Power Rangers Operation Overdrive

Power Rangers Operation Overdrive is the fifteenth season of Power Rangers. It aired on ABC Kids starting on March 3, 2007 after starting on Jetix a week earlier. It is based on the 2006 Super Sentai series, GoGo Sentai Boukenger. Power Rangers Operation Overdrive commemorated the 15th anniversary of Power Rangers, while Boukenger celebrated the 30th anniversary of Super Sentai.

## Production History

The early working title for the series was Power Rangers Drive Force, but was later changed to "Relic Hunters" and then "Operation Overdrive".

In early pre-production, on July 26, 2006, the series' logo was posted on a fan message board called "Fuñaroboard."

The logo is very similar to that of its Sentai source series Boukenger in the basic design and format.

On November 14, 2006, Disney had set up its official website for Power Rangers Operation Overdrive.

With the fifteenth anniversary of the series upon them, the producers elected to reward the fans and the show's legacy with a two-part anniversary special uniting Rangers from each of the previous Disney-era shows, coupled with a popular Ranger from the show's most popular shows during the 1990s. It had been long established that Johnny Yong Bosch had gained a noticeable reputation as Adam Park amongst the fanbase, and thus was asked to be the returning veteran Ranger for the special.

This series also became the first since Power Rangers Zeo (excluding the preemption of the S.P.D. episode Wormhole) to end with a one-episode finale. The series also contained one of the more thought-provoking episodes of the series run, Things Not Said, which began a darker direction for the Red Ranger Mack.

Jackie Marchand says Overdrive was pitched as "Indiana Jones... a new exotic location every episode" and Disney responded favorably - only to then give them a small budget and ask for the use of more stock footage. This made the show more of a challenge to work on.

## Synopsis

Many years ago, two brothers named Flurious and Moltor try to steal a legendary crown known as the Corona Aurora and are imprisoned throughout the galaxy. Sentinel Knight scatters the crown and its jewels on the planet Earth in hopes of preventing it from falling into the wrong hands. In the present day, world-renowned explorer Andrew Hartford uncovers the crown, which frees Flurious and Moltor from their imprisonment. Andrew recruits four elite teenagers to become Power Rangers and stop the Corona Aurora from falling into the wrong hands. Although Hartford is originally opposed to it, his son Mack becomes the fifth team member - the Red Ranger. The Power Rangers search ancient civilizations and all over the world to uncover the first jewel which was once used by Neptune - King of Atlantis. In the process, they encounter the illustrious Miratrix, who is determined to find the jewels and free her master Kamdor.

While searching for the Toru Diamond, the Rangers encounter an alien named Tyzonn. Tyzonn came to Earth from the planet Mercuria to stop the evil Fearcats who are intent on releasing their army which had been previously imprisoned in a mirror world. After the apparent demise of his fiancée Vella, Tyzonn is reluctant but is eventually convinced to join Operation Overdrive as the Mercury Ranger. Together, the Rangers encounter Thor and Loki, two of the Norse gods. Their involvement leads to the discovery of the Blue Sapphire, which is stolen by Kamdor and Miratrix.

When Thrax, son of Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa escapes imprisonment from the Sentinel Knight, he recruits Flurious, Moltor, Kamdor, Miratrix, and the Fearcats to form an evil alliance and destroy the Rangers' connection to the Universal Morphing Grid. The Rangers must go on a quest to seek out the legendary sword Excelsior which is capable of restoring their powers and the Sentinel Knight. With the help of five former Power Rangers – Adam Park-the Black Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger, Xander Bly-the Green Mystic Ranger, Bridge Carson-the S.P.D. Red Ranger, Kira Ford-the Yellow Dino Ranger and Tori Hanson-the Blue Wind Ranger, the Power Rangers unite and take down Thrax, which breaks apart the evil alliance.

After the Rangers encounter a virus, Mack makes a startling discovery about himself. Realizing that he is an android, Mack begins to question his very existence but he still pulls through for his friends by merging with the Sentinel Knight to become the Red Sentinel Ranger. Meanwhile, when another Fearcat named Crazar shows up, Tyzonn discovers that Vella is still alive. Also, the Rangers uncover the Star of Isis, the fourth jewel of the Corona Aurora.

The Octavian Chalice holds the power to uncover the final jewel to the crown. In an ultimate struggle for it, the Fearcats are destroyed for good and so is Kamdor, but not before imprisoning Miratrix inside a gem for eternity. Flurious destroys Moltor and steals the crown and gets his hands on the jewels as well. Now with the power of the Corona Aurora at his disposal, Flurious freezes all of San Angelas. In a desperate attempt to save the world, Mack sacrifices himself to destroy Flurious once and for all. The Sentinel Knight appears and uses the Corona Aurora to bring Mack back to life. As Mack awakens, he realizes that thanks to the crown, he is now human. Thanks to Norg, Tyzonn is reunited with Vella and the Power Rangers move on with their lives now that they have saved the world from evil.

## Cast and characters

**Overdrive Rangers**

* James Maclurcan as Mackenzie "Mack" Hartford; The Red Overdrive Ranger and team leader.
* Caitlin Murphy as Veronica "Ronny" Robinson; The Yellow Overdrive Ranger.
* Samuell Benta as William "Will" Aston; The Black Overdrive Ranger.
* Rhoda Montemayor as Rose Ortiz; The Pink Overdrive Ranger.
* Gareth Yuen as Dax Lo; The Blue Overdrive Ranger.
* Dwayne Cameron as Tyzonn; The Mercury Ranger.

**Allies**

* Rod Lousich as Andrew Hartford, the rangers mentor and Mack's father
* David Weatherley as Spencer
* Campbell Cooley as the voice of Alpha 6
* Nic Sampson as the voice of the Sentinel Knight
* Beth Allen as Vella

**Veteran Rangers:**

* Johnny Yong Bosch as Adam Park; the second Black Ranger, and previously the Black Ninja Ranger, Green Zeo Ranger and the first Green Turbo Ranger.
* Sally Martin as Tori Hanson; the Blue Wind Ranger.
* Emma Lahana as Kira Ford; the Yellow Dino Thunder Ranger.
* Matt Austin as Bridge Carson; the third S.P.D. Red Ranger, following a promotion at S.P.D.
* Richard Brancatisano as Xander Bly; the Green Mystic Force Ranger.

**Villains**

* Gerald Urquhart as Flurious
* Mark Ferguson as the voice of Moltor
* Ria Vandervis as Miratrix
* Adam Gardiner as the voice of Kamdor
* James Gaylyn as the voice of Cheetar
* Lori Dungey as the voice of Crazar
* David Weatherley as the voice of Benglo
* Kelson Henderson as Norg and the voice of Mig
* Glen Levy as the voice of Thrax

1. ↑ Rod Lousich Details. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.