Joel: "I'm really sorry! Here, let me help you."

Lightspeed Teamwork

Here's yet another 'Love at First Sight' pair. Many couples you'll see on the show (as well as one extremely disappointing fizzle) met in the same manner: lingering, wordless stares. And Joel and Angela are true to formula. Joel was so distracted by passing ladies in the Aquabase that bumped into Miss Fairweather, knocking her off her feet. He reached to lift his hat, offered assistance, and stared at the face of the woman who would become the love of his life. He tried to impress her by revealing himself as a Ranger, never even asking her what she did on the Aquabase. She bemusedly listened to his exploits until he was finally called to duty. And so began the epic love story, The Wooing of Miss Fairweather.

Angela: "Fine. The next time the 'Sky Cowboy' wants to overload his engines and explode, this dilletron computer geek will just let him!"
Lightspeed Teamwork

I really have to applaud Joel. I've never seen a potential romance crash and burn with the efficiency this one did! When he first met Miss Fairweather, instead of showing the least interest in her beside her pretty face, he bragged about being a Ranger to impress her. She played along as he raved about himself, offering no information about herself. Joel left on his "secret mission," and returned to the Aquabase with a gift for Miss Fairweather: an autographed pinup and bouquet of roses. She took the gifts with a grin, and asked how his "secret mission" went. He continued to vent about a "computer geek" who dared to tell him how to fly, completely oblivious to Miss Fairweather's growing anger. After giving him a tongue-lashing he'd never forget, she threw his gifts back into his face and stormed away. Joel's arrogance refused to let him see that Angela was in fact the designer of the Zords and morphers, and really ruptured a relationship that could've developed quite beautifully. Now Joel had an uphill battle to get passed bad first impressions, and prove to Angela that he's more than a skirt-chasing narcissist.

Angela: "Unless my calculations are incorrect... and they never are... I'd say you're asking me on a date."
Joel: "A date? But if I was, what would you say?"
Angela: "I'd say you're one of the most handsome, charming, courageous young men I know."
Joel: "Then you'll go out with me!" Angela: "Absolutely... not. It says in Lightspeed Regulation 322.1 'There shall be no fraternization between squad members.'"
Wheels of Destruction

I never would've expected it, but it appears Miss Fairweather has a bit of a mischievous side. After suffering Joel's nigh-constant attention, she turned down his most recent attempt at a date rather cunningly: by making up a regulation forbidding dating amongst the Lightspeed crew. But it's not only the clever lie that caught my attention in this scene. Rather, it was her flirtatious manner as she coyly toyed with poor Joel. She slid off her glasses, leaned close to him, complimented his bravery and charm, and even wound her arm through his... only to shut him down. She managed to spare his overwhelming ego by egging him on, making it appear that she would be interested if circumstances permitted it. I'm almost surprised Joel didn't resign from Lightspeed right then and there, considering the enthusiasm with which he'd been pursuing Miss Fairweather so far. I wonder how she would've reacted to that?

Joel: "Miss Fairweather!"
Angela: "Joel?"
Joel: "No time for autographs... we gotta get out of here!"
Rising from the Ashes

And now, we have a moment of redemption for Joel. Even after Miss Fairweather's fib about regulations, Joel continued to hover at her shoulder. But rather than ask her on a date, he merely encouraged her to get her mind off work once in a while. Obviously, Miss Fairweather took his advice the wrong way, assuming Joel was again trying to woo her. She snubbed him as always, and Joel left, disgusted by her obsession with work. But her disinterest didn't weaken his concern in the least, for when Miss Fairweather was trapped in a volcano during an explorative mission, it was Joel to the rescue. And it's interesting to note that it wasn't the Green Ranger that carried her to safety... it was Joel, armed with his handblaster. She was surprised to see him emerge from the newly-opened cave, and when their eyes met, you could see that she came to a revelation. She stared at Joel Rawlings as if he were a whole new person, and her smile seemed to hypnotize Joel. Later, when Miss Fairweather claimed to have a plan to defeat the latest demon du jour, it was Joel who puts complete confidence in her. Joel's bravery and faith helped to bridge that enormous gap between this unlikely pair.

Joel: "You really love him, don't you?"
Angela: "I couldn't live without him."
Joel: "I'm really happy for you. You deserve the best boyfriend in the world."
Angela: "Boyfriend? Clark is my brother!
The Mighty Mega Battles

I must admit, I'm very proud of Joel. He displayed a level of maturity I didn't think he was capable of. Of course, it took him the entire episode, but it's understandable. After gazing dreamily at Miss Fairweather for half a season, Joel found himself faced with a seeming competitor for her affections: Clark. He's brilliant, he's handsome... and Miss Fairweather obviously adored him. Why, he even called her "Angela," finally revealing the scientist's first name. At first Joel was blind with jealousy, and tried to sabotage their "date." However, when Clark was targeted by evil, Joel came to the rescue, risking his own life to save the man Angela loved. At the end, Joel decided to bite the bullet and accept the fact that Angela loved Clark... and that they'd make a good couple. Angela's startled revelation that Clark was her brother shocked our Green Ranger, and her grateful kiss for saving Clark's life made him weak in the knees. That was one kiss Joel definitely deserved, for being a big enough man to put Angela's happiness above his own.

Angela: "I was hoping that once this was over we can actually go on that date. That is, if you're still interested."
Joel: "Don't joke with me about this."
Angela: "I'm not."
Fate of Lightspeed, Part II

This was Lightspeed's darkest hour. Batlings were crawling through the hallways. The Lifeforce Megazord was pounding on the Aquabase's outer wall, causing ocean water to seep in. Four Rangers were trapped in the main operations room, bereft of power, light, or hope. Joel lingered in his misery, until Angela approached him, and gave him that boost he needed to get back on his feet. She finally accepted a date with him! At first, Joel refused to believe her, but she was serious. Now, with something to look forward to, Joel was able to rebound from the misery of certain defeat, and together the Rangers and Miss Fairweather escaped the doomed Aquabase.

Angela: "Let's go, Cowboy!"
Joel: "Excuse me, that must be my date."
Fate of Lightspeed, Part II

He'd been waiting for this for an entire season, and the moment has come! True to her word, Angela was ready to take that critical step in their tentative relationship, and agreed to a date. After the Rangers retired, Angela pulled up in a hot black convertible, and we saw the dedicated scientist all dolled up. With a wide grin, the Sky Cowboy got into the car, only for a passing siren to draw his attention away. The Green Ranger's mission wasn't quite complete yet, but with a rueful smile Angela watched her hero leave, knowing he'd be back as soon as humanly possible to pick up where they left off.

Angela: "Hawaii, here we come!"
Joel: "I can't wait. Nothing is going to spoil our honeymoon."
Time for Lightspeed

Yep, you read that right. Honeymoon. Talk about a Power Rangers first! Less than a year after their first date, Joel and Angela got married! We didn't get to see much of them, since Joel was whisked away from his new bride to help the other Lightspeed Rangers battle Vypra alongside the Time Force Rangers, but these few seconds confirmed that this unlikely couple did indeed endure.

Alex: "Now that Ransik and his gang of mutants are put away for good, we have a little more time to spend together."
Jen: "That'd be a nice change; to actually have a date with my boyfriend!"
Alex: "Actually, I was thinking of something more... permanent. Jen... will you marry me?"
Force From the Future, Part I

Talk about a monumental moment! On the very first episode of Time Force, romance fans were treated to a Power Rangers first... an onscreen proposal! Jen and Alex, both officers in the Time Force military unit, took a very important step in their relationship. With the capture of Ransik, the greatest threat to society in the year 3000, Alex's mission was complete, and he felt free to deepen his relationship with his girlfriend. Jen was ecstatic as Alex slid the ring on her finger, and they promised to be together forever. Unfortunately, their romance would soon take an agonizing turn.

Alex: "Take my... morpher."
Jen: "I can't!"
Alex: "You can. Promise me... you won't stop... no matter what... until you catch him."
Jen: "I promise. I'll catch him."
Force From the Future, Part I

This was one of the most powerful moments I've seen on Power Rangers. As Jen and her squad escorted Ransik to prison, the transport was ambushed, allowing the villain to escape. The Red Ranger raced to confront Ransik alone, but was unable to overpower the mutant leader. Jen arrived on the scene just in time to see Ransik deliver a critical blow that broke Alex's morph. Alex was engulfed in flames as Jen screamed for him. Then, as she cradled his battered body in her lap, Alex passed on his morpher, and his mission: to stop Ransik. From this moment on, Jen was consumed by her mission, willing to take any risk to bring her love's murderer to justice. With a focus and determination that startled her teammates, Jen marched into Time Force headquarters and stole the Timeship and the Chronomorphers.

Jen: "I was just about to quit. That was the day I met Alex... I knew right away that there was something special about him."
Trust and Triumph

This is a pivotal moment in Jen's personal development: the day she met Alex, the star Time Force officer. We only see this moment in a brief flashback, but it gives us a wonderful foundation on which to base Jen's personality. When she first joined Time Force, she was apprehensive and timid. She bumped into a superior officer, and stammered out an apology, not even daring to meet his eyes. But he apologized to her, picked up her helmet, and gave her a long, contemplative look. What did Alex see when he looked at Jen? He saw something special, something even she didn't realize about herself. He saw potential, and decided to help her reach it.

Jen: "Then he took me under his wing and taught me everything I know about being a Time Force officer. I don't know where I'd be today if it weren't for him."
Trust and Triumph

Alex became Jen's mentor, helping her develop her skills and become an exemplary Time Force officer. Without his guidance, we can be sure Jen would've quit Time Force at some point. We don't know exactly what point Jen and Alex fell in love, but I would wager it was during this coaching period. Alex saw the shy girl blossom, honing battle and strategic skills that left him duly impressed. Jen looked up at Alex and saw her personal savior and role model. He represented everything Time Force was, and everything she wanted to be. Making him proud became her goal, and at that shining moment when she received her badge, he was there to share it.

Jen: "You're alive! I thought you were gone forever, I..."
Alex: "I barely survived Ransik's attack."
Jen: "Are you okay? I want to know everything!"
Alex: "Jen, there isn't much time."
Dawn of Destiny

When Biolab began mass-producing Frax's serum, which wasn't invented for another thousand years, the entire timeline was endangered. After several weeks of watching the Rangers' activities from the year 3000, Alex traveled back in time to refocus the team on their mission, and put the fractured timeline back on track to preserve the future from which they came. Jen was, needless to say, thrilled to see her fiancee alive and well. But Alex had no time for a mushy reunion. Alex's emotional distance startled the tearful Pink Ranger, and this was on the beginning.

Alex: "Listen, Jen. This mission is more important than you and me, or anybody. Now, unless we put our emotions aside, we don't stand a chance of saving the future."
Dawn of Destiny

I'm sure Jen must've imagined a reunion with her lost love. She may have hoped that he'd somehow survived Ransik's attack. But whatever she might have imagined, Alex's driven, cold, impatience was certainly not it. Jen watched in amazement as Alex repossessed the Red Chronomorpher without so much as a "thank you" to Wes for all his hard work. She bit her tongue as Alex reprimanded the Rangers for getting distracted and trying to "blend in" with 21st century life, letting Ransik threaten the timeline. She finally confronted him, wondering why he didn't tell her that he'd survived Ransik's attack. And she got her answer: his eyes were only on his mission, and everything else... including their relationship... was secondary. Eventually, Alex came to realize that his leadership style only alienated his team, and returned the Red Chronomorpher to Wes. But the damage had already been done. Jen would never look at Alex in that perfect light again.

Wes: "I don't want you to go. You'll be destroyed."
Jen: "We have to. Don't you see? How can we live our lives knowing it cost Wes his?"
The End of Time, Part II

To say Jen and Alex had been through "a lot" is a gross understatement. The euphoria of victory and engagement, with a bright future in their horizon. Jen's horror at seeing your fiancee die in her arms. The relief of seeing Alex return from death itself, whole and unharmed. The frustration of two warring destinies. And finally, their very different priorities. Alex urged the Rangers to return to 3000 to avoid certain death, and Wes, fearing his friends would sacrifice themselves for his sake, tricked them into the Timeship and sent them home. Upon their arrival, the Rangers learned from Alex that they would undergo memory adaptation: an erasure of every memory of 2001. All the Rangers resisted, but it was Jen who stepped out of the machine and forced Alex to see the truth. She was no longer the meek, obedient soldier he remembered her as. In 2001, Jen learned independence, the importance of friendship, and where her heart truly lay. She marched to the exit, fully intent on joining Wes and sharing his fate against impossible odds. When Alex stood in her path, refusing to see her point of view, she handed him back the engagement ring. Alex finally stood aside, and even offered the Rangers the Megazord to help them in their quest. And thus ended this heart-wrenching relationship.

Wes: "Whoa, what's the matter? You look like you've just seen a ghost!"
Force From the Future, Part II

Soon after the Rangers arrived in 2001, they faced Nadira and an army of Cyclobots. Unfortunately, the new Rangers learned that their Chronomorphers wouldn't work, and were forced to fight hand to hand. A passing stranger came to Jen's rescue, and when he removed his motorcycle helmet, the brave and stalwart leader of the Time Force Rangers was reduced to tears. Why? Because mere hours after she bid an anguished farewell to her dying fiancee, she faced with a man who could be his twin: Wes Collins. And that is how the turbulent relationship between Jen and Wes began.

Wes: "I believe you. I believe you're nuts!"
Jen: "I knew you wouldn't help us. You're nothing like him!"
Force From the Future, Part II

After their first battle in 2001, the Rangers faced a conundrum: how to activate the Chronomorphers, and create a force formidable enough to beat Ransik and his mutants. The key was the Red morpher... Alex's morpher, which could only be activated by Alex's DNA. Their only chance was a long shot: that Wes Collins was a genetic match to their fallen friend. Despite her initial wariness, Jen tracked down Wes' address, and beseeched his help. Not surprisingly, Wes didn't believe Jen's fanciful tale of time travel and evil mutants, and refused to activate the Morpher. Jen's outburst reflected her frustrated feelings at that moment: Wes may resemble Alex, but he lacked the latter's heroic nature. Jen stormed off, deciding to face Ransik without the Chronomorphers, but Wes ended up following her to the battle, and fighting beside the other Rangers. But it wouldn't be that easy to get into Jen's good graces.

Wes: "I know I'm not Alex..."
Jen: "But I don't want you to be like him. In fact... I like you just the way you are."
Jen's Revenge

In order to deal with the pain of losing Alex, Jen seemed to completely seal off her feelings, becoming so focused on her mission she spent all her time training. However, when faced with the nefarious Fatcatfish, a former bounty hunter who once upon a time nearly killed her and Alex, she simply snapped. Consumed with rage Jen tried her best to kill the mutant, despite the fact that the Rangers' mission is to capture the released felons. Her anger made it impossible for her to see straight, and in an incredible display of poor judgement, Jen fell into Frax's trap by trying to capture Ransik alone. The other Rangers were at wit's end on how to snap Jen out of her bloodthirst, but it was Wes who recognized what made her so violent: her love for Alex. He calmly talked to her, urging her to ask herself what Alex would do in her situation. And Wes' words broke through that red haze, helping Jen back to her senses. What made this episode special for Jen and Wes' relationship was the patience and understanding Wes demonstrated, that caught Jen by surprise. He vigilantly kept watch over her during her convalescence, even falling asleep at her bedside. And he used reason rather than force to make her drop her lethal blaster. In the end, Jen finally admitted to herself, and to Wes, that she really appreciated him. She saw him as an individual, not just Alex's replacement, and acknowledged that his unique skills and personality made him a vital asset to the Ranger team... and a special person in her life as well.

Wes: "You expect us to trust you to lead us... but you don't trust us enough to open up! You never let anyone in."
Jen: "I'm not here to open up to you. I'm here to capture Ransik!"
Trust and Triumph

We saw a lot of character development in "Trust and Triumph." The Time Force Rangers designed a plan to capture Nadira, only Wes was distracted by the Silver Guardians and failed to cover the exit as planned. Jen gave him a royal chewing-out over his irresponsibility, and emphasized that trust is essential for a team to function. But rather than just take Jen's anger, Wes turned the tables on her by pointing out that trust is a two-way street. Wes challenged the driven Pink Ranger, who was too concerned about her mission to forge any sort of relationship with her fellow Rangers. Wes' accusations rocked Jen and the team, and a question lingered in the air: "How am I supposed to trust you if I don't even know who you are?"

Jen: "I'll tell you something I've never told anyone."
Trust and Triumph

Ransik's mutant Turtlecon sent the Rangers into another dimension, in which they faced evil doubles of themselves. Jen and Wes managed to escape through a tear in the dimension's wall, but Trip, Katie, and Lucas were still trapped. The only way to save their teammates was to reopen the gateway by performing an intricate and dangerous stunt. Jen and Wes were forced to work together, for the sake of their teammates. The tension hung in the air as the Red and Pink Rangers prepared for their daring plan, and Wes commended Jen on her calm in the face of monumental stress. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to open up, and reveal that when she was a rookie, she folded under pressure. It was a monumental step for Jen, sharing a piece of her personal history that no one else knew. And it also gave Wes a glimpse into how much Alex meant to the Pink Ranger.

Wes: "What? You still don't trust me?"
Jen: "Yeah, I do."
Trust and Triumph

Earlier in "Trust and Triumph," Jen shared with Wes the story of her training under Alex. We don't know exactly what details she related, but we saw the flashback of Alex demonstrating how to line up a shot. At the end of the episode, Wes decided to set up a shooting gallery, using a toy gun shooting suction darts. Jen played along with the game, and misfired. Wes showed off his own gaming prowess, and then innocently showed Jen how to aim the toy weapon. The look on her face as Wes took her hand, reenacting Alex's exact motion, was startled and somewhat scared. She realized that she did trust Wes, perhaps as much as she trusted Alex.

Wes: "Do you trust me?"
Jen: "Yes, I trust you."
Time Force Traitor

Jen's first partner, the traitorous Steelix, arrived in Silver Hills with the sole purpose of getting revenge against Jen for bringing him to justice. The Time Force Rangers urged Jen to stick with the team, but she stubbornly agreed to meet Steelix alone. Steelix used a mist to make Jen evil, and in her blind rage she tried to dig her claws into Wes. After an impressive stunt match, Wes grabbed Jen and hugged her tightly, declaring that Time Force officers had to stick together. Wes' desperate plea broke the enchantment, returning Jen to her senses. And after weeks of serving side by side, Jen demonstrated just how deeply she trusted Wes Collins.

Jen: "Wes, wait!"
Dawn of Destiny

This interchange didn't get too much focus on the episode, but it must have been painful for Wes. After months of serving beside Jen, growing more fond of her by the day, out of the blue came Alex, her 'dead' fiance'. To see Jen run into another man's arms definitely stung, but the humiliation didn't end there. Almost immediately after arriving in 2001, Alex repossessed the Red Chronomorpher and delivered a chilling message from the future: Wes' father would die the next day. Stunned and horrified, Wes raced out of the Timeship, leaving his friends behind. Jen followed him, hoping to offer some sort of comfort, but there was nothing she could do. Wes had to face his destiny, and only by choosing to make his own destiny did he return to the Rangers. His defiant example eventually made an impression on stubborn Alex, but nonetheless this was one of Wes' greatest challenges.

Jen: "What took you so long? You couldn't tear yourself away from Teresa??"
Undercover Rangers

This is the silly, frivolous moment in what was a really a critical episode in the development of Jen and Wes' relationship. Both wanted to confess their feelings to the other, and yet both were hesitant to reveal the truth. So, fed up with their endless stammering, Lucas volunteered them for an undercover mission to the Super Strong Gym. Disguised as "geeks," Jen and Wes signed up for the gym, where the beautiful receptionist Teresa cooed in awe at Wes' muscles. Jen was so obviously disgusted with Wes' pleased reaction that even after the entire gym was revealed to be a trap designed by Frax to recruit humans for his armies, she still tore into him for being distracted. It didn't take Wes long to figure out what ruffled Jen's feathers, but Jen, of course, denied any feelings of jealousy whatsoever. The best part was when Eric came to both their rescue, and Jen turned up the charm. The shocked look on both Eric and Wes' faces was a riot!

Jen: "We've been through a lot together."
Wes: "We sure have. I'm going to miss you... I'll miss all of you."
A Calm Before the Storm

With the capture of Ransik's last mutant came a monumental victory: Time Force's mission was nearly complete. Ransik's armies were drained, and once the mutant leader was finally apprehended, the Rangers could return to their old lives. Jen, Lucas, Trip, and Katie could return to the year 3000. The team celebrated, but Jen drew away, choosing instead to go to the roof and reflect on the beautiful city she helped protect. Wes joined her, and together the pair revisited some precious memories of their adventures together. Of course, most of their memories revolved on each other, and the friendship that slowly developed. Anyone could see that both Wes and Jen were yearning to say something about the mutual feelings neither had really come to terms with, but instead they both stumbled on their words, and ended up sitting in silence, so close they were nearly touching, but still separated.

Jen: "Don't ever forget me."
Wes: "Never could."
The End of Time, Part III

It was a tearful farewell in the dramatic conclusion of Time Force. The Rangers stood in a row, each one bidding their farewells to their good friend Wes before returning to the year 3000... this time for good. At first, Jen tried to stay cool, giving Wes her Time Force badge as a remembrance. But she couldn't contain her feelings this time. She ran back to him, and he caught her in a desperate hug, as this star-crossed pair finally admitted their love to each other against the rolling waves of the ocean. Then Jen disappeared into the Timeship, and from Wes Collin's life... but never from his heart.

Wes: "I knew that some day I'd see you again, Jen."
Jen: "I guess I can change my destiny, too."
Reinforcements from the Future, Part II

The last time Jen and Wes saw each other, they parted at the seashore, declaring their love for the first time only to be separated by an entire millennium. But their paths would cross one more time, for after returning to the 31st century, Jen was sent on a mission to eliminate three Mutorgs that traveled back to 2002 to serve the Master Org. Wes at first was worried when he learned that Jen had disappeared on this mission, but she appeared just in time to save his life when the Wild Force Rangers and Silver Guardians faced off with the powerful monsters. The two teams regrouped on the Animarium, and Wes and Jen shared a tender moment in the warm glow of a campfire. I'm glad they got to enjoy some time together in this action-packed team-up, even if was brief.