (including Zhane, who reveals that the Mega Winger is destroyed and KO-35 has surrendered) formulate battle plans. Andros sneaks away, intending to convince Karone to give up himself. Ashley tries to persuade him to stay, but fails.
In the following morning, Astronema demands that the Rangers turn themselves over. Just as they are about to do so, Bulk himself steps forward and claims to be a Power Ranger. Skull does the same thing, as does Professor Phenomenus and then the rest of Angel Grove. Astronema and Ecliptor, unimpressed, fire on everyone as the five remaining Rangers reveal themselves and morph. The citizens, rallied by Bulk, join them in fighting the Quantrons and Piranhatrons. Astronema and Ecliptor leave.
Back on the Dark Fortress, Andros discovers Zordon in the control center. Zordon convinces him that to defeat the forces of evil, Andros must shatter his energy tube, which would kill him. Andros intitially refuses, but soon changes his mind and raises his Spiral Saber just as Astronema arrives. Astronema attacks Andros, who refuses to fight her, and appears to be accidentally killed by a rebounded bolt from her own staff. Andros is horrified. Ecliptor bursts in, devastated that the Princess whom he considered a daughter is dead, and attacks Andros. The two battle furiously, until Zordon reminds Andros that he has to destroy the energy tube. Breaking away from the fight, Andros uses his Spiral Saber and shatters his tube at that moment, sending a wave of energy across the galaxy which wipes out all the invading evil (see the Zordon's energy wave heading below); Lord Zedd, Rita Repulsa and Divatox have been purified by the wave instead of being destroyed by it.
Back on Earth, everyone is happy except for Ashley, who suspects that Andros did not make it. Just then, the Dark Fortress lands nearby and Andros emerges with a seemingly dead Astronema in his arms. He lays her down and starts to cry, when suddenly Astronema's cybernetic implants disappear, and she returns to life liberated from evil. Astronema, who is once again Karone, wakes up not sure as to how she got there, and Andros hugs her.
Some time later, on KO-35, the Rangers have helped the inhabitants rebuild their world and are about to take the Megaship to Earth. However, Andros, Zhane and Karone are staying, and Ashley tries unsuccessfully to persuade Andros to come with them.
The Rangers board the Megaship, with Ashley upset that she has lost Andros, when suddenly he appears with Zhane and Karone. He tells DECA to set a course for Earth. With that, a six-year story comes to an end.
[edit] Dark Specter's plan
| Countdown to Destruction | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Space Rangers, Aquitian Rangers, Gold Ranger, Phantom Ranger, Blue Senturion | United Alliance of Evil | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Red Space Ranger Andros, Zordon | Dark Specter, Astronema | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 14 super-powered warriors, Citizens of Angel Grove, rebels of KO-35 | Unknown, possibly millions (spread across dozens of fronts) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Zordon | All numbers destroyed (Lord Zedd, Rita Repulsa, Divatox and Astronema restored to pure human form) | ||||||
Dark Specter's attack on the galaxy occurred simultaneously on many worlds. Many characters from previous seasons of Power Rangers were shown again, in battle.
- On Triforia, the Gold Ranger battles Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa. He is captured.
- On Gratha, Divatox battles the Aquitian Rangers. They are captured.
- On KO-35, Zhane and the rebels battle against Quadrafighters and Cogs sent by the Machine Empire. They surrender, but Zhane escapes.
- On Eltar, Phantom Ranger and Blue Senturion battle King Mondo and the Machine Empire. They are captured.
- On Earth, Astronema plans to destroy the planet using a Super-Missile which is stolen by Darkonda to attack Dark Specter. It is defended by the Space Rangers.
[edit] Zordon's energy wave
The energy wave that is released on the destruction of Zordon's energy tube is one of the most powerful plot devices that has ever been used in Power Rangers. Zordon's tube released a wave of 'good' energy that purged the galaxy of the evil that was threatening it, in one of the rare cases in the series where death was permanent.
The following characters were affected:
- Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd appeared to have been turned into humans wearing human clothing and Divatox was seen with long, flowing dark brown hair, and wearing a white dress identical to Dimitria's. Astronema's cybernetic implants were dissolved, and she was restored to Karone after Andros cried on her.
- Ecliptor, Elgar, General Havoc, Finster, Mondo, Machina, and all of the monsters and foot soldiers (including Z-Putties, Cogs, Pirahnatrons and Quantrons) seen are turned to dust. Goldar and Rygog were seen during the final battle though they weren't shown when the wave hit.
- The Space Rangers are involuntarily de-morphed, but they retain their powers.
Also of note:
- Dark Specter and Darkonda had both already been destroyed in conflict with each other before the wave began.
- Sprocket, Klank, and Orbus were seen in the Machine Skybase but not during the actual battle.
- Count Dregon and the villains from Masked Rider, who also lived in the Power Rangers Universe, are neither seen nor mentioned.
- Scorpina, Baboo, Mama D., Porto, Rito Revolto, Gasket, Archerina, Lokar and Master Vile weren't seen during this event, although they may have most likely been purified or destroyed.
- While the Zeo Rangers (and presumably Justin Stewart, Blue Turbo Ranger) still had their powers, they didn't appear to fight on Earth.
- Although Zordon's energy wave destroyed "all evil", villains in future Power Rangers series were not affected by the wave, although certain groups of villains, such as Queen Bansheera's demons, the Orgs, and Lothor's Evil Space Aliens also resided on or around the Earth at the time.
[edit] Monsters
Here's a list of the monsters that appeared in the battle (see each List of Power Rangers monsters) as well as foot soldiers, and the commanders each were with:
- Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd's army consisted of:
- Goldar
- Finster
- Squatt
- Z-Putties
- Electrotramp
- Blue Globbor (with Aquitian Ranger helmets)
- Jellyfish
- Pumpkin Rapper
- Punch-A-Bunch
- Psycho-Monster Blue
- Octophantom
- Oysterizer
- Vampirus
- Miss Chief
- Stenchy
- Sting King
- Fearog
- Fright Wing
- The Craterite Conglomerate
- Madame Woe
- Wild Weeder
- The second Horror Bull
- Snizard
- Altor
- Stag Beetle
- Termitus
- Pineoctopus
- Two-Headed Parrot
- Mutantrus the Darkonda Spawn
- Ravenator
- Psycho Monster Red
- Admiral Abominator
- Destructipede
- A monster that might be Cardiatron
- A recolored Pirantishead with Hate Master's hair (from "Fire in Your Tank")
- Zhane's "death" monster (repainted from Beetleborgs' Ghoulum)
- An unnamed flat-topped bluish-white stitchy monster (from "Alien Rangers of Aquitar (1)")
- An unused Megaranger monster Mushroom Nejire (unused in PRiS)
- An unused Kakuranger monster Ushioni (unused in MMPR Season 3)
- An unused Megaranger monster Pig Nejire (unused in PRiS)
- An unused B-Fighter Kabuto monster Anemolala (unused in Beetleborgs Metallix)
- Beetleborgs monsters Aqualungs Cataclazmic Changeling Kombat Knat LottaMuggs Porkasaurus Torch Mouth and Ultra Vulture
- The Machine Empire & General Havoc's army consisted of:
- Both versions of Cogs
- Eye Guy
- Goo Fish
- Two-Headed Parrot
- Dramole
- Slippery Shark
- Turbanshell
- Psycho-Monster Red
- Mr.Digit Owl
- Amphibitor
- Mace Face
- Incisorator
- Shrinkasect
- Destructipede
- Mamamite
- Fearog
- Coralizer
- Crocotox Red
- Lanterra
- Waspicable
- Oysterizer
- Termitus (with Mamamite's arm weapon)
- Clawhammer
- Voltage Hog
- Altor
- Soccadillo
- Pharaoh
- Lizwizard
- Lunatick
- Face Stealer
- Terror Tooth
- Stag Beetle
- Spikey
- A de-petaled repainted version Bloom of Doom (from "Fire in your Tank")
- A black, hornless, and furry version of Robogoat (from "Fire in your Tank")
- A furry brown tiki masked monster (from Alien Rangers Of Aquitar (1))
- An unused Kakuranger monster Ushioni
- An unused Megaranger monster Mushroom Nejire
- Beetleborgs monsters Aqualungs Kombat Knat Triplesaurus Rex and Unctuous
- Divatox's army consisted of:
- Rygog
- Piranhatrons
- Wolfgang Amadeus Griller
- Psycho-Monster Blue
- Vacsacker
- Katastrophe the Cat Monster
- Maniac Mechanic
- Silo
- Admiral Abominator
- Mutantrus the Darkonda Spawn
- Tough Tusks
- Guitardo
- Translucitor
- Psycho-Monster Yellow
- An unnamed flat-topped bluish-white stitchy monster
- An unused Kakuranger monster Daidarabotchi (unused in MMPR Season 3)
- An unused B-Fighter Kabuto monster Kapparapa (unused in Beetleborgs Metallix)
- An unused B-Fighter Kabuto monster Pineappler (unused in Beetleborgs Metallix)
- Beetleborgs monsters Crimson Creep Furocious and LottaMuggs
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