Time Force premiered 24 years ago and showed that Power Rangers could tackle dark stories and have serious character development despite being a kid's show. From the formulaic structure of the series to the moral lessons about friendship and teamwork at the end of every episode, Power Rangers was often not that different from other 20-minute kid's shows. That said, things started to change in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Although Turbo is widely considered one of the worst Power Rangers universe could be.

Power Rangers Time Force Was The Show's Most Mature Season

Time Force Had Three-Dimensional Characters And Clever Stories

The early 2000s were very exciting for Power Rangers fans, as the show kept trying new things and moved away definitively from the Zordon Era. Don't get me wrong, I love MMPR and its sequels, but Lost Galaxy showed that Power Rangers could be much more than just Angel Grove. Lightspeed Rescue gave us a team of Power Rangers consisting of trained adults, whereas Time Force introduced a future where Power Rangers were not just superheroes but also an important part of a larger legal system.

I never thought I would see a Red Ranger die in battle, especially not in their first appearance, but that's how Time Force decided to kick things off. Alex's apparent death was just the first of many shocking, dark moments in Power Rangers Time Force, a season whose villain had been a victim of prejudice for being a mutant and swore revenge on humans. Ransik's entire backstory, including what happened to Dr. Louis Fericks, was more complex and compelling than anything Power Rangers had done with its villains in the 1990s.

Time Force was based on Mirai Sentai Timeranger, which came out in 2000.

The fact that the Power Rangers were constantly at risk of ruining the timeline, plus the return of Alex as a very different person, added a sense of urgency that other seasons didn't have. Everything about Time Force felt serious, even though the show had all the silly tropes and quirks that Power Rangers is known for. The characters were three-dimensional, particularly Wes, Jen, Eric, and Alex, meaning they were just as fun to watch unmorphed as they were in battle.

Time Force Remains One Of The Best Power Rangers Seasons 24 Years Later

Few Power Rangers Seasons Were As Good

Time Force is not just a great Power Rangers season – it is a great television show that even non-Power Rangers fans can enjoy. The storylines involving Time Force's future, Wes's relationship with his father, Eric's ambition, and Alex's mysterious agenda were all so compelling that I would even forget about the monster of the week that had to be destroyed by the end of the episode.

Wes goes through probably my favorite character arc in the franchise, going from a spoiled rich kid who wasn't sure about his place in the world to a fearless leader who deserved to be a Red Ranger. Likewise, the Quantum Ranger is up there among the greatest Sixth Rangers, and there is an argument to be made that Jen is the best Pink Ranger ever. From the amazing characters to the bold story, Time Force is a chapter of its own in the history of Power Rangers.