MMPR was the most iconic and most
famous because it was the first season. Kids loved it, a lot of parents
hated it and the toy industry made a mint off it. When most non fans
think of PR, they think of MMPR (unless maybe they have young children
currently watching a new season of PR). But why is it so popular?
When you ask a non-fan about Power Rangers, it would be something about Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, and every Power Rangers parody is based on Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.
When
Disney did a poll for the five most popular Rangers, the only non-MMPR
to make the list was Andros. Not a single Disney Ranger charted. In this
case, first production company wins. That's easy to explain. The
original Power Rangers used the same characters and actors from year to
year. This made them a lot more recognizable than when the cast changes
from year to year as in the later seasons. Usually, it would either be:
- MMPR is the best (First show).
- MMPR-PRIS is the best (First era).
- MMPR-PRWF is the best (First production crew).
(Someone's probably gonna shoot me because I used an image from the remastered MMPR.)
The
first incarnation of anything that's wildly popular is usually the most
memorable and ingrained into the public psyche, since it's what made it
wildly popular in the first place. Then it lasts for two or three years
and/or two or three incarnations that are of comparable success, then
from then on it's diminishing returns, unless the franchise sticks
around long enough to make a comeback (and even then it still remains in
the shadow of the original). It's a pattern that works with almost any
pop culture phenomenon you can think of, unless the second
incarnation/second season is regarded as an abject failure.
The
"big push" only exists with MMPR because it was the first of it's kind.
Nobody had seen something of it's kind before. Once that became passe, it stopped being a big investment.
The franchise had sizably peaked by 1995 and was killed by "they changed it, now it sucks" with the cast and name changes, there's always backlash with an aging series that goes on without a break....there's more backlash to be had when that series jettisons it's entire cast of veterans.
From a marketing standpoint to the
entire world, you couldn't go without knowing what MMPR was. It was a
cultural revolution for our generation. EVERY child had watched the
show, played with the toys, or pretended to morph at some point. Power
Rangers hit the world just as hard as the Ninja Turtles, Pokemon, and
Hannah Montana. It was the hottest ticket in existence. Once that fever
subsided, there were a ton of kids who never knew anything about a
"Zeo", let alone their parents. Furthermore, the majority of human
beings have no idea Power Rangers still exists. There have been cast
members who got calls from their agents to audition and replied "That show's still on?"
As far as people like us, however,
people who never stopped loving or returned to loving Power Rangers hold
MMPR in great nostalgic value, while not necessarily liking that
iteration the best. I bet if there were a poll conducted over the most
popular season amongst veteran fans, Zeo would probably take the title,
with Space a possible contender. Even Time Force or Dino Thunder may
slip in there.
Looking
back, I can see why MMPR was what drew a lot of us in. The plot was
simple: Bad guys are threatening Earth, and the Power Rangers have to
stop them. Rita had no reason to be attacking the Earth besides
conquering it. She wasn't looking for supplies for some huge diety. She
wasn't serving anyone (initially - later seasons would build the evil
side to the UAE of Space) and her whole army was either already released
by those astronauts in the first 5 minutes of the first episode, or
they were made from clay. All she wanted to do was defeat the Power
Rangers, and that was IT. It's brilliance in its simplicity. Also, the
blood-pumping theme song that says 'We're the Power Rangers! Shut up
evil! BIZAM!' and, excuse my language here, the kick ass music of the
Mighty Raw is about half the reason the original series is so great! It
didn't act like a high drama like Lightspeed or Time Force, that's
probably why fans are turned off by this. Like, if people wanted to
watch a high drama, they shouldn't be watching Power Rangers. Because
Power Rangers is a kids show, always have, always will. Granted, those
seasons are amazing, but that's what people prefer.
I got the complete DVD collection of the Mighty Morphin two weeks ago. I love the second season the most.
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