Power Rangers: Time Force
Power Rangers: Time Force (often abbreviated as
PRTF and often simply called
Time Force) was the ninth incarnation of the
Power Rangers series, based on the
Super Sentai series
Mirai Sentai Timeranger (Future Squadron Time Ranger), running for 40 half-hour episodes from February to November of
2001.
It is unique in the fact that the overall story is considerably darker than many of the other incarnations because the storyline was almost similar to its Japanese counterpart (itself critically acclaimed as one of the best of the
genre) with very minimal alterations. Like
Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue before it and
Power Rangers: Wild Force after it, the Power Rangers are adults and not teenagers. Because of this, many fans felt that this incarnation of
Power Rangers, in particular, would have made a successful primetime series for adults had it not been for the traditional elements that made up a
Power Rangers series. The producers behind Power Rangers claim that the reason for that not happening is that they do not want to alienate their target audience, namely, kids.
In the year 3000, mankind has developed a
utopia, with a
police organization called Time Force capturing all but one criminal. However, this criminal,
Ransik, manages to hijack a prison full of
cryogenically frozen convicts and escape back to the past in an attempt to change the future, but not before badly injuring Alex, the Red Time Force Ranger. Four Time Force officers attempt to pursue Ransik to the year
2001, but end up being stranded in the fictional town of Silver Hills. There, they meet
Wesley Collins, who is the son of a rich industrialist and looks identical to Alex. With Wes' help, the four Time Force officers become the Time Force Rangers, helping the city of Silver Hills by capturing the various mutant criminals that Ransik releases from prison.
Being somewhat isolated from his father, the Power Rangers are unable to rely on Wes' wealth to get by - instead they operate a business out of the clock tower that the Rangers used as a base, aptly named "Nick of Time Odd Jobs", after an old company that had operated there. It is there that Wes also helps the other four Rangers adapt to life in the 21st century.
The Time Force officers knew that their presence would inevitably change the future, and indeed, it had: in an attempt to contain the mutant threat, Wes' father creates the Silver Guardians, a security force helping to secure the businesses of anyone who had the money, and a force that had not originally existed. Among one such member was Wes' childhood friend,
Eric Myers. Unlike Wes, Eric was not rich, getting by on a scholarship as the two of them attended prep school. When the Silver Guardians make their first attempt at taking care of a mutant, they are overpowered, and Wes is forced to save them, revealing his identity as a Power Ranger in the process. Rejecting his father's offer to join the Silver Guardians, Wes decides to make it on his own. The Silver Guardians, led by Eric, the Quantum Time Force Ranger, continued to hold a tenuous relationship with the Power Rangers.
As for the villains,
Ransik would eventually surrender peacefully when he nearly kills his own daughter,
Nadira, who was trying to protect a baby. The Time Force officers return to the year 3000, and Wes and Eric become co-leaders of a Silver Guardians group that catered to the entire population.
This series also featured the cameo return of characters from
Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, when the demoness Vypra rises from the grave. When she teams up with
Ransik and unleashes a Super Demon named Quargenon, the Time Force Rangers are forced to team up with their Lightspeed Rescue predecessors.
A recurring theme in this series is the fact that an individual controls his own destiny, and must fight for a desirable future. Because of the
September 11th attacks, many episodes were re-edited after their first airing to remove potentially offensive material, such as buildings being blown up. In one case, an episode titled
Full Exposure was not shown again after its first airing.
|
The Time Force Power Rangers |
*
Circuit: A small blue mechanical owl which acts as an information source (like
Alpha 5) and calls Captain Logan to send the Zords when needed. (Voiced by
Brianne Siddall)
*
Captain Logan: Time Force commanding officer. (Played by
Roy Werner)
*
Mr. A. Collins: Wes' father and millionaire businessman (Portrayed by
Edward Lawrence Albert)
*
Note: Whilst Mr. Collins' first initial was established as 'A', his first name was never officially stated in the show's continuity.
*
Philips: The Collins family butler, always ready to give Wes helpful advice (Portrayed by
Douglas Fisher.)
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Dr. Michael Zaskin A Biolab scientist that works for Collins (Portrayed by
Ken Merckx)
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Lightspeed Rescue Power Rangers: The previous Ranger team, they join forces with the Time Force Rangers to stop Vypra and a Super Demon.
*
Wild Force Power Rangers: The succeeding Ranger team that the Time Force Rangers meet and team up with in 2002 (a year after the events of Time Force takes place) to stop a trio of Mutant-Org hybrids.
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Ransik (Portrayed by
Vernon Wells)
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Nadira (Portrayed by
Kate Sheldon)
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Frax (Voiced by
Eddie Frierson)
*
Gluto (Voiced by
Neil Kaplan)
*
Quargenon (Voiced by
Ron Roggé, uncredited)
*
Vypra*
List of Mutants in Power Rangers: Time Force*
Enemy Foot Soldiers** Cyclobots
** Demon Warriors
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Chrono Morphers: Created by Time Force and usually used by select officers such as Alex and the Time Force Rangers. The Chrono Morphers can display holographic images and imprint the DNA of the wearer so that only the person in question, or someone with similar DNA, can use them to morph by calling "Time for Time Force!". These morphers are unique in the respect that if one was inactive the others were as well. Initally only the Red Ranger's Chrono Morpher was active, but upon being separated from its previous owner Alex, it needed to be reactivated in order for the Chrono Morphers Jen, Lucas, Katie and Trip acquired to imprint their DNA.
*
Quantum Morpher: Eric Meyers uses this device to morph into the Quantum Ranger by crying out "Quantum Power!", and it also controls his Quantasaurus Rex Zord. The Quantum Morpher's distinct Voice Activation feature allows Eric, or someone that sounds like him, to operate it.
*
Time Force Badge: Each Ranger wears his or her own badge, thus identifying them as law enforcers to criminals. The badge can also seal an apprehended criminal in a cryo-containment unit.
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Chrono Sabers: Each Ranger carries two Chrono Sabers, which can also double as a lance. In battle, the Chrono Sabers can fire energy projectiles and are used to deliver a Time Strike.
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Electro Booster: Trip created this unique blaster to help the team overpower an energy-absorbing mutant. It is formed through adding a series of attachments onto a Chrono Saber.
*
Chrono Blaster: The standard Time Force firearm.
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Quantum Defender: The Quantum Ranger's personal firearm can change into a sword.
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Vortex Blaster: This powerful cannon, forged from the five V Weapons, delivers a powerful blast capable of either freezing or knocking out targets.
**
V Weapons: Giant cannons used by the five core Rangers, each branded V1 to V5. They can easily destroy a target but are usually set to stun.
*
Battle Warrior Armor: A black knight once bested a white knight and claimed for himself a box that could be opened only by those with a pure heart. The black knight eventually appeared in Silver Hills and left the box in a cave, to be guarded by a dragon. Wes found the cave and defeated the dragon before opening the box to receive the magical Battle Fire, which gave him access to the Battle Warrior Armor. In addition to body, helmet and boot armor, Wes is armed with a giant sword which ignites its target in a blaze.
*
Mega Battle Armor: The Quantum Ranger's own Battlizer Armor, granted to him by Alex from the year 3000. The Mega Battle Armor places a visor over Eric's helmet and gives him torso shielding, rollerblades, detachable wings that serve as blasters and blades, and a large energy blade that is capable of "freezing" giant criminals.
*
Vector Cycles: Motorcycles from the future, assigned to each of the five core Rangers for ground pursuit.
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Strata Cycle: A sleek vehicle sent by Alex to aid Wes. It has flight capabilities and awesome firepower.
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TF Eagle: Quantum Ranger's personal transport, capable of travelling through time.
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Time Jet: A glider-like aircraft that carries the Rangers to their Time Fliers. It can fire from front-mounted blasters and transform into an oversized handgun. In its handgun mode, it is often used by the Time Force Megazord Mode Blue.
The Zords in
Power Rangers: Time Force were all futuristic vehicles sent back in time from the year 3000 to assist the Time Force Rangers in the year 2001. They were launched by the Transwarp Megazord through a time gate. The Time Flyers had three formations: Jet Mode, Mode Red for power, and Mode Blue for speed. The Shadow Winger was sent back in time by Alex to assist his comrades in the past. The Quantasaurus-Rex was used solely by the Quantum Ranger, and was the precursor to the other Time Force Zords, although it was lost in the
Jurassic.
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Transwarp Megazord*
Shadow Force Megazord**
Shadow Winger/Time Shadow Megazord**
Time Force Megazord***
Time Flyer 1 (Wes/Red)
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Time Flyer 2 (Lucas/Blue)
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Time Flyer 3 (Trip/Green)
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Time Flyer 4 (Katie/Yellow)
***
Time Flyer 5 (Jen/Pink)
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Quantasaurus-Rex (Eric/Quantum)
*
Time Force is the first regular series to feature a non-human (a human-like alien) as a Power Ranger. Trip, the Green Ranger, was an alien from the planet Xybria and had a green gem in the center of his forehead that allowed him minor telepathic abilities. (The main team of
Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers were also aliens, though this was a brief mini-series that bridged the gap between
Mighty Morphin and
Zeo seasons.)
S.P.D. would also feature aliens as Power Rangers, but these aliens appear much less human than Trip.
* Unlike previous seasons,
Time Force did not end with most of or all of the Rangers' arsenal destroyed in the final battle.
* Originally, Eric was supposed to die before the finale, like his
Mirai Sentai Timeranger counterpart Naoto/Timefire. The scene of Eric's death was actually filmed before higher-ups refused to allow it to air.
*
Time Force is the second
Power Rangers season to feature a female Ranger as the leader of the team. It is also the first (and only) Power Rangers season to feature a
Pink Ranger as the leader.
*
Time Force was the first team of Rangers in an official season to not feature white boots or white gloves as part of their suits; instead, they were the same color of their respective Ranger color designation. This would also be repeated with the
Dino Thunder and
Mystic Force Power Rangers. Again, although the Alien Rangers share this same trait, they are not considered to be a full season Rangers.
* Jen makes a
Power Ranger first, by using the word 'death': "I won't let his
death be in vain!"
*
Time Force is the only series thus far to feature a
sixth Ranger, the Quantum Ranger, that wore the same color as another team member, the Red Ranger (Wes and Eric both wore red as their color scheme). Later, Shane and Hunter from
Ninja Storm would both be "Red Rangers," they will be different shades of red (Red and Crimson). This situation also would occur with Tori and Blake in
Ninja Storm as well, as they are both "Blue Rangers" with different shades of blue (Blue [a teal color] and Navy [a dark blue])
*
Time Force is notable for being the first series not to "destroy" its monsters, but rather "capture" them in containers. This method would be repeated in
S.P.D., where monsters are "contained" rather than destroyed.
*
Time Force is also noted for being the first series to employ the "Red Rookie" concept, where the Red Ranger (in this case, Wes) was the last Power Ranger to be recruited into the team. While Alex was the original Red Time Force Ranger, he was a solo Ranger as Jen, Trip, Katie and Lucas did not have Chrono Morphers at the time before Alex seemingly died by Ransik's hand.
* It was the first series to employ Power Rangers from the future; this would be done again in
S.P.D. with the addition of the
Omega Ranger and
Nova Ranger.
* It was the first series to feature a family member accidentally finding out their relative was a Power Ranger (Mr. Collins found out Wes was the Red Time Force Ranger when his visor was damaged in a battle). This would later be repeated in
Wild Force, when Alyssa's father mistakenly found out she was the White Tiger Ranger; and in
Ninja Storm, when Shane's older brother accidentally found out he was the Red Wind Ranger.
* It was the first series to feature villains who truly reformed (Ransik and Nadira) and turned to the side of good.
* It was the final series to open each episode with the teaser scene before the opening credits.
* One episode of
Time Force ("Circuit Unsure") was dedicated in memory of
Thuy Trang, a member of the original
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers cast who died in an automobile accident in
2001.
* In one episode of Time Force, the viewer can almost completely see the face of Eric's Super Sentai counterpart, Naoto. This occurs in the episode which first introduced the Quantum Ranger. Due to the two actors looking highly similar, a lot of
Timeranger footage was recycled (showing Naoto from a distance). In one scene, his face is covered briefly, but he begins to pull his hands away, giving a brief glimpse of Naoto's face.
* Eric Myers, the Quantum Ranger, made history when he defeated a giant monster without a Zord; however, he was equipped with the Quantum Mega Battle (his Battlizer).
* The team-up episode "Time for Lightspeed" saw 5 Battlizers being activated at the same time. This has not been repeated since, although power-up team-ups were later seen frequently (most notably the
S.P.D. episode "History", where the SWAT Mode was shown together with the Super Dino Mode).
* This was the only series in which there sidearm weapons (Chrono Blasters) were not viewable when morphed.
* This is only the second series to have two Rangers attracted to each other involved in a kissing scene (Wes and Jen. The first were Kim and Tommy from MMPR).
* It is the second and, so far, last
Power Ranger season to have a
series finale that was three parts; generally Ranger finales are two-parters. The only other Power Rangers series to have a three parter finale was
Lost Galaxy.
*
Time Force was also the final Power Rangers series to air exclusively on
Fox Kids, and the last series to be produced by
Saban Entertainment. During the post production of
Time Force, Disney bought the series, even though Fox Kids had broadcasting rights for the first half of
Wild Force before it moved to
ABC.
*
Oakley, Inc. sunglasses were used as the Visual Scanners the Rangers wore.
* This was the first series to include colored visors, which would be repeated in
Dino Thunder with the
White Dino Ranger's red visor.
* First series to feature an animal-like mentor, Circuit the robotic owl. This would be repeated in
Power Rangers: Ninja Storm with the transformed Sensei Kanoi Watanabe and
Power Rangers: S.P.D. with the blue anthropomorphic dog alien Commander Anubis "Doggie" Cruger.
* Time Force was the last Power Ranger series (to date) to feature a Yellow Ranger who was both African-American and a woman.
*This is the second Power Rangers series to feature morphers as part of a Ranger suit. The first was
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, with the Power Morphers acting as belt buckles, and the third would be
Wild Force. All successing series would also feature the morphers as part of a Ranger's suit, although the morphers in
SPD and
Mystic Force were stored in holsters in Ranger form.
*The civilian outfits of the Time Force rangers are similar to the outfits that their
Timeranger counterparts wore. However, Katie's civilian outfit is original while Trip's outfit mirrors that of Domon/TimeYellow (TimeYellow, Katie's counterpart, was male in
Timeranger).
* During the two-parter "Movie Madness", some parodies/homages to classic genres and films were made. Among them were included:
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Western (Wes & Trip)
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Broadway theatre (Katie)
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Kung-fu (Jen)
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Samurai (Lucas)
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Tarzan (Eric)
**
Car chase (Ransik and Rangers)
