Zie

"Hyperfixation". It's word I've become very familiar with over the years. When I was younger (we're talking school aged before HS), Mom used to call this "phases". Like I literally had a Barbie phase, a Disney phase (which arguably has continued, even if not quieter than it was back then, depending on the day and what's going on with that brand). I had a Ninja Turtle phase. Anything that was big between the 80s and 90s? I fell for it. Again, to varying degrees.

I'd have to say that in the 90s around 93 to be exact my biggest "phase" was undoubtly Power Rangers. And I'd even argue I fell into it harder than my brother Chris did. My theory about this is I needed an escape from many things. Home life, bullies in school, my growing adult responsibilities that I was still too young to really take on but was forced to. And while I still had the Warners, the Power Rangers had another solution. Instead of being zany, I learned how to be the better person, and not take bait. (Though, I must say, that really didn't, and still doesn't always work).

30 years later, here I am. And with growing trouble at home with health on the part of my parents, bullying in my own crochet group, I needed my teens with attitude again. Only this time? I'm making new "friends" within the franchise. Having finally gone through all of In Space, I finally reached new territory with Lost Galaxy, and have been making "friends" here and there ever since. The old Rangers are there too, just on the fringe, and I still find myself seeking out Adam, ROcky, Tommy, even Kimberly and Kat when I just need a taste of the familiar.

This hasn't come without some serious downfalls that I haven't really been particularly happy with.

The first thing that happened is that in August right around the anniversary, my brain decided to shut down Rescue Rangers for a while. I figured, okay, I'll get through the watch, go to Power Morphicon, enjoy my vacation with Valerie and Lissa and Brayan, and maybe after that I'd be able to get back to Rescue Rangers.

It wasn't just for the fanfic aspect of it. As Fred's anniverary and PowerMorphicon got closer, I was drawn further into my former fandom (which at that point was no longer former, I guess). Between what was going on first with my two RP partners (life got in the way there for them), and then my crushing depression that only this fandom seemed to be able to fix in small doses, I just couldn't focus anymore, and the RP itself suffered the consequences.

When PowerMOrphicon was over, and i was back home, I definitely know I went through even more depression for a long while. Especially since I was still reeling from so many emotional moments that happened without the person that was supposed to have been there with me for it. So to ease the pain, I continued my watch, finally got through In Space.

The hyperfixation seems to get worse with every new series. Currently, I'm having minor fixiations on two specific series in the franchise, Time Force and Ninja Storm. Time Force brought me the first Ranger I could officially relate to in Trip. Trip was not only a Power Ranger, but an outsider in his own team before becoming one along side his team when they arrived in 2001. He was from a completely different plane t with a different culture, and had psychic powers. I'm guessing Katie was the same, but we just didn't see it nearly as much as we saw Trip's being pointed out so bluntly. Not only that, it also goes down as having one of my favorite episodes in the entire franchise so far, "Trip Takes a Stand". I know i've covered this episode in my previous entry discussing Time Force, but it bears so much repeating and praise. Trip's message to Eric, and really to all those watching is simply powerful and beautiful.

I won't talk much in detail about Ninja Storm. But I will point out the 4 characters that have absolutely won my heart in not less than 5 lines. Dustin, Cam, Blake, and Cyber Cam. (Don't give me that look about Cyber Cam. I'm well aware he's just a different side of Cam, but he *does* have his own personality, and I find him wildly entertaining) . and as much as I loved to hate Lothor, I was so unhappy with what he ended up having the neices do to Cyber Cam towards the end. :( (That goes double for Kapri and Marah who actually performed the deed and gave him the virus in the first place. But that discussion is for another entry.

To sum up, I can't deny how incredibly healing being back with both old and new Rangers has been for me. But I do know that I've let people down for it, and I haven't been able to figure out how to make it up to them yet, and I'm sorry. By the way? Rescue Rangers isn't the only fandom that's suffered. Biker Mice from Mars has taken quite the hit, but I am trying to finish at least one of the fics before the New Year. Then I'll be free to work on as many Power Rangers fics as I want. Thus far, I have RPM and Time Force. I also have a Gokaiger one that i'm deathly afraid of posting... lol.