Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is exactly the special that fans of these characters have been waiting decades for. It unites the original Power Rangers, clad in their iconic diamond-themed uniforms, and pits them against Rita Repulsa and hordes of Putty Patrollers. But Once & Always is more than a reunion and more than a celebration of the venerable franchise’s 30th anniversary. It’s both of those things for sure, but it’s also a loving tribute to the members of the Power Rangers family who weren’t able to make it to the reunion. And while the special itself comes up with narrative explanations for some of the absences, the final moments cut through the pretense and offer a real tribute to the actors under the helmets. Mild SPOILERS ahead.
After the final scene of the special, a classic Power Rangers scene fades in: it’s Pink Ranger Kimberly (Amy Jo Johnson) singing a song titled “Down the Road” to the other five rangers, including Jason David Frank (Green Ranger Tommy) and Thuy Trang (Yellow Ranger Trini).
The scene comes from the Season 2 episode “The Song of Guitardo” and was originally performed for the character Tommy, who had given up his Ranger abilities to defeat Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Johnson wrote the song in addition to performing it on the show.
This archival scene culminates with a shot of Tommy looking at Trini, before a tribute card fades in.
Thuy Trang played Trini Kwan, the original Yellow Ranger, in the first 88 episodes of the original series. She left the show in November 1994 along with Walter Emanuel Jones (the original Black Ranger, who returned to star in Once & Always) and Austin St. John (Austin St. John, who doesn’t appear in Once & Always due to current legal troubles). Trang died in a car accident on September 3, 2001. The Power Rangers Time Force episode “Circuit Unsure” — which aired on October 20, 2001 — was also dedicated to Trang.
Jason David Frank played Tommy Oliver, debuting early in the first season of the original series as the first Green Ranger. He later played the original White Ranger and later iterations of the Red and Black Rangers. Frank appeared in the most Power Rangers episodes — a total of 257 spanning 25 years. Jason David Frank died of suicide on November 19, 2022. Once & Always was filmed prior to Frank’s passing, but the actor turned down the offer to reprise the role of Tommy in the special.
The special works the absence of Trang and Frank, as well as Amy Jo Johnson and Austin St. John, into the plot. Trini’s death in battle spurs her daughter, played by Charlie Kersh, to attempt to take on the role of the Yellow Ranger. As for the other rangers, they are only seen while in full uniform and are captured by one of Rita’s monsters early in the hourlong special.
As for Amy Jo Johnson, who played the original Pink Ranger and composed the song heard in the special’s tribute, she denied turning down the special due to money and said, “Maybe I just didn’t want to wear spandex in my 50s or couldn’t go to [New Zealand] for a month.”
Austin St. John doesn’t appear in the special likely because he was being indicted on federal fraud charges in spring 2022. According to the charges, St. John allegedly conspired to exploit the CARES Act — a stimulus bill designed to keep small businesses afloat during COVID — and fraudulently receive money for businesses both real and fake. St. John is currently on pre-trial release and only allowed to leave Texas for work — and no, he cannot comment on these matters at conventions.
Frank and Trang aren’t the only cast members to receive a tribute in the episode. Richard Genelle, who played Youth Center owner Ernie in the original series and Power Rangers Zeo, passed away in 2008 at the age of 47. In Once & Always, Zack wonders if the Youth Center still has Ernie’s smoothie recipe.