(Scene begins as a hand as it tapas the 1994 American Gladiators plays as the scene cuts to a hand as it taps an app on his phone as it opens a portal, and it cuts to different images of James as the characters he’s played until it cut to his face and the credit of “James Faraci” is shown as it cuts to “The Last Of The Americans'” current iteration then slides away to different images of Paulo Fonseca, Brenda Fonseca, Rebecca Yaun and Nick Yaun as the characters they’ve played until it cut to their faces and the credits of “Paulo and Brenda Fonseca & Rebecca and Nick Yaun” is shown as it then slides away to different images of John Ross and Mike Santos, Andrew Beach, and Ed Champion as the characters they’ve played until it cut to their faces and the credits of “John Ross Santos, Mike Santos, Andrew Beach, Ed Champion” is shown as it then slides away to different images of Eric Kurtzke, Renee Miller and Olivia Horvath and the credits of “Eric Kurtzke, Renee Miller, Olivia Horvath” is shown as the 0:00-0:21 mark of the theme song plays. Everything becomes a swirl of Reds, Whites, and Blues as the credits “Produced by First Choice Productions. Edited by Eric Kurtzke and Paulo Fonseca. Written and Directed by James Faraci” as the 0:21-0:26 mark of the theme song plays. We then see an outlined image of James as he morphs into “The Last Of The Americans” and lands with half of his team on his right. The other half on his left is on a white background, and the title “THE LAST OF THE AMERICANS” is shown Lazer etched into Titanium as the last six seconds of the American Gladiators 1994 theme song plays. Cut to James in his office.)
TLOTA: I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans, and the views that I'm about to express are that of my own and some of yours. When it comes to those who deserve to be with the Upper Eschelon of Superheroes, It's Power Rangers. (Cut to every SINGLE Power Rangers series as James does a voiceover)
TLOTA (V.O.): And they're still here after 30 years of reinventions, having been canceled three times by Fox, Disney, and Nickelodeon, only to be given yet another life on Netflix! Power Rangers has definitely proven they will not be stopped. While yes, not EVERYTHING has been the Botanical Gardens behind the scenes, but the franchise remained solid, especially after Saban sold the rights to Disney for a pretty penny, then Disney sold the franchise back to Saban for pennies on the dollar, then Saban sold it to Hasbro for as much as the franchise can get. The bottom line is that eventually, Power Rangers has survived so much and will survive the change of time. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA: And with their thirtieth anniversary having dropped on Netflix, now is the time to give it a look through (Cut to the Title card of "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always," then cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): Unlike other anniversary specials, this one focuses not on teaming up the legendary teams with the new one but focuses inward to see what has happened to most of the classic line-ups. But what will our team face against that who wants to destroy our planet? Will this be as good as "Forever Red" or will this go the way of "Operation Overdrive" & "Megaforce/Super Megaforce"? (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA: Let's Go-Go Find out this is... "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always" (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): The special opens with text, giving us the backstory of the Power Rangers team and acknowledging the other Power Ranger teams. We then see Billy Cranston, once again played by David Yost, as he struggles to get back on his feet mid-battle against Putties and a Robotic version of Rita Repulsa, voiced by Barbara Goodson! Wow, they're really bringing back the big guns for this. Billy morphs back to being the Blue Ranger, and just as it looks like he's going to face Robo-Rita alone, the rest of the team comes to save Billy, and I LOVE the fact they're using "Go Go Power Rangers." However, I think this was from Ron Wasserman's 2012 Redux; of course, it doesn't hurt that Ron returned to compose the music for the special. However, the Poop hits the fan as Trini takes a blast meant to Kill Billy! WAIT WHAT?!!? (Cut to James in Absolute Shock)
TLOTA: So this Robot wants to not just destroy the powers of The Power Rangers but to KILL THEM?! This went from fun and light-hearted to dark and serious faster than I can say Bulk and Skull(Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): Trini takes the killing blow meant for Billy, and Robo-Rita tells them it's going to the Dark Dimension to plan its revenge! We soon meet with Zack and Billy as they try to gently tell Trini's daughter Minh, played by Charlie Kersh; Zack tries to tell Billy about Zordon's Rules; however, Billy isn't hearing any of it, not that day, and it was the first time, they've had to deal with death. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA: Zordon died, and Many others have died in Power Rangers; this is not the first Power Rangers death any of the others. Kendrix died, partly due to the fact that her actress was diagnosed with Leukemia, and while yes, the actress survived and returned for the finale and the crossover episode in the next season, we as a fandom have dealt with death in and on Power Rangers. I think Minh can handle it! (Cut to the clip of Minh hearing Zack and Billy's conversation and Minh not handling it well. Cut to James physically.) Well, that could've been handled better! (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): Cut to a year later, as we see Zack having moved in with Minh, becoming a father figure to the orphaned child of the original Yellow Ranger. Minh herself has become capable of handling herself in combat. However, the anniversary has been interrupted as Robo-Rita has been found desecrating what should've been a solemn moment for the others. Minh wants in on stopping the bucket of bolts that murdered her mom. However, Zack puts the Kibosh on that! Robo Rita and her reforged Minotaur and Snizzard grab the Green, Red, and Pink Rangers. Minh wants in on destroying Robo Rita, and I understand her mom was destroyed by Robo Rita. Billy says this is not her battle because she's not a Ranger. Minh isn't having any of it and blames Billy for what happened as much as Robo-Rita. Billy and Zack go to Cranston tech to find Robo-Rita, as we see that on Rita's Palace, the process is going slower than Molasses. Snizzard decides to go Ranger hunting as we cut to Cranston Tech, which looks like The Command Center. We meet with Alpha 9, voiced by Alpha 5 voice actor Richard Steven Horowitz, as we see in the building Zordon's destroyed power tube in the background. Zack and Billy still blame himself for Trini's passing, as we see in flashback Billy's attempt to revive Zordon when, in the flashback, the creation of Robo-Rita as apparently Alpha 8 became Robo-Rita and Robo-Rita tells Billy there was more than just Zordon's energy in that Wave. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA: This makes sense as to why there were other villains and Power Rangers in most seasons, but it doesn't explain Thrax. (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): We soon see a live feed as Putties go on the attack worldwide! Billy calls upon the Bandora Protocol. We soon find Kat, once again played by Catherine Sutherland, teleported in as she was working at Tommy's son's Junior Karate Camp, and Rocky, once again by Steve Cardenas. Back with Minh, she sees Putties attacking the Youth Center and figures she could go in with her mom's Morpher. The others soon think they may need to go to a Megazord situation and enter the Proxy Power Coins. And, of course, Zack saying what Zordon said about too many powers. (Cut to the "Too much Pink Energy is dangerous" clip from "Wild West Power Rangers" Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): However, Kat thinks the risk is worth it. The four morph into action against the Putties; however, Minotaur and Snizzard note that they got Jason and Kim. Alpha 9 tells the others that they can be tracked as long as they're morphed. They power down and head back to the Command Center/ Cranston Tech as Alpha 9 tells them about a concentrated spot on the Lunar Surface, which is Rita's moon palace. There's soon a call from Aisha and Adam saying they're not going to get there in time but wishes them the best of luck. Rocky thinks that they ought to go to Rita's Palace. However, they also remember Snizzard and Minotaur and decide to smoke them out. And then, we find Minh trying to fight the Putties at the Youth Center. Minh tries to morph, but that doesn't go well... AT ALL! Without the powers, Minh BARELY holds her own against a troop of Putties, that is, until Zack and Rocky arrive to save Minh and the Youth Center, and it is nice to see Zack break out the old school Hip Hop Akido moves! Zack soon takes Minh to the Command Center/ Cranston Tech as Billy gives her an earful about keeping this place and the Power Rangers a secret. Zack soon forces Minh to relinquish her mom's Morpher, and Minh tries to convince Zack that she's doing what Trini would've done. Zack tries to tell Minh that she has no idea what she's doing. Zack tells Minh why the Morpher isn't working is because Minh isn't out for Justice, she wants revenge. Zack tells Minh that Monsters seek revenge and that a Mission of Revenge as a Ranger will never end well. Zack tries to tell Minh that being a hero is a selfless path, and it's not always easy, and Zack's sacrifice of his career as a Congressman and how things went down. Back with Billy, Rocky, and Kat, they set up the trap for Snizzard and Minotaur. Back with Robo Rita, we see she has grabbed Ravi, Ashley, Merrick, The Phantom Ranger, Tanya, Leo, Kai, Damon, Connor, Trent, Devon, Nate, and Carlos to power her device. Snizzard and Minotaur are magnetically trapped. Minh is surprised they're letting them live, but Billy tells them that all-out destruction is not good in his usual technobabble and does so with the Stealth Tech to get to Rita's palace. Meanwhile, Minh takes the Radbug to apparently finish off Snizzard and Minotaur but takes some time to help a couple out by taking out putties that are attacking. Minh tries to morph AGAIN and fails AGAIN! (Cut to the clip of Robert Wagner saying "Oy Gevalt!" in "Austin Powers In Goldmember" Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): Robo-Rita confronts Minh and says, "Screw morphing, I'm going to go Kung-Fu on your mechanical Tuchus!" which goes about as well as one would expect, with Minh being captured just as Billy and the others. And because they're attached to the machine by Snizzard's snakes, they can't just pull them out and free them. Robo Rita plans on using the device to, that's right, go back in time and destroy the Rangers before they get their powers. The others attack, and Rita attacks again; only Minh takes the shot meant for Billy. But by some miracle, that blast gives Minh the ability to finally access her mom's Morpher, which means IT...IS...TIME! (Cut to Minh and the Rangers saying, "IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" and morph! Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): The fight is on as Minh now takes her mom's place as the Yellow Ranger. They call upon their power weapons and go to town on the putties. Realizing they'd have to destroy Snizzard. Robo Rita makes Snizzard Grow. With Robo Rita distracted, Billy quickly dispatches her with a Power Lance through her mechanical midsection, and they summon the Zords. And after looking at them as they go Megazord mode, I am glad they did it right in the "Beast Morphers" crossover and not in "Forever Red". (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA: And to understand why that is... Go check out History Of Power Rangers. Enough Said. (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): The Megazord battle goes well as the others finally take out Minotaur, and even though she has been blasted in the motherboards, Robo Rita isn't staying down for too long. Robo Rita opens the portal, and Billy calls for the Megazord Power Sword to finish Snizzard unleashing the others. Billy and Rocky grab the others and get out of there as Kat fires, destroying the machine, and Zack finally puts Robo Rita out of her misery! While Adam and Aisha miss out on the adventure, the others are secured in Adam and Aisha's Spaceship med bay. As they go to Aquitar to revive the others, everyone says their goodbyes as Aisha is glad that the Sabertoothed Tiger's legacy is in good hands as Billy, Zack, and Minh celebrate their victory in the Juice Bar, Minh says she was too harsh on Billy and Billy says that he was as hard on himself as Minh realizes what Billy was doing and will continue to look for Zordon and try to bring him back and share everything about Trini as the special ends with a Tribute to both Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA: And that was "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always", A nostalgic trip worth taking. (Cut to clips of the special as James does a voiceover.)
TLOTA (V.O.): A lot of people consider this a legacy sequel to the original series. There are plenty of actors and references to the past series to justify that thought. The pacing was great; it was awesome to see Zack and Billy again; the writing was leagues above "Legendary Battle" and "Once A Ranger", especially when they had to write out Trini, and they didn't wimp out by schlepping her off to another peace conference, they acknowledged that she was gone. Her legacy was with her Daughter Minh. I will grant that Minh had a few irritating moments, like when she tried to morph twice and failed; however, I think it's because the Grid recognized Trini as the Yellow Sabertoothed Tiger Ranger, and the Morpher being blasted also didn't help, but once everything fell into place for Minh. She understood everything; she became every good thing her mom was like. While not ALL the Rangers were available, it was nice to see that they recognized that nothing was out of continuity. If you're a Power Rangers Fan, I HIGHLY recommend you watch it and get a kick knowing the Power is still there and protecting all of us and the future generations. If you've just got into it, it'll be interesting to see what happened to the Power Rangers you may be getting to know and how Morphinominal they are even after Thirty years of being Morphinominal. (Cut to James physically)
TLOTA: I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and That's my opinion!
