21 Years Ago Today, The Most Popular Power Ranger Ever Returned to the Franchise

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With over 31 years of history, the Power Rangers series has built up a huge and dedicated fanbase. It’s no surprise everyone has a favorite Ranger and season based on their own preferences. However, one character stands out as the most popular Ranger of all time, and today marks the 21st anniversary of their exciting return to the show.

In 1997, several original members of the Power Rangers Turbo team moved on, including Tommy Oliver, played by Jason David Frank. Tommy passed his Ranger powers to T.J. Johnson and stepped down as a full-time Ranger, though he did make a cameo in the Forever Red anniversary special. But 21 years ago today, on February 14, 2004, Tommy made a comeback to the Power Rangers universe with the debut of Power Rangers Dino Thunder.

Tommy Would Return To Power Rangers, But In A Very Different Way (And With A New Ranger Color)

I grew up watching Power Rangers, and Tommy was always the coolest! Even during the original Mighty Morphin series, with all those awesome Rangers, Tommy really stood out. Then when he became the White Ranger, everyone went wild – he was just incredible! He stayed a favorite through Zeo and Turbo, and it was such a treat seeing him pop up in that Wild Force episode, ‘Forever Red.’ It wasn’t a full comeback, but it reminded everyone just how much we loved him.

Everything shifted with Dino Thunder, which Disney was heavily promoting. Tommy returned as a full-time character, but in a new way. He was now a science teacher at Reefside High School and tasked with selecting the Dino Thunder Rangers in the show’s first two episodes. This was a big change for Tommy, because even when he led teams before, he fought alongside them, not from the sidelines.

Tommy didn’t become a Power Ranger again until the fifth episode of the season, titled “Back in Black.” He ditched his familiar green, white, and red suits and debuted a new look as the Black Dino Ranger – a black and gold combination that still looks great! He initially morphed only to assist the Rangers he was training, but he appeared as a Ranger more frequently from then on, juggling his Ranger duties with his teaching responsibilities, which meant he couldn’t always join every fight.

The season heavily focused on Tommy’s character, and it featured the memorable “Fighting Spirit” episode where he battled his past Ranger selves – Green, White, and Red Zeo – after falling into a coma. It’s rare for a Ranger to not only return as a mentor but also have an entire episode dedicated to their history, and this season did exactly that for Tommy. Very few Rangers have received such a tribute.

Tommy became the most beloved character in the Power Rangers franchise for many reasons, and Jason David Frank’s lifelong commitment to the series was a major one. Frank truly lived and breathed Power Rangers, consistently finding ways to bring Tommy back, even when he wasn’t in the current season. Over the years, he reprised the role in numerous projects, including anniversary specials like Dimensions in Danger and Legendary Battle, and unique endeavors such as HyperForce, the Shattered Grid short film with Kyle Higgins, and BOOM! Studios’ Soul of the Dragon.

Although the Power Rangers franchise has many popular characters, Tommy Oliver stands out as the one most people recognize immediately. This is a major reason why his appearance in Dino Thunder was so exciting, and why fans are still discussing it over two decades later.

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2026-02-15 00:43