Jason David Frank made his Power Rangers debut in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers season 1, episode 17, "Green with Evil: Part I," and his Green Ranger quickly became one of the show's biggest draws. He slotted right into the story's chaotic formula while also offering something unique for the show's viewers. The actor became so beloved by the fan base that his connection to the show grew stronger as the years went by, and he became one of the most notable figures in the entire franchise.

Although the saga branched out significantly from Mighty Morphin, later best Power Rangers episodes across all the shows, and it all started with his exciting entrance back in 1993.

The Green Ranger Brought Something New And Exciting To Power Rangers

An evil Power Ranger shook things up

Even in its earliest days, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers started to get a bit predictable. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, as there's a certain comfort to be taken in knowing pretty much exactly what's going to happen next. That being said, when the Green Ranger entered the fray in the show's 17th installment, the show had the thunderbolt it needed to start its journey to greatness. The story's titular team had been routinely portrayed as infallible heroes to that point, but a villainous Power Ranger was something new.

The Green Ranger's real name was Tommy Oliver.

Rather than having the main characters face off with textbook supervillains, they found themselves having to do battle with someone who looked just like he could be their ally. If that wasn't enough, the Green Ranger was also winning those fights. This was an incredibly exciting turn of events that no one saw coming, even though, logically, the only person who stood a chance of defeating the Power Rangers was another Power Ranger. Frank's character eventually shook Rita Repulsa's brainwashing spell and ed the team, but all those positive emotions instilled in the audience by his debut remained.

Tommy Oliver Had All The Cool Toys The Other Power Rangers Didn’t Have

The Green Ranger wasn't short of improved gadgets

Tommy's alter ego came with several gadgets that set him apart from the other Power Rangers. One of his most memorable items was the Dragon Dagger, which responded to being played like a flute and could issue non-verbal commands to his Zord. It was a strange addition to the lore, but it stood out for a reason. Building on the Dragon Dagger was Tommy's Zord itself, which could transform to become what was essentially a Megazord all on its own, which is something the other Power Rangers had to work together to achieve. Plus, there was his cool chest plate.

In the real world, the Green Ranger's gadgets were understandably developed into merchandise for kids to play with. The toys became highly sought-after and did things that their predecessors could not. Because of how well the character was received, the Green Ranger merch presumably flew off the shelves and became more difficult to find. So, this would also have contributed to the legend of Tommy Oliver.

The Green Ranger Was Only The Beginning Of Tommy Oliver’s Power Rangers Legacy

Jason David Frank went on to appear in many other Power Rangers projects

Jason David Frank didn't just play the Green Ranger, but also moved on to become the White Ranger after leaving the show for a while when he lost his Green Ranger powers. Before long, he was back - but this time as the White Ranger. He became the new leader after Austin St. John's Jason left the show as the Red Ranger. Even after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers concluded its run. Frank remained a massive part of the shows, movies, and crossovers that followed.

Jason David Frank ed away in November 2022 at the age of 49.

After the White Ranger, Frank wore red in Power Rangers Zeo and kept that position until halfway through Power Rangers Turbo. Still not satisfied with his contributions to the franchise, the actor also became the Black Ranger in Power Rangers Dino Thunder. He carried on playing the character throughout the late 2010s and is still the most recognizable face of the franchise. His service to the Power Rangers saga is something that will never be forgotten, and it all started with his performance as the Green Ranger in 1993.