Zack and Angela | Rita and Lord Zedd
Adam and Tanya | Katherine and Tommy


Zack and Angela

First Impression

Zack: "Aw man, there she is!"
Jason: "Who?"
Zack: "Angela. The girl of my dreams..."
Jason: "Does she even know you're alive?"

Foul Play in the Sky

Although this isn't the first time Zack met Angela, this is the first time the audience encountered Angel Grove's reigning Ice Queen. After confessing his interest to his best friend, Zack swaggered towards Angela as she exercised in the Youth Center. Zack was fully confident that his charm would sweep her off her feet, and was effectively shut down by her complete lack of interest. Zack walked away defeated, but resolved not to give up so easily. And thus began the first romantic relationship on Power Rangers, and easily one of the most entertaining.


Date Gone Bad

Angela: "What was that?"
Zack: "Nothing... it was my popcorn alarm. Save my seat... I'll be right back."

Lions and Blizzards

Famous last words! What is the absolute worst thing that can happen to a Ranger on a date? A monster attack, forcing a very awkward adieu to the object of his affection. When Zack showed modesty and consideration after beating her team in the Oddball Games, Angela approached him and asked him to see a matinee. The dumbstruck Black Ranger eagerly agreed, and off they were to the movies! Of course, the theater was cold, and Zack tried to cuddle a little closer. Just when it looked like Angela was genuinely enjoying his company, off goes the communicator. A flustered Zack rushes off to "buy popcorn," and proceeds to mercilessly ravage Rita's Goaton monster. Despite his best efforts, he returned very late to the theater. A furious Angela dumped the popcorn on his head and marched out the door.


A Serenade

Zack: "I'm sorry."
Angela: "I'm sorry too, Zack. I guess I shouldn't be so materialistic about things."
Zack: "Happy Birthday, Angela."

An Oyster Stew

This episode is one of my favorites. Zack finds out its Angela's birthday, and decides to change his technique. Rather than sweep her off her feet with his dance prowess and comedic charm, he tries to impress her with lavish presents and a fancy dinner. To put it bluntly, everything that could go wrong went wrong, and once again Rita's monster of the day forced Zack to cut the date short. Only this time, he vowed to make it up to her. Not with more expensive gifts, but with a handful of flowers and a heartfelt song. Aided by Bulk and Skull, he presented his sincere gift to Angela in the Youth Center, and finally warmed Angela's cool heart. She realized she too had her priorities wrong, and gave Zack the one present he'd been dreaming of since the thirteenth episode of Power Rangers: a kiss.


Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa

The Wedding of the Century

Rita: "Yuck! How'd you like to wake up to that every morning? Oh well, we all have to make sacrifices sometimes."
The Wedding, Part I

If you watched the first airing of the mini-series "The Wedding," you may recall the confusing teasers featuring mostly Kim and Tommy. I for one was shocked. Kim and Tommy couldn't be getting married, and who else was there? And when I found out the answer, I was even more shocked! After spending half a season floating about in a space dumpster, Rita escaped her confinement, and she was hell-bent on revenge. She knew she was no match for her Lord, since the last time they crossed paths she cowered like a terrified child begging for mercy. But this time, groveling was not in the plan. Instead, she sneaked into Zedd's palace during his restoration cycle, and conspired with Finster to concoct a love potion. The mighty evil Lord fell victim to the potion, and declared his everlasting love. To the shock of everyone on the moon, Zedd made immediate arrangements for a wedding, and a full-blown party! But the question lingered... what would Zedd do when Finster's love potion finally wore off? We had to wait thirteen episodes to find out.


The Spell is Broken

Rito: "I guess old Ed really does love Rita!"
The Potion Notion

The alliance of Rita and Lord Zedd, combined with the surprise arrival of Rita's dimwitted brother Rito, challenged the Power Rangers through much of the third season. However, when the pair went on their second honeymoon, Rito unleashed Miss Chief, a monster designed to toy with the affections of humans and aliens alike. During the chaos, Goldar learned of Rita's trickery, and commanded Finster to create an antidote to use on Lord Zedd. First, the potion was tested on the humans under Miss Chief's influence, undoing the romantic absurdities throughout Angel Grove. When Rita and Zedd returned from their trip, Goldar was ready and waiting with the potion to break Rita's enchantment. I for one had expected Zedd to banish Rita once again... or even destroy her for trying such an underhanded plot. But, to everyone's astonishment, the anti-love potion had no effect on the evil monarch. Despite his black heart, he genuinely cared for the whining, irritating witch. What began as a plot to usurp power ended in sincere love.


A New Beginning

Zedd: "So, wanna dance?"
Countdown to Destruction

One moment, the devious duo led an army of soldiers to subjugate a helpless planet. They even had Blue Senturian and the Phantom Ranger in their clutches, and victory seemed imminent. And then the next moment, Zordon's power was released, purging all redeemable beings of evil. Rita's elaborate makeup and costume were gone, leaving a shocked woman in her wake. And Lord Zedd's demonic form vanished, and we saw his true, human face. The pair took a moment to orient themselves to their new freedom, and then their eyes met. Zedd's eyebrow quirked, Rita grinned coyly, and then he swept her into their signature tango. And thus, this unlikely pair welcomed a new life and a bright future, hand in hand.


Adam and Tanya

Standing Up

Adam: "That was awesome."
Tanya: "That was a good game, wasn't it."
Adam: "Not the game; you stood up for yourself! That was really cool."
Tanya: "And I also lost my boyfriend."
Adam: "He didn't deserve you."

Rangers in the Outfield

At this point in the series, Tanya is actually dating Shawn, the local baseball star. As she watched a practice game, a stray ball flew toward her, which she caught easily. Everyone was shocked at the African's natural skills, including impressive coordination and a mean fastball. In front of the entire team, she struck out the "Sultan of Swat" during practice, bruising his ego. Unfortunately, Shawn couldn't take pride in Tanya's amazing talent, even as the rest of the team cheer her on. Throughout her ordeals on the baseball diamond, it's Adam, not Shawn, that offers the encouragement and assurance she needed. And when Shawn finally pointed his finger, blaming Tanya for a near-loss against Stone Canyon, the Yellow Ranger tore into him for his selfishness. Even though she and Shawn were obviously not meant for each other, the harsh break-up left it's sting. But who was there for Tanya? Adam, of course, who offered her comforting words and hug. Which, for those of you counting, marks the second hug these Rangers shared on this very episode.


Practice Makes Perfect

Adam: "Perfect. You've got the move, Tanya."
Tanya: "And you've been unbelievably patient. You're a pro, and I'm just-"
Adam: "Learning."

The Puppet Blaster

This is one of those minor moments that gives us some insight into the growing relationship between Adam and Tanya. The pair spends an afternoon in the great outdoors, Adam demonstrating first a kata, and then coaching Tanya on her kick technique. Tanya is more than grateful for Adam's attention, recognizing that his skills are far beyond hers. I would think Adam could prepare better for his upcoming tournament if he trained with either Rocky or Tommy, but he'd prefer to help Tanya master the basics of offense to improve her abilities as a Ranger. I thought it touching that Adam is so keenly interested in Tanya's development, always eager to put in the extra effort to help her succeed. Plus, you could see the pride in his grin when Tanya's kick was fierce enough to knock him off balance. Their relationship is unique in the selfless support each one give to the other, always encouraging one another to improve and succeed at whatever they attempt.


The Decision

Tanya: "I just had to evaluate what was important to me. School... friends...
Adam: "You made the right decision."

Song Sung Yellow

This moment is definitely understated, but worth acknowledging in this collection of key moments between couples. Tanya's striking singing voice earned the attention of a passing record producer, planting in her mind the possibility of iminent stardom. Tanya was thrilled at the idea of a recording contract, even though Kat and Tommy had pointed out the down side, like leaving school and moving to Hollywood. And yet Adam, who obviously had the most to lose, never tried to dissuade Tanya. Instead, he encouraged her, recognizing the once in a lifetime opportunity Tanya was offered. In the end, Tanya decided that her priorities lied in Angel Grove, as the Yellow Ranger. And this was the first time Adam actually showed what he truly felt. He praised her decision, and wrapped her in an exuberant hug, earning "Aw's" from the rest of the team.


Support

Tanya: "For now I'm lending moral support to Adam."
Shawn: "That's nice. It's good to have a supportive girlfriend."

Game of Honor

The last time we saw Shawn, he was convinced of his own superiority... and things haven't changed. Only now, his new girlfriend Veronica seems more than happy to cling to his arm and join him in mocking both Adam and Tanya. But Tanya's not phased at all. She has someone in her life whom she's eager to support, because, unlike Shawn, Adam is willing to reciprocate. I assume this is the same tournament Adam was training for back in "The Puppet Blaster," and Tanya has continued to spend her afternoons with him, both learning from his impressive performance and lending support. Even Shawn couldn't deny that Adam had a code of honor he lacked, helping him take a step in the right direction by choosing not to cheat in the contest. In the end, he even apologized to both Tanya and Adam. And I particularly liked that when Tanya gave him a forgiving hug, Adam half-jokingly told them to "break it up."


Kat and Tommy

By the Lake

Kat: "I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better... but I know there isn't."
Tommy: "Thanks anyway."

There's No Business Like Snow Business, Part I

I think it's significant that, out of all the Rangers, it was Kat who followed Tommy to the lake after he received the infamous letter. He hurried from the Youth Center on the verge of tears, retreating to the lake by which he and Kim had shared several tender moments. He was lost in reverie when Kat approached, quietly offering him whatever help she could. Tommy was still in shock at the unexpected letter to bare much of his feelings to Kat, but he was appreciative of the gesture. And later, Kat and Billy took more drastic action to cheer up their despondent leader.


Slow Dance

Kat: "I thought it might take your mind off things if you had someone in your life."
Tommy: "It's just going to take some time, that's all."

There's No Business Like Snow Business, Part III

The previous few days were an emotional roller coaster for Tommy. First, his longtime girlfriend ended their relationship. Then, in an attempt to find some peace in a pristine ski resort, he found himself attracted to Heather Thompson. Only King Mondo kept the Rangers so busy, Tommy was forced to abandon Heather time and again. When Tommy abruptly left during a carefully-prepared dinner date, Heather was aggravated beyond forgiveness, and walked out of the Red Zeo Ranger's life for good. When Tommy returned, a new wave of depression swept him as he took his seat at the table... but he wasn't alone. Kat joined him for a solemn meal, and Tommy found the peace he was looking for, in the Pink Ranger's company. While Kat's feelings for Tommy had been obvious from "A Ranger Catastrophe," we never knew if Tommy could reciprocate, until this moment. As a soft ballad played over the radio, Tommy asked her to dance, and they shared a special moment that set the stage for their relationship.


Remember Me

Kat: "He has to see us. He has to be confronted with the face of his true friends."
King For a Day, Part II

If you ever doubted Katherine Hillard's love and bravery, then this episode would convince the most stubborn mind. After days of fretting over Tommy's mysterious disappearance, the truth was revealed: Tommy had been kidnapped by Prince Gasket, and brainwashed into believing he was the ruler and champion of the Machine Empire. The Zeo Rangers stood helplessly as they faced their friend and leader in the center of a large arena, with thousands of eager Machines watching and cheering. But Kat was the one to take action. She un-morphed, leaving her vulnerable to Tommy's pending attack. Despite the protest of the other Rangers, she approached Tommy, begging him to remember her. When he visibly struggled in confusion at her words, she wrapped him in a desperate hug. She even faced a Zeo Blaster pointed directly at her, and showed no fear. Her strength and determination restored Tommy's senses.


The Dating Game

Tommy: "I was wondering if, uh... you know... you'd like to... uh... go with me?"
Kat: "You mean like on a date?"

Hawaii Zeo

As unbelievable as it may seem, after everything Kat did for Tommy, he still was hesitant to ask her out. I'm glad Rocky was around to show his disbelief over Tommy's indecision. I suppose we can excuse him, since the last two women he dated spurned him in the end. But we knew what Kat's reaction would be: a resounding yes! Unfortunately, their first date at Ernie's luau was interrupted by the Machines, but that didn't stop them. At the end of the episode, Kat and Tommy had returned from the movies, their second try at their first date. And thus, after over half of season of being a sorta-couple, they became official.


Happily Ever After

Tommy: "Must run in the family."
A Season to Remember

Ah, the infamous future Christmas scene. While in itself it wasn't necessarily romantic, it did establish that Katherine and Tommy got married at some point after the conclusion of Turbo, had children, and watched their grandchildren grow up. After telling a story of Christmas past to his young grandson, Katherine appears in the room and advises Tommy that it's getting late. Then, Tommy and Kat's older grandson comes to pick up his brother, only for his communicator to sound, no doubt summoning him to protect the world. Tommy and Kat watch proudly as the Red Ranger leaves, continuing the family legacy of heroic deeds. So, is this scene firmly established in Ranger canon? So far nothing in this scene has contradicted later seasons, so it appears so.