While something like this would ordinarily provoke heartwarming twinges of nostalgia, the news of a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers reunion special coming to Netflix is a stark reminder of everything we’ve lost in the years since that group of teenagers first battled evil around Angel Grove (and on practically every kid’s television during the 90s).
Aside from that old chestnut of our collective youth, there’s the absence of Thuy Trang, who famously portrayed Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan prior to a contract dispute, as well as the eventual car crash that would claim her life.
Then there’s Power Rangers Universe veteran turned undefeated MMA fighter Jason David Frank, who famously portrayed Green Ranger then White Ranger Tommy Oliver; having only passed away by way of suicide last November.
It certainly makes this entire proposition rather bittersweet. Still, I suppose the healthier outlook is to focus on the good times. This is, after all, a 30th-anniversary celebration.
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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always hails the return of several familiar faces, ranging from David Yost as Blue Ranger Billy Cranston, Walter Emanuel Jones as Black Ranger Zack Taylor, Steve Cardenas as second Red Ranger Rocky DeSantos, Johnny Yong Bosch as second Black Ranger Adam Park, to Karan Ashley as second Yellow Ranger Aisha Campbell, and Catherine Sutherland as second Pink Ranger Katherine “Kath” Hillard.
According to Entertainment Weekly (and as shown in the first trailer), there’ll also be a few fresh faces such as Charlie Kersh, who debuts as Minh – daughter of Thuy Trang’s Trini. As you probably pieced together, Kersh’s character is likely a tribute to Trang.
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“Our Ranger family runs deep,” Walter Emanuel Jones told EW.
While plot details haven’t been announced at this stage, based on the teaser below, we know that Netflix’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers reunion will see the OG Rangers coming “… face to face with a familiar threat from the past. In the midst of a global crisis, they are called on once again to be the heroes the world needs.”
“Inspired by the legendary mantra from the franchise: ‘Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger.'”
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always hits Netflix on April 19th of 2023 – check out the trailer above.
