How Netflix’s new ‘Power Rangers’ special honors Yellow and Green Ranger actors

‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always’ is now available on Netflix, and fans who grew up in the ‘90s will no doubt love the nostalgia the special delivers.

While the show sees several of the original actors reprise their roles for the occasion, Netflix’s 30th anniversary special was always meant to pay tribute to the members of the team that have passed away over the years.

How Netflix’s new ‘Power Rangers’ special honors Yellow and Green Ranger actors

*This story contains spoilers*

Thuy Trang, who played the original Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan during the 1990s, tragically passed away after being involved in a car accident back in 2001.

While the special was always meant to honor the late actress, the film also served to honor the original Green Ranger Tommy, played by Jason David Frank, after he committed suicide at the age of 49 in November 2022.

The film centers on the original Blue (David Yost) and Black Ranger (Walter Emmanuel Jones) as they team up with other rangers to battle a robot version of Rita Repulsa (Barbara Goodson).

She kills Trini in the opening scene of the film, but her daughter Minh (Charlie Kersh) takes the mantle of the Yellow Ranger to honor her mother.

As for Tommy, the Green Ranger spends most of the special frozen by one of Rita’s monsters. He later returns to life with his wife, Kat (Catherine Sutherland) and their son J.J.

Final moments feature a touching song and tribute

The final moments transition to footage from the second season of ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’.

In Episode 11 of that season, Tommy’s Green Ranger powers are depleted, with Kimberly (Amy Jo Johnson) and Zack (Walter Emmanuel Jones) serenading him as he moves on to the next chapter of his life, which included becoming the White Ranger.

“Memories will never die / In our hearts / they’ll always live / and never say / goodbye,” they sing in a song named ‘Down the Road’.

Before the credits roll, pictures of Thuy and Frank appear with the text: “In loving memory of Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank.”

“It was really difficult for me to watch it and to think about it and have the realization that both Jason and Thuy are gone,” Yost told Entertainment Weekly about the special.

“I’m just so glad we got to honor Thuy and David in this way.”