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So we start things off in Billy's garage, where we meet a kid genius by the name of Willy. It's debated as to whether or not the two are brothers, as the episode opening just proclaims them as friends. I'm inclined to think that they're related, though. There's no real reason for Billy to hang around a kid more than 5 years younger than him, although the fact that they're both geniuses might serve as that. Still, I'm thinking they're at least related in some way, and the similarity in their names is just due to unoriginality.
Anyway, Willy reveals an invention of his to the Rangers, a virtual reality simulator disguised as a pair of sunglasses. Ah, another convention of the early 90's. Remember back then, when everyone thought that VR was just on the horizon? Yeah....almost two decades later and that still isn't the case. Willy's already made multiple pairs, so the group tries them on and go through a simulated roller coaster ride. The group is extremely impressed with the invention, and Willy adds that he hopes this will help him win the Science Fair, which they then have to head to.
We very, VERY briefly cut to the moon, where Rita reveals her newest plan: kidnap Willy and steal his intelligence. This doesn't make sense to me. OK, stealing intelligence and adding it to her own makes sense, so that she could think of a plan that might actually work, but why kidnap Willy? All Willy's invented so far is a VR roller coaster. I once went to an arcade that had one of those when I was a kid. Granted, it wasn't condensed into a pair of sunglasses, but still, that's all he's done. Billy's invented a car that can go anywhere in the world, presumably without gas, and a device that can read minds. Why not kidnap him? For that matter, why not kidnap a different genius who's invented something more noteworthy than a VR roller coaster?!
*sigh* I'm probably reading too much into this, let's just continue.
Anyway, the group cuts through the park to head to the fair, and Willy is worried that he won't win the fair. Kid, you may not have invented something that will solve world hunger or cure diseases (at least not yet) but I doubt these other kids are going to top a VR roller coaster pair of sunglasses. Just as the Rangers start gushing over how awesome Willy is, the Putties attack. The group manages to hold them off and they disappear. I'd say something about inconsistency, but it's the ninth episode, so the Rangers would probably be experienced enough to hold off a couple of Putties on their own. Afterwards, the group heads to the Science Fair.
We cut to the moon where Rita goes over the plan with Finster. Finster suggests that they used a monster called Eye Guy, a monster who can separate his main eye from the rest of his body and kidnap children and sap their intelligence. They flashback to the last time they used this plan as Sentai footage that won't be used this episode plays. Rita agrees to the plan and orders Finster to summon him.
We cut to the Science Fair, which is apparently being held in the Juice Bar, as the judge comments on the fact that anyone who's late will be disqualified almost immediately as the group enters. I guess they couldn't bring in Mr. Kaplan for another episode so we'll have this guy playing the douche. Willy and Billy separate from the group and go to set up. Willy spouts off techobabble like a good little copycat while Billy reassures him that he'll win. They then do some goofy handshake that I won't address. What I WILL address however is Willy. I've tried to not focus on the acting abilities of anyone in these reviews, and I know I shouldn't expect much from a child actor, but GOD, this kid is terrible. He sounds like the main character from a bad 50's sitcom, with his fake enthusiasm and his "golly gee whilikers" attitude. Thank God we won't see him again after this episode.
We cut to the moon for a moment as Eye Guy arrives, floating in as separate eyeballs and reforming as a monster. He kisses up to Rita and makes a bunch of lame eye jokes, as we should expect at this point.
We move back to the Fair (which is confirmed to be from the Juice Bar), as Bulk and Skull enter. We learn that apparently Skull is illiterate, as he can't read the sign for the fair. They learn it's a Science Fair and Skull wants to leave, so as to not catch "nerditis". Bulk makes him stay so that they can screw with the nerds. Skull grabs some spray gun from one of the applicants and sprays it on Bulk, causing his pants to disintegrate. They get into a confrontation with the Rangers, but just make fools of themselves. The Rangers toss them in a device that can somehow create clothes from nothing, and the two exit wearing women's clothing. Ah yes, back when crossdressing wasn't considered creepy. The two run out, but the judge saw what happened and he won't have shenanigans in his fair, goddammit! But let's not forget, he's a douche, so he blames Willy for the whole thing and disqualifies him. Willy, naturally, is upset and runs off. And maybe it's just me, but it seems like the other actors are getting worse just from being near Willy.
OK, no more talk of acting skills, I should know what to expect walking into this. Let's move on.
We cut to the park where Eye Guy sends his main eye out to find Willy. He finds him near the lake, moping over the fact that he was disqualified. The eye gets Willy's attention, and, in a move very unfitting of a child genius, walks towards it like an idiot. The eye zaps him and he gets teleported into one of those weird atom-like spinning things that's used for inertia tests. The group eventually arrives at the lake, where they find Willy's lucky cap, and Jason thinks that Rita has to do with his disappearance. They get called to the Command Center and teleport there.
Once at the Center, Zordon confirms their suspicions and fills them in. They have to destroy Eye Guy's main eye to free Willy, so the group morphs and head to Eye Guy's location. They fight him for a bit, but he shrugs off their attacks and retaliates, apparently able to shoot eye lazers from anywhere on his body. I guess that makes sense since he's, you know, made of eyeballs. The Rangers combine their weapons and zap Eye Guy, blowing him apart, but the eyeballs just come back together and he's restored. Eye Guy zaps them again and they go tumbling down a hill, allowing them to regroup a bit. Zordon tells Billy to let the others fight the body while he goes and finds the main eye. He finds it and destroys it easily, weakening Eye Guy severely.
But Rita decides to use her usual back-up plan of making the monster grow, though this does restore Eye Guy's main eye. The Rangers respond with the DinoZords and form the MegaZord. The two fight with the MegaZord in tank mode for a couple of seconds, but that proves to be a mistake and they switch to the true form. Eye Guy uses his eyeballs as bombs, which causes the Rangers to summon the Power Sword (which is called the MegaSword in this episode). They hack up Eye Guy with it but he just reforms. He leaves his main eye open, though, and the Rangers quickly destroy it, finishing him off and freeing Willy. Willy is naturally excited to meet the Power Rangers, while Rita gets yet another headache.
The group returns to the fair, where they discover Ernie and the Douchey Professor trying out Willy's VR glasses. The professor apologizes for blaming Willy and not only lets Willy back in the competition, but gives him first prize. So, a pair of VR glasses won over a spray that disintegrated clothes and something that can dress people automatically? Just....*sigh*. Speaking of clothes, Bulk and Skull walk in wearing towels, asking for their clothes back. They do so, but the clothes apparently shrunk in the wash. Everyone laughs as we end this episode.
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This one...I just can't bring myself to care about this one, really. The monster was dull, the subplot was boring and made little sense, and the fight scenes were, again, cut down. The only thing that really bothered me about this was Willy, or rather, his actor. Like I said, I try to steer away from acting skills in these, but he was just terrible. So much so that anything else that's considered bad just doesn't matter as much to me. It's not as bad as the last episode, but it's not good either. Just avoid this one.
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Eye Guy. He's basically a bunch of eyeballs. What more was there to expect?
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