Power Rangers RPM

Lore & Background

The story follows an AI computer virus named Venjix that takes over Earth's computers, creates an army of robot Grinder droids, and destroys or enslaves almost all of humanity. Only the domed city of Corinth remains, protected by a force field from the toxic wasteland outside. The mysterious Doctor K creates the RPM Power Rangers to fight Venjix, recruiting Air Force pilot Scott Truman, mechanic Flynn McAllistair, and reformed socialite Summer Landsdown. Later, Doctor K recruits Dillon, a rebellious drifter experimented on by Venjix, and Ziggy Grover, an inept thief whom Dillon befriended, as Series Black and Green.

During the fight, Dillon attempts to recover his memories and discovers that Venjix's general Tenaya is his sister. It is revealed that Doctor K created Venjix to escape confinement in the Alphabet Soup program with test pilots Gem and Gemma, but Venjix escaped before safety protocols were installed. Gem and Gemma survive Venjix's assault and recover prototype Series Gold and Silver Ranger gear. Venjix eventually creates a body and attacks Corinth, but Tenaya defects and helps destroy Venjix. In the aftermath, various characters pursue new paths: Scott, Gem, and Gemma lead a fighter squad; Flynn opens a computer store; Ziggy and Doctor K plan a children's school; Dillon, Summer, and Tenaya leave to help rebuild Earth.

Reader's Guide

Power Rangers RPM is significant as the final season produced under Disney ownership and the last to air on ABC stations, marking the end of an era before a one-year hiatus. Its post-apocalyptic setting, drawing from Mad Max and Terminator, gave it a darker tone than previous seasons, noted by critics for its creative ambition and surprising revelations. The season introduced characters like Dillon and Ziggy, praised as among the best Ranger pairings, and featured a complex narrative involving Venjix's origin and Doctor K's guilt. The season's legacy continued through its direct sequel, Power Rangers Beast Morphers (2019), and the RPM Rangers appeared in Boom! Studios' 2018 crossover event 'Shattered Grid' for the franchise's 25th anniversary. Production changes included the midseason dismissal of executive producer Eddie Guzelian, replaced by Judd Lynn, who later returned as showrunner for Power Rangers Dino Charge in 2015.

Did You Know?

• Power Rangers RPM was the sixteenth entry of the Power Rangers franchise and adapted Engine Sentai Go-onger, the thirty-second Japanese Super Sentai series.
• Executive producer Eddie Guzelian was dismissed midseason due to creative differences and replaced by Judd Lynn.