The Power Rangers franchise is filled with a wide range of heroes in their colorful suits, but fans are mistaken if they think that all of the Rangers get along. While there are many iconic friendships throughout the franchise, like Kimberly Hart and Trini Kwan, several Power Rangers team members have butted heads throughout the franchise’s 30-year history. These conflicts affect team dynamics for the whole season and lead to some pretty compelling story arcs. Some teams are even defined by these rivalries.
The strongest Ranger rivalries explored jealousy, redemption, and the responsibility that comes with being on a superhero team, often fleshing out the characters in the process. From legendary conflicts that lasted an entire season to unexpected competition that fans still debate today, there are some great Ranger rivalries throughout Power Rangers.
7
Dillon’s Mysterious Past Made It Hard for Scott to Trust Him
Power Rangers RPM
Scott Truman and Dillon begin Power Rangers RPM on opposing sides of almost every issue. Scott is RPM‘s Red Ranger and the leader of the Ranger Operators, while Dillon is the Black Ranger who was broken out of prison to join the Ranger Operators. With no memory of his past, a rebellious attitude, and cybernetic enhancements, it’s understandably difficult for Scott to trust Dillon as a fellow Ranger, and Dillon only proves Scott right by constantly undermining his authority and acting more like a lone wolf than a team player.
Scott and Dillon share similar personalities; they’re both stubborn, arrogant, and competitive. They’re constantly trying to outdo each other, especially when it comes to their cars, which they are both passionate about. However, their rivalry develops into mutual understanding. Dillon has immense respect for Scott as a leader, with the latter struggling to live up to his father’s legacy. Likewise, Scott learns that Dillon’s willingness to break the rules often comes from genuine compassion. They end up earning each other’s trust, which neither thought possible, but their rivalry never amounted to much.
6
Ollie & Aiyon Had a Unique Rivalry
Cosmic Fury and Dino Fury
An ancient knight from the planet Rafkon, Aiyon was born 65 million years ago and serves as the Gold Ranger for Dino Fury and Cosmic Fury. His friend, Ollie, is the Blue Ranger for the teams and the son of an archeologist, so the two are quite literally from different worlds and time periods. Unlike many Power Rangers rivalries, their conflict wasn’t born out of animosity. Instead, Dino Fury establishes a solid friendship between the two, despite their very different personalities.
That only makes it harder when, in Cosmic Fury, the two are at odds. Lord Zedd brainwashes Ollie, turning him evil and causing him to attack his team members. Aiyon’s determination to save his friend gives the villain-orchestrated rivalry an emotional weight that extends far beyond their fight scenes. Cosmic Fury made a lot of interesting changes to the typical formula with Ollie and Aiyon’s rivalry, even if it wasn’t an underlying conflict that defined their dynamic.
It’s usually the Sixth Ranger who turns evil, and Rangers’ rivalries usually involve the Red Ranger, which wasn’t the case for Ollie and Aiyon. Instead, Ollie and Aiyon prove that the best Ranger-v-Ranger battles don’t always come from long-standing feuds, but also from watching trusted allies become the people the heroes least want to fight. This unique conflict had to make the list, though it only lasted for a short time.
5
Lauren Shiba Shakes Things Up for the Samurai Rangers
Power Rangers Super Samurai
Lauren Shiba was the first female Red Ranger who wasn’t a villain, but she still gave the Super Samurai Rangers a hard time. She’s the older sister of Jayden Shiba, the Red Ranger for Power Rangers Super Samurai for most of the season. As the older sibling and true head of the Shiba clan, Lauren took the mantle of Red Samurai Ranger from her brother to lead the team. This came as a huge surprise to the audience, as well as the rest of the Samurai Rangers, as she was kept hidden to master an ancient technique in order to defeat the Nighlok.
Although she only appears in five Super Samurai episodes, Lauren created a significant amount of tension for the Rangers. The team had been led by her brother Jayden for over a year, and they understandably felt loyal to him. The thought of following someone they had never met before into battle was not something any of them were eager to do, but Lauren v the Super Samurai Rangers was a critical story arc in the final episodes of the season.
4
Despite Being Rivals From the Start, Casey Never Gave up on Jarrod
Power Rangers Jungle Fury
Casey Rhodes is the leader of the Jungle Fury Rangers, while Jarrod is an antagonist for most of the season. Casey and Jarrod were both students at the Pai Zhua Academy, where Jarrod was chosen to be one of the guardians tasked with protecting a chest containing an ancient evil known as Dai Shi. However, due to his condescending attitude and misuse of his powers, Master Mao replaced him with Casey, who had only been there for a week.
In retaliation, Jarrod attacked Mao in anger and accidentally released Dai Shi in the process. Dai Shi then possessed Jarrod, who committed multiple villainous acts, including reviving ancient evil Overlords and fighting the Rangers in his Black Lion Warrior armor. Slowly, Jarrod was able to fight back against Dai Shi’s control and eventually joined the Jungle Fury Rangers in defeating the ancient evil dragon. Casey and Jarrod’s arc in Jungle Fury is a classic martial arts rivalry, where the experienced and arrogant student gets upstaged by a newer talent.
Power Rangers Jungle Fury does a great job using this trope; Casey and Jarrod are immediately at odds with each other, yet their stories are so intertwined. Unlike other rivalries in Power Rangers, where leaders don’t trust Rangers who were once evil, Casey quickly realizes that his foe has good in him. By the end of the season, Jarrod re-enrolls in the Pai Zhua academy as a beginner and establishes a solid friendship with Casey. Although Jarrod doesn’t spend much time as a Jungle Fury Ranger, the rivalry between the two is incredibly effective.
3
Tommy and Jason Set the Standard for Power Rangers Rivalries
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
The Mighty Morphin’ Red Ranger, Jason Lee Scott, and the Green Ranger, Tommy Oliver, first met at a karate tournament where the two tied 4-4. This relationship quickly changed when Rita Repulsa decided to control Tommy to fight the Power Rangers and systematically destroy the team. Jason and Tommy’s early clashes remain some of the most memorable fights in all Power Rangers history, but even after being freed of Rita’s control, Tommy’s rivalry with Jason stays intact, and they consistently try to one-up each other. The two eventually squashed their rivalry for the betterment of the team, and it evolved into a respectful competition between two natural leaders. Rather than constantly trying to outshine each other, both Rangers push the other to improve.
That progression, from bitter enemies to trusted allies, is exactly why Tommy and Jason’s rivalry is so beloved. Tommy was the first ever Sixth Ranger, bringing a whole new dynamic to a team that fans knew and loved. And as one of the series’ most iconic Power Rangers, Tommy has the most appearances of any character, so fans got to enjoy their rivalry across numerous episodes. Tommy and Jason were the blueprint for all the rivalries that came after.
2
Jack and Sky Show That Leadership Is Earned, Not Given
Power Rangers S.P.D.
Jack Landors and Sky Tate begin Power Rangers S.P.D. with completely different ideas about what it takes to be a good leader. Sky enters the academy convinced that he has earned the Red Ranger suit through years of discipline, training, and dedication, aiming to be just like his father, only to watch that role go to Jack Landors, an outsider with no formal experience. Jack never wanted to be the Red Ranger or even a member of S.P.D.
Instead, he grew up as a Robin Hood-style thief who was arrested by S.P.D., but was pardoned by Commander Cruger to join as the Red Ranger. At first, Jack didn’t take his leadership role seriously, which only escalated the tension between him and Sky. Their rivalry centers on gradually proving the other wrong. While Sky showed Jack what it meant to be a leader, Jack taught Sky what it meant to be a member of a team.
When given the opportunity to arrest the man who murdered Sky’s father, Jack gave Sky his morpher so that Sky would have access to the S.P.D. Battlizer and everything he needed. Although he returned the Red morpher to Jack after the battle, Sky would go on to be promoted to Red Ranger at the end of S.P.D., while Jack resigned from the team to help people on the streets. Jack and Sky’s rivalry is compelling, emotional, and complex, but they both eventually become the best version of themselves and fulfill their dreams.
1
Wes and Eric Have the Most Layered Rivalry in Power Rangers History
Power Rangers Time Force
Wes Collins and Eric Myers represent one of Power Rangers’ most mature rivalries because it exists long before either of them morphs. Having grown up together under vastly different circumstances, Eric spends years resenting Wes’ privileged upbringing, believing everything has always come easy to his former friend. Becoming the Quantum Ranger only intensifies those feelings, creating a rivalry driven by clashing worldviews rather than simple hero-vs-hero competition.
The two constantly battle for who is the better Ranger while begrudgingly working together to save the past, present, and future. Wes and Eric have the greatest rivalry in Power Rangers history. For once, the rivalry isn’t about who is the better leader or whether or not a once-evil Ranger can be trusted. Neither Ranger is completely right or wrong, but they both evolve into better people as a result.
Wes learns the responsibility that comes with leadership and privilege, while Eric slowly allows himself to trust others after spending years relying only on himself. Their rivalry ends with Eric shielding Wes and Mr. Collins from a Cyclobot and getting injured in the process. Time Force proves that both men become better heroes because they constantly push each other to grow.
