Summary
The Veteran Red Rangers were the coolestPower Rangersteam, yet this term was never actually used on the show. Red Rangers are usually the leaders of their respectivePower Rangersteams, although there are exceptions to this rule. Regardless, it’s safe to say Red is the most iconic of thePower Rangerscolors.Being a Red Ranger comes with an extra amount of responsibility, which is something the show has explored in seasons likeS.P.D.andCosmic Fury.
While the list ofbestPower Rangerscharactersvaries from person to person,Red Rangers are most often not at the top of the list of fan-favorite characters.This is particularly true for the ones that first appeared in the 1990s or the early 2000s, two eras ofPower Rangersthat still define the show due to nostalgia and how popular they were. The Veteran Red Rangers team-up from 2002 perfectly summarized the impact of the Red Rangers on the first decade ofPower Rangers, delivering an instant classic crossover episode.
The Veteran Red Rangers Were Power Rangers’ Forever Red Team
10 Red Rangers for Power Rangers’ 10th anniversary.
“The Veteran Red Rangers” is a term used to describe the characters who participated in theForever Red crossover, particularlythe Red Rangers who fought on the moon against the Five Generals.The Veteran Red Rangers are among the most iconic Legendary Rangers, which refer to every single Power Ranger that came before theMega Forceteam. The name “Veteran Red Rangers” was never used on the show but was incorporated by fans and serves as a way to summarize the 10-men group that went to the moon in “Forever Red.”
Cole Evans
Wild Force Red
The “Forever Red” crossover was meant to celebratePower Rangers’ 10th anniversary. The episode was loosely based onHyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, aSuper Sentaimovie released during the Japanese franchise’s 25th anniversary.The idea was to bring together every Red Ranger in the franchise up until that point, fromMighty Morphin’s Jason toWild Force’s Cole. Most Red Rangers in question had also been the respective leaders of their teams, with the only exception beingthe Quantum Ranger. This wasPower Rangers’ first crossover to include characters from more than just two shows.
How Power Rangers’ Forever Red Team Was Put Together
Andros and Tommy assembled an impressive team.
From an in-universe perspective,Tommy Oliver and Andros were responsible for putting together the Veteran Red Rangers.Andros, leader of theIn SpaceRangers, was investigating something on the moon when he found out that the Five Generals of the Machine Empire were trying to reactive Lord Zedd’s Serpentera. Andros immediately reached out to Tommy Oliver, who by that point had been theMMPRGreen Ranger, theMMPRWhite Ranger, theZeoRed Ranger, and theTurboRed Ranger. It is unclear when and how Tommy and Andros first met, but they had a lot of friends in common.
The team behind “Forever Red” reportedly could not find Steve Cardenas, who played the secondMMPRRed Ranger Rocky, in time for filming.
A call was sent to all other Red Rangers, with the team later gathering in the hangar where Astro Megaship was staying.Lightspeed RescueRed Ranger’s Carter Graysonrecruited Cole, the main character ofPower Rangers’ 2002 seasonWild Force.Tommy called Jason, the original Red Ranger,but was not sure whether his former teammate was going to show up. Fortunately,Power Rangers’ first Red Ranger did not miss out on the fun. From a behind-the-scenes standpoint, the lineup of “Forever Red” worked perfectly. There were 10 Red Rangers excluding Rocky, a number that matched the franchise’s anniversary.
Power Rangers’ Veteran Red Rangers Remain The Show’s Most Iconic
Power Rangers may never have a crossover that cool again.
Nostalgia always comes into play inPower Rangers, and it is no different for “Forever Red.” Whilethere continued to be a lot of great Red Rangers after “Forever Red,”including but not limited to names likeDino Thunder’s Connor andS.P.D.’s Jack Landors, the Veteran Red Rangers will always remain the show’s most iconic. The Zordon Era, which includes shows likeMighty Morphin,Zeo, and InSpace, still defines the franchise all those years later. As such, seeing Jason, Tommy, Andros, and others fighting side by side could not have been more exciting.
15 Best Power Rangers Episodes I Never Get Tired Of Watching
Some of the best Power Rangers episodes still hold up many years later, from the introduction of all-time favorite characters to major crossovers.
Additionally, following the death of Zordon, thePower Rangersseason began to be more standalone. Apart from the annual crossovers, there was little to no connection between shows likeLightspeed RescueandTime Force, for example. This made “Forever Red” even more special, as it brought together different corners of the franchise and made it all feel like part of one cohesivePower Rangerschronology. Sadly, there was never another “Forever Red” inPower Rangers. It would have been interesting to see what an updated lineup of Red Rangers would have looked like in the 2010s or 2020s.
Power Rangers Wild Force
Cast
Power Rangers Wild Force is the tenth season of the Power Rangers franchise, airing in 2002. The series follows the adventures of five young heroes, each representing a different animal, as they battle to protect the Earth from the evil Master Org and his minions. Led by Cole Evans, the Red Ranger, the team discovers their destiny as the Wild Force Rangers, tasked with defending the planet from destruction.
