Review | Power Rangers Samurai: The Team Unites

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Plot: What’s it about?Video: How does it look?Audio: How does it sound?Supplements: What are the extras?

Plot: What’s it about?

The world faces a dangerous threat, as an ancient evil has returned. Master Xandred has awakened and he plans to unleash his Nighlok monsters on the world. As if this onslaught wasn’t enough, Xandred has a larger plan to demolish the planet with a massive flood. But his plot won’t go unopposed, as Mentor Ji is determined to protect mankind. In a dire situation like this, Ji knows a powerful defense is called for, so a new Samurai team must be assembled. Soon the squad consists of Mike, Emily, Jayden, Mia, and Kevin, all of whom have ancestral ties to the Samurai and remarkable Symbol powers. The group begins to battle the Nighlok monsters, with teamwork compensating for inexperience. But even with impressive victories, can the new Samurai team stand up to Xandred himself this soon?

Power Rangers Samurai is a fresh start of sorts for the franchise, as Saban had reacquired the brand. This was great news for fans, who hoped Saban would steer the series back toward the elements that made the earlier shows such a success. As these first four episodes showed, that was exactly what Saban planned to do. Samurai has a feel close to the original Power Rangers show, with solid action and plenty of humor. In other words, it was fun to watch the Power Rangers once again. The monster battles in these episodes are quite cool, with some wild creations on the battlefield. This was a solid start to a new Power Rangers adventure, so let’s hope future episodes maintain this level of entertainment. The discs offer slick widescreen visuals and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio as well, so fans should be more than satisfied.

Video: How does it look?

The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. These episodes look terrific, with crystal clear visuals and bright, bold colors. The detail level is strong for DVD, but the real spotlight is on the show’s vivid color use. The various costumes really stand out, as well as the enchanted weapons. A colorful, sharp presentation, not much else we could demand here.

Audio: How does it sound?

I was pleased to find Dolby Digital 5.1 audio here, as the show really benefits from the added presence. The battles are enhanced of course, but the music also has a rich sound in this treatment. But the dialogue and other lower key elements are still well handled, so they’re never overpowered. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks.