Power Rangers S.P.D.

Power Rangers S.P.D. (Space Patrol Delta) was the thirteenth incarnation of the Power Rangers television series, based on the Super Sentai series Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger (Special Investigation Squadron Detective Ranger).

A Japanese dub of S.P.D. was aired on Toei's digital television channel in Japan starting in August 2011, with two DVD volumes released on August 5. It features the original Japanese Dekaranger cast members dubbing over the voices of their American counterparts

## Production History

**Power Rangers S.P.D.** was a milestone series behind-the-scenes and for the fanbase, but also one of the most controversial among fans.

After two years on the series, Doug Sloan and Ann Austen departed as the primary writers and producers of PR, paving the way forward for Greg Aronowitz and Bruce Kalish to take over, with Jackie Marchand staying on as a writer. Joining Kalish were several of his colleagues from Hollywood, including David Garber. Kalish's resume includes shows such as *Mork and Mindy*, *The Incredible Hulk* and *The Fall Guy*.

Kalish and Aronowitz's combined effort on the early portions of SPD gained instantaneous praise from the fanbase, as SPD proved to be one of the more ambitious PR shows ever attempted, with a rare cast of strong actors portraying each character with gravitas and investment, as a result, the cast became hailed as perhaps one of the best in the show's history. It was also at this time that the production crew opened communications with the fandom, which Sloan had previously done, enabling fans to conduct interviews and have conversations with the cast and the producers.

Even the first set of episodes were superb due to the quality backstage talent. After the two-part opener, each Ranger got an entire episode devoted entirely to their character development (episode 3 was Jack's, episode 4 was for Sky, 5 for Syd, 6 for Bridge, and 7 and 8, which were a single, two-part episode, for Z). Sam, although still a child, entered the show with a very well-received two-part episode (which he shared the spotlight with Z), and the Shadow Ranger was introduced, once again, through a very well-received two-part episode.

As the series continued, it became obvious S.P.D was struggling with its own status quo and storylines, as more filler episodes translated storylines from *Dekaranger* to push the series towards a conclusion (including the episode Samurai which is set in Japan). A brief reprieve for this complacent writing came when Jackie Marchand's two-part storyline "*Reflection*" resolved Sky's struggle with his personal demons, but it wouldn't last. By the time the Dino Thunder/S.P.D crossovers "*History*" and "*Wormhole*" aired, the latter was crucified for not being able to properly accommodate Jason David Frank, as he was back in the States.

The interaction with the cast and crew gradually minimized as Kalish later admitted his own children had browsed Rangerboard and were horrified by the crass, derogatory criticism and humorous anecdotes made about him. In a second interview, Kalish defended his dependence on Sentai material, insisting his crew were simply "paid to translate, not tell original stories."

## Cast and characters

**B-Squad**

* Brandon Jay McLaren as Jack Landors, the S.P.D. Red Ranger.
* Chris Violette as Schuyler "Sky" Tate, the S.P.D. Blue Ranger.Template:Citation needed
* Matt Austin as Bridge Carson, the S.P.D. Green Ranger.
* Monica May as Elizabeth "Z" Delgado, the S.P.D. Yellow Ranger.
* Alycia Purrott as Sydney "Syd" Drew, the S.P.D. Pink Ranger.

**Additional Rangers**

* John Tui as Anubis "Doggie" Cruger, S.P.D. Shadow Ranger.
* Brett Stewart as Sam, The Omega Ranger.
* Michelle Langstone as Dr. Katherine "Kat" Manx, the S.P.D. Kat Ranger.
* Antonia Prebble as Nova, the S.P.D. Nova Ranger.

**Dino Thunder Rangers**

* James Napier Robertson as Conner McKnight, the Red Dino Ranger and Triassic Ranger.
* Kevin Duhaney as Ethan James, the Blue Dino Ranger.
* Emma Lahana as Kira Ford, the Yellow Dino Ranger.
* Jeffrey Parazzo as Trent Fernandez, the White Dino Ranger and the voice of the Black Dino Ranger.

**Allies**

* Barnie Duncan as Piggy
* Kelson Henderson as Boom
* Beth Allen as Ally Samuels
* Tandi Wright as the voice of Isinia Cruger
* Paul Norell as Supreme Commander Fowler Birdie
* John Tui as Sergeant Silverback

**Villains**

* Rene Naufahu as Emperor Gruumm.
* Olivia James-Baird as Mora.
* Josephine Davison as Morgana.
* Jim McLarty as the voice of Broodwing.
* Derek Judge as the voice of Blue-Head Krybots.
* James Gaylyn as the voice of Orange Head Krybots and Zeltrax.
* Geoff Dolan as the voice of Omni The Magnificence

**A-Squad**

* Gina Varela as Charlie, A-Squad Red Ranger.
* Nick Kemplen (voice) as Unnamed A-Squad Blue Ranger.
* Thomas Kiwi & Nick Kemplen (voice) as Unnamed A-Squad Green Ranger.
* Allan Smith & Greg Cooper II (voice) as Unnamed A-Squad Yellow Ranger.
* Motoko Nagino & Claire Dougan (voice) as Unnamed A-Squad Pink Ranger.

## Video game

There was one game produced for the *Space Patrol Delta* series, a side-scroller on the Game Boy Advance by THQ. The 6 rangers fight minor enemies until they encounter the main boss. There are racing levels which involve piloting the Red, Yellow, or Pink Delta Runners, a Space Invaders style targeting game with the Green Delta Runner, a racing level involving R.I.C. (the Rangers' robotic dog), and Megazord battle levels.

## Comic strip

A new monthly comic strip based on the series appeared in every issue of Jetix Magazine in the UK in 2005. Jetix Magazine is the official magazine of Jetix, the channel that showed *S.P.D.* in the UK in 2006. The strip was the first Power Rangers strip to be written by Transformers writer Simon Furman, collaborating for the first time on the PR strip with equally popular TF artist Andrew Wildman, who had previously done artwork for other Power Rangers strips under Jetix Magazines' previous banner of Fox Kids' Wicked. The strip ended with its conclusion to the SPD series, the first time any comic strip version of Power Rangers has dared to pull off a different take on a PR finale. In the strip, A-Squad is brainwashed instead of corrupted and turn against their superiors. The B-Squad regulars deal with them and help Cruger defeat and overcome both Grumm and Omni, before being promoted to A-Squad status.

During the strip, a running subplot involving a rogue Krybot who had become self-aware and rebelled against Grumm gradually unfolded, he would resurface to warn SPD of Grumm's invasion attempt in the final story and supply Jack with a device that once inserted on the Terror, would incapacitate the Krybot fleet.

Unlike "Endings", Jack does not leave the team, in another change, the Rangers do not decline the position of A-Squad (in the season, the rank of A-Squad was discarded in light of the previous team tarnishing it with their treacherous ways).