WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always.
Kimberly did not appear in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, which featured Kat as the Pink Ranger. Technically, Kimberly was in Once & Always. However, the original Pink Ranger did not remove her helmet, as Amy Jo Johnson did not participate in the reunion. Billy and Zack were the only two characters from Power Rangers’ first lineup who returned in Once & Always.
The original Blue and Black Rangers teamed up with two other Rangers – Rocky and Kat – to take down Robot Rita. The new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers team also welcomed Minh, Trini’s daughter, as the new Yellow Ranger. Here’s the backstory of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always’ Pink Ranger, Katherine Hillard-Oliver, and why she is such an important character.
Kat Replaced Kimberly As The Pink Ranger In Mighty Morphin Season 3
Catherine Sutherland’s Katherine Hillard ed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers during season 3 ahead of Amy Jo Johnson’s exit from the show. Similar to when Jason, Zack, and Trini exited the series, Power Rangers introduced a new character instead of recasting Kimberly. However, compared to when the Stone Canyon trio replaced the original Red, Black, and Yellow Rangers, the “Pink Ranger Power Transfer” was better handled. Audiences got to follow Kat for three episodes before she was chosen as Kimberly’s replacement. Kat’s time as Mighty Morphin’s Pink Ranger was relatively short, but her Power Rangers legacy would continue.
In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers season 1, Rita Repulsa turned Tommy Oliver into the Evil Green Ranger. Something similar happened to Kat upon her introduction in Mighty Morphin season 3. Kat was brainwashed by Rita Repulsa’s magic and became close to the Power Rangers to spy on them. Fortunately, with the help of the Power Rangers, Kat eventually broke free of Rita’s spell. Having earned the Power Rangers’ trust and Kimberly’s friendship, Kat was chosen to become the new Pink Ranger. Kimberly wanted to pursue other dreams beyond her Ranger life, which is why the original Pink Ranger quit the team.
What Happened To Kat After Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Kat remained as the Mighty Morphin Pink Ranger until Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ended. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was rebranded as Power Rangers Zeo, going from a Kyouryu Sentai Zyuranger adaptation to a Chouriki Sentai Ohranger one. As a result, some Power Rangers had to change colors, but Kat got to keep hers. The former Mighty Morphin Pink Ranger became Zeo’s Pink Ranger, technically known as Zeo Ranger 1 Pink. Now much more experienced, Zeo’s Kat was often a second-in-command Ranger, especially after Billy’s exit. During Zeo, Kat and Tommy began to date. Tommy was previously in a relationship with Kimberly, but they broke up shortly after Zeo began.
Catherine Sutherland reprised her role as Kat in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie. The Turbo movie served as the transition between Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo. However, the in-universe reason behind such a drastic change was never explained. Kat remained as the Pink Ranger until Power Rangers Turbo season 2, when most of the cast exited the show. Recently, Power Rangers confirmed that Kat and Tommy got married at some point between Power Rangers Dino Thunder and Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel. More about Kat and Tommy’s marriage was revealed in Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon, a Power Rangers comic set after Power Rangers S.P.D.
Power Rangers: Once & Always’ Pink Ranger Story Continues Kat’s Legacy
Kat has one of the richest journeys in the Power Rangers universe. The second Pink Ranger was part of three different Power Rangers teams and continued to appear in other stories. Before Once & Always, Kat returned for Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel’s "Dimensions in Danger," where she teamed up with other legacy Rangers like Tommy, Rocky, Wes, and Trent. Super Ninja Steel also revealed that Kat and Tommy had a son, J.J. Oliver. Lastly, Kat returned as the Pink Ranger in Power Rangers: Once & Always. With Kimberly captured by Rita, asking Kat for help was an obvious choice. Curiously, Kat had never used the Pterodactyl Power Coin before.
Though Zordon once said that “too much pink energy” is dangerous, Alpha 9 had no choice but to replicate Jason and Kimberly’s Power Coins following Robot Rita’s arrival. This is why Rocky and Kat were able to morph into Tyronasaurs Red Ranger and Pterodactyl Pink Ranger, respectively. Kat referenced Tommy a few times, confirming that they remain together. In addition, Kat namedropped “J.J.” twice in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, further establishing that she and Tommy have a son. Almost 30 years after Rita Repulsa brainwashed Kat, the second Pink Ranger’s return could not have been better.
