King Mondo and his Machine Empire were some of the lamest villains inPower Rangers, but they were eventually used as the backdrop of the show’s greatest episode. While neither Rita Repulsa nor Lord Zedd were particularly effective, both were very charismatic villains. Seeing Lord Zedd go from a menacingPower Rangersvillainat the start of season 2 to a joke in season 3 was disappointing, but at leastZedd and Ritahad already made their mark on the show by that point.
After hundreds of episodes based onKyoryu Sentai Zyuranger,Power RangersswitchedSuper Sentaishowsand started a brand-new series with a different color scheme, different costumes, and different villains. In “A Zeo Beginning,”Zedd, Rita, and their minions discover that the Machine Empire is coming to Earth.This prompts the originalMMPRvillains to run away, leaving the planet to be claimed by King Mondo and his army.
King Mondo And The Machine Empire Were Disappointing Villains In Power Rangers Zeo
Rita And Zedd’s Replacement Was Neither Menacing Nor Charismatic
In theory, an intergalactic empire formed by sentient machines coming to take over Earth seemed like an exciting premise. The fact that King Mondo was powerful enough to scare Rita and Zedd away from their palace made it seem like these new villains would be far more effective than their predecessors. Unfortunately,not only was King Mondo as ineffective as Rita in her worst days, but he never felt menacing or scary at all.
Forget Jason And Tommy, The Best Red Ranger Came From A Criminally Underrated Power Rangers Season
One of the greatest Red Rangers in the Power Rangers franchise came from an underrated season and was not as popular as Jason or Tommy.
King Mondo’s counterpart inChouriki Sentai Ohranger, theSentaiin whichPower Rangers Zeowas based, was an actually scary villain that could have made for a much better antagonist in the American show.Power Rangersis supposed to be less serious thanSentaimost of the time, but after several episodes treating Rita and Zedd as jokes, the show wasted a golden opportunity to makeZeo’s villain feel like a real threat to the heroes.King Mondo and the Machine Empire did not have the charisma of Rita and Zeddeither, making them lesser villains in every aspect.
Forever Red’s Machine Empire Story Redeemed One Of Power Rangers’ Worst Villains
The Machine Empire Remnants Caused The Red Rangers To Assemble In “Forever Red”
The Machine Empire was defeated at the end ofPower Rangers Zeo, seemingly concluding the story of one of the show’s most disappointing final bosses. However, inPower RangersWild Force’s “Forever Red,” we are introduced to General Venjix, leader of the Machine Empire remnants. Seeking to avenge their king,the Machine Empire remnants planned to reactivate Lord Zedd’s Serpentera zord, which was hidden on the moon.
For the Machine Empire remnants in “Forever Red,“Power Rangersused the costumes fromBeetleborgs, the American TV show based onJuukou B-Fighter.
OnceRed Ranger Androsfound out about it, he and Tommy assembled a team of Red Rangers to go to the moon and stop General Venjix and his allies. This was a relatively simple premise that led to one ofPower Rangers’ best episodes, if not the best. Seeing Tommy and Jason brief the other Rangers about Lord Zedd’s zord and King Mondo was very nostalgic, and it retroactively made the Machine Empire feel like a bigger threat than they had ever been duringZeo.
Power Rangers Zeo
Cast
Power Rangers Zeo is the fourth season of the American television series, following the Power Rangers. The new season introduces the Zeo Crystal, which gives the Rangers new powers and Zords. Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa return, joined by the Machine Empire, in their quest to conquer Earth.
