Top 20 Best Power Rangers Series

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: a group of teenagers with attitude are granted dinosaur-inspired suits to combat an alien threat to Earth. While the series treads familiar territory, the storyline gets points for how well it ties its dino motif into the season’s narrative. “Dino Fury '' also offers a genuinely intimidating villain in Void Knight. Additionally, this team broke new ground by having the first openly LGBTQ+ Ranger to be seen on television. .It was incredible to see that the series could still keep things fresh after nearly 30 seasons. And with time, it may rise through the ranks of one of the fanbase’s favorites series. “Dino Fury’s” great plot and bold risks proved that the franchise was far from extinct.

It’s a good sign for a power rangers series when the morphing sequences and kaiju-sized Zords don't feel like the main draw. The “Overdrive” season shook up the classic formula by incorporating ancient artifacts, globe-trotting adventures, and literal androids. This season also put inventive twists on the well-trodden villain-of-the-week structure. By having the Rangers search for five mystical jewels, their adventures felt bigger and more expansive. While not all of “Overdrive's'' ideas were executed as well as a superhero landing, the season was still very memorable. We have to give particular props to the inspired reveal that red ranger Mack was an android. Between its surprises and mystical narrative, “Overdrive” was an adventure we were happy to go on.

#18: “Super Megaforce” (2014)

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As the franchise reached its milestone 20th year anniversary, the Megaforce team got a major upgrade that allowed them to attain the powers and suits of all the prior Rangers. Admittedly, the individuality of the season was lost a little in the midst of this cool concept. But there’s no denying that we fans still got some epic and nostalgia-fueled fanservice throughout. The final battle in particular was a series highlight. While “Super Megaforce” wouldn’t work as well without the foundation of the fantastic seasons that came before, it’s still a grand celebration of Ranger history. Any series that lets us see legendary rangers like Tommy suit up again is worth giving a shot.

#17: “Super Samurai” (2012)

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The “Super Samurai” followup took established characters and storylines and added one heck of a twist and new Ranger outfits, of course. All the fun and flashy upgrades balanced the darker tone of the story as it neared its endgame. One of the real turning points of the season came when Red Ranger Jayden gave up his morpher to the heroic Lauren. While she was an instant standout, she came in a little late to really get the shine she deserved. But the story never stopped being sharp and fun. Thanks to a surprising cast shake-up and heavy focus on plot, the final stretch of this series became worthy of the “super” moniker.

#16: “Samurai” (2011)

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This refreshing and relatively lighthearted season had a lot of fun combining rangers with a theme centered around Japanese warriors. Everything from the aesthetics to the weapons made it feel unique. And while there was certainly a main story, it wasn’t afraid to take a few detours and focus on self-contained stories. Since the characters were less sure of themselves, it was compelling to see all of the teens on the team grow as they trained to be worthy of their historic lineage. The season also has the distinction of being the first English series that was filmed in High Definition. This allowed the engaging “Samurai” series to have the added bonus of finally giving fans an HD morphing sequence.

In exchange for relying on a prehistoric theme yet again, the “Dino Charge” gave fans awesome suit designs, interesting lore and a great ranger line-up. The new teen team was incredibly endearing and fresh. While the season introduced down to earth characters like the driven pink ranger Shelby, it also had far-fetched characters like a 100,000 year old caveman as part of the crew. This duo joined their team in a plot that incorporated multiple time displaced characters and explained the extinction of the dinosaurs. Between the strong writing and excellent cast-chemistry, it was thrilling to watch this team fight evil. All of their personalities managed to shine brighter than their sleek and colorful suits.

To the delight of many fans, “Dino Super Charge” managed to improve upon its predecessor. The same charming team returned and added some great new rangers to their dynamic. An expanded lineup was definitely needed to face memorable villains like the dual Heckyl and Snide. Fortunately, the new adversaries and allies don’t get in the way of the impressive character development. It’s a testament to the writing that the series managed to balance ten whole rangers with distinct personalities and motivations without it feeling too crowded. And the story builds up to one of the most satisfying season conclusions yet. Who knew elements like dinosaurs, superheroes and a caveman would work so well together?

#13: “Ninja Storm” (2003)

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After a ninja academy is attacked, three of its least promising students are a few of the last ones left standing against a growing threat. While their mentor being trapped in a guinea pig’s body put them at a bit of disadvantage, their cool elemental powers helped balance the scales. The series was chock full of great comedy and seemed almost self aware at points. But that doesn’t mean it slacked on dramatic storytelling. Heavier arcs like the standout Thunder Ranger saga proved why Shane, Tori and Dustin were seriously worthy of their morphers. But the real crowning achievements of this season might have been Lothor and his lackeys. This entertaining group of villains stole the show every time they were on screen.

Although all “Power Rangers” seasons tackle real issues, “Wild Force” was notably built around an environmental message. Focusing so much on ecology and activism could’ve easily backfired by making the series seem too preachy. However, the season had enough exciting action and unique characters to keep it accessible. It also helps that some of the most sublime ranger suits ever designed appear after an absolutely epic morphing sequence. Throughout the show, it’s compelling to watch the heroes try to protect animals like Zords who each have distinct personalities. And since “Wild Force” season coincided with the 10th anniversary of the franchise, fans were treated to the fantastic “Forever Red” team up. This environmentally impactful series truly was a roaring good time.

On paper, giving these colorful heroes cellphones to morph while also incorporating magic sounds like it might not mesh well. But after over a decade of metal weapons, blasters, and Zords, the inclusion of spells really helped spice up the combat. The focus on mystic elements was just as strong outside of the fight scenes. “Mystic Force” lets all the magical lore drive the story forward and add layers to a well thought out narrative. Thankfully, a well-rounded cast and atmospheric locales kept us grounded amongst all the mystical hijinks and dense backstories. Putting “Power Rangers” and sorcery together was truly a magical idea.

#10: “Zeo” (1996)

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From the moment the awesome opening theme played, it was clear Zeo was something special. After a group of rangers loses their original powers, they continue the fight as a brand new team. This bold start opened the door for new members like Tanya to join and for veterans like Billy and Tommy to take on new roles. At the same time, the new and threatening Machine Empire made for a greater challenge than the heroes faced before. Since this was the first time American audiences saw the show make such drastic changes, there was a lot riding on Zeo. But a strong story and former red ranger Jason’s iconic return as the Gold Ranger ensured the series had nothing to worry about.

After a couple of seasons focused on intergalactic threats, the series shifted gears by centering the action on earth. It also stood apart by having a government agency hand-select its team of recruits based on each member’s unique skill sets. Seeing an alliance consisting of real-life heroes like firefighters and paramedics was both satisfying and gave a grounded feel to the team. Even with an ancient demon as the central villain, the season still felt down-to-earth enough to accommodate smaller and more personal storylines. “Lightspeed Rescue” also took a major creative risk by adding a sixth ranger that wasn’t in the “Super Sentai” show it was based on. Fortunately, he and all the other innovative elements of the season were embraced by fans.

#8: “Lost Galaxy” (1999)

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Since the previous six seasons had characters or stories to link them, “Lost Galaxy” ventured into uncharted waters by introducing an entirely new cast with no initial ties to previous stories. After five heroes get awesome sabers, they gain enough power to protect a space colony and the universe from evil. The season had a great ranger team full of memorable personalities like Maya, a woman who escaped a calamity on her home planet. It also featured iconic characters like the fan-favorite Magna Defender. And “Lost Galaxy” also raised the stakes by featuring the first ever on screen demise of a Ranger. The series ushered in a new era for the franchise by daring to boldly go where no Ranger show had before.

With just one glance, it’s clear this season went on a safari through Ranger history and picked out the best elements to bake into one perfect slice of Jungle Karma Pizza. The season’s focus on animal spirits and kung fu made for some of the best fight choreography the series had ever displayed. While it’s easy to get distracted by the stunning combat and uber cool Master Mode outfits, the season had plenty of story bite to back up its bark. The tightly-written narrative boasts fully-realized characters, genuine emotional arcs, and a complex main villain. It also has one of the best ranger mentors of all time in RJ. He’s one of the best parts of an incredibly strong series.

#6: “S.P.D.” (2005)

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When Space Patrol Delta’s A-Team of rangers falls, a couple of former thieves and less experienced ranger recruits are brought together to form…a new B-squad. Their disparate backgrounds and underdog feel make for a surprisingly engrossing group dynamic. As they become stronger warriors, they grow to slowly appreciate one another’s skills and viewpoints. This season also takes a sensitive and wise approach to hard-hitting issues like grief, morality, and loyalty. There’s even a standout Ranger v. Ranger clash where two teams fight over ideology instead of a simple conflict. The futuristic setting, characters, and themes all felt fully realized and fleshed out. Not bad for a so-called B-squad of rangers.

#5: “Mighty Morphin'” (1993-95)

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It takes a special kind of series to kickstart a franchise that’s still alive and morphing nearly thirty years later. Since the three seasons were marketed as one continuous story, we’ll count all the adventures in one entry. Cheesy but charming, there’s an undeniable magnetism about watching the iconic original Rangers beat Rita and Zedd while learning good life lessons along the way. Although the series established a “morphenomenal” formula, the best parts of the inaugural run are when it broke from its established pattern. The daring and five-part Green Ranger saga introduced the now-legendary Tommy Oliver. While other series would go on to take bigger narrative risks than “Mighty Morphin” did, it will always be applauded for kicking off the franchise.

#4: “Time Force” (2001)

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When a mutated villain takes down the red ranger and escapes a thousand years into the past, a group of futuristic officers chase him to the year 2001. In the process, they run into the identical looking ancestor of their recently deceased leader. This time bending premise set one of the greatest season-long stories in “Power Ranger” history into motion. Seeing the futuristic members of the team adjust to the era and each other is fascinating. As they learn about each other, they star in stories that explore complex themes around prejudice, destiny, and love. Speaking of romance, the central relationship between the red and pink rangers is fulfilling and has a genuinely affecting conclusion at the end of this fantastic and still timely season.

“Dino Thunder” felt like a tyrannosaurus sized love letter to Ranger history. Not only did the show go with a dinosaur theme, but it also brought back the Tommy Oliver as a main character. He returned just in time to lead the rookie teenage team in a fight against one of the most imposing series villains, Mesagog. The series also had multiple fantastic storylines where antagonists struggled to overcome their dark instincts and fight on the side of good. Outside of the incredible and deep plot, the series gave fans amazing fanservice that organically tied in the plot. By the time “Dino Thunder” featured the 500th episode of the series, it was clear that the franchise still had a lot to bring to the table.

#2: “RPM” (2009)

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If you ever wondered what would happen if “Power Rangers” was set in “Mad Max’s :world, “RPM” has got you covered. Colorful Zords and bright spandex, sorry, not spandex suits stand out against the bleak backdrop of a world ravaged by a villainous virus that nearly wiped out humanity. The mature storyline let the show get darker than it ever had before. However, it still feels suitable for all audiences. The harrowing conflicts are always complimented by interesting character work and clever meta jokes. And every single ranger gets so much development that they feel like completely different people by the end. The way this darker series excels while never losing sight of the heart that makes a “Power Rangers” series truly great is incredible.

#1: “In Space” (1998)

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Since “In Space” was once meant to be the final outing for the Rangers, the writers went all in to create the greatest season they could. The story starts when a defeated team of rangers finds a new ally and powers in space. Together, this new team must stop villains like Dark Spector and Astronema from ending Zordon and conquering everything. “In Space” has almost too many iconic moments to count. The Psycho Rangers make their grand debut, Astronema gets an incredible redemption arc and civilians fight alongside Power rangers. These historic moments lead up to Zordon’s sacrificial death. Fortunately, the franchise continued long past this supposed final season. But if the series had ended with “In Space”, it would’ve been a perfect conclusion.