Although the DVDs have been around for so long now, I was never in any hurry to rewatch Zeo, having previously gone back through my Fox Kids recordings in the 00s and using them (along with encodes from mIRC) for a music video tribute (link). I'm not entirely sure if it was trouble with the VCR, not realizing there was a new episode (or both), but there were a couple episodes I never taped or saw until later, including "MONDO'S LAST STAND" through"THE LORE OF AURIC." So watching the DVDs was really the first time seeing the entire season on an actual TV.
First up - the Zeo Serials - I don't think I saw much of beforehand other than about the last 2 and probably an earlier one. I was excited for what was happening with the machine invasion as "Unleashing the Power" played and the logo formed. The original Saturday and Tuesday broadcast of "A ZEO BEGINNING" included the teaser which I still have. It was a great new beginning for the show, however also the start of a lot of weird/questionable plot points. For one thing, they made it look like Zordon was gone in Part 1 (and I freaked), only to then continue the scene in Part 2, revealing that he was fine.
We then pretty much settled into focus eps centered on the Rangers combined with OhRanger footage. I liked getting up Saturdays to watch it at 10:30, however I was often not real confident the episode would be that exciting, not helped by what I'd consider Zeo's worst episode, "INVASION OF THE RANGER SNATCHERS" with "A FEW BAD SEEDS" a close second. Cycling through the same footage of Mondo & co. was also a far step down from Rita and Zedd in the palace. At least we had Billy's episodes and although it was kind of dragged out, I liked they went to the mountains alongside the Tommy and Kat focus. And even if the eps weren't great, I loved continuing to hear "Unleashing the Power" and the main theme as part of an awesome soundtrack. I'd say Zeo is still my favorite adapted morph sequence too.
Following Tommy's quest, we had a batch of pretty good Bulk, Tanya and Adam eps before the Gold Ranger arc got underway. It was quite unprecedented, a new Ranger from another planet with their own awesome theme. Definitely the most excited I was since Alien Rangers, however the mood would soon get kind of spoiled with the missed episodes. Looking back, yeah, it was ridiculous the gold powers wouldn't accept Billy but then we got Jason back I thought was cool at the time.
It's kind of tough to say what my favorite ep would be now but I'd have to go with the "KING FOR A DAY" two-partner, which was pretty unique from the rest of the season and I liked how they did the whole brainwashing Tommy. Plus this was back when using hoards of monsters (some from previous episodes or never used in the show prior) was still fairly new.
When Billy was written out, it was again odd how Yost never returned (not to mention Billy's goodbye tech difficulties) but back then, it never crossed my mind he didn't leave on good terms, and I did like we got the teamup out of it. Meanwhile, I enjoyed the subplot of Rita and the gang running around in the RV, ultimately making one last attempt for the gold powers before the standoff with the machines, and ending the season putting them outta commission. Besides that, the Rangers growing giant in the final battle was complete foolishness especially after using zord footage for Mondo's first defeat. At the time, I think my mind was all over the place about where the show was going next (and whether Rita & Zedd were actually back) before "Power Rangers Turbo" was name dropped in a Totally Kids Magazine.
It was a crazy, exciting time for the show - a leveled up MMPR changing things up, for better or worse. I'd say the Treys/Gold Ranger is still my favorite 6th Ranger storyarc along with probably Quantum Ranger but it was tough getting through the first half to get there. I could easily notice the little things now, I didn't really pay attention to back in the day. So while it's still classic PR, it's tough to top season 3, putting Zeo a couple notches lower but still above seasons 1 and 2.
