Power Rangers Wild Force is... interesting. It seems to break with the past in some ways, among the most intriguing (rather, disconcerting to me) are the computer animation (argh. Now the zords look a bit like they're from Beast Wars. What happened to good ole people in suits?!), a flying shark zord (very weird), mobile phones as morphers (now I've seen it all) and claws on the morphed rangers (?!). I suppose I'll get used to it in time.
The pilot was horribly shoddy, though, explaining almost nothing. For example, wth is "Princess Shayla"? Maybe it's because we got cheated, as both episodes debuted in the US as an hour long special! I hope episode 2 makes up for the pilot...
Meanwhile, in the US:
"Power Rangers Dino Thunder premiered on ABC Family on February 21, 2004. The series premieres with three Power Rangers (Red, Blue and Yellow). Two others, a Black Power Ranger and a White Power Ranger, emerge later in the storyline. The newest series is highlighted by the return of one-time Power Ranger Tommy Oliver (1993-97). Tommy is now a high school science teacher in the town of Reefside, California, a refuge he returned to after years of working alongside the late scientist Dr. Anton Mercer. Their top secret experiment combined dinosaur DNA and modern technology and resulted in the invention of Dino Zords, creatures of incredible strength and brilliance. Tommy hoped this innovation would benefit man's understanding of dinosaurs but the lab and its secret work was viciously destroyed by a warped scientist, later known as Mesogog, who conspired to return the world to the age of the dinosaurs.
Believing that chapter of his life is closed, Tommy is focusing on teaching but unbeknownst to him, Mesogog intends to see his distorted plan through. Among Tommy's students are: Connor, a star soccer player, Kira, a wannabe rocker, and Ethan, an internet guru and champion on-line gamer. While on a class field trip, the trio comes across ancient Dino Gems, stones from the asteroid that destroyed the dinosaur population long ago. The strange stones have immense power, bond their special magic to each kid and before long, will transform them into superheroes known as the Power Rangers. When Mesogog resurfaces and attacks the city with his fearsome Tyrannodrones - plus two robotic cyborgs, Elsa and Zeltrax - Tommy must quickly teach his three students to harness the power of the Dino Zords - a giant Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops and Pteranodon. Although they are hesitant, the teens rise to challenge. Through the Dino Gems and with their special call out, "Dino Thunder! Power Up!," Connor morphs into the Red Ranger with super speed, Kira becomes the Yellow Ranger with a piercing and powerful scream, and Ethan is the Blue Ranger with the ability to grow impenetrable armor for skin.
Mesogog knows the Power Rangers are the sole obstacle to his plan and sets out to seize the Dino Gems. Then, an important secret about the teens' teacher is revealed - he was once the leader of the Power Rangers. The students implore Tommy to reignite his Ranger powers and ultimately, he joins them as the Black Power Ranger. But the Rangers have another threat upon them when a renegade White Power Ranger strikes the city. Unsure of his motives, it's up to the Power Rangers to first uncover his identity and then somehow convince him to join the ranks and fight evil alongside the Power Rangers. When Mesogog ups the ante in his quest to capture the powers of the Dino Gems for himself, it will be up to five Power Rangers to utilize new Zords, new weapons and new powers to defeat him. All the while, they must keep their Power Ranger identities secret from two fellow students Cassidy and Devin, reporters for the school TV station."
Hmm. Tommy is back! But it'll take 2 years for us to see him in action again (well, there's Forever Red, but that's for 1 episode only, so). I prefer him with his luscious locks, though.