WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always.
Jason was not in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, which featured a different yet equally important Red Ranger. Once & Always brought together Rangers from all three Mighty Morphin Power Ranger seasons, some of which had never been in the same scene together. For example, Zack, the original Black Ranger, had never interacted with either the Stone Canyon trio or Kat in the Power Rangers TV canon.
Austin St. John did not participate in Power Rangers: Once & Always. Although the original Red Ranger technically appeared in Once & Always, Jason never removed his helmet. Once & Always wrote off Jason and other Power Rangers characters who did not return by having Robot Rita capture them. The Bandora Protocol was activated, and Rocky was called to join the fight.
Rocky Replaced Jason As The Red Ranger In Mighty Morphin Season 2
Rocky DeSantos, played by Steve Cardenas, replaced Jason as the Red Ranger toward the end of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers season 2. Austin St. John, Thuy Trang, and Walter Emanuel Jones all exited Power Rangers ahead of season 3, which is why the show needed three new actors. Instead of recasting the original Red, Yellow, and Black Rangers, Power Rangers introduced new characters. Rocky, Aisha, and Adam – the Stone Canyon trio – were selected by Zordon to join the team. After “The Power Transfer, Part II,” Rocky was given the Tyrannosaurus Power Coin. Rocky remained as the Red Ranger until Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ended.
Unlike Jason, Rocky was not the team’s leader. While the Power Rangers are usually led by the Red Ranger, Rocky was just too inexperienced compared to other members of the team. Instead, former Green Ranger Tommy Oliver, now with White Light powers, was picked by Zordon to lead the Power Rangers. Like Jason, Rocky would often teach karate lessons at Angel Grove’s Youth Center. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995), a non-canon Power Rangers story set during Mighty Morphin season 3, featured Rocky as the Red Ranger.
What Happened To Rocky After Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Steve Cardenas reprised his role as Rocky in Power Rangers Zeo, a direct sequel to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers. Chouriki Sentai Ohranger's colors were slightly different from the ones in Kyouryu Sentai Zyuranger, which is why some Power Rangers changed colors. Tommy had been leading the team since Mighty Morphin season 2, so having him become Zeo’s Red Ranger was only natural. In addition, Billy, the original Blue Ranger, retired from Ranger business and chose to help his friends from the Command Center. As a result, Rocky became Zeo's Blue Ranger.
Zeo actually gave Rocky a lot more time to shine compared to Mighty Morphin, as he was no longer “Jason’s replacement.” As Zeo Ranger 3 Blue, Rocky got to show a much more interesting, funnier side of himself. Power Rangers Zeo transitioned into Power Rangers Turbo during Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, which Cardenas was part of. However, Rocky was injured at the beginning of the film and was replaced by Justin as the Blue Ranger. Cardenas did not return for Power Rangers Turbo. Despite being the second Red Ranger, Rocky was not part of Wild Force’s “Forever Red” episode. More recently, Rocky returned in Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel’s “Dimensions in Danger” crossover.
Power Rangers: Once & Always Finally Does Rocky Justice
As Jason’s replacement, Rocky had an impossible mission in Power Rangers. Replacing the original Red Ranger after the show had become so popular was tricky, and Rocky lived in Jason’s shadow for a while. Rocky became a character of his own during Power Rangers Zeo, but the saga failed him afterward. Rocky’s exit from Power Rangers ahead of Power Rangers Turbo was underwhelming, although the same happened to other key characters during Turbo 2. Even though Jason and Rocky use the same Red Ranger powers, Rocky’s absence from “Forever Red” was disappointing. The crossover episode featured every Red Ranger in the Power Rangers universe up until that point but Rocky.
By bringing Rocky back as the Red Ranger, Power Rangers: Once & Always finally did the character justice. Once & Always is one of Power Rangers’ most important releases in decades, making Rocky’s Red Ranger return even more meaningful. Rocky’s sense of humor appeared during the Power Rangers reunion, much more than in “Dimensions in Danger.” Even the fact that Rocky was always grabbing a snack during Mighty Morphin was referenced in Once & Always. In addition, Rocky was the one to give the final blow against Snizzard during Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always’ ending battle.