Reviving Zordon: The Game-Changing Comeback Power Rangers Fans Have Been Waiting 25 Years For

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Power Rangers Cosmic Fury.

Summary

In Power Rangers Cosmic Fury, Zordon makes a comeback 25 years after his demise, as it is unveiled that his essence now resides within the Morphin Grid. Zordon's revival is executed skillfully, as he temporarily assumes the appearance of Zayto and maintains his detachment from the human realm.

In Power Rangers Cosmic Fury, Zordon returns after 25 years, but he is not used as a plot device. Instead, he serves as a guide and provides insight to the Rangers, without overshadowing their own actions. This 30th season of Power Rangers is filled with nostalgia, featuring iconic characters and locations such as Billy, Lord Zedd, and Zordon from the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. Zordon was believed to be dead since Power Rangers in Space, adding to the anticipation and surprise of his return.

The Zordon Era of Power Rangers came to a dramatic conclusion in the two-part finale "Countdown to Destruction" in Power Rangers in Space. In a selfless act, Zordon sacrificed himself to protect the universe, requesting that Red Ranger Andros destroy his containment tube and release the powerful Z-Wave. This pivotal moment, Zordon's death, had a significant impact on the Power Rangers timeline. However, it was later cleverly addressed and altered in Power Rangers Cosmic Fury.

Zordon Returns In Power Rangers Cosmic Fury (With A Twist)

Power Rangers Cosmic Fury marks the first official return of Zordon, the Power Rangers' mentor, since his apparent demise in Power Rangers in Space. Though his physical form does not make an appearance, episode 10 of Cosmic Fury reveals that Zordon remains intact and continues to exist. It was previously believed that Zordon was permanently gone following the destruction of the tube that sustained his life at the end of In Space. However, Zordon's energy survived and played a crucial role in defeating Dark Specter's Alliance of Evil, safeguarding the universe. Cosmic Fury establishes that Zordon's essence has not been lost forever.

Instead, Zordon has merged with the Morphin Grid, the powerful force responsible for creating the first team of Power Rangers in the TV series. In an emotional and clever sequence, Zordon manifests as Zayto, as he no longer possesses a physical body. The Gold Ranger, Aiyon, struggles to grasp the concept of existing within the Morphin Grid, thus needing to envision a tangible form for the entity communicating with him. While the name "Zordon" is not explicitly mentioned, the enigmatic character references his characteristic phrase, "May the power protect you," which he used to impart wisdom to his protegees.

What Zordon’s Return In Cosmic Fury Means For Power Rangers

Power Rangers had deliberately refrained from resurrecting Zordon for 25 years, despite numerous opportunities to do so. Zordon's enigmatic death made it feasible to bring him back, as he lacked a physical form for most of the series. However, from a storytelling perspective, it made sense for Power Rangers to refrain from bringing back the Eltarian sage. Zordon's sacrifice had saved the universe and signified the conclusion of an era for the Power Rangers TV shows. Revealing that he had been alive all along would diminish the significance of the finale of Power Rangers in Space.

Fortunately, Power Rangers Cosmic Fury's final episode handled the return of Zordon adeptly. Initially, Zordon assumed the form of Zayto, one of the characters in Cosmic Fury, who had also become part of the Morphin Grid. Furthermore, Zordon's return was not definitive – he continued to exist in a separate plane, detached from the human world. Power Rangers Cosmic Fury also steered clear of using Zordon as a convenient plot device to solve all problems. Instead, Zordon merely provided guidance to Aiyon and elucidated the future for Zayto. By introducing this narrative, Power Rangers Cosmic Fury left room for potential stories to revisit Zordon, especially since the Blue Ranger, Billy, now knows that his mentor is alive.