How Turboranger Played Out Zordon's Threefold Rule Before Mighty Morphin' Came To Existence

It's not very uncommon in the superhero genre (or how heroes in the past wrote under obvious pen names before the birth of comic book heroes) where the hero keeps their alter-ego secret. Toei Ltd. did work with Marvel Comics, Marvel Comics later had a license with Saban Ltd. in the 90s (and Toei Ltd. followed up too), Disney (and strangely, Disney had the Power Rangers license from Toei Ltd.), and Toei Ltd. also worked as animation studio for Hasbro then Hasbro currently has the rights to the Power Rangers franchise. That show in the late 1980s was Kosoku Sentai Turboranger -- the first Super Sentai entry that dealt with teenagers with attitude instead of mostly mature heroes. Sure, some teenagers did join the group such as Hikari Sentai Maskman had Akira and Chojin Sentai Jetman had Ako Hayasaka. The concept was later revived in Denji Sentai Megaranger. We also had Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers which blatantly told the three rules at the first episode's end. These are (1) never use the power for personal gain, (2) never escalate a fight unless the enemy forces you to, and (3) your being a Power Ranger is a secret. 

The Turborangers would've had to follow similar rules from Dr. Dazai though it wasn't blatantly stated at the end of the second episode. However, we see it frequently carried out as a plot point that leads to their various problems and misadventures while they defend the Earth from the Bouma Tribes. So how do we do Zordon's rule in Turboranger where it most likely originated? Turboranger was actually the true trope codifier of "recruit a team of teenagers with attitude" a few years before Mighty Morphin' ended up saying it outright. The best way that Dr. Dazai would've told them (off-screen) was to never use their Turboranger powers for personal gain, never escalate a fight unless the Hundred Bouma Tribes force them to, and to NEVER let anyone know they're the Turborangers. The plot points aren't stated but they're actually said outright throughout the series. 

How does the plot point of the secret identity get played through? 

It's in almost every episode where Misa Yamaguchi is in. Many times, the Turborangers just can't reveal that they're Turborangers! It was already played out in Episode 4 that the Turborangers couldn't tell Misa where they were going and why. All Misa could assume was that Dr. Dazai was really "corrupting" them while she became a fan of the Turborangers. Yet, the Turborangers were told that they couldn't tell anyone, NOT EVEN THEIR TEACHER, that they were Turborangers. The same problem also later hits their friends as Youhei himself can't even tell his childhood friend in Episode 8 either. They had to really hide their identity from adults and children alike. Though there were times they were careless (or had no choice) but to "It's Morphin' Time" or shift into Turborangers when the situation was dire. Later on, the Turborangers couldn't even tell Misa that the one-day transfer student Hikaru Nagareboshi was in Episode 22 was Yamimaru all along. It really is a burden that they have as teenagers who must battle to save the Earth from the Hundred Bouma Tribes. It creates a lot of hilarity for Dr. Dazai since so few know he's actually running a superhero base and that he's the mentor of the teens with attitude. 

Episode 26 even had the heroes do community service for their failure to pass supplementary homework. They just couldn't tell Misa that they were out there fighting the Hundred Bouma Tribes after all because of the third rule. Misa had no idea that the Turborangers were just right under her nose! All the struggles were that they had to defeat the Bouma AND pass their homework. However, defeating Bouma is no walk in the park as shown in many of the previous episodes. Episode 3 already showed them cutting classes to rescue the people that were about to become Ragorn's supper. They couldn't even tell Misa that they just saved her because Dr. Dazai told them of the third rule. It just escalated up to that. I guess it's safe to say they got under detention by Episode 26.

Episode 37 had Keiko Hayase guest star as Mika Yamaguchi -- Misa's younger sister who was studying martial arts in Hong Kong. Yup, Keiko guest-starred before appearing as a regular in Chikyu Sentai Fiveman. Misa did open up one thing to her younger sister Mika -- five "problematic" students who she felt was hiding something from everyone. Mika tried to uncover that secret and discovered that they were the Turborangers. The interaction between Haruna and Mika had something. Mika would later take the vow to never let anyone know the identities of the Turborangers. Though it's highly possible she later told her sister that (off-screen) in the final episode.

Episode 47 would eventually try to get the secret identity plot dilemma moving in some more. Misa is just concerned about the Turborangers yet they're NEVER allowed to tell her that they're Turborangers. You know, RULE NUMBER THREE. Misa really got the words out of my mouth when she said that is there something you can't even discuss with one's teacher. The Turborangers really have that and they really just can't tell her they lost their ability to morph. It's in this episode Misa accidentally switches places with Seelon. It's near the finale so it's only normal that Misa slowly discovers the identities of the Turborangers. This eventually works its way into the finale when the Turborangers face off with their final battle.

That one episode where Zordon's first rule got played out but NOT by a Turboranger

Episode 43 did have the first rule taught to a guest star named Kenichi. Kenichi was a nerd who was rather physically weak. The Turborangers were not to use their Turbo Bracers for personal gain -- something Kenichi tried to do in this episode. Kenichi did get exposed to fairy power back then but was (for some reason) not chosen to be a Turboranger. I guess Mika (Misa's younger sister) was also not chosen either. 

Kenichi was later told by Dr. Dazai that the Turbo Bracer is not a toy in one way or another. Later, Kenichi learns that lesson when he creates an exploding bullet to make up for the blunder that caused danger to Youhei. However, this was the only episode that which the first rule was emphasized. The rest of the episodes had the Turborangers committing other blunders but this. 

The rule was somewhat later emphasized in the second episode of Megaranger when Kenta was rebuked for his idea of using the Megaranger suit to cheat an exam. 

The second rule does play itself the most during the episodes

The application of the second rule or never escalating a fight unless Ragorn (or any Bouma) threatens to do so plays a bigger picture throughout the series. The one that was frequently played out as a plot point is never escalating a fight unless the Bouma forces you to and never let anyone know you're a Turboranger. The Turborangers were kind of consistent with that rule. The Turbo Weapons weren't handed over to them to battle the Slime Zombies that Licker Bouma created. The V-Turbo Bazooka wasn't created until Yamimaru forced them to escalate the fight as he rendered the Plasma Shoot ineffective. Many times, the Turborangers tend to use less of their special abilities when fighting the Wulars and use more of them against the monsters of the week. 

It can be clearly seen during the Three Bouma Generals arc. That was when Zimba, Jarmin, and Rehda were told to "Destroy the Turborangers or never return alive!" The three generals began escalating the fights themselves so the Turborangers had no choice but to destroy them. Zimba challenged them to a final battle. Jarmin was unleashing Kuroko Bouma in her final attempt to destroy the Turborangers. Rehda released Chomajin Bouma (which was practically escalating the fight) and released his full power before Red Turbo had to destroy him. Later on, Episode 39 was really when both the Nagare Bouma and Ragorn escalated the threats. Red Turbo had no choice but to escalate the fight because Ragorn himself escalated the fight in their life-or-death duel. That duel was behind the web created by Yamimaru and Kirika. Later, Dr. Dazai decided to use the Turbo Builder as a last resort since Super Turbo Robo couldn't penetrate Ragorn's rather thick armor. 

The finale arc also had Neo-Ragorn return to finally escalate the battle further. Neo-Ragorn's final failsafe is to release 108 Bouma AT ONCE which turned out to be under the Turbo Builder. The Bouma Palace was approaching so what choice do the Turborangers have? Neo-Ragorn was already escalating the battle to full scale. Riki mentions that they have no choice but to take the battle TO THE BOUMA CASTLE at long last. The Turborangers teleport there in the fashion that the Mighty Morphin' team would do so to have their final battle with Neo-Ragorn. Eventually, they had to destroy the Bouma Palace because it was going to collide with the Turbo Builder hence unleashing Neo-Ragorn's failsafe. That eventually managed to put the second rule to full application.

Meanwhile, the finale had the Turborangers somehow still keep their identities secret except to Misa. Misa was able to find out who they were and encouraged them to finish the battle so they can freaking graduate. Misa was able to see Seelon finally become a star with Rakia. I just felt Misa probably kept her biggest adventure a secret out of respect for the Turborangers. All the three points that came before Mighty Morphin' were put to good use from beginning to end. That's why I just can't rewatch Mighty Morphin' anymore even when the show was once part of my childhood.