Imagine a villain so iconic, so terrifying, that his very appearance sends shivers down your spine—devil-red skin, exposed brain, and gleaming metal armor. That’s Lord Zedd, the self-proclaimed Emperor of Evil from Power Rangers. But here’s where it gets controversial: even the man behind the voice, Robert Axelrod, wasn’t a fan of one major twist in his character’s story. What happens when a villain’s romance becomes more comedy than menace?
Power Rangers is more than just a kids’ show—it’s a cultural juggernaut. Created by Haim Saban, Shuki Levy, and Shotaro Ishinomori, the franchise blends footage from Japan’s Super Sentai series with original English-language content, creating a unique superhero phenomenon. While the Rangers themselves are celebrated for their groundbreaking diversity, it’s the villains who often steal the spotlight. And none loom larger than Lord Zedd, brought to life by Edwin Neal’s physical performance and Axelrod’s chilling voice.
But this is the part most people miss: Axelrod had serious reservations about Zedd’s marriage to Rita Repulsa, the franchise’s first antagonist. In an interview with Kaiju-Fan Online, Axelrod shared his disappointment: ‘What I didn’t like was when Zedd and Rita got married. I was glad to see Rita come back, but as a couple, they became comic relief rather than threats.’ He envisioned an uneasy alliance, filled with betrayal and tension, instead of a love potion-induced romance. ‘Would have created more drama,’ he added.
The marriage, which occurs in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 2, sees Rita—imprisoned by Zedd for failing to defeat the Rangers—using a love potion to overthrow him. Instead, she falls for him, and they marry, vowing to destroy the Rangers together. But their union is short-lived, as they’re eventually defeated and stripped of their powers (though they later return).
And this is where it gets even more complicated: Power Rangers often struggles to seamlessly blend its Japanese and American elements. As a remake, the show’s actors had to balance the original Super Sentai storylines with new interpretations. For Axelrod, this meant dealing with a physical actor whose rapid delivery clashed with his vision of Zedd as a slow, menacing figure. ‘I wanted to keep the character stately,’ Axelrod explained, ‘but he made that difficult.’ Despite requesting to work with the actor directly, the opportunity never arose.
Is a villain’s romance ever a good idea, or does it dilute their threat? Axelrod’s critique raises a fascinating question about storytelling in Power Rangers. While Zedd remains one of the franchise’s most memorable villains, his marriage to Rita remains a divisive plot point. Did it humanize him too much, or was it a missed opportunity for deeper conflict? Let us know what you think in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take on this controversial twist!
