When Dino Fury was first announced, I was interested in what could be done with the fusion of dinosaurs and knights as the visual theme. What sort of story could be told as the creative shackles that held the franchise back were further removed? The franchise under Hasbro had already seen a great series in Beast Morphers, so this second series under them should be a great one. And be a great one it did.
Despite the complications involving a world pandemic and quick rewrites to keep things open for a second season upon Netflix becoming the sole distribution platform for the franchise, Dino Fury provided a well-told story and some brilliant action. It had some strong characters with both the Rangers and side characters, and especially with its villains.
To start, we have the opening episodes that introduces the Rangers. Amelia – the hopeful paranormal believer, and Ollie – the logical tech truster, make for a great pair. While they might be opposites of each other in some ways, with Ollie mocking Amelia for her ghost hunting and other paranormal beliefs, such an encounter has an impact in creating a friendship, forged further by working together in stopping Void Knight in the battle they become Rangers.
Joined in that fight by a reawakened Zayto – a Rafkonian Knight from millions of years ago, it is Zayto who inadvertently sets the Sporix loose upon the world in trying to stop Void Knight from claiming them. Rafkon and the Sporix are linked, as is explored once the Gold Ranger appears close to the end of the first season, with Zayto carrying the guilt of what happened to his former home as he works once again to stop the Sporix population sowing the kind of destruction they had on Rafkon.
This being Power Rangers, such a battle of epic proportions doesn’t happen on Earth, with the Sporix Beasts amounting to monsters of the week who will always be stopped. Then, with that monster defeated, its Sporix will be collected by either the Rangers or Void Knight. The Rangers want to keep them secure to stop their destructive power getting into the wrong hands. Void Knight wants them for a mysterious purpose which gets revealed part way through this first season.
With the fourth episode, two new Rangers emerge, with Izzy and Javi being step-siblings who look out for each other. Izzy is an outgoing athlete, sure of her skills but wanting to be better, while Javi is a reclusive musician, hiding his feelings but letting them drive his music. The sibling relationship is explored through the series, with relationships being a major theme of all of Dino Fury.
Across the first season, Amelia and her adoptive grandfather Ed Jones have some great moments together, as do Ollie and his mother Lani Akana. The Garcia family is explored, with Carlos’ disagreement about Javi’s music playing being just one area to get focus across the series. Then, there’s Void Knight. His whole reason for going after the Sporix is based on a relationship. To restore his wife from her coma so that they can be together again.
Void Knight – otherwise known as Tarrick – is an interesting case of being absorbed and obsessed with his relationship, to the point he’s doing anything he can to keep it. Based on what happens in season two, it’s clear his goal was never outright destruction, his plans never driven by a need to hurt. But when his wife Santaura does get restored by the energy of the Sporix, she is counter to Tarrick in being obsessed with revenge. Such opens Tarrick’s eyes to what he has done in his obsession, breaking him when Santaura becomes Void Queen and takes over his command.
The story of that relationship has more to it, with everything leading up to the series finale seeing a payoff. And that includes Rafkon, though such is a weaker part of the overall story. With Aiyon’s arrival close to the end of season one, the Gold Ranger reveals to the others who was responsible for the Sporix being unleashed on the galaxy. The reactions and story relating to that are great, with Aiyon’s leadership skills putting him in as difficult a position as Zayto faced in that critical moment on Rafkon.
No, it’s everything that happens in season two, with the current Rafkon people and what their ancestors did that causes the weaknesses. To create the Sporix, the Rafkonian people built a machine that tapped into the energy of the planet’s core, putting their entire planet in danger even before the Sporix were unleashed should something go wrong.
As watchers of this history being told, we only know that an evil threat was rising in the galaxy. We know nothing of that evil. No idea of what that evil was like, how close it was to Rafkon or how easily it would have been for them to take over an entire planet. It makes the Rafkonian people of that time seem like they’re taking overly dramatic precautions for a threat that might never come. I get that exploring such would have taken more time, but I feel it needed that exploration of the history to make us sympathise with the Rafkonians. Especially considering the series finale.
For the first season’s finale, the bond between Ollie and his mother gets put to the test, along with that of the team. With Lani having done some tests on the statues of Dinohenge – the statues that give the Rangers’ their powers, Tarrick sees the potential in not needing the Sporix if he can tap into the Morphin’ Grid’s power. Such a plan eventually fails thanks to Ollie and his mother, but in doing so the Rangers’ identities are revealed to her.
Such is a strong moment, as it comes at the end of a trying time for the two of them, where their bond has been strengthened from the events that happen. It’s only fair for Lani to then know the truth of who has been behind that blue helmet. The second strongest of the Ranger reveals comes from a relationship of Izzy’s. Throughout the series, Izzy has been defined by her athletic career, wanting to be top of her field in the area. With a friend not a Ranger who she can rely on to push her forward.
What started as a rivalry becomes a romantic relationship for Izzy and Fern. The two women are in love, with nothing stopping it (though Javi almost inadvertently stopped it from even starting). There’s no reason for the bond to be broken. Until the matter turns to trust. Rules are rules, and no-one can know your identity as a Ranger. So when Izzy turns down something that could further her athletic career and unsuccessfully tries to hide it, that relationship almost comes to a shattering halt.
The resolution to that is perfect, and is a great way to finish that particular story before the series finale truly gets moving. And that finale is where the best Ranger reveal happens. The present Rafkonian people have come to Earth, and they want to make the humans submit to their rule in a hostile takeover. They believe the humans are unfit to lord over Earth, so want to assume power. Coming off mighty strong there, Rafkonians. Seems in the millions of years since that past incident, those you choose to lead still put themselves above all others.
It is those past actions that drive little sympathy to the Rafkonians of the present. Because of their haste and carelessness in preparing to counter a threat we have no idea of, the Rafkonians of the past forced their people to leave their home. Forced them to be stranded out in space. So now, these Rafkonians of the present seem to have not learnt anything from their history. Willing to act in haste and potentially devastate their own way of life once again.
It is through seeing what the humans are doing to help their planet, and ultimately a selfless act that changes minds, though Ed Jones is hurt in protecting the Rafkon leader. In comes Amelia, helmet removed to check on her grandfather and make sure he’s okay. She wanted him to know it was her, that everything he’s revealed to the Pink Ranger has been known by her. As such, the truth is revealed, setting in motion Amelia’s hunt for the answers she has desired for all her life. Just who and where her parents are.
Dino Fury is a great series to watch. There are plenty of character moments scattered throughout, some great action (which feels like it gets improved further in the move to Netflix, though that’s unlikely to have happened because of such a move), and numerous references and world building for the franchise. Lord Zedd – the feared villain from the Mighty Morphin’ days – has been resurrected here, getting a few episodes to shine. And is set to be a threat for Cosmic Fury to deal with.
Yup, just like with the original run of Mighty Morphin’ to In Space, the story continues into the next series. While it’s only going to be ten episodes, I’m confident that it will continue with the quality seen with Dino Fury. I can easily give Dino Fury a recommendation, and since it’s all on Netflix now, there’s no better time to start watching.
Images Taken From:
Power Rangers Dino Fury – S1.01 | S1.16 | S2.17
