Romance is one of the most overlooked aspects of the Power Rangers franchise. It’s not as essential to the plot as, say, the drama or the action, but romance being utilized in any form of storytelling is easy to get audiences interested in by offering something that they can become emotionally invested in.
Not every audience member can relate to donning a colorful superhero costume to battle monsters, but they can relate to being in love and the hope of falling in love. After all, that’s what everyone wants at the end of the day, right? Some of the most memorable television romances come from the Power Rangers show, like Kimberly and Tommy. However, some of the best power couples of Power Rangers never made it to the small screen. Instead, they were exclusively staples of the comic book series.
Jason and Trini didn’t have many notable interactions during the course of the actual show, but pairing them as a couple in the comics has provided the most fascinating of domino effects. Their relationship doesn’t last too long before they ultimately decide to remain friends, but in many ways, their unexpected tryst leads to Trini’s journey to becoming a Red Ranger. The revelation is first foreshadowed when Jason and Trini unintentionally swap colors due to a disruption in the Morphin Grid during a planetary adventure.
The bond that Trini develops with Jason, in many ways, mentally prepares her for the leadership role she takes on with the Omega Rangers later down the line. When Jason retires from being a Power Ranger, he trusts Trini enough to pass down his Red Ranger powers and status to her.
Eventually, Trini moves on from Jason and onto dating Zack. Interestingly enough, Trini not only forms a closer kinship with Zack, but their bond seems like a natural progression from the relationship that blossomed between them over the course of several years. The two were first depicted as a couple in the miniseries Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink (which exists in a continuity closer to the TV canon) before joining the main comic continuity as of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #105.
Jason and Trini’s relationship often felt like a mild curiosity, an itch they wanted to scratch with each other that didn’t pan out enough to even go public beyond closed doors. Her relationship with Zack, meanwhile, naturally evolves their dynamic, an evolution that feels like it’s been years in the making as they slowly go from teammates to friends to lovers. Seeing them become romantic partners feels like a reward for fans who themselves spent time investing in watching that relationship develop on both the screen and the page.
Matthew Cook debuts in Go Go Power Rangers as Kimberly’s boyfriend from back before Tommy Oliver arrived in Angel Grove. Readers know that he’s merely a placeholder for Kimberly until her most iconic romance can begin, but that doesn’t stop Matthew’s arc from striking a cord with readers. The two genuinely care for each other, but between the trauma he suffers at the hands of Rita Repulsa and knowing his friends are lying to him about being Rangers, he nearly loses his mind.
He’s eventually chosen to become the new Green Ranger during Tommy’s ascent to White Ranger status. Kimberly and Matthew become teammates and his history with Kimberly does cause major friction between himself and Tommy until they eventually get on the same page for the sake of the world.
Matthew doesn’t stay heartbroken over Kimberly for too long as he quickly gets acquainted with another new member of the team, Aisha, who replaces Trini as the new Yellow Ranger. Some casual flirting turns into an actual bond, especially once Matthew falls under Rita Repulsa’s mind control. Aisha is not only a major factor stopping him from falling too deep and becoming the next Lord Drakkon, but she continues to nurse him back to mental health as he tries to reintegrate himself back into the side of good.
It hasn’t been easy for Matthew, who blames himself for the evil he commits while working with Rita. Aisha proves to be a guiding light for Matthew at a time when he desperately needs it. As his perfect love interest, Aisha is instrumental in Matthew’s redemption.
This might actually be the least significant romance on the list on account of it only lasting a couple of issues of Go Go Power Rangers. However, it deserves a mention for the fact that it leaves an impression as a major part of humanizing Bulk beyond his bully antics. In the middle of campaigning for Homecoming King votes leading up to the upcoming dance, Bulk manages to woo local alt-girl, Hailey.
Hailey goes to Homecoming with Bulk, and they make for a surprisingly cute union. That union is shattered before it properly has a chance to start, thanks to local mean girl Marleau. She’s a lock for Homecoming Queen and refuses to stand next to someone like Bulk. She threatens to dump paint all over his date if Bulk doesn’t drop out of the race. He obliges, to the immense disappointment of Hailey, despite his attempt at nobility.
Speaking of Bulk, just as he has a chance at redemption through romance, so does his best friend, Skull. A chance encounter with Candice turns into a budding romance for Skull, even if it spurs jealousy out of Bulk. While Skull’s romance lasts much longer than Bulk’s, it also lands him in far more dangerous territory. His girlfriend is soon revealed to be a warrior from Zordon’s planet of Eltar all along, posing undercover as a human on Earth.
When the truth is revealed, it doesn’t change how Skull feels about her. If not for his obligations to keep Bulk out of trouble, he would leave the planet to live a life with his true love on Eltar. This relationship turns out to be a beautiful way to show Skull’s softer side, along with the kind of bravery and consideration he’s capable of showcasing when he’s not horsing around with his best friend.
Not many would ever expect a romance between Mike Corbett and Tanya Sloan to be on their Power Rangers bingo card, yet in retrospect, their relationship turns out to be perfect. Two of the most headstrong Rangers that the franchise has ever had make sense to form the ultimate Power Rangers power couple, even if no one would ever think to pair them together. The two join forces as part of the ultimate Power Rangers super-team, and from there, chemistry is instantaneous.
Mike even allows himself to be manipulated by Praetor to steal the Solarix for him, on the condition that he spares Tanya’s life. It shows that in just a short amount of time, Lost Galaxy’s sixth Ranger has fallen so deeply in love with Tanya that he is willing to sacrifice his better judgment in order to save her life.
This is a romance that would never come to pass if not for the “Shattered Grid” event that brings Power Rangers from all teams and eras together for one final multiverse battle against the franchise’s best villain, Lord Drakkon. This especially brings Mighty Morphin’s Red Ranger in close contact with the Red Samurai Red Ranger. Both have been praised for being two of the best Red Rangers the franchise has ever seen and, naturally, the duo hit it off with ease.
Both effectively take a captain and co-captain approach to leading the horde of Rangers, but in between giving orders, they are able to grow closer in unexpected ways. At the event’s conclusion, the timeline is reset with their memories of each other – and feelings for each other – wiped away out of their minds forever.
This pairing is technically first teased in the Mighty Morphin television show in the episode, “Goldar’s Vice-Versa,” where an undercover Scorpina tries to date Adam for the sake of gaining intel on the Rangers. The comics, though, actually attempt to craft a connection between them that’s more overt and genuine. The two become better acquainted in the post-apocalyptic alternate reality found in the World of the Coinless, where Adam serves Commander Scorpina.
In due time, Scorpina starts to view Adam on an equal footing and allows herself to be vulnerable with him in ways she refuses with others. Even more so, when Adam dies, she’s enraged enough to take on Eclipta in hopes of avenging his life. Adam Park influence on Scorpina is enough to help her complete a proper redemption arc.