10 Disturbing Fan Theories About Kids' TV Shows

2. Mighty Morphing Power Rangers - They're All Child Soldiers

In the 1980s, child soldiers recruited to fight in Iran were given plastic keys and told that they were keys to Heaven. They were then sent out to clear minefields ahead of the adult soldiers. Of course, this wasn't the first, or the last, time that children were used to fight in wars. Decades earlier, Nazi Germany had recruited children to similar effect, and recent years have given rise to the use of children as both soldiers and suicide bombers.

What does this have to do with the Power Rangers? In the original series, Zordon recruits teenagers from Earth in a war between his own people and the evil Rita. He gives them special gadgets, brightly coloured uniforms, and magic fighting abilities. He then sends them out to fight against a series of monsters that explode when you hit them hard enough. Now, we€™re not saying that the Power Rangers are a direct metaphor. For starters, they are significantly older than most of the children recruited by the likes of the Nazis and the Taliban. They also live happily ever after, at least for the most part. Being a Power Ranger tends to fix most of their pre-existing problems, and provides them with a strong network of friends even after they retire at the end of the series.

But still. The Power Rangers are underage fighters that have been recruited to fight in a war that doesn't have anything to do with them.

Contributor
Contributor

With a (nearly) useless degree in English literature and a personal trainer qualification he's never used, Freddie spends his times writing things that he hopes will somehow pay the rent. He's also a former professional singer, and plays the saxophone and ukulele. He's not really used to talking about himself in the third person, and would like to stop now, thanks.