Summary

• Some Power Rangers seasons are more mature and can be enjoyed by adults, even without nostalgia. They break away from the formulaic structure.
• Power Rangers in Space, Lost Galaxy, and Time Force are among the best seasons that offer more serious and complex storylines.
• Lightspeed Rescue and S.P.D. feature grounded and realistic takes on Power Rangers, focusing on themes like leadership and duty.

While there is not a dark or gritty Power Rangers’ chronology, and like “death” or “kill” have rarely been used in the series.

Still, some of the greatest Power Rangers characters, such as Time Force’s Jen or S.P.D.’s Jack, to stand out among so many Rangers. The number of filler episodes or silly scenes can make it difficult for new, older audiences to get into Power Rangers, but the saga’s more serious entries are great starting points.

10 Power Rangers in Space

1998

Power Rangers in Space marks the end of the Zordon Era, and it is also the beginning of a shift in tone for the show. From Mighty Morphin to Turbo, Power Rangers was about a group of teenagers from Angel Grove who would find giant monsters between classes. In Space was the first season to break that trend by taking the second generation of Turbo Rangers to space, where they met a non-Earthling Ranger from planet KO-35. In Space Red Ranger Andros was nothing like previous characters in the franchise, which allowed Power Rangers to ditch some of the show’s tropes and try something new.

Andros’ backstory was particularly tragic, as his sister was kidnapped when they were still children, and his planet was taken over by Dark Specter. Power Rangers in Space explores how Andros grew up without a home or a family, and how Dark Specters’ forces brainwashed Karone into thinking she was left alone in the world. With no comic duo appearing almost every five minutes and most of the story taking place outside of Earth, In Space proved that Power Rangers could still be a show aimed at children without having to use the same tropes over and over.

9 Power Rangers Lost Galaxy

1999

Whereas In Space was a season of transition, Lost Galaxy was the beginning of Power Rangers’ post-Zordon era. Apart from the Astro Megaship’s return and a couple of crossovers with In Space, Lost Galaxy had no ties to the previous seasons. Additionally, instead of teenagers, Lost Galaxy follows a team of adult protagonists. The Power Rangers now had jobs, with each of them playing a different role in the Terraventure mission. Lost Galaxy also has some of the darkest moments in the Power Rangers franchise, such as the death of the Magna Defenders’ son and the sacrifice of the Pink Ranger.

8 Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue

2000

For those looking for a more “grounded” Power Rangers season, Lightspeed Rescue might be the best option. Instead of Rangers going to space or a giant alien face trapped inside a tube, Lightspeed Rescue was about a group of athletic, trained individuals who were recruited by the government to become Power Rangers. Similar to Lost Galaxy, the Rangers were adults with jobs who were given a mission. The Lightspeed Rangers acted more as first responders than as classic superheroes, and they all had lives outside of their jobs as Power Rangers. Each character is given a moment to shine, and the series deals with themes such as leadership and a sense of duty.

7 Power Rangers Time Force

2001

Power Rangers is inherently a sci-fi show, but some seasons lean more on that aspect than others. Time Force is one of the best Power Rangers seasons, but it is also a great sci-fi series that even those who are not familiar with the franchise can enjoy. The fact that Time Force begins with the Red Ranger being killed in combat in front of his friends tells everything someone needs to know about the show. With a clever time travel plot and one of the coolest “evil Rangers” in all of the saga, Time Force is a landmark for the Power Rangers universe.

6 Power Rangers Dino Thunder

2004

Power Rangers Dino Thunder goes back to the franchise’s roots, with the Rangers once again being kids in high school. That said, Dino Thunder arguably does everything Mighty Morphin did but better and more maturely, offering a story that both children and adults can enjoy. The monster-of-the-week adventures are combined with a legacy story that sees the return of Power Rangers legend Jason David Frank as Tommy Oliver, now a professor who later becomes the Black Ranger. Dino Thunder’s White Ranger arc is one of the best in the entire series, and the scenes in which Tommy re his Mighty Morphin friends will make long-time fans nostalgic.

5 Power Rangers S.P.D.

2005

Just like Time Force, S.P.D. shows how rich the Power Rangers universe can be. The series follows a group of cadets from Space Force Delta who have to step up and become Power Rangers. Arguably none of the S.P.D. Rangers were fully ready for such a mission, yet they all answered the call. S.P.D. features fascinating team dynamics and explores what it means to be a Power Rangers leader. Jack Landors is among the best Power Rangers characters, and the “weekly drama” always feels earned and natural. The stakes are high, and while the series is very funny, it has many emotional moments.

4 Power Rangers RPM

2009

Whereas some Power Rangers seasons can be considered more mature due to their tone or how their characters are developed, Power Rangers RPM is a relatively dark season by default. RPM is set in a dystopian future in which much of the world has been destroyed by a techno monster virus. With Earth doomed, the Ranger Operators have no one but themselves and Dr. K to rely on, resulting in arguably the most unique season in the series. Thanks to its setting, RPM avoids almost every Power Rangers trope. RPM even takes place in an alternate universe, which means it is a truly standalone season.

3 Power Rangers HyperForce

2017

Power Rangers HyperForce is not a TV show but rather a tabletop RPG campaign told in the form of a web series. While this is a very specific format, those who enjoy shows like Critical Role will find in HyperForce a highly entertaining roleplaying campaign set in the world of Power Rangers. It takes place in the far future of the Power Rangers timeline and ties into Time Force. Whether HyperForce is canon to the TV shows is open for debate, but the HyperForce Rangers have recently starred in a comic book, BOOM! Studios’ Power Rangers Unlimited: HyperForce.

2 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always

2023

Power Rangers: Once & Always is a one-off TV special released on Netflix that serves as a sequel to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. A nostalgic reunion that celebrated Mighty Morphin’s 30th anniversary. Once & Always benefited from the streaming release and did not have the same restrictions as the classic TV show. In other words, the Rangers could now say “kill” or “death” rather than “destroyed.” Once & Always found the perfect balance between the campiness of Mighty Morphin and the more mature tone that a 30-year reunion asked for, making it perfect for those who grew up on the original Power Rangers show.

1 Power Rangers Cosmic Fury

2023

Power Rangers Cosmic Fury only lands for those who have seen Power Rangers Dino Fury, which is why it may not be a great pick for those who are not familiar with the franchise. However, the 10-episode series is the most mature Power Rangers season of the last few years. Cosmic Fury broke one of the oldest Power Rangers traditions by having no filler episodes or monsters-of-the-week. Instead, it told a serialized story that was not afraid of killing off characters and even avoided the comic relief characters from the previous shows.