Power Rangers Dino Fury: Destination Dinohenge Review

PRDF "Destination Dinohenge"

This new season of Power Rangers, pregnant with possibility as they always are, still opens under the overcast sky of New Zealand playing the United States, a comfortable and unshakable continuity with the past. With a new season comes an opportunity to clear the decks, reset, and introduce a new team. But the first impression comes through a new title sequence.

The theme song is characterized by techno flourishes. It doesn't seem to have much to it. The time allotted to the titles seems shorter, though there's still enough for an obligatory "Go go Power Rangers" quote. I'll leave room for the theme to grow on me, because it isn't there yet. But when the new Rangers first morph later in the episode, that's when the score really makes a case for itself. The techno bits are accentuated by mythic overtones, matching the suit designs reflecting medieval knights.

We are introduced to the world of Dino Fury through the non-Red Rangers, an interesting choice that harks back to In Space (more on that later). Amelia (once and future Pink Ranger) is a TV journalist with an interest in cryptozoology (!), and Ollie (Blue) is the son of a passionate archaeologist. They meet in the forest near Dinohenge, a circle of six dinosaur statues: six for six Rangers.

After Ollie's mother, Dr. Lani Akana, leaves to sort out permit issues with park warden Garcia (who we're instantly clued into as a future comic relief character through the music), a Koragg look-alike villain called Void Knight uncovers a Ranger base underneath Dinohenge. There, a cyborg dinosaur named Solon watches over Red Ranger Zayto. Zayto is an alien, leading new human Rangers Amelia and Ollie, a dynamic, again, out of In Space. (Zayto's antennae, however, land on the wrong side of Guardians of the Galaxy's Mantis and Star Trek's Andorians.)

The Ranger suit design is matched by the foot soldiers, who resemble suits of armor come to life; very Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Zayto also gives his backstory, which involves surprisingly good T-Rex CGI, and an appearance from Morphin Masters. Plotwise, it should be noted that dangerous Sporix are unleashed on the world, each one ready to hatch a monster.

The relatively brief action is decent enough, and features good hero moments for both Amelia and Ollie. (Once morphed, Amelia uses a move reminiscent of Ben Solo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.) The episode is in the positive tradition of premieres that take it slow. We get a morph, but not a full morphing sequence, and only a tease of monsters and zords. Everything clicks along, not as solidly formed as the Beast Morphers premiere, and with a slightly awkward energy. But this new Ranger team's legend is just beginning. 6/10.

Stray observation:

- The title Dino Fury is a combination of Dino Thunder/Dino Charge and Jungle Fury.