The story reaches its conclusion as Astronema, now the Supreme Ruler of Evil, orders the Angel Grove citizens to bring the Power Rangers to her by sunrise or she will kill everyone. While the Rangers figure out a plan to save the civilians, Andros goes off on his own to save both his sister and Zordon.
Tropes in this episode include:
- All Up to You: Andros decides to go to the Dark Fortress alone to face Astronema one last time. More overtly, Zordon tells him it's his "duty" to save the universe.
- And the Adventure Continues: The series (and the franchise, if the ending stuck) would have ended with the team, now with Zhane and Karone accompanying them, flying back to Earth for more adventures...
- Back for the Dead: Zordon, the Machine Empire and the entirety of Divatox, Zedd and Rita's forces (save for the aforementioned leaders) are turned to dust as a result of the Z-Wave, permanently ending the overriding threats of the last six seasons.
- Back for the Finale:
- Bulk and Skull (and Professor Phenonemous), who last appeared four episodes prior in "Ghosts in the Machine", finally reappear — and play a decisive role in the resolution of the fight against Astronema's forces in Angel Grove.
- The same goes for Adelle Ferguson (of the Surf Spot) who reappears one last time to join Bulk, Skull and the unnamed old man/woman during their I Am Spartacus moment.
- Big Damn Heroes: Bulk and Skull, of all people, do this, rallying the citizens of Angel Grove to aid the Space Rangers fight Astronema's forces.
- Big "NO!": Ecliptor yells "No!" when Andros shatters Zordon's energy tube to eradicate the forces of evil.
- Bittersweet Ending: Almost every villain has been eradicated or purged of evil, and Karone is back to normal, this time for good, and reunited with her brother. It seems that for the first time, the universe may have earned a respite from evil. Sadly... As great a victory as this was, it cost Zordon his life.
- Bring It: Elgar to the five Rangers after they morph in public.
- Brought Down to Normal: Rita, Zedd and Divatox gain their human forms after being cleansed of their evil.
- Call-Back: Bulk and Skull's years-long quest to unmask the Power Rangers (starting from the original series) is functionally resolved when their bravado inspires the Rangers to reveal themselves to the populace for the first time — breaking the one rule the team had taken pains to respect all this time.Bulk: Them?
- Care-Bear Stare: Zordon's energy wave.
- Continuity Nod: Bulk's reaction to discovering the identities of the Power Rangers is the exact same thing he said when he temporarily discovered their identities in Season 2 of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Andros gets his ass kicked by Astronema. Justified, since he spends the entire fight trying to make her remember that they're brother and sister, refusing to fight back.
- Darkest Hour: Astronema has taken over Earth, the Rangers are in hiding, and other heroes have been captured. To make matters worse, other galaxies are being invaded by the other sub-factions of the UAE.
- Deus ex Machina: Zordon explains to Andros that rupturing his tube would end the battle, but also that he cannot do it himself and needs Andros to effectively kill him. As it turns out, doing so kills all monstrous villains and footsoldiers, purifys Rubber-Forehead Aliens and Human Aliens of the taint of evil magic, and does so while all existing heroes (Aquitarian Rangers, Gold Ranger of Triforia, Phantom Ranger and Blue Senturion) are on the ropes if not actually captured, neatly tying up all the loose ends of the series. As evidence that Tropes Are Not Bad, the sheer weight of what happened tends to overshadow the fact it is a Deus ex Machina.
- Didn't See That Coming: After the wave completely wipes out the Machine Empire's forces, Phantom Ranger and Blue Senturion look around in amazement. Trey is similarly surprised to see what becomes of Zedd, Rita, and their army.
- Dragon Their Feet: Ecliptor (alongside Elgar on Earth) is the last remnant of the leadership under Dark Specter left by the end of the series, and Ecliptor goes out after seeing Astronema dead and engaging in a final duel with Andros.
- End of an Age: Of the franchise's "Zordon Era". This episode functionally puts to rest most major plotlines in the series. Zordon, the Rangers' mentor, has sacrificed himself to put a stop to the attacking forces of evil throughout the galaxy, with most supporting Rangers seen one last time as they fight (and prove victorious) over Astronema's forces. More overtly, it's the first finale in the series that ends with the threat of evil explicitly vanquished, with no further evil forces of note to combat and the team heading back to Earth for some well-deserved rest.
- "Eureka!" Moment: At the beginning of the episode, Bulk tells the citizens in hiding that there is hope that the Rangers are here. Hearing this, Ashley later tells the other Rangers that they haven't been beaten yet and the others come up with a plan to help the citizens.
- Exact Words: Zordon explicitly says his wave will only affect those currently attacking the universe, which leaves an out for later seasons' villains.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Yes, Ecliptor’s been working under Astronema the whole time, but even he can’t believe that Andros would kill his own sister (albeit accidentally).
- Face Death with Dignity: Zordon tells Andros to do what he must to save the universe, then simply closes his eyes and lets him do it.
- Finale Production Upgrade: There is no new Megaranger-majority footage, which had been exhausted in the previous single episode, "A Line in The Sand". Barring the ranger action stock footage (e.g. weapon finishers and teleportation), this is all brand new American-made footage, the story stakes have been pushed to their maximum limit in that the universe is under attack, there is greenscreen, bluescreen, and CGI effects within every nook and cranny of the episode, brand-new destroyed city sets, we see the desperate battles and fights on other planets throughout the universe, and to top it all off, the main mentor that the Power Rangers had been searching for since the start of the season, throughout their battles, thick and thin, from the very beginning of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, dies.
- Godzilla Threshold: To protect the citizens of Angel Grove, the teens break Zordon's rule from the first episode about Rangers keeping their identities a secret.
- Grand Finale: Originally meant to be one for the entire franchise, but perfectly serves as one for the Zordon Era.
- Gut Punch: Andros is forced to kill Zordon to save the universe.
- Heel–Face Turn: Rita, Zedd, Divatox, and Astronema are all purged of their evil and turn good.
- "Hell, Yes!" Moment: The civilians' collective response to the Rangers morphing.
- Heroic BSoD: Andros goes through a brief one when Astronema is rendered unconscious.
- Heroic Bystander: The civilians in the I Am Spartacus scene rebuke Astronema's threat to destroy Earth by saying that they are Power Rangers.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Zordon sacrifices his life to release an energy wave that will eradicate the forces of evil that are attacking the universe.
- Holy Hand Grenade: The Z-Wave unleashed by Zordon's death.
- Homage: Andros and Ecliptor's fight is an homage to the climax of Gosei Sentai Dairanger, in which Ryo duels with Shadam to the death, to resolve the season running conflict once and for all.
- I Am Spartacus: Astronoma delivers an ultimatum to the people of Angel Grove: surrender the Power Rangers or everyone dies. Suddenly Bulk, Skull, Professor Phenomenus, Adelle, and everyone else say that they're the Rangers. Just before Astronema kills everyone, the real Rangers reveal themselves (morphing in full view of the public, something Zordon specifically told them not to do) and attack, with Bulk and Skull leading the civilians into the fray.
- I Cannot Self-Terminate: Zordon demands Andros to kill him in order to save the universe.
- It Has Been an Honor: Implied when Bulk and Skull shake hands before leading the civilian mob to aid the Rangers. They likely don't expect to survive, but go out to help the Rangers anyway.
- I Want My Mommy!: Gender inverted when Rita fearfully begs her father to save her as the energy wave approaches. Fortunately, it doesn't kill her or Zedd.
- Killed Off for Real: Every villain except Rita, Zedd, Divatox, and Astronema. Also, 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.
- Last Request: Before he's killed, Zordon says, "Andros, listen to me. It is your duty as a Power Ranger to save the Universe. Now is the time."
- Like a Daughter to Me: Ecliptor mourns Astronema in this way, just before he fights Andros for the last time.
- Little "No": Andros when Zordon tells him the only way to prevail is to shatter his energy tube.
- Love Redeems: Rita and Zedd's love for each other means that instead of being turned to dust, they're purified of their evil and turned into humans.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": Once it becomes clear that the approaching energy wave emanating from the Dark Fortress is not helpful, most of the villains resort to freaking out or trying to run.
- Multi-Part Episode: The conclusion of the season finale.
- The Needs of the Many: Zordon is willing to die to stop the forces of evil.
- Not Quite Dead:
- Last seen in the Mega-Winger as it was being destroyed, a battered Zhane stumbles into the others' campsite.
- It's also implied that the Mega-Winger isn't quite trashed, as Zhane claims that his "Zord is in the shop", necessitating he get a ride back (presumably to retrieve it).
- Oh, Crap!:
- Bulk when the Rangers (san Andros) morph in full view of the public in the episode's second half.
- Andros when he sees Astronema while he's conflicted over killing Zordon.
- Ecliptor when he realizes that Andros is going to destroy Zordon's energy tube.
- Rita and Divatox when the Z-Wave is going to hit them.
- Ominous Latin Chanting: Occurs after Andros shatters Zordon's energy tube, to really hammer the finale home that, yes, this is the end of the Zordon Era (although it was thought to be the end of the entire series at the time), Zordon has sacrificed his life to save the universe, the evil that almost took over has been vanquished, and the rangers have completed their mission.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: For the first time in the franchise's history, the Rangers are forced to publicly reveal their identities in front of Angel Grove in order to protect them, breaking the one rule Zordon told them not to disregard in the process.
- Reduced to Dust: What the Z-Wave does to all the villains not named Zedd, Rita, Divatox, and Astronema.
- Sadistic Choice:
- Astronema demands the citizens of Angel Grove turn over the Power Rangers or die.
- Andros can either kill Zordon or let evil conquer the universe. He chooses the former.
- Series Fauxnale: The two-parter (and the series) originally functioned as the End of an Age for the franchise, bringing together and closing off the majority of the major plotlines and addressing the fates of most major villains in the series, along with a decisive sacrifice in Zordon that makes it abundantly clear that most enemies that were actively engaged in the fight against good was depowered or destroyed entirely. Yet, the episode (and the series) proved successful enough that it was renewed by FOX for further seasons (starting with Lost Galaxy).
- Shout-Out:
- Andros' farewell to Ashley was inspired by Luke's goodbye to Leia in Return of the Jedi.
- The final battle between Ecliptor and Andros is a homage to the ending of Gosei Sentai Dairanger, in which RyuuRanger duels with a villain one-on-one to the death, to resolve the season running conflict once and for all.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Bulk's Rousing Speech reassuring the citizens of Angel Grove to have faith that the team will return (and his and the population's subsequent I Am Spartacus moment) rallies the Rangers to fight for Angel Grove once more.
- Something We Forgot: The purified Divatox greatly resembles Dimitria, essentially tying up an Aborted Arc from Turbo that hinted the two were twin sisters.
- Swiss-Army Tears: Andros' tears are used to bring Karone back to life, and revert her cyborg modifications.
- Taking You with Me: Zordon, to the United Alliance of Evil.
- This Cannot Be!: Upon seeing the Rangers reveal their identities, Bulk lets out a stammered "Them?!"
- Undying Loyalty: After Astronema's ultimatum, Bulk expresses certainty that the Rangers will save them and scolds others for even suggesting their heroes have abandoned them.
- The Unmasking: The Rangers (sans Andros) morph in full view of the public (followed by a stammered reaction from a shocked Bulk). They're later forcibly demorphed by the Z-Wave.
- Trash the Set: Of a variety. Andros and Astronema's fight leads to damage to the Dark Fortress bridge, with Andros getting thrown into consoles and through walls, to highlight Astronema's fighting prowess. Angel Grove itself isn't exempt from this either, with buildings and infrastructure destroyed.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: Divatox is seen fleeing the battle on Gratha when the Z-Wave hits, turning into a good person.
- Wham Line: Zordon gives us the line that would lead to the end of the Zordon Era once and for all: "Shatter my energy tube."
- What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Enforced by virtue of
Executive Meddling. Initially, Karone would have been the only villain to have survived the Z-Wave by virtue of only being under mind control, but the show was forbidden to destroy human-looking villains. Divatox, Rita and Zedd all get turned good at the end, but robots, mooks and "monsters" are turned to dust, regardless of whether they might have had redeeming qualities or been capable of good in the past. - World-Healing Wave: The point of Zordon's Heroic Sacrifice.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: Astronema and Ecliptor clearly believe the citizens of Angel Grove are deliberately hiding the Rangers from them, but the Rangers are simply maintaining their secret identities.
- You Are Not Alone: Subverted. Zhane reports that the KO-35 rebels have surrendered and, with other allies having already been captured, Cassie feels they're on their own. However, during the big fight downtown, Bulk rallies the civilians into joining the fight.
T.J.:"Alpha, let's go home."
Alpha 6:"You've got it, Rangers!"
