Top 10 Jason David Frank Tommy Oliver Moments In Power Rangers
#10: Making a Brutal First Impression
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“Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers” (1993-96) Shortly after arriving in Angel Grove, Tommy impresses many people with his martial arts skills. The evil empress Rita is so blown away that she decides to turn him into her evil green ranger. Tommy quickly proves himself to be a threat by putting Alpha out of commission, taking Zordon out and messing up the command center. But the most iconic part of his introduction comes when he confronts the Power Rangers. Hearing Jason David Frank put on a dramatic evil voice while watching him wreck the heroes never gets old. Although we loved that Tommy eventually became a hero, it’s fun to look back at his villainous introduction.
#9: Going Green for the 20th Anniversary
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“Power Rangers Super Megaforce” (2014) There was no way the franchise could do a 20th anniversary special without Tommy in the mix. “Power Rangers Super Megaforce” made our dreams come true with brief yet brilliant cameos from the ranger. When six of the newest heroes are tasked with fighting an army by themselves, they get some much needed backup from numerous veterans. Tommy naturally leads the reinforcements as the green ranger. Although he has a relatively small role in this anniversary special, it was great to see Frank back in the classic color that made him a household name. His warm presence made the giant crossover event feel like a big family reunion.
#8: Making Two Epic Saves in the Final Battle
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“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” (1995) The ridiculously powerful Ivan Ooze had no problem harming innocent civilians or power rangers. Luckily, Tommy was there to save everyone the villain threatened. After Ooze destroys a monorail track, the hero swoops in with his falcon sword to save an entire train full of bystanders. Tommy immediately follows up this soaring rescue by swooping in to help the rangers at the last minute. Since all of this action takes place while the hero’s wearing a helmet, Frank’s voiceover work shines by conveying all the ranger’s enthusiasm and confidence. Thanks to Tommy, both civilians and his teammates got to stop all of Ooze’s heinous plans.
#7: Fighting Evil Without Powers
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“Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers” (1993-96) It looked like Tommy would have to permanently retire from hero work when he started losing his green ranger powers. But before he could leave the ranger life behind, the hero found himself at the mercy of the powerful Goldar. Although the big bad tries to break Tommy’s spirit, the ranger refuses to yield and leaps into battle with Goldar. The hero’s lack of powers allows for us to see another tremendous display of Frank’s martial arts prowess outside of his costume. At the same time, this fight showed us that Tommy would never let a lack of powers stop him. The hero loved to combat evil no matter how bad the odds were stacked against him.
#6: Rejecting His Title as Machine Empire King
“Power Rangers Zeo” (1996) After enemy forces capture Tommy, a bit of brainwashing makes him believe that he’s the leader of a robotic empire. He’s so convinced of this new identity that he tries to destroy multiple rangers. But Tommy’s tune changes when Kat arrives. Once she starts talking to the red ranger, we’re given a great sequence of acting from Jason David Frank. The actor captures the character’s internal struggle as he tries to remember who his enemies and allies truly are. Frank even references his previous evil stints by using that sinister green ranger voice. In the end, good wins out and he rejoins his friends. It was immensely satisfying to see Tommy beat another brainwashing villain.
#5: Becoming the Black Dino Thunder Ranger
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“Power Rangers Dino Thunder” (2004) Longtime fans of the franchise were already ecstatic when they heard Jason David Frank would return to the franchise as a ranger mentor for the “Dino Thunder” season. However, he wasn’t content just giving out advice. In the “Back in Black” episode, Tommy is given the opportunity to become a ranger once more. Although a villain tries to take a dig at his age, he ignores her and morphs into a fearsome warrior. It was a welcome and epic surprise to see Frank in a brand new color on the battlefield. After the unforgettable debut of Tommy’s black ranger transformation, the actor treated us to a great action scene and a little self-aware series humor to end the story in style.
#4: Reuniting With the Red Rangers
“Power Rangers Wild Force” (2002) When the sinister machine empire tries to make a comeback, Tommy is there to help shut it down. He uses his reputation and networking skills to pull in 9 other red rangers to help battle these foes. It was already epic that Frank returned to reprise his role as Tommy after being away from the franchise for years. But what made this reunion even sweeter was the fact he was unanimously chosen as the leader among other icons. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, Frank also reminded us how talented he was as a fighter by doing an unmorphed fight scene. This “Forever Red” team up special definitely certified that Tommy was a living legend.
#3: Rejoining the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
“Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers” (1993-96) Originally, the original five rangers weren’t too thrilled with the idea of a new person joining the team after Tommy had to leave. But they were still willing to give the mysterious white ranger a shot. After making a tremendous entrance, the new teammate was revealed to be none other than Tommy himself. Everyone at home was just as thrilled as the og rangers that he was coming back to the show. Not only was his new suit awesome, but he also gained a talking saber that came complete with a supremely cool tiger zord. Throughout all these reveals, you could hear the excitement and happiness in Frank’s voice. It was clear that he loved being back among his friends to fight evil again.
#2: Using His Master Morpher to Fight a Robotic Copy
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“Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel” (2018) If we had a nickel every time Tommy fought an alternate version of himself, we’d be rich. While the “Mighty Morphin” and “Dino Thunder” duels were cool, his battle in “Super Ninja Steel” won us over. This tense battle sees Tommy fighting a robotic clone who has the power of the black dino thunder ranger. Fortunately, the original hero has a master morpher that lets him use any of his suit colors. This nostalgic matchup beautifully paid homage to every one of Tommy’s appearances. And watching Jason David Frank play evil and good in the same scene was delightful. It also became a worthy tribute to his legacy as it marked the last time he returned to reprise his role. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Every Time Tommy Used the Dragon Flute, “Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers” (1993-96)
We Don’t Know How He Played Through His Helmet, But It Was Always Awesome
Passing the Torch to TJ, “Power Rangers Turbo” (1997)
It Was Great to See Him Endorse A New Leader to Follow in His Footsteps
Using an Epic Corkscrew Kick, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” (1995)
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Tommy & Kimberly Finally Kiss, “Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers” (1993-96)
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Seeing Tommy’s Ranger Highlight Reel, “Power Rangers Dino Thunder” (2004)
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#1: Being Freed From Rita’s Control
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“Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers” (1993-96) Tommy spent nearly five episodes serving the evil Rita Repulsa as her brainwashed and twisted green ranger. But thanks to a fierce battle and the sheer determination of the original team, he was finally allowed to become himself again. Jason David Frank beautifully captured Tommy’s regret for what he’d done as an evil henchman. Fortunately, his friends look right past his dark deeds and accept him as a team member. This moment marked the official beginning to Tommy’s morphenomenal journey as one of the greatest heroes in the series. No matter how long the franchise continues, the moment where Frank’s Tommy stands proudly amongst his friends will always stay with us.