Power Rangers Dino Super Charge: Nightmare in Amber Beach Review

This Power Rangers Dino Super Charge Review contains spoilers.

Power Rangers Dino Super Charge Episode 3

This episode of Power Rangers Dino Super Charge was clearly a Nightmare on Elm Street homage but who cares about that? Mason effin Truman’s actor, James Gaylyn, is back in what could possibly be his greatest Power Rangers role ever as Shelby’s Dad, Mr. Watkins.

My god, this man has got charisma to spare. Gaylyn has typically cast as a hard nosed mentor figure or gruff monster voice. He’s never had a chance to show off this side of his acting, although if you’ve followed his music career you know Gaylyn has got some smooth moves. I’m not joking about this. Watch him sing about being a man of mixed emotions. I’ll wait.

It would have been so easy for Mr. Watkins to be a strict dad all the Rangers hated. But no, the script beautifully makes him out to be the kind of dad everyone loves to be around… except his actual kid. He doesn’t think anything he’s doing is wrong; he just wants Shelby to be happy. It’s misguided sure, but no parent is perfect. Throughout the episode he slowly realizes his mistake and lets Shelby have her dream. It’s sweet and I’d love to see him come back.

Plus, his little demonstration on how to make a good burger and make money was astounding. Sure, he probably wasted at least four dollars in food as he made it, but whatever! James Gaylyn, I love you and your pink shirt. You can be every dad in Power Rangers from now on.

Oh yeah, there was other stuff going on in this episode. Heckyl gets a chance to win back his credibility by turning the Rangers against each other with the Nightmare monster. As the episode wore on, I kept suspecting the Rangers wouldn’t find out and Heckyl would be sticking around the café for at least half the season. I was pleasantly surprised when Shelby instantly figured it out when she made it back to the café. Where last week stumbled, this week picked the ball right back. 

Even if Heckyl forgot how he found the base last week, it shouldn’t be too hard to track them down. He knows where they work. I wonder if he’ll have monsters watching the museum to try and follow the Rangers. Or what if he just attacks the museum directly? I don’t think they’d escalate the plot quite that fast, but Dino Charge and Dino Super Charge have surprised me before.

More and more in these Dino Charge episodes, the things I’m most entertained by aren’t the main plotlines, but the little things the actors do to enhance the scenes. Like Koda trying to juggle rocks, or Tyler throwing the pillow down after he poses to stop Nightmare in the café. It’s these little blink or you miss them moments, but they’re fun.

After last weeks episode, I’ve been totally corrupted in my interpretation of Riley’s lines. When he was encouraging Shelby to follow her dreams, did anyone else read that as him talking about being gay? I mean, he didn’t want to be a cowboy, which could be a vague reference to Brokeback Mountain. Yeah yeah, I know I’m taking it too far but whatever. Representation in Power Rangers needs to happen and I will look for it anywhere I can find it. Oh also, he nearly fell asleep on Ivan. Coincidence? I think not. But hey, at least his little speech to Shelby was the most effective use of his character yet!

While this episode wasn’t an instant classic, it had a lot of fun moments and the Shelby focus provided some much needed character development. Plus, James Gaylyn. You’re bodyfine, my good sir.

Stray Thoughts 

– New Zealand Reference Counter: 0. HOW?!

– Koda sleeping on rocks continues him being an adorable baby.

– Where can I get that pink business book?

– “I must be Dino Super Tired.” No.

– Was the monster sounding like Spongebob an obscure reference to “Troll Bob” who’d show up at the worst points of Samurai and Megaforce episodes? Probably not, but a fan can dream.

– I could have written a whole paragraph about this, but I’ll leave my thought here. Keeper can’t show up to help the Rangers, but he will show up for cake.

Shamus Kelley is impressed Gaylyn can pull that goatee off so well. Kudos, my good sir. Follow him on Twitter!