Forever Red

"Forever Red"

"Forever Red" is an episode of the television series Power Rangers: Wild Force, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Power Rangers meta-series. The episode was later included in the 2003 DVD collection The Best Of The Power Rangers: The Ultimate Rangers as one of several voted by the fans to be the best in the series. "Forever Red" was the first episode to commemorate the anniversary of the Power Rangers Franchise followed by Once a Ranger which took place in the 15th season, Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive.

Premise

"Forever Red" reunited every previous Red Ranger (with the exception of Rocky DeSantos). The ten Red Rangers featured, in order of appearance in Power Rangers continuity were:

• Jason Lee Scott of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
• Aurico of Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers
• Tommy Oliver of Power Rangers: Zeo
• T. J. Johnson of Power Rangers: Turbo
• Andros of Power Rangers in Space
• Leo Corbett of Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy
• Carter Grayson of Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
• Wesley Collins of Power Rangers: Time Force
• Eric Myers of Power Rangers: Time Force
• Cole Evans of Power Rangers: Wild Force

Other than the inclusion of the ten Red Rangers and the cameo appearance by the Wild Force regulars, there were a great many references to previous Power Rangers series, including:

• An appearance by Alpha 7, a new Alpha robot that has the voice of Alpha 5 (Richard Steven Horvitz) and a body made up of pieces of both 5 and Alpha 6.
• The Astro Megaship Mark II, a new version of the main command center from Power Rangers in Space. Andros states it was built at the shipyards of his home planet, KO-35.
• T.J. has a sports car that looks like Lightning Cruiser from Power Rangers: Turbo. (Whether or not they are the same vehicle is unknown.)
• Bulk and Skull, the comedic pair from the first six seasons, make a brief appearance towards the beginning of the episode.
• Bulk brags about once meeting Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa, referring to the "Master Vile and the Metallic Armor" three-parter.
• The board and pieces Bulk and Skull use were featured in the Psycho Ranger arc on Power Rangers in Space.
• The return of the Machine Empire, the main enemies in Power Rangers: Zeo. Former Power Rangers actors Walter Emmanuel Jones, Archie Kao, and Catherine Sutherland provided the voices of the featured generals.
• The return of Serpentera, the powerful Zord operated by Lord Zedd in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
• Cole uses the phrase "Morphenomenal", which was frequently used during the first season.
• In Haim Saban used two outfits from another show called beetleborgs for the machine empres generals

Plot

Six years after the destruction of the Machine Empire, surviving members of the empire remain, seeking to destroy the Earth. Tezzla, Gerrok, Steelon, and Automon (and many Cogs) are all that is left of the Empire, as well as General Venjix, their leader. They have recently learned that Earth's Moon is the resting place of Serpentera, a war machine created by Lord Zedd with the power to destroy a planet. Ever since Zedd's "death" in "Countdown to Destruction", the location of Serpentera remained a mystery for many years. Venjix finds it and begins using Cog soldiers to dig it up, refitting it with a Neo Plutonium reactor to power it.

Andros, the Red Space Ranger, discovers Venjix and finds out about his plan after following him for several years. Andros goes to the Moon to gather video evidence of their plans. He succeeds and sends the tape to Tommy Oliver, the Red Zeo Ranger. When Tommy learns of Venjix's plan, he asks Andros to gather all the current Red Rangers on Earth, Mirinoi, and Aquitar, and meet him at the NASADA space port on Earth. However, Tommy contacts his former teammate and the original Red Power Ranger Jason himself. Jason does not give Tommy a definitive answer as to whether or not he would show up at all.

Cole, the current Red Ranger, is contacted by Carter as the Wild Force team are gathered at a park. Despite the other Wild Force Rangers wanting to help, Carter states that only Cole is needed. The two proceed to NASADA's space port, where they meet up with Andros, T.J., and the Silver Guardians, of which the latter two are immediately recognized by Cole, as he already met the two (a team up between the Wild Force and Time Force occurred in a previous episode).

The Red Rangers gather at NASADA, where Tommy explains that he would be leading a team of Red Rangers. Jason pulls up to the group on a motorcycle, surprising Tommy. Jason explains that he did not think the mission would feel right without the original Red Ranger. He then proceeded to rib Cole, "the new guy" of the group, who originally offers a handshake. Tommy, Jason, Andros, Wes, Eric, T.J., Carter, and Cole board the Astro Megaship Mark II, created specifically for this mission, and proceed to the Moon. A new Alpha robot, Alpha 7, with Alpha 5's voice and demeanor, is on board as well. While en route, Andros informs Tommy that Aurico and Leo will be joining them shortly (since they have a long distance to travel from Aquitar and Mirinoi respectively) while Tommy further explains their mission to the other Rangers.

Venjix and his other generals prepare to board Serpentera, but they are then interrupted by the Red Rangers. Venjix sends Cogs to distract the eight Rangers while he and the others flee to Serpentera. The Rangers battle the Cogs unmorphed and easily defeat them. Eventually, Cole escapes the barrage of Cogs and chases after the generals. Venjix fires at him, but Cole is rescued by Leo and Aurico on Leo's Jet Jammer. Then all the Rangers gather, morph with their respective morphing calls (except for Aurico, who has already morphed), and battle the Generals.

Cole and Jason fight Venjix, where Jason uses a corkscrew kick on Venjix to show off to Cole. Tommy and Wes fight Gerrok and Tommy destroys him with the Zeo Flying Power Kick. Eric and Aurico fight Tezzla and destroy her with the Quantum Defender. T.J. and Leo fight Automon and destroy him with their Quasar Saber, Transdagger, Turbo Blade, and Turbo Lightning Sword. Andros and Carter fight Steelon and destroy him by combining power from their blasters. Then Cole severely damages Venjix with his Crystal Saber. Venjix then jumps into Serpentera and takes off. The Rangers fear they have failed, but Cole calls upon his Wild Force Rider to battle Venjix. Cole uses the Wild Force Rider to fly into Serpentera and destroy it from the inside. Both Venjix and Serpentera are destroyed.

Afterwards, the nine human Rangers part ways, and Cole remarks how Tommy appeared to be the "greatest Ranger ever", with the other Rangers attempting to refute his claim with some of their own adventures.