Once a Ranger

"Once a Ranger" is a special two-part team-up episode of Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive, commemorating the fifteenth season of the popular Power Rangers television series begun in 1993. It features the return of five former Rangers who aid the current team of Operation Overdrive Rangers against the son of the original two villains of the series.

Plot summary
Thrax, the son of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, arrives and proposes a temporary alliance with the four factions of Operation Overdrive villains. The villains, hesitant at first, join forces and wage an all out war against the Rangers. United, the villains defeat the Overdrive Rangers. Then, as the final attack, Thrax severs their link to the Universal Morphing Grid, stripping them of their powers and making it impossible for Andrew Hartford to restore them. Sentinel Knight's spirit arrives and whisks the Rangers to safety.

Andrew then tells the Rangers that Thrax's alliance is attacking various locations around the world and tells them to use their genetic enhancements as they head to Stonehenge to fight Kamdor and Mig. Things weren't looking good for the Rangers with Kamdor and Mig overwhelming them. In the nick of time, veteran Rangers Adam Park, Tori Hanson, Kira Ford, Bridge Carson, and Xander Bly arrived and fended off Kamdor and Mig.

Back at Hartford's mansion, Sentinel Knight reveals that he summoned them to take their place while the Morphing Grid is being fixed. Andrew Hartford reinforces the Morphing Grid so that Thrax cannot cut off the veteran Rangers' powers as well, while Adam seeks a way to repair the Grid. All the Operation Overdrive Rangers, save for Mack, feel left out and decide to leave Operation Overdrive to return to their pre-Ranger lives.

Without his Ranger powers, Mack's role in Operation Overdrive is reduced to sweeping floors at the mansion. Adam brings his new teammates to Angel Grove to retrieve Alpha 6 to repair the Operation Overdrive link to the Morphing Grid. Meanwhile, Mack learns of the legend of Excelsior, a golden sword which is the only weapon capable of fully restoring the Sentinel Knight.

After consulting Rose, who is again teaching college-level courses, Mack decides to search for Excelsior. Rose deduces Mack's plan and gathers the rest of the Overdrive team to join him; not a difficult task, since none of the Overdrive Rangers were happy with their "normal" lives seeing as how their mission is still unfinished. Successfully retrieving the sword from beneath Thrax's fingertips results in the destruction of a powerful monster attacking the city. Alpha 6 restores the Overdrive Rangers' link to the Morphing Grid, and all 11 Rangers band together to confront Thrax and his alliance.

The villainous alliance is dissolved with Thrax's destruction by the Sentinel Knight, restored and repowered by Excelsior. The Episode ends with all 11 Rangers placing their hands together and cried the traditional Power Ranger call, "Go Go Power Rangers!"

Returning Power Rangers
Four former Power Rangers and one current Ranger from the future, returns for this episode:


 * Adam Park: The second Black Ranger of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, portrayed by Johnny Yong Bosch. Adam uses his Power Axe as his primary weapon.  However, he also uses the Defender Vest, the Hovertek Cycle, and the Flash Point Megazord.  He serves as leader of the "Retro Rangers".  Adam had also served as Zeo Ranger IV - Green in Power Rangers: Zeo and the first Green Turbo Ranger in Power Rangers: Turbo. He now owns his own dojo.
 * Tori Hanson: The Blue Wind Ranger of Power Rangers: Ninja Storm, portrayed by Sally Martin. At the close of Ninja Storm, Tori became a sensei at the Wind Ninja Academy, overseeing students who were proficient in water techniques.  A professional surfer, she now also owns a surf shop.
 * Kira Ford: The Yellow Dino Ranger of Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, portrayed by Emma Lahana. At the end of Dino Thunder, Kira continued to pursue her singing career and was working on her first CD.
 * Bridge Carson: The S.P.D. Red Ranger of Power Rangers: S.P.D., portrayed by Matt Austin. Bridge was originally the Green Ranger in S.P.D., but he was promoted to Blue Ranger when Jack Landors left S.P.D. and the Red Ranger position was taken by Sky Tate.  Later, Fowler Birdy would retire as Supreme Commander of Space Patrol Delta and Doggie Cruger would take over his position, prompting a promotion for Sky to Commander of S.P.D. Earth and Bridge to the position of S.P.D. Red Ranger.  It is unknown if Sky was given the Shadow Ranger powers, or if new Rangers were selected for the Blue & Green positions.  He was the only Ranger who was brought in from the future, at least 20 years from the events in the series, since S.P.D. was set 20 years from its year of airing. As stated above, he is still considered an active Ranger.
 * Xander Bly: The Green Mystic Ranger of Power Rangers: Mystic Force, portrayed by Richard Brancatisano. As of the end of Mystic Force, Xander is the manager of the Rockporium, a record shop in Briarwood where all of the Mystic Rangers had worked.