Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always delivered the moment fans of the original show had been waiting to see since 1994, but it could have been much better. Set almost 30 years after the events of the original series, Once & Always brought back MMPR legends Billy Cranston and Zack Taylor in addition to second-generation Rangers such as Rocky and Kat for a Netflix special that celebrated the original show’s legacy. Walter Emanuel Jones and David Yost were the only two of the original main cast to return, but the special was filled with nostalgia nonetheless.

While most of the history of Power Rangers in different ways. This includes Zack finally meeting his Black Ranger replacement.

Zack And Adam Finally Interacted In Power Rangers 29 Years After The Black Ranger Was Replaced

Johnny Yong Bosch Was Walter Emanuel Jones’ Replacement In Season 2

Zack and Adam technically met each other in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers season 2 when the Stone Canyon trio arrived in Angel Grove and proved themselves worthy to the Power Rangers. However, in reality, Walter Emanuel Jones, Austin St. John, and Thuy Trang were no longer on the show by the time Johnny Yong Bosch, Steve Cardenas, and Karan Ashley were cast. This is why Power Rangers used body doubles and old footage in the episodes where the original Red, Black, and Yellow Rangers were about to leave the team.

In other words, Jones’ Zack never interacted with Bosch’s Adam – or with any of the second-generation Mighty Morphin Rangers. This would only change 29 years with Power Rangers: Once & Always, at the end of which Zack shared a brief but emotional moment with Adam and Aisha. Zack also fought side by side with Rocky and Kat during the special, which is something that many Power Rangers fans never thought would happen. Whereas Jason returned in both Zeo and the Turbo film, Zack had been away from the franchise since MMPR season 2.

Zack And Adam Hugging Was Great, But They Should Have Fought Together In Once & Always

Adam And Aisha Did Not Do Much In Power Rangers: Once & Always

Zack and Adam’s brief moment at the end of Once & Always was great and helped make up for how badly Power Rangers handled the ing of the torch in 1994. That said, I would have loved to see Zack and Adam, the two Mighty Morphin Black Rangers, fighting side by side. Naturally, only one of them would have been able to use the Black Ranger powers, but that doesn’t mean Adam couldn’t have ed the action too. Even if Once & Always didn’t want to include other powers like the Zeo ones, Adam could have gotten some civilian fights.

Power Rangers: Once & Always was Karan Ashley's first appearance in the franchise since the end of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Bringing back Adam and Aisha as S.P.A. agents while Rocky and Kat completed the main Ranger team made sense, yet Johnny Yong Bosch and Karan Ashley barely appeared in the special and only showed up in person at the very end. While it is unclear why exactly those two characters did not have bigger roles in Once & Always, the Power Rangers reunion could have been even better with more interactions between the OG Rangers and the ones from the second generation. Aisha could’ve also had more moments with Minh, as the former was the second Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger.

At Least The Original Black Ranger Finally Fought Alongside Rocky & Kat In Once & Always

Unlike Jason, Zack Had Never Fought Alongside The New Rangers

Not having Adam and Zack interact more was disappointing, but at least Power Rangers: Once & Always gave us some moments that always seemed impossible. Having a Power Rangers team consisting of Billy, Zack, Rocky, Kat, and Trini’s daughter was a pleasant surprise that made the Power Rangers universe feel richer and more connected. Characters like Adam, Rocky, and Kat went on to establish their own legacies in the franchise and appeared in multiple shows and movies, which is why seeing them working with one of the original Rangers was so special.

Billy and Tommy both remained on the team until the end of the original show and were also in Zeo, meaning they worked with all of the new Rangers. Likewise, Jason interacted with Rocky and the other replacements in Zeo as well in the Turbo film. Thuy Trang sadly ed away on September 3, 2001, and Walter Emanuel Jones never returned to the franchise until 2023. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always was bittersweet in many ways, but it delivered a lot of special and nostalgic moments.