Power Rangers Dino Fury Episode 2 “Sporix Unleashed” Review

The weekend is over, so it is time for another Power Rangers Dino Fury episode review. Thankfully, Dino Fury is starting a new trend for the series by getting straight to the point. No more cold opens, and we begin the episode with the opening credits. So, let us jump right into the review then…

Now, our first scene is with Zayto training the Rangers, specifically on how to legitimately morph. I do not recall ever seeing a scene like this in the series, I do not hate it and actually I love it. Overall, it is just surprising it took this long to get a moment like this. So, during this sequence, we get to see the characters acting like natural people; they act like anyone else who unexpectedly become heroes and are unaware how things work. It leads to genuine comedic moments that are not over the top either, as seen with pairings like Victor and Monty. For example, when Ollie drops his key and Zayto catches it, Ollie plays it off as a test of reflexes. However, Zayto smirks at the excuse knowing all too well it was an accident.

Once morphing, Zayto prepares to instruct the others on how to use the Boost Keys (the Armament Ryusouls). Yet, they are interrupted by Solon, who asks them to return inside the base. Now, instead of walking through an entrance, the Rangers teleport back in! Personally, I love that teleporting is back, and I missed it greatly. The last time Rangers used teleporting consecutively was during In Space, while other seasons sporadically used it. Anyway, Solon explains how she reconfigured the base’s defenses, and has the T-Rex Champion Zord on standby. I loved Amelia’s reaction to the Zord reveal, as it reminds me of fan reactions upon seeing the toy prototypes.

Also, during the debriefing Solon reveals they have acquired Void Knight’s energy scanner, which gives Ollie an idea. Ollie suggests that they should recruit his mother, and find away to connect the scanner to her drone. Then use the combined technology to locate the Sporix throughout the city. Overall, Ollie’s plan sounds great, but Solon shoots down the idea as the combination of alien devices could be dangerous. In the exchange, Solon objection does sound blunt, but she shows she is concerned for the new Rangers. I give mad props to Solon’s voice actress, Josephine Davison for being able to convey the proper emotions for this ‘Dino-Mama.’ Furthermore, fans may recognize Josephine’s name, as she previously portrayed Power Rangers S.P.D.’s Morgana.

Ultimately, the team goes with Amelia’s suggestion to involve BuzzBlast and use social media to alert residents. So, the team teleports to the city, and Zayto’s is easily amazed at how Earth has changed. Zayto even wants to meet the current age’s dinosaurs, but Amelia finds it hard to tell him they are extinct. Russel Curry conveys the scene great, transitioning from a mentor with experience to being curious about his new surroundings. Also, here we discover Zayto can retract his antenna to look inconspicuous among Earthlings. In addition, Zayto explains that no one can know they are Rangers, a rule I do not mind too much. Furthermore, we discover an hour has passed between these episodes, as Ollie’s mom just leaves the warden’s office.

At the office, the team tries to warn Warden Garica about the Sporix, but he believes it is a hoax. Warden Garica acts like the usual in-series supporting characters who dismiss things that are probable until it is too late. Yet, Ollie’s mom does believe the team, and Ollie pulls her aside to explain the situation. However, Ollie is actually showing her the scanner he took from the base, so they can tryout his plan. Whereas, the others move onto BuzzBlast unaware that Ollie did not listen to Dino-Mama, Solon. Although, upon arriving at BuzzBlast, Zayto and Amelia are met with Jane holding a staff presentation.

Now, the presentation is Jane showing off her new android assistant, J-Borg from Hartford Robotics. If anyone is wondering, Hartford Robotics is the same one owned by Operation Overdrive’s Andrew Hartford. Also, J-Borg’s actions are played up for laughs, and it is good enough that I liked it. Yet, before our Rangers can tell Jane about the Sporix, BuzzBlast obtains a video of one hatching; the video centers on a dumb guy antagonizing the Sporix till it hatches and attacks him. The video leads to a media frenzy at BuzzBlast, while the Rangers unit to stop the Sporix Beast. Whereas, Void Knight has been spying on Ollie and his mother at Dinohenge. When Ollie leaves to join the others, Void Knight sends ShockHorn to follow him.

Our newest Sporix Beast is named Mucus, and it is the American adaptation of Ryusoulger’s Kleon. The character name is lame, but we have had other duds in the last decade like Moogers and Loogies. Interestingly enough, the Rangers are not too impressed by the name either. Also, Mucus is revealed to female unlike Kleon who was male. The gender change will lead to an obvious debate among fans, but I will not be debating this change. Anyway, the Rangers decide to immediately morph and combat the monster. In this moment, the team finally nails the morphing sequence successfully which delights Zayto. The activation call is pretty neat, as it is “Link to the Morphing Grid.”

Whereas, the morphing sequence is visually and utterly beautiful. The team punches the ground, summoning ethereal versions of their dinosaurs, before entering the Morphing Grid to don their suits. Now, I see people complaining the length of the sequence, and how the call is not tied to the powers. However, I do not see a problem with either the length or its activation call. In addition, the morph sequence reminds me a lot of TimeRanger, but it is probably unintentional. Furthermore, the music that accompanies the scene is incredible; it makes me hope our new composer Bert Selen does not burn himself out too quickly.

The fight with Mucus is quick as Zayto slashes her apart, but ShockHorn appears to support his comrade. ShockHorn proves to be a challenge for the Rangers, and Zayto requires the use of a Boost Key. Zayto selects the Stink Dino Key and it is not used as a joke, it is used as a diversion. While the Rangers regroup, ShockHorn and Mucus retreat back to Void Knight attempting to take Ollie’s mother hostage. Unaware of the Sporix Beasts’ intentions, the Rangers return to their base to discover the city-wide alert is in effect. Then Ollie becomes worried for his mother, so he tells the others what he did and they go check on her. Thankfully, they are just in time to save her from Void Knight and the Sporix Beasts.

The Rangers perform a rush morph, replicating the ones seen in Lost Galaxy, before coming insight of Dinohenge. In the battle, Dr. Akana gets into scuffle with Mucus, and uses her drone to support the Rangers. Dr. Akana’s drone eventually overheats and explodes, knocking ShockHorn out of the area. Void and Mucus are forced to flee, and Zayto sends the other Rangers to pursue ShockHorn. Zayto assumes that ShockHorn will attempt to enlarge himself, so he returns to Solon to active the T-Rex Champion Zord. Coincidentally, Zayto’s assumption is correct, so Amelia and Ollie try to stall the giant-sized ShockHorn until he can arrive.

Eventually, Zayto and his T-Rex Champion Zord enter the battle, following some Boost Key action from the others. The Zord fight is pretty short, and Zayto goes for the final attack almost immediately. During the attack, Zayto calls forth the system execution weapon, the Mega Fury Saber; it is a physical version of the sword seen on his Red Ranger Power Key. The prop looks cool and I hope it somehow gets integrated into the toyline. Anyway, the attack does not destroy ShockHorn, but it regresses him back into a Sporix Egg. The Rangers attempt to capture it, but Void Knight manages to obtain it before them.

After the battle Ollie apologizes for going off-script, and the others consider it ‘water under the bridge.’ So, with everything in order Zayto decides that the Rangers must confront media with a press conference at BuzzBlast. A morphed Zayto even films a PSA informing residents to contact the newly established Ranger hotline in regards to Sporix sightings. Now, we have not seen actual PSA’s featuring Rangers since Turbo, which were not too great. However, making a PSA to be used within the actual series for an in-universe threat is a great concept. I am really enjoying how the series is so timely by incorporating social media into its stories. Also, I cannot wait to see how it will be used for either good or bad.

Then the final scene features Void Knight taking Mucus to his base of operations, Area 62. The base’s name is a play on Area 51, and it seems to be a discarded military bunker. There Void Knight, loads the Sporix Egg into a jukebox-like designed machine, and it begins to fill an energy meter. Unfortunately for Void Knight though, ShockHorn’s Sporix Egg barely fills the machine’s tank and it seems to require more power. Void Knight then informs Mucus, the collection of the Sporix and this machine is part of his master plan. Yet, what pray tell could Void Knight’s master plan be?

Well, my theory is Void Knight requires large amounts of energy like the Sporix to create something like a Zord. It is quite possible that Void Knight will either create a late season Zord, or adapt Ryusoulger’s film exclusive, Kishiryujin. An explanation that could be used to support my claim would be without a Morphin’ Master, Zord creation is hard. At least, the type of Zord that Void Knight wants is unobtainable without their assistance. Whereas, other theories range from Void Knight’s plan is to create villainous Rangers to something with the Morphing Grid. Yet, whatever the case may be, the mystery behind Void Knight continues to grow.

Now, as for this episode, “Sporix Unleashed,” it is another great episode. The comedy feels more genuine and the soft advertisement for the products does not seem too forced. Also, the series is steadily building up the current team, before tacking on Green and Black as well as Gold. Whereas, the world and our villains are gradually being explored, establishing the story’s narrative. In addition, the episode’s moral of working as team was better delivered than previous season’s ‘lesson of the day.’

Furthermore, it may surprise fans that this was written by Awyln Dale and Becca Barnes. Two writers who were constantly held at fault for previous season’s bad scripts. However, with Simon Bennet’s recent interviews it verifies their ‘poor’ scripts were due to Haim Saban’s executive decisions. So, Dale and Barnes are proving to be good screenwriters, and I hope the threats towards them disappear. Also, this makes me wonder who wrote the upcoming episode “Lost Signal,” which centers around my new favorite Red Ranger.

Nevertheless, I overly enjoyed this episode, and I cannot wait for next week. In the meantime, fans please continue to support this site, and look forward to new content on my YouTube Channel. I have some projects previously scheduled for the channel that I hope to share on here too. So, stay tuned for all possible updates, and until then, may the power protect you all!

Final Grade: 4.5 out of 5 Power Keys