01×34 & 01×35 – The Green Candle
The very first departure of a Power Ranger occurs when Rita Reveals that Tommy’s powers have been mystically tied to a candle. A back-up plan in the event of her personal Ranger’s betrayal, the successful burning of the Green Candle would result in the permanent removal of Tommy’s powers.
A two-parter with some iconic moments, including Tommy finally piloting the Dragonzord from it’s never-seen-before cockpit, and an unmorphed Jason voluntarily taking on Goldar in Rita’s Dark Dimension, the Green Candle is a contributing factor to many older viewer’s interest in the series—making it very clear, that the stakes were real despite the campy nature of the show.
While they are unsuccessful in preventing the loss of Tommy’s powers, the team outwits Rita by having the Dragon powers transferred to Jason, endowing him with the Dragon Armour and Dagger, as well as control over the Dragonzord.
In addition to the (first) departure of a Ranger, as well as Tommy, this episode introduces the concept of the power-robbing candles.
01×36 – Birds of a Feather
Zack and the team are faced with a challenge of tenacity and determination when they face the Hatchasaurus, a monster that is not only mighty enough to battle the combined force of the Rangers’ zords, but can also resurrect if it’s sentient heart is not first destroyed.
While the Hatchasaurus and its heart, Cardiatron, are both legitimately interesting villains, this episode also first sees a Ranger double-morphing as Jason wields the Dragon powers to take on Cardiatron in a 1-on-1 battle.
01×38 – A Bad Reflection on You
Tired of her monsters’ incessant failure, Rita decides to try having her own team of Rangers battle the original. Sending a special type of Putty Patrollers to imitate the Blue, Yellow, Black, and Pink Rangers, and a shape-shifting monster as Jason the Red Ranger.
Not only is this the first time Rita, or any big bad, tries to defeat the Rangers with evil versions, but also establishes that the Red Ranger cannot be easily matched.
01×39 & 01×40 – Doomsday
In what was meant to be the finalé of the series, the Rangers are faced with dual conundrums when the citizens of Angel Grove are trapped in the Dark Dimension by Rita while Goldar attacks the city with Cyclopsis, the first evil zord.
In addition to being the intended end to the series, unprecedented popularity encouraged an extension of another 20 episodes and even a second season. These, however, are the final episodes to primarily utilise footage from Zyuranger, the Super Sentai series on which Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is based.