Tommy Oliver
| File:Tommydinothunder.jpg Tommy Oliver | |
| First Appearance: | Green with Evil, Part 1 (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) |
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| Last Appearance: | Wormhole (Power Rangers: S.P.D.) |
| Number of episode appearances: | 257 |
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| Affiliation: | Anton Mercer Industries |
| Homeworld: | Earth |
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Dr. Thomas "Tommy" Oliver is a fictional character from the universe of the American children's television franchise Power Rangers. He has been portrayed by actor Jason David Frank in virtually all of his appearances. Considered a legend among his fellow Power Rangers, he is a main character in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, as well as four of its successive incarnations Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, Power Rangers: Zeo, Power Rangers: Turbo, and Power Rangers: Dino Thunder. He also appeared in the Power Rangers: Wild Force episode, Forever Red and the Power Rangers: S.P.D. episode, Wormhole. In the episode Wormhole, he appeared only in Ranger form and was voiced by actor Jeffrey Parazzo.
He is called "Tommy" by his friends and "Dr. O" by his students. He is widely considered as one of the most, if not the most, popular Power Ranger of all time.
Tommy is the longest-serving Power Ranger, as well as the Power Ranger with the largest arsenal available to him. His level of popularity as a Ranger is quite high for all age groups. Throughout his run as the Green Ranger, he gained a high level of appreciation from fans, being one of the most popular Power Rangers of all time. In that sense, his character is very similar to Fonzie of Happy Days and Urkel of Family Matters in that both started out as supporting characters but soon evolved into their respective shows' breakout characters.
Tommy is strong and loyal, and very good in martial arts as he is both a teacher and student. A common theme of the four incarnations he plays a major role of is his loyalty, often being a victim to turn him against his fellow Rangers, resulting in performances from him as a villain and a hero. He is often a leader, instilling his leadership skills in both the Power Rangers he works with and the students that he teaches. He also used to be somewhat absent-minded in his earlier teen years, often forgetting things like his karate belt (this was sometimes used as a plot device to keep him out of the way and provide a reason for the Green Ranger to come in late).
It can be assumed that Tommy never wanted to be a Ranger; the reason he became one in the first place was to make up for what he did as the Evil Green Ranger. At the beginning and end of Dino Thunder, Tommy said that he was settling down and living a quiet life, probably since he missed out on his youth due to his duties as a Ranger getting in the way.
Character history
Tommy was first introduced in the Mighty Morphin' incarnation as the Green Power Ranger in the mini-saga Green with Evil. Tommy battled it out with Jason in a Martial Arts Tournament, catching Rita's attention. Rita decided to give him a strength upgrade by bestowing him with the Green Ranger powers. Rita Repulsa had cast an evil spell, making Tommy obey her, granting him evil Ranger powers and weaponry, and the Dragon Power Coin and ordered him to try to destroy Jason Lee Scott, Trini Kwan, Billy Cranston, Kimberly Hart, and Zack Taylor, the other Power Rangers.
He followed Rita's orders accordingly and without question and defeated her Putty Patrol as an initiation into Rita's squad of goons. Rita put the Green Ranger to good use, ordering him to decimate all connections that the Power Rangers had with Zordon. He destroyed half of the Command Center, made the Rangers lose touch with Zordon, and their Megazord and lose all communicational abilities as well. He also gave Alpha 5 a temporary virus.
Green Ranger took all the Power Rangers head on in battle, although he wasn't able to defend himself from their Megazord's attack and temporarily retreated. After the devious Scorpina had been let loose, she and Goldar began wreaking havoc together. When the Green Ranger joined them, they were able to use their wicked tactics and take down the Megazord with ease in a battle which drained the Megazord's power by eclipsing the sun's energy light waves. Green Ranger and Goldar joined their attack to form a dual barrage blast and instantaneously defeat the Megazord.
Afterwards, Tommy used the Dragon Dagger to summon his own Zord, the mighty Dragonzord. With Zordon's help, once he had returned, the Rangers battled the Dragonzord with their Megazord. Tommy lost the quarrel and fell out of the zord, resuming his battle with the Red Ranger in a legendary showdown. Jason deflected Tommy's laser blasts and overpowered him. The Red Ranger freed Tommy from Rita's control when he destroyed the Green Ranger's weapon, the Sword of Darkness. With the sword gone, so were his evil Ranger powers. From this point on, Tommy lent his power and zord to aid the Rangers against Rita Repulsa and her diabolical forces.
He then befriended Kimberly Hart, the Pink Power Ranger, in a loving relationship, and started dating her.
As time went on, Rita cast a spell, in the form of a green candle forged from magic wax touched by Tommy while he was the evil Green Ranger to drain him of his Green Ranger powers and retrieve them for her own, but Zordon was able to save them by having Tommy transfer the powers to Jason. Goldar pinned Tommy in a compromising situation, telling him that his betrayal of Rita was not forgotten. Tommy was now powerless and wasn't able to battle Goldar without his Green Ranger powers. The Red Power Ranger possessed his Dragon Dagger and Shield and control of the Dragonzord when Tommy's Ranger powers faded.
Tommy had returned to claim his powers when the Rangers' parents were in danger and continued his role as the Green Ranger. However, his powers were very unstable now and had to be recharged several times by Zordon. His powers were completely destroyed when Lord Zedd forced Tommy into battle with a monster called Turbanshell. For quite some time, Tommy was absent from helping the other Rangers defeat Zedd's henchmen. However, when Lord Zedd unleashed his maniacal Nimrod monster, whom in turn spawned AC and DC, Alpha 5 and Zordon decided it was time to take matters into their own hands.
Luckily for the Rangers, Zordon and Alpha 5 were able to create new powers for Tommy and replenish him, making him the White Ranger. Upon becoming the White Ranger, Tommy also became the new leader of the Power Rangers. He uses his enchanted talking saber, Saba, to summon the White Tigerzord.
After Jason, Trini, and Zack were chosen to attend a peace conference in Switzerland, replacment Rangers had to be found. These Rangers were Rocky DeSantos, Aisha Campbell, and Adam Park. The Sword of Light was the power source used to transfer the powers. Tommy was the one who activated the power transfer using the sword.
A clone of Tommy was created by the Wizard of Deception. He did this using a lock of hair of Tommy's and casting a spell on it. The clone was then given the power of the Green Ranger. This was an interesting story because it made Tommy face the evil that he once was in the eye and deal with it. Tommy helped his clone realize that even though he was a clone, he was still human and had the power to choose between right and wrong. The clone Tommy (referred to as "Tom") stayed back in the colonial times of Angel Grove after the two of them traveled back there to save the other Rangers.
After their Thunderzords and Ranger powers were destroyed by Rito Revolto, Tommy and the other Rangers went on a quest to find the legendary Ninjor and receive their Ninja Coins. In addition to his re-charged Morphin powers, he gained new powers as the White Ninja Ranger with the power of the Falcon and the Falcon Ninjazord. Tommy met Katherine Hillard (whom he would wind up marrying in a possible future) at a time when she was also under Rita's spell. Kat used Kimberly Hart's Pink Ninja Power Coin, to steal the Falconzord and did not retrieve it until the rangers gained the power of Metallic Armor.
After Kat stole the Falconzord and Ninjor, she had kidnapped Kimberly and the Rangers were told to either destroy Earth using the Shogunzords or have Kimberly's life force drained away, they told Zedd they'd pilot the Zords. After Billy had regained control of the Shogunzords, Tommy went to retrieve Kimberly from Zedd's Dark Dimension, he met up with the Emperor of Evil himself and had a one-on-one battle with him. Zedd was far too powerful for Tommy, but Tommy managed to destroy Zedd's Z-Staff, revverting it back to its snake form. Zedd was forced to retreat and Tommy saved Kimberly. When she stole the Falconzord and Ninjor, Tommy gained the White Shogunzord. Kimberly then passed her power onto Kat, so that she could compete in gymnastics, as she and Tommy started a long-distance relationship.
Tommy had to retrieve the Zeo Crystal, which was hidden under Rita and Zedd's Palace. Zordon had told him that only a being who was pure of heart could enter the force field aroung the crystal and survive. Tommy had to go through the caves of deception to get to the crystal, and when he got to it he wasn't sure if he would survive. He thought that there might still be some evil in him from when he was the Evil Green Ranger. He bravely passed through the force field and retrieved the crystal. Soon after though, Master Vile stole it from him. The Rangers managed to get it back, but wanted to make sure that Master Vile couldn't get it again, so the Rangers split it into five sub-crystals and sent them to different points in history.
Vile then turned back time using the Orb of Doom, turning the Rangers back into children. The Rangers soon recruited the Aquitian Rangers to fight in their stead. Billy had then created a device which would restore their them to their old selves. He used the Ninja Coins as a power source, testing it on himself. This worked, but it allowed Goldar to capture the coins and Zedd destroyed them.
A young Tommy had to reclaim the Red Zeo Sub-Crystal in some Native American land. For his test he was given three crystals (two were fakes) and he had to decide which one was real. He retrieved the true Red Sub-Crystal from Sam Trueheart and was also given a half of an arrowhead.
Tommy gained the powers of the Red Zeo Crystal, becoming Zeo Ranger V – Red in Power Rangers: Zeo. It was during this time that he & Kimberly separated, as she had broken up with him in a Dear John Letter. Kat Hillard had tried to set him up with another girl, but it failed due to Tommy needing to leave a lot when the world was in danger. Kat and Tommy were eventually dating by the episode Hawaii Zeo.
Tommy faced a great challenge when the Zeo Zords were severely damaged and he then had to rely solely on the Red Battlezord, a zord that was telepathically controlled. Tommy had a tough time with it because it would lose control anytime he got emotional. He had to go on a spiritual quest to settle his inner demons and gain peace with himself. It was during this time that he met his brother David Trueheart (portrayed by Jason David Frank's real life brother, the late Eric Frank. King Mondo had captured David to set a trap for Tommy. After Tommy freed David, he refused to go back without him. To convince David to leave, Tommy revealed his identity to him. It was revealed that David had the other half of the arrowhead. If the two arrowheads were joined, the holder of the arrowhead would control both the spirits trapped within them and a darkness powerful enough to destroy the world.
Tommy was later captured by Prince Gasket of the evil Machine Empire and brainwashed into attempting to destroy his friends, believing them to be the threat to the world. Kat and the other Rangers were able to save him though, by demorphing and showing they weren't against him.
With a new villain in Divatox at the onset of Power Rangers: Turbo, Tommy and his fellow Rangers abandoned their Zeo powers for the newly created Turbo powers, becoming the first Red Turbo Ranger. Presumably due to the new Turbo powers, Tommy started getting interested in motor racing. His tenure as the Red Turbo Ranger was a short one, as he was allowed to move on with his life after graduating from high school.
Divatox's mother, Mama D, had told her the secret to defeating the Rangers: defeat their leader. Divatox captured Tommy and was eventual saved by Theodore Jay Jarvis Johnson and Cassie Chan. Before he left the series, he had hand-picked his successor, T.J. Johnson, stating that "I wouldn't be standing here today, T.J., if it weren't for your courage and strength. I choose you to lead the team, as the new Red Ranger."
After Turbo and in College
For a long time, it was not explained what happened to him after he left the series, although his reappearance in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder helps to fill in some of the gaps (some fans consider such a fill-in to be a retcon). Tommy went on to college and graduate school, graduating with a doctorate in paleontology. During this time, he had met Hayley, (who would help him in the creation of the Dino Ranger powers based on parts of older Rangers' powers.) He was also partners with Terrence "Smitty" Smith and Anton Mercer on a project on dinosaurs (some fans call this the "Dino Thunder Project") that would lead to the creation of the Tyrannodrones, Raptor Riders and the new Dinozords. It also went horribly wrong, transforming Mercer into the evil Mesogog. (Another lab explosion left Smitty injured, and Mesogog turned him into Zeltrax, who would prove obsessed with killing Tommy in revenge). It would also have Tommy finding the Dino Gems and hiding them in the lab under his basement and also learning the location of the Shield of Triumph.
At the same time, he kept notes about the various teams of Power Rangers, leading to his next formal appearance in Power Rangers, in the Power Rangers: Wild Force episode Forever Red. When word of a planned invasion of Earth by resurgent Machine Empire came to Tommy from Andros, the Red Space Ranger, he recruited eight of the other Red Rangers (Rocky DeSantos being absent) and the Quantum Time Force Ranger into helping him stop the threat. Tommy Oliver morphed into the Zeo Ranger-V in this episode and fought Gerrok (Green Hunter Beetleborg) alongside Wes Collins, the Red Time Force Ranger. Tommy destroyed Gerrok with a "Zeo Flying Power Kick."
After the events of "Forever Red," Tommy became a teacher, teaching science at a school in the fictional city of Reefside, California at the onset of Power Rangers: Dino Thunder. It was here that his past, including his tenure as a Power Ranger, is unravelled to a trio of detention students, by the names of Conner McKnight, Ethan James, and Kira Ford, whom Tommy recruits to become the Dino Rangers. Eventually forced back into action by the discovery Mesogog was still active, he became the Black Dino Ranger, aided by the power of invisibility from the Black Dino Gem. His Dinozord was the Brachiozord carrier, he wielded the Brachio Staff, and he drove the Black Thunder ATV. Even as the most skilled leader, Tommy seemed to be grooming Conner into a leader, in the event that Tommy might die.
When the White Dino Ranger appeared, Tommy seemed to show no mercy to him, even after he found out the his identity was Trent Mercer, so that he could save lives. For a while, he was encased in amber by the White Dino Ranger, and once freed, he was unable to demorph, due to his Dino Gem and his morpher remolecularizing. He remained in his morphed form for a while.
After seeing the power of the White Ranger Clone and the Terrorsaurus, Tommy decided that the Rangers needed big-time backup. He took Trent to the location of the Shield of Triumph, as he had to free the shield from its resting place, and only the power of Trent's gem could do it. He also had a hunch that Conner was the one being destined to control the shield. He was right, as Conner showed up just in time to save the shield from being lost forever. Tommy told all of the Rangers that they had to contribute their energies to the shield, and Conner became the Triassic Ranger.
He was later demorphed by a special ooze, only to become permanently invisible due to losing control of his Dino Gem Power. Although he eventually restored to his normal state, his gem shattered and he was left in a coma. During this time, he fought against several of his past Ranger egos: the Green and White Power Rangers and Zeo Ranger V – Red in a test of survival. (During each of his fights with those Rangers, the screen was tinted the color that matched the Ranger.) After proving that he would not give up the fight for his life, he awoke from the coma, his gem was repaired, and he gained Super Dino Mode.
When he learned that Trent was hiding the secret that Mercer was Mesogog, Tommy considered asking Trent to surrender his morpher. When Tommy understood Trent's loyalty, he wanted to make sure the other Rangers did, so he put the decision in their hands. They decided to keep Trent on the team after he saved Conner from a monster. In a battle against Zeltrax, Conner and Ethan didn't want to sacrifice their Zords, but Tommy told them "You have to." (Which may have been a reference to his own Zord sacrifice in Ninja Quest, Part 1.) At the end of the series, Tommy destroyed Zeltrax, alongside Kira. The Dino Rangers sacrificed the power of their Dino Gems in order to destroy Mesogog (who was in the form of the mighty Mesomonster), who by that point had been separated completely from Anton Mercer, burning out their powers in the process. In the aftermath, Anton asked Tommy what was next for the "man who's done it all." Tommy said that he would try to live a normal life as a simple high school science teacher.
In "A Season to Remember"
In a Christmas-themed episode of Power Rangers: Zeo entitled "A Season to Remember," a possible future for Tommy is shown in which he has wed Katherine Hillard. They have had children, who have had grandchildren, the youngest of whom Tommy is telling a story to about his past as a Ranger. It is also revealed that one of their older grandsons (in his late teens or early twenties) has become a Power Ranger himself, and wears a red communicator that is the same as those belonging to Tommy in the real timeline, though it is unknown what kind of Power Ranger he is.
Controversy
- Many speculate that, during the episode Fighting Spirit, Tommy never fought the Red Turbo Ranger because, having passed those powers on to T.J., Tommy does not bear the 'burden' of them anymore.
- Several fans have pointed out it is highly unrealistic that Tommy could gain a doctorate in Paleontology, be involved in high-level genetic experimentation and become a qualified teacher in the relatively short space of time between Turbo and Dino Thunder. Some degree of suspension of belief is required.
- It should be noted that there exists a clone of Tommy (existing in the year 1776 to be more accurate). During the three-part series, Ep. 104-106, "Return of the Green Ranger", the Wizard of Deception created a clone of Tommy using a lock of hair, and endowed him with the Green Ranger's powers. White against Green, Tigerzord against Dragonzord, the two were pitted against each other until the spell was able to be broken. The clone and Tommy ventured to the past to repair the damage done during Zedd's attempt to separate the rest of the team from Tommy. The clone decided to remain in the past.
This issue has created some debate with older fans of the series, as what happened with the subsequent Dragon Power Coin was never resolved. Having been rejuvenated or transfered to a copy coin, the power could possibly exist in full strength, or it could be privy to the same effects of the Mastodon Power Coin (as evident in Ep. 275 "Always A Chance"). However, it could be argued that the power was never a part of the original Morphing Grid, as would be logically derived from the events of Ep. 34-35, "The Green Candle", in which his powers could not be maintained until transferred to someone holding a Power Coin of said grid. This is further evident with the events of Ep. 49-50, "Return of an Old Friend", where the original Green Ranger's powers are returned to Tommy temporarily, and then lost in Ep. 73-74, "Green No More". However, in either case, the Green Power could still exist.
It is, however, not clear how much power is necessary to maintain the Dragonzord since the conclusion of the "Return of the Green Ranger" episodes, nor whether the clone used the powers after his last appearance. If said powers were unused, passed down through the generations, and the Dragonzord's dependence on the coin is held to a bare minimum, the Green Ranger's powers remain the only fully functional (for a limited span, as seen in the episodes after "Return of an Old Friend" to and concluding in "Green No More", providing that it is running on its own. If part of another grid, the power would theoretically be indefinite. Five of the other six powers to be generated from coins, that weren't the Ninja Coins destroyed by Rita, should still have one morph left in them) of the original Coins. This is proven in Power Rangers in Space, when Adam Park morphed into the Black Power Ranger with the Mastodon Power Coin, as the Ninja Frog Power Coin was destroyed by Rita. Further evidence, albeit a mistake in an attempt to sell toys, for the Green Ranger's power still in existence after the Return of the Green Ranger episodes is that the Titanus implements the crest when forming the Ninja and Shogun Ultrazords. Even further evidence for the existence of the Green Ranger's power still in existence is mentioned in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder Ep. 27, "Fighting Spirit". When Tommy fights his White Ranger counterpart, he notes that the White Ranger power was destroyed. However, no such thing is said about either the Zeo Ranger 5's power, as it was abandoned, nor the Green Ranger's power.
Trivia
- As of the early series (specifically the episode "Island of Illusions: Part I"), Tommy is a third dan black belt in karate, as seen by the three stripes on his black belt.
- During the time that Tommy was trapped in morph, in the episode Bully For Ethan, he asked Kira to help him clean out some files. These files had many Ranger insignias in them, including the Lightspeed Rescue symbol, leading to the possible conclusion that Tommy helped create these powers, or was involved with them.
- In his incarnations as the Green, White, and Black Rangers, Tommy's costume has some sort of shield. The Green Ranger's Dragon Shield covered his upper chest, the White Ranger's shield protected his entire torso, and the Black Dino Ranger costume had armored shoulder plates. The Red Zeo and Red Turbo Ranger costumes he wore were the only ones not to feature a shield, because it is often the Sixth Ranger that only gets such an armor.
- Tommy was the first Ranger to have his own theme song ("Go Green Ranger") and the only Ranger to have two ("White Ranger" later in the series). The only other Rangers to have a song was Power Rangers Zeo’s Gold Ranger ("Go Gold Ranger") and Power Rangers in Space 's Silver Ranger ("Silver Ranger").
- Tommy was the first mentor who was also a Ranger in the same season.
- Tommy Oliver is the only character to have worn four different colors as a Ranger. His colors were Green and later White in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Red in Power Rangers: Zeo and Power Rangers: Turbo, and Black in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder.
- In addition, at eight, Tommy has been in more seasons than any other character, including Zordon. These were MMPR Seasons 1-3, Zeo, the first half of Turbo, the episode "Forever Red" of Wild Force, and Dino Thunder. Although Jason David Frank was not in the episode, the morphed Black Dino Ranger was also present in the S.P.D. episode "Wormhole". Only the comic duo of Bulk and Skull tie with him in this instance, being present from Mighty Morphin to Lost Galaxy (Skull made a cameo in the first episode of LG, in a scene where he's asleep and misses his chance to board Terra Venture), and both also return for Forever Red.
- Up until the end of Power Rangers S.P.D., Tommy had met every single Red Ranger shown on the show until that point. He knew Jason, Rocky, Aurico, T.J., and most likely Andros before Forever Red and he met Leo, Carter, Wes, Eric and Cole during Forever Red. He was the mentor of Conner of Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, had met Shane and Hunter in the episode Thunder Storm, and Jack and Sky in the S.P.D. episode Wormhole.
- In an early version of its introduction episode, the Jungle Blaster of Power Rangers: Wild Force was supposed to be delivered to the Animarium by a mail man in a box addressed to the Rangers. The dialogue would have revealed part of the return address as being from Tommy Oliver.
- In the Power Rangers: Dino Thunder episode "Fighting Spirit" when Tommy is laying in the hospital bed, careful choice of colors were used for his attire: his blanket was green, his gown was white, and the collar of the gown was red.
Quotes
- Conner: "Our teacher is the oldest living Power Ranger."
Hayley: "Not the oldest. Just the best."
- Elsa: "Aren't you a little old for this, Tommy?"
Tommy: "I may be old, but I can still pull it off"
- Tommy: "Well, I've got to go and do some shopping."
Hayley: "Why?"
Tommy: "I looked in my closet this morning, and there was a serious shortage of Black in there!"
(Note: This references the fact that every Ranger's normal clothing has colors matching their Ranger designation.)
- Tommy: "Passion doesn't just happen. You make it grow."
- Tommy (after seeing Megalador): "Aw, man. I hate shark monsters."
- Green Ranger: "Why don't you just give up the fight?"
Tommy: "That's the one thing I would never do."