Zack Taylor
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Zack Taylor | |
---|---|
Power Rangers character | |
First appearance | Day of the Dumpster (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) |
Last appearance | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always |
Portrayed by | Walter Emanuel Jones Ludi Lin (2017 reboot) Radson Flores (Philippine Remake) Naoki Ofuji (suit actor) Yasuhiko Imai (suit actor) Gichi Gamba (Power/Rangers) |
In-universe information | |
Title | Black Power Ranger |
Fighting style | Karateka Hip Hop Kido |
Home | Earth |
Color(s) | Black |
Status | Active |
Zords | Mastodon Dinozord Lion Thunderzord |
Zachary "Zack" Taylor is a fictional character in the
Character history
Television
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Zack and his close friends Kimberly Hart, Jason Lee Scott, Billy Cranston and Trini Kwan were picked as the five original Power Rangers by the wise sage Zordon to defend Earth from the evil sorceress Rita Repulsa. After traveling through time Zack was chosen as the Black Power Ranger, gaining the Mastodon Power Coin and the Mastodon Dinozord.[2]
Quick-witted and clever, Zack relies on a combination of skill, strength, and agility to win his battles. The original Black Ranger is an energetic, charismatic, and fun-loving young man. He enjoys athletics (such as basketball, American football, and scuba diving), dancing (especially to a fresh beat bumping out of his friend's boombox), parties, and girls. Whenever he didn't have an arm around Trini or Kimberly, Zack could be found pursuing his attractive, but hard-to-get classmate, Angela. Zack always loved a good joke. Though he loved all the people close to him, Zack's best friend was clearly Jason. Zack is extremely confident and positive. Only four occasions saw Zack ready to give it up: when the Green Ranger took out Zordon,
Zack enjoyed
After Tommy Oliver joined the team, he and Zack quickly became close friends as a result of their similar interests. When Tommy was nervous about trying to engage a romantic relationship with Kimberly, it was Zack who Tommy sought for advice. Before Tommy appeared (or if Tommy is not at the Youth Center) Zack is usually Jason's sparring partner when practicing Karate. Tommy and Zack would also act as sparring partners for each other, as well. Though Jason was the Ranger Tommy selected to take on his Green Ranger powers after Rita eliminated Tommy's link to the Morphing Grid, Zack is the only other individual to don the Dragon Shield when Tommy gave it to him so that its enhanced regenerative powers could heal Zack from the Oysterizer monster's acidic attack.
In the Season 2 episode "Green No More, Part 1", Zack's cousin Curtis was introduced, who would have a small recurring role throughout the middle of the season. Curtis was very similar to Zack due to their similar interests in dance and music, as well as their smooth-talking speech pattern. He also formed a friendship with Trini's crush Richie. The two once even managed to fight off a group of Putties while they were skating.
When Walter Jones (Zack), Austin St. John (Jason), and Thuy Trang (Trini) left the show (over contract disputes), their characters stopped making new on-screen or face-to-camera shots- simply being shown in their Ranger uniforms, using old footage, or with doubles who were never directly facing the cameras- before they were written off in the two-part "Power Transfer" episode in which their characters were chosen to attend the World Peace Conference. Zack's powers were transferred to Adam Park. Though Jason later returned in Power Rangers Zeo, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, and the tenth anniversary special "Forever Red," it was never stated what became of Trini or Zack after the peace conference, although Jones did return to the show in a few episodes in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy and Power Rangers Wild Force mainly doing voicework for monsters and villains.
Power Rangers Super Megaforce
During the final episode of
Power Rangers Beast Morphers
The Black Mighty Morphin Power Ranger makes another appearance for the second season episode of
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always
For Hasbro PulseCon 2022, Walter Emanuel Jones announced he would reprise the role of Zack to mark the 30th anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise.[4] Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always was released on Netflix on April 19, 2023.[5]
In the special, it is revealed that Zack became a
One year later, Robo-Rita reappears and captures Tommy, Jason, and Kimberly. She plans to drain their energy to power a time machine that will allow her to contact her past self and alter the timeline in her favor. While Zack and Billy lead the remaining Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers - a team consisting of themselves, Kat and Rocky - to defend Angel Grove and thwart Rita's plan, Minh steals Trini's morpher to join the fight but finds herself unable to use it. Echoing Zordon, Zack counsels her to use her skills to defend life, rather than for revenge.
During the final battle with Robo-Rita, Minh sacrifices herself to save Billy. This action bonds her to the Sabre-Toothed Tiger Power Coin, which saves her and allows her to morph into the Yellow Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger. Zack uses the Power Axe's cannon mode to destroy Rita once and for all, saying Trini's name before delivering the final blow.
Film
Power Rangers (2017)
Zack appears in the 2017 film reboot, played by Chinese-Canadian actor Ludi Lin.[6] He is initially introduced as a school truant with an apparent need for adrenaline, willing to attempt the team's more extreme stunts, such as jumping over a chasm. In the course of the film, it is revealed that he lives in a mobile home park with his ill mother, and Zack is her only carer. Zack is bilingual, speaking English, and using Mandarin Chinese to communicate with his mother. He is the first Ranger to try and pilot his zord, despite being told that it is only controllable once they have morphed, taking the Mastodon on a run through the hills. He rallies in time to assist the team in facing Rita in the final battle.
Comics
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink
Kimberly is the main character in this comic book mini series published by Boom! Studios. The series is a modern remake but also serves as a continuation from Kimberly's exit in the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.[7] Kimberly needs to rescue a French town under siege from Goldar. She seeks help from Zordon who uses the Sword of Light to activate the latent pink energy within her. Kimberly then teleports to Zack and Trini in South America for their help. Zordon uses the Sword of Light to share Kimberly's power with them. Zack once again becomes the black ranger.[8] It is also revealed that Zack and Trini are in a relationship.[9]
Other Appearances
Power/Rangers (2015 short film)
In
Reception
The choice of color for the Black Ranger (Zack Taylor) and Yellow Ranger (Trini Kwan) have been a source of criticism, due to the belief these colors are representations of their racial backgrounds.[10][11] There are many parodies illustrating the perceived inherent racism of the show. [citation needed] According to the producers, this was not noticed until the tenth episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.[12][13][14]
References
- ^ "Power Rangers: The Original Choice for Green Ranger Confirms Who Should've Been the Team's Leader". Screen Rant. 2 January 2024.
- ^ "From Power Bow to Hip-Hop-Kido". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ISBN 9780820479392. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- Comic Book. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "It's morphin' time: Original Power Rangers stars reunite for 30th anniversary Netflix special". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
- ^ "Vancouver's Ludi Lin cast as Black Ranger in upcoming Power Rangers movie". CBC News-British Columbia. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
- ^ Lake, Jeff (1 June 2016). "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink #1 Review". ign.com. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "Comic Book Reviews for July 27, 2016". ign.com. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "Comic Book Reviews for December 14, 2016". ign.com. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ISBN 0822323710. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- ISBN 9780820479392. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- ^ "Interview With Original Black Power Ranger, Walter Emanuel Jones - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- ^ "Black Power Ranger Walter Jones - The Show Wasn't ALWAYS Racist". TMZ.com. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- ^ "'Key & Peele' Takes on the Racism of the Power Rangers". BroBible.com. 2012-11-19. Archived from the original on 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
Further reading
- The Official Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Guidebook ISBN 978-1-57082-235-3