History Recap / PowerRangersInSpaceS1E42CountdownToDestructionPart1

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse:
** Justin, Storm Blaster, and Lightning Cruiser: Storm Blaster and Lightning Cruiser were freed from Divatox's forces and Justin was left with apparently fully-functional Turbo Ranger powers (not even borderline useless ones, like Adam's Black Mighty Morphin powers) the last time we saw them... yet none of them are ever seen defending the Earth from the United Alliance of Evil, even though a simple, voiceless cameo by the Blue Turbo Ranger and a couple of prop cars would've been easy to fit in.
** It's unclear if the Mega-Winger was irreparably destroyed or merely seriously damaged; the last time we see it, it's shot down by a fighter, which may have caused damage to its torso area, but the extent is never made clear, and Zhane is forced to abandon it, regardless.

* BigNo: Divatox has one when Astronama is declared the Supreme Ruler of the United Alliance of Evil.

-->'''Astronema:''' When we're finished, [[ToCreateAPlaygroundOfEvil there will be no good left in the universe, no love, no happiness! Only chaos, anger, greed!]] Fight strong and destroy all the forces of goodness, especially the Power Rangers! Go now and spread the wrath of Dark Specter!

-->'''Astronema:''' When we're finished, there will be no good left in the universe, no love, no happiness! Only chaos, anger, greed! Fight strong and destroy all the forces of goodness, especially the Power Rangers! Go now and spread the wrath of Dark Specter!

* TakingYouWithMe: At the end of the episode, Darkonda uses his last life to fire the planet-destroying weapon into Dark Specter. Before he gets destroyed, [[MutalKill Dark Specter swallows Darkonda's ship]].

* TakingYouWithMe: At the end of the episode, Darkonda uses his last life to fire the planet-destroying weapon into Dark Specter. Before he gets destroyed, Dark Specter swallows Darkonda's ship.

* Zordon himself. There is no "ghost" or "spirit" flying off into the ether, or "resurrected by the power of friendship" cop-out. He's gone.

* WhamShot: Astronema walks up to a familiar-looking giant container and pulls off an equally-familiar canvas cover. Inside... is '''''Zordon''''', almost out of energy.

* WhamShot: Astronema walks up to a familiar-looking giant container and pulls off an equally-familiar canvas cover.
Inside... is '''''Zordon''''', almost out of energy.

* WhamEpisode: While there have been plenty of other episodes that have shown the Rangers (and even their base) in dire straits, this episode is a marked step up, presenting a situation where the entire ''galaxy'''s safety has been threatened -- by a team of villains enacting a CurbStompBattle. Supporting characters from throughout the show's history are shown being mercilessly overwhelmed by enemy forces, the Space Rangers themselves are driven into retreat after the sheer force of the attack, and it's left unclear if they'll be able to do anything to stop Astronema's reign of terror. More notably, the BigBad of the season, Dark Specter, along with Darkonda, are destroyed in spectacular fashion, while Astronema establishes herself as the new "Queen of Evil"...

** Meanwhile, the Blue Centurion, Gold Ranger, Phantom Ranger and the Aquitarian Rangers are fighting Dark Specter's armies.

* FromBadToWorse: The United Alliance of Evil launches an assault on the galaxy, with the Rangers' allies being curb-stomped by the Machine Empire, Rita and Divatox's forces. Then, the Quantrons and Piranahtrons turn up and invade Earth. ''Then'', the Rangers are curb-stomped and demorphed, the Angel Grove citizens are rounded up and Astronema becomes the new Supreme Ruler.

With Zordon captured, Dark Specter and the United Alliance of Evil initiates their plan to destroy any remaining forces of good within the galaxy, including the Power Rangers.

On a rocky cliff, Astronema watches as Dark Specter appears and issues new marching orders -- assemble all available forces of the United Alliance of Evil and destroy any remaining forces of good in the galaxy. Astronema raises her spear in agreement, and tells an assembled army of Quantrons soon afterwards that it is time to ensure that chaos rules the galaxy.

Fighters begin to pour out of the Dark Fortress as the word travels to other parts of the galaxy. [[ContinuityCavalcade At the Machine Empire base]], King Mondo tells Machina, Sprocket, Klank & Orbus to prepare for "the biggest battle this universe has ever seen," while Cogs deploy on various planets. Elsewhere, on the planet Gratha, Divatox gloats while the Alien Rangers of Aquitar are slowly being beaten down by an overwhelming force, proclaiming that she will show Astronema who the evil one really is. On another planet, Lord Zedd and Rita radio in to Astronema onboard the Fortress in an attempt to tell her that they're going to ignore her plan -- only to clam up when she tells them that Dark Specter personally ordered her to control the operation.

Afterwards, Astronema rips the cover off... ''Zordon'', who has been transported to the Dark Fortress, and whose energy tube is half-filled with lava. Astronema gloats while he watches helplessly, noting that it's the EndOfAnEra as footage of the [[TheBusCameBack Phantom Ranger and the Blue Centurion]] are shown being beaten by an army of Quantrons on his homeworld is shown on a video screen.

While Zordon attempts to appeal to her by telling her she can stop what's happening, other planets are shown being attacked by the Alliance -- Zedd, Rita, Goldar and Finster, along with an assembled army of disparate monsters, laugh maniacally while the Gold Ranger (Trey of Triforia) is attacked and beaten down despite his best efforts to repel them.

On [=K0-35=], a soldier reports to [[Recap/PowerRangersInSpaceS1E24ZhanesDestiny Commander Kinwon and Zhane]], who are busy drawing up battle plans to repel an army of Cogs attacking the rebel forces. Kinwon tells the other assembled rebels that they won't survive without reinforcements, prompting Zhane to tell them he's going to get the other Rangers and bring help.

During his flight from the planet, however, Zhane is besieged and shot at by several Quantrons in fighters, nearly falling off his Galaxy Glider in the process. Just when it seems he'll be done for, the encroaching fighters are surprised... [[JustInTime when the Astro Megaship rises behind them and destroys them]].

Onboard the ship, Andros gets Zhane up to speed on [[FromBadToWorse just how dire the situation is]] -- multiple reports have come in of attacking enemy forces on multiple planets, with Gratha having nearly fallen to Divatox's forces, and an army of Quantron jets headed straight for Earth. With no time to draw up a strategy, Andros sets the ship on max speed towards Earth.

In Angel Grove, various residents are going about their daily business when [[MassOhCrap they realize]] that enemy forces are invading the planet. The Quantrons destroy [[MonumentalDamage numerous portions of the city]], razing multiple buildings to the ground and causing the populace to panic. The Megaship arrives above the planet at the same time and sees that the Quantrons have formed a blockade over the Earth's atmosphere, forcing them to raise the shields and punch through. After dispatching several fighters, Zhane tells them that he'll try to draw enemy attention from the blockade with the Megaship while the rest of the team continues to the planet's surface.

The team deploys on the Galaxy Gliders as Andros psychs them up [[DareToBeBadass for the biggest battle of their lives]]. In the city, various citizens are shown being forced back by enemies when the Rangers arrive, leading them to cheer in response. However, the mood is short-lived, as Andros is shot out of the sky and crashes to the ground, immediately being set upon by several Quantrons. As he tries to fight them off, T.J., Cassie and Carlos land and begin to engage enemy forces, freeing numerous citizens and trying to lead them to safety as fighters continue to obliterate numerous buildings and infrastructure.

It soon becomes clear, however, that the citizens and the Rangers are on the wrong side of a losing battle. Andros dispatches several Quantrons and utilizes his Battlizer mode to rescue Ashley, who is besieged by Darkonda and a horde of enemies, and utilizing several missiles to drive him back. Ecliptor, who has also landed on the planet, sees what is happening and uses his eye lasers to disable Andros' Battlizer flightpack, causing him to crash down to the ground once again. Ashley fights her way back to Andros and they attempt to fight, but Ecliptor blasts them again with his eyebeams, causing them to depower. Realizing things are grim, they make a tactical retreat to reunite with the others.

Zhane is still engaging fighters above the planet when he realizes the enemy resistance is too strong for the Megaship to deal with alone. He calls on the Mega-Winger, which deploys to Earth -- but it runs into a similar problem, as it's besieged by a horde of fighters flying around it. Carlos, T.J. and Cassie come upon this scene, but are unable to do anything to help, as they're being chased and attacked by numerous enemies. Zhane tries to radio that the fighters are too numerous -- before the Mega-Winger is seriously damaged as a result of the attack, dropping to the ground. The other three Rangers are thrown through (and over) a vehicle, eventually depowering as well due to the sustained nature of the attacks. Faced with no other option, T.J. tells them they have to retreat, and the trio are forced to [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere beat a hasty exit]] pursued by the Quantrons.

Numerous citizens in Angel Grove are rounded up and held hostage by the Quantrons as evening looms. Elsewhere, Carlos and Cassie make it back to Andros, T.J. and Ashley, who are resting up underneath a destroyed bridge. Realizing the dire nature of their situation and their inability to do anything at the moment, Andros is at a loss for words, [[AgitatedItemStomping kicking a metal plate in response]].

Onboard the Dark Fortress, Ecliptor has returned and shows off a Velocifighter with two prototype missiles for Astronema's approval -- noting that they have the capabilities to destroy Earth. Hidden behind some crates, Darkonda (who has also returned from Earth) sees this meeting and realizes that [[TheStarscream it's time to make his move against Dark Specter]], being that he's been reduced to his last life. Sneaking over to the fighter, Darkonda commandeers it and pilots it out of the Fortress, intent on taking down Dark Specter with the prototype missiles.

Astronema is going over a plan with Ecliptor when Dark Specter materializes in physical form outside the window of the Fortress and asks for a status update. She tells him that the attack is progressing well, prompting him to tell her to "finish the job" by destroying Earth. However, he doesn't get much more of a chance to speak before Darkonda shoots Dark Specter InTheBack with one of the prototype missiles, severely crippling him. As Astronema reels in shock from what's happening outside, Darkonda attempts to destroy the Fortress with the second missile -- only for Specter to [[VillainousRescue pop up in the missile's path]], intercepting it while yelling that Darkonda is a traitor. As the missile impacts Specter, he [[TakingYouWithMe swallows Darkonda's ship]] before exploding in a blaze. The Quantrons and citizens of Angel Grove witness this from the planet's surface as pieces of Specter rain on the city.

The Rangers come upon a piece of the fallen debris and wonder aloud as to what's happened, before Alpha radios them and reveals that Dark Specter has been destroyed.

At that same moment, Ecliptor appears on a projection on planets throughout the galaxy and announces the same thing, before revealing that Astronema has become the "supreme leader". The Blue Centurion, Phantom Ranger, Gold Ranger and the Aquitarian Rangers can only look on helplessly as this occurs, while Rita, Zedd and Divatox react to this announcement with thinly-veiled contempt. Elgar watches with bemusement as the Quantrons begin worshipping Astronema before realizing that he should be doing the exact same thing, while several citizens take the opportunity to flee from the area.

As a mother and son sneak away from the mass of Quantrons, she tells him that the Rangers will arrive to save them -- [[{{Irony}} passing the depowered (and despondent) Rangers in the process]].

In another attempt to reach her, Zordon (calling her by Karone) tells Astronema that in the wake of Dark Specter's death, she doesn't have to follow his commands anymore. [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight He tries once again to appeal to her humanity]], and it seems to [[HopeSpot briefly work]] -- until she regains her bearings and reaffirms that she is the new "Queen of Evil".

[[DarkestHour Zordon can only watch helplessly as Astronema orders her forces to move in]] and "finish this once and for all," and the besieged citizens of Angel Grove are left wondering what to do as the Dark Fortress descends over the city...

!!Tropes:

Dark Specter gives the word and has the United Alliance of Evil attack the universe. How will the Power Rangers deal with a large invasion force when it attacks Earth.

!!Tropes in this episode include:

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Thanks to Darkonda's [[TheStarscream treachery]], Dark Specter is destroyed. Unfortunately for him, he ends up getting taken down with him.

* SilenceYouFool: Ecliptor when Zordon tries to appeal Astronema's inner goodness.
* TakingYouWithMe: At the end of the episode, Darkonda uses his last life to fire the planet-destroying weapon into Dark Spector. Before he gets destroyed, Dark Specter swallows Darkonda's ship.
* TemptingFate: When Dark Spector is destroyed, T.J. asks, "If Dark Spector's gone, then who's in charge?" Cue Ecliptor revealing that Astronema is now the Supreme Ruler of Evil.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Justin, Storm Blaster, and Lightning Cruiser: Storm Blaster and Lightning Cruiser were freed from Divatox's forces and Justin was left with apparently fully-functional Turbo Ranger powers (not even borderline useless ones, like Adam's Black Mighty Morphin powers) the last time we saw them... Yet none of them are ever seen defending the Earth from the United Alliance of Evil, even though a simple, voiceless cameo by the Blue Turbo Ranger and a couple of prop cars would've been easy to fit in.
* ZergRush: The villains forgo the usual "one monster at a time" approach and send them out in force, along with dozens of mooks. The Rangers and their allies are overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
-->'''T.J.:''' We've never been up against this many.

[The previous description was plagiarised from the work’s official episode synopsis. Please replace it with original writing.]

Administrivia/NeedsABetterDescription. The previous description was plagiarised from the work’s official episode synopsis.