Power Rangers RPM: Difference between revisions

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Power Rangers RPM" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Template:Future television

Power Rangers RPM
File:Logo-rpm.jpg
Genre	Action-Adventure
Starring	Eka Darville Ari Boyland Rose McIver Milo Cawthorne Daniel Ewing Olivia Tennet James Gaylyn Adelaide Kane
Country of origin	United States  New Zealand
No. of episodes	9 (As of April 25, 2009) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Koichi Sakamoto Eddie Guzelian Judd Lynn
Producer	Sally Campbell
Production companies	BVS Entertainment Jetix
Original release
Network	ABC (ABC Kids)[1][2]
Release	March 7, 2009[1][2]

Power Rangers: RPM is the seventeenth and most recent season of the long-running Power Rangers series of American children's television. As with all previous Power Rangers series, RPM uses footage, costumes, and other props from the Super Sentai Series Engine Sentai Go-onger. Due to the channels Toon Disney and Jetix becoming a single channel called Disney XD, the ABC Kids block on American Broadcasting Company stations broadcasts episodes of RPM.

Three years prior to the series' beginning, an AI computer virus called Venjix took over all of the Earth's computers, rendering all communication useless while creating an army of robot droids to destroy everything. Humanity's last safehaven became the domed city of Corinth. Surrounded by Venjix's forces and a force field, it is nearly impossible to enter without luck or firepower. When the force field is lowered to allow surviving humans sanctuary, Dr. K's RPM Power Rangers fight Venjix's forces to protect Corinth from being destroyed.

Australian actor Eka Darville, who previously starred in series three of Blue Water High, was reported to have a role in September 2008 in what was then unknown as RPM which began production in September 2008 in New Zealand.^[3][4] He is still cast as the Red Ranger, Scott Truman. Heidi Kathy Bradhurt had been cast as an extra,^[5] but her profile initially listed her as the Yellow Ranger, named "Kayla", whose name and actress has since been changed. Daniel Ewing had been reported in November 2008 to be playing a major character named "Dillon", revealed to be the Black Ranger.^[6] Other cast members include Murray Keane in the role of "Benny"^[7], Charlie McDermott voicing "General Crunch"^[8], and Jason Hoyte as a guest role named "Mr. McAllistair".^[9]

An article of The New Zealand Herald reported that RPM is the last season of the Power Rangers run. Production manager Sally Campbell stated in an interview "...at this stage we will not be shooting another season".^[10] However, a couple weeks later, Bandai released a statement that "Disney is producing a Season 18 and Bandai America will continue to develop action figures and toys for fans and collectors of all ages."^[11]

Scott Truman

Scott and his brother Marcus, codenamed Eagle 2 and Eagle 1 respectively, were pilots in the Air Force's Eagle Squadron; Scott found himself often in his brother's shadow. Both fought in the original battle to secure Corinth, where Marcus was killed. He was chosen to be the Ranger Operator Series Red (Ranger Red), the cocky team leader of the RPM team, and unimpressed with Dillon. Scott is portrayed by Eka Darville.

Flynn McAllistair

A laid back Scotsman, Flynn single-handedly ran a bus of refugees into Corinth during the original battle, impressing Dr. K enough to be chosen to be the Ranger Operator Series Blue (Ranger Blue). Flynn is portrayed by Ari Boyland.

Summer Landsdown

Summer was a rich and spoiled heiress, with constantly absent parents; when Venjix forces attacked on her birthday, she was abandoned by her friends and long-suffering staff during the evacuation. She later performed amateur medevac operations in the battle for Corinth, rescuing the downed Scott. She was chosen to be the Ranger Operator Series Yellow (Ranger Yellow), while making a deal with her parents to be given space in return for an eventual marriage. She convinced Dillon to join the team. Summer is portrayed by Rose McIver.

Ziggy Grover

Ziggy was a former (and incompetent) member of Fresno Bob's criminal Scorpion Cartel, but angered all the cartels in an act of kindness. He was forced to flee the city. When he first appears in the series, he befriends Dillon to return to Corinth and eventually becomes the Ranger Operator Series Green (Ranger Green). He is cowardly, and very reluctant to be a Ranger. However he has recently been shown to be taking his duties more seriously, attempting to do his best during battles as opposed to hiding, which he did in his first battle. Ziggy is portrayed by Milo Cawthorne.

Dillon

Dillon has no memory, of his past nor why his body is riddled with Venjix technology that boosts his physical capabilities. He spent a year trying to reach Corinth. A terse loner, he outwardly is unconcerned with others, but has defended Ziggy & Summer, who convinced him to join the RPM team as the Ranger Operator Series Black (Ranger Black). Dillon is portrayed by Daniel Ewing.

• Dr. K: The Rangers' mentor who communicates through computers and creates the technology for the RPM Rangers. She is extremely sensitive about the Ranger suits, particularly if someone calls them spandex. Although her identity is initially obscured, speaking only through a computer screen (the Rangers refer to K as "he"), the Rangers later learn that she is a young woman. She rarely leaves the base and is quite blunt with other people, once outright saying to Ziggy "I don't like you". Dr. K is portrayed by Olivia Tennet.
• Colonel Mason Truman: Scott's father and the leader of Corinth's defense forces. Portrayed by James Gaylyn.
• Corporal Hicks: Portrayed by Damien Avery.
• Vasquez: Portrayed by Mia Koning.
• Benny: A friend of Ziggy's from his Scorpion Cartel days. Portrayed by Murray Keane.

The primary villains in Power Rangers: RPM operate out of a mechanical fortress.

• Venjix: An aggressive sentient computer virus that took control of the planet three years prior to the series. Its only form is that of a large technological pillar with one red optical eye. The virus is so powerful that it decimated almost the entire world, leaving only the city of Corinth. Voiced by Andrew Laing.
• General Shifter: One of Venjix's mechanical generals, he is more serious and aggressive than his counterpart, Crunch. Venjix gunned him down in a display of annoyance over the constant failures, though he was later rebuilt. Voiced by Mark Mitchinson.
• General Crunch: Another of Venjix's mechanical generals. He appears to be dim-witted and less serious than his counterpart, Shifter. As with Shifter, he was shot down by Venjix - several times, the last shots being for naively noting some basic flaws in Venjix's plans (poking fun at Power Rangers' genre conventions). He was rebuilt soon after though. Voiced by Charlie McDermott.
• Tenaya 7: A Generation-Seven Gynoid created by Venjix to resemble a human. She is known for whistling the tune from The Farmer in the Dell (similar to Omar Little from The Wire) before confronting and attacking her opponents. In battle, she wears a visor. Her first mission was to use her human-like appearance to attend Ziggy's Green Ranger audition to bond with and steal the Series Green powers, resulting in Ziggy bonding with the powers in an attempt to protect them. Tenaya has a rebellious side, often criticizing Venjix's plans and talking to it sarcastically, similar to Dillon's defiance of Dr. K. Portrayed by Adelaide Kane.
• Grinders: Venjix's mechanical footsoldiers.
• Venjix Drones: Cicada-like Assault vehicles, piloted by the Grinders. They can change from an land-based form to an aerial mode.

• The Cartels: Five criminal organizations that control the Corinth underworld who are not related to Venjix. On highly lucrative operations or against common problems (such as Ziggy), they have been known to work together. The most prominent is the Scorpion Cartel under Fresno Bob (John Sumner), who is known as a criminal to both the Rangers and Colonel Truman, but manages to remain free.

• Engine Cells: Power chips that plug into both the Rangers' weapons to power them, and the Zords to enlarge them.
• Cell Shift Morpher: A handheld cell phone device Rangers Red, Blue, and Yellow use to morph. They must also insert a blue-decaled, silver Engine Cell that allows them to morph. Their morphing call is "RPM, Get In Gear!"
• Rev Morpher: A wrist worn device modeled after a gear shifter that Rangers Green and Black use to morph. They must also insert a green-decaled silver Engine Cell that allows them to morph. They have the same morphing call, "RPM, Get In Gear!"
• Nitro Blasters: The Rangers' sidearms, powered by Engine Cells. They also have a Nitro Sword mode.
• Spacetime Manipulation: Each Ranger has the ability to manipulate electrons in their personal biosphere to bend spacetime in unique ways, letting them perform powerful attacks.
  • Burst Attack: Ranger Red channels energy into his own body for three seconds.
  • Time Manipulation Burst: Ranger Blue is able to freeze time for ten seconds.
  • Energy Blast: Ranger Yellow can fire large surges of energy.
  • Teleportation: Ranger Green can teleport for a period of time.
  • Invincibility Shield: Ranger Black can produce a shield that makes him impervious to all attacks for five seconds.
• Road Blaster: A combination of the Street Saber, Turbo Cannon, and Zip Charger. Powered by Engine Cells.
  • Street Saber: Ranger Red's personal weapon.
  • Turbo Cannon: Ranger Blue's personal weapon.
  • Zip Charger: Ranger Yellow's personal weapon.
• Turbo Plasma Launcher: A combination of the Turbo Axe and Rocket Blaster. Powered by Engine Cells.
  • Turbo Axe: Ranger Green's personal weapon.
  • Rocket Blaster: Ranger Black's personal weapon.

The Zords in RPM are referred to within the series as the "Zord Attack Vehicles". Each Zord Attack Vehicle is an animal-themed motor vehicle. When summoned by the Rangers, they must plug in their appropriate engine cell into their respective Zords in order to power them up and enlarge them.

• Eagle Racer: Ranger Red's Zord is a an eagle-themed race car with flight capabilities. It forms the torso, head, and arms of the High Octane Megazord. It is referred to as the Eagle Zord in the show
• Lion Hauler: Ranger Blue's Zord is a lion themed bus. It forms the legs of the High Octane Megazord.
• Bear Crawler: Ranger Yellow's Zord is a bear-themed monster truck. It forms the lower torso of the High Octane Megazord.
• Tail Spinner: Ranger Green's Zord is a shark-themed motorcycle. It becomes the left arm of the ValveMax Megazord to become a spinning blade. It can also replace the left arm of the High Octane Megazord with the same attack.
• Wolf Cruiser: Ranger Black's Zord is a wolf-themed police car. It becomes the right arm of the ValveMax Megazord to become a blaster. It can also replace the right arm of the High Octane Megazord with the same attack.
• Crocodile Carrier: An orange crocodile-themed eighteen wheeler (called Croc Carrier for short). Rangers Green and Black each have an Engine Cell Key for half of this unmanned/remote zord. It forms the body, head and legs of the ValveMax Megazord.

• High Octane Megazord: The Eagle Racer, Lion Hauler, and Bear Crawler Zords combine to form the High Octane Megazord. It wields a shield made from the chassis of the Bear Crawler and the Super Saber.
  • High Octane Megazord with Tail Spinner: The Tail Spinner replaces the left arm of the High Octane Megazord and forms a spinning blade weapon.
  • High Octane Megazord with Wolf Cruiser: The Wolf Cruiser replaces the right arm of the High Octane Megazord and forms a powerful gun weapon.
• ValveMax Megazord: The Croc Carrier forms the body, head and legs, while the Wolf Cruiser and Tail Spinner form the right and left arms respectively.

• Power Rangers: RPM at ABC Kids
• Power Rangers: RPM at IMDb