Power Rangers Zeo
"A Zeo Beginning, Part I"
Original Air Date:4/22/96 [Preview Version: 4/20/96 Only]
*Regular Season 3 Continues (4th Season By Series Premieres) *Official Network Show Number PR-344 [Preview Version FK Number: 344A] *1st episode of PRZ *156th total Power Rangers episode *NOTE: Two versions of this aired on Fox Kids. The "Preview Version", differed in only two ways. Namely, it aired without any of the "flashback" scenes, and was only aired once. The second version is the regular and most seen, it includes the flashback scenes to "Hogday Afternoon, Part 2", with a few changed lines.
Writer: Douglas Sloan		Director: Isaac Florentine
Starring Cast: Catherine Sutherland _AS_ Kat Hillard Nakia Burrise _AS_ Tanya Sloan Johnny Yong Bosch _AS_ Adam Park Steve Cardenas _AS_ Rocky DeSantos Jason David Frank _AS_ Tommy Oliver David Yost _AS_ Billy Cranston Paul Schrier _AS_ Farkas "Bulk" Bulkmeier Jason Narvy _AS_ Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch		Additional Cast: Donene Kistler _AS_ Alpha 5 Richard Wood _AS_ Alpha 5 (voice) Carla Perez _AS_ Rita Repulsa Barbara Goodson _AS_ Rita Repulsa (voice) Ed Neil _AS_ Lord Zedd Robert Axelrod _AS_ Lord Zedd (voice) Kerrigan Mahan _AS_ Goldar (voice) Bob Pappenbrook _AS_ Rito Revolto (voice) Robert Axelrod _AS_ Finster (voice) Colin Phillips [Dave Mallow] _AS_ Baboo (voice) Michael J. Sorich _AS_ Squatt (voice) Tom Wyner _AS_ Master Vile (voice) David Stenstrom _AS_ King Mondo (voice) Alex Borstein _AS_ Queen Machina (voice) Barbara Goodson _AS_ Prince Sprocket (voice)

CAPSULE SUMMARY:

Picking up exactly where "Hogday Afternoon, Part 2" left off, the age-restored Tommy, Tanya, Rocky, Kat, Adam, and Billy sulk around in the wreckage of The Command Center. They find the Zeo Crystal, having somehow been dropped by Rito & Goldar. The six teens pick it up, and are whisked away to the lower sub-chamber area of the CC. The same strange energies that caused this also cause the outer structure of the CC to reform itself. The six teens hear Alpha 5's voice calling to them, and are lead into a large strange hidden room known as the Power Chamber. It's the "The Next Generation Of Strategic Command Outposts", as Billy puts it. They're glad to see Alpha is alive & well, but are worried about the status of Zordon.

Up on the moon, Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd & their henchmonsters celebrate their victory over the Rangers a little too quickly. As they're distracted partying, The Machine Empire moves in! They attack the Moon Palace with Quadrafighters, and force Rita & Zedd's small band of monsters to flee from King Mondo's vast robotic armies. They pack up their belongings, leave the Moon Palace with a "for sale" sign, and head for Serpentera. Realizing they have limited fuel, Rita calls upon her father, Master Vile. He gives them reluctant permission to come stay with him in the M-51 Galaxy.

The Machine Empire plan to conquer our galaxy, and don't seem to see Rita & Zedd as much of a threat. The massive Machine Skybase hovers in outer space and sets up shop on a portion of the moon. The Royal House Of Gadgetry consists of King Mondo, his wife Queen Machina, their son Prince Sprocket, and their loyal lackeys Klank & Orbus. The drones are called Cogs, and they fly around blasting at things (such as Rita & Zedd) in Quadrafighters.

Meanwhile, Rito & Goldar have suffered amnesia from their exposure to the Zeo Crystal. They're vagrants on the streets of Angel Grove with no memory or powers. They eat out of garbage cans and scare people away, despite not having any memories of being evil. Elsewhere, Bulk & Skull get their own Patrol Bike, though it needs some fixing up. Rito & Goldar end up wandering into Bulk & Skull's neighborhood, and their destinies are about to collide.