The Surprising Prophetic Song from the 1990s Power Rangers that Foreshadowed the Franchise’s Fate

Article Overview

Power Rangers in Space was initially intended to be the show's final season, but its surprising success saved the franchise from cancellation.

The season signaled the conclusion of the Zordon Era and demonstrated that Power Rangers could thrive even without its beloved characters such as Tommy and Jason.

In Space is widely regarded as one of the finest seasons of Power Rangers due to its innovative space backdrop, intricately crafted characters, and formidable villain, Astronema. Additionally, the final episode is celebrated as one of the greatest in the entire series.

The Power Rangers intro song, which was the best, surprisingly foreshadowed the show's success 25 years ago. It's hard to believe that the franchise was nearly cancelled, considering how immensely popular Power Rangers has become. Although the Mighty Morphin era achieved great success in terms of ratings and merchandising, the following seasons struggled to maintain viewer interest.

Each Power Rangers TV show incorporates similar elements, yet during the years following the conclusion of Mighty Morphin, the saga was still searching for its distinctive tone. Zeo benefited from having most of the Mighty Morphin cast, including beloved characters like Tommy Oliver portrayed by Jason David Frank. On the other hand, the latter portion of Turbo did not have that advantage, and Power Rangers in Space could have potentially marked the end of the series.

Power Rangers In Space Intro’s Lyrics Predicted The Show’s Future

The content of the full lyrics for Power Rangers in Space's theme song, which were not all included in the shortened version played at the start of each episode, features the line "Save the future, long live the Power Rangers." Interestingly, or perhaps not, this directly correlates with what In Space accomplished for Power Rangers. Following the decline in viewership numbers after Power Rangers Turbo, it appeared that the franchise was reaching its conclusion. Even the introduction of a mostly new cast during Turbo's midway point failed to revitalize the series, leading to the planning of Power Rangers in Space as the show's ultimate season.

For example, Dark Spector brought together former Power Rangers villains, while legacy characters like the Zeo Gold Ranger made a comeback for the ultimate battle that spanned across multiple planets. Additionally, the shocking death of Zordon added to the intensity. Initially, Power Rangers in Space was thought to be the final season, but its unexpected popularity proved otherwise. Viewership numbers soared, leading to the show's renewal. While In Space marked the end of the Zordon Era, it ensured the continuation of Power Rangers, effectively echoing the lyrics "save the future, long live the Power Rangers" in a remarkably self-aware manner.

How Power Rangers In Space Saved The Future Of The Franchise

While increasing viewership numbers was undoubtedly the primary goal of Power Rangers in Space, the show also excelled in showcasing various avenues for the Power Rangers franchise to explore. In Space served as a direct sequel to Turbo and concluded the story that commenced with Mighty Morphin, albeit with a significant departure from previous Power Rangers seasons. For the first time in the franchise's history, Power Rangers no longer revolved around a constant group of teenagers from Angel Grove combatting a new monster each week. Instead, the Rangers had grown into adults embarking on adventures in space, and the episodes often built up to larger events.

Zordon's death signified the conclusion of the Zordon Era, spanning from Mighty Morphin to In Space.

In Space not only concluded the Zordon Era successfully, but also demonstrated that Power Rangers could thrive without iconic characters like Tommy and Jason. It broadened the franchise's horizons by expanding its scope. Following In Space, the subsequent Power Rangers season maintained ties to the previous one through the Astro Megaship and Zordon; however, it told a predominantly independent story. Power Rangers Lost Galaxy introduced a new team of adult Rangers who had no connection to Zordon or Rita Repulsa. This strategic move set the stage for future Power Rangers series to follow a similar approach. Without In Space's effective conclusion of the Zordon Era, this new direction would not have been feasible.

Why In Space Is Still One Of Power Rangers’ Best Seasons 25 Years Later

In Space not only saved Power Rangers, but it also stands as one of the most remarkable seasons in the franchise. This season introduced a space setting, which later became a successful formula for subsequent Power Rangers seasons like Lost Galaxy and Cosmic Fury. It was a much-needed change of scenery for a show that had predominantly revolved around Angel Grove's Youth Center for numerous episodes.

Furthermore, the second generation of Turbo Rangers, who were already well-developed characters, were further enhanced with the addition of Andros. As the slightly arrogant Red Ranger, Andros brought a fresh and exhilarating dynamic to the existing lineup.

Andros' search for his sister, Karone, who turned out to be the villain Astronema in In Space, was a standout storyline for the season. Unlike previous villains like Rita Repulsa or Divatox, Astronema was portrayed as a truly dangerous and multi-dimensional character. The presence of the menacing Dark Specter and the concept of an intergalactic alliance of Power Rangers added an exciting element to the season. Despite the series' history of filler episodes, each Power Ranger in Space was given a distinct role and significance. The finale episode, "Countdown to Destruction," not only stands as the best episode of In Space, but is also hailed as one of the finest Power Rangers episodes ever produced.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I grew up watching Power Rangers and it has always been one of my favorite shows. I remember watching the In Space season when it first aired and being blown away by the new characters, the space setting, and the epic storylines. I had no idea at the time that it was originally intended to be the final season of the show, but I'm so glad that it was saved from cancellation.

The In Space season was a game-changer for the Power Rangers franchise. It showed that the show could continue to thrive even without its original characters and that it could explore new and exciting storylines. The season also introduced some of the most popular characters in the franchise's history, such as Andros, Zhane, and Karone.