Power Rangers in Space

Power Rangers in Space is a television series and the sixth season of the Power Rangers franchise, based on the 21st Super Sentai series Denji Sentai Megaranger.

In Space was a turning point for the Power Rangers franchise, as the season brought closure to six seasons of plot, and it ended the practice of having regular cast members act in consecutive seasons - which had been in existence since 1993. The theme of this series, and its successor, the Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, bears little similarity to their Sentai counterparts. The sixth series also marked the final regular appearances of Tracy Lynn Cruz, Patricia Ja Lee, Roger Velasco, and Selwyn Ward, as well as the conclusion of Zordon's story that has been significant in the previous six seasons.

Picking up where Power Rangers Turbo left off, Dark Specter has captured Zordon and is beginning to drain his powers. An assortment of old and new villains praise his victory, but an unexpected figure uncovers his plan: the Red Space Ranger, Andros. Dark Specter orders the Princess of Evil, Astronema, to eliminate Andros so he can't jeopardize his plans.

Meanwhile, four of the former Turbo Rangers (T.J. Johnson, Carlos Vallerte, Ashley Hammond, and Cassie Chan) and Alpha 6 are traveling in a NASADA space shuttle with the intent to save Zordon. They are pulled aboard the Astro Megaship and later encounter Andros. Though initially suspicious and dismissive of the four former Turbo Rangers, Andros realizes he'll need their help to save Zordon and gives them each an Astro Morpher. Additionally, modifications allow the NASADA space shuttle and the Astro Megaship to combine into the powerful Astro Megazord. The new Space Rangers then return to Earth for repairs and supplies, but they are followed by Astronema.

The Space Rangers alternate between searching for Zordon and protecting Earth. From the Dark Fortress, Astronema seeks to eliminate them via Ecliptor (who raised her), Quantrons, and a variety of monsters. Elgar has also been added to her team, but he remains a comedic bungler. Over time, allies (such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Phantom Ranger, Justin Stewart, and Adam Park) offer the Rangers invaluable aid, with Zhane (the Silver Space Ranger) emerging from cryo-sleep and joining the team. New Zords are also introduced. Meanwhile, Bulk and Skull become assistants to wacky scientist Professor Phenomenus and join him in searching for aliens.

While dedicated to finding Zordon, Andros has another quest: finding his sister, Karone, who was kidnapped when they were children. Over time, Andros discovers his sister was kidnapped by Darkonda, the archrival of Ecliptor, who has nine lives. To Andros' shock, he later discovers that Astronema is Karone, who was raised by Ecliptor to be evil. Andros convinces Astronema of the truth and she defects with Ecliptor's help. Furious at this, Dark Specter launches a planet-destroying asteroid at Earth, which the Rangers are barely able to deflect, but Karone and Ecliptor are both recaptured and reprogrammed to follow Dark Specter in the process.

Astronema, now completely cold and calculating, now not only seeks to destroy the Space Rangers, but also Dark Specter and usurp his ruling power. To that end, she unleashes the Psycho Rangers. The five monstrous and borderline-insane villains possess great power, which secretly comes from Dark Specter, nearly draining him of his life force. Individually, each Psycho Ranger is too powerful for their Space Ranger equivalents. But the Psycho Rangers are not as good with teamwork, and the six Space Rangers overcome them with a great deal of effort and teamwork. Soon after, the Rangers suffer setbacks that see the Delta Megazord and the Mega Voyager destroyed.

The series culminates in the two-part finale, "Countdown to Destruction", where Zordon is nearly completely drained, and Dark Specter orders the villains under his command to attack the entire universe. Across the universe, the Alien and Phantom Rangers, Trey of Triforia, the Blue Senturion, and KO-35's rebels are defeated and captured. The Space Rangers struggle to defend Earth and are overwhelmed and forced to retreat. Darkonda kills Dark Specter, who returns the favor before his own death, leaving Astronema in command as the Queen of Evil. While Andros boards the Dark Fortress to appeal to his sister, the remaining five Space Rangers engage in one last fight for Earth and are joined by the citizens of Angel Grove, with Bulk and Skull leading the charge.