Schuyler "Sky" Tate

Schuyler “Sky” Tate is a second generation Power Ranger and the son of an S.P.D. veteran. Sky’s father was killed in action while serving as the S.P.D. Red Ranger and his death would remain a pivotal tragic event in Sky's life and career as an S.P.D. cadet. Sky spent much of his young adult life training to become a Ranger. He told Jack Landors in the episode Reflection pt. I that “all I ever wanted to be was just like him. A Red Ranger”, describing his father as his hero. At the start of the series, Sky had let his dream to become like his Dad consume him. As a result, Sky is arrogant, self-righteous and incredibly jealous of Jack's promotion to the Red Ranger position over him. Commander Cruger chose him to be the Blue Ranger after Sky told him that he felt that Syd and Bridge weren't worthy of being the Red Ranger, showing that he wasn't ready to lead the team (Beginnings pt. I).

Sky also begins the series as a loner. Initially, his jealousy of Jack isolates him from the rest of the team, which leads to dangerous consequences throughout the year, such as in Walls when he disobeyed orders to join the others in battle, allowing Gruumm to steal diamonds. Sky also switches from observing a strict interpretation of S.P.D. officer regulations to breaking protocol whenever it suits his needs or current situation (Confronted, Idol). As a cadet, Sky is caustic, quick to judge other people, and has trouble relaxing even when he's off duty (Recognition). But as the battle with Gruumm progresses, Sky gradually learns to trust his teammates and develops a respect for Jack's unorthodox leadership, even actively teaming up with him in battle and assuming a secondary leadership role (Reflection pt. II, Missing, Impact). He also learns to relax and just enjoy the company of his teammates, and in S.W.A.T. pt. II is the first to apologize to the others for bickering, saying that he wants the team to be together as Rangers and as friends.

Sky's tragic childhood comes back to haunt him in the middle of the series when he encounters his father's murderer, the intergalactic felon Mirloc. But he is able to face his worst childhood memory and defeat his father's murderer with the support of Jack's friendship. With Jack's advice and help, Sky is able to come to grips with his father's legacy and realize that he is proud to be the Blue Ranger and that “heroes come in all colors” (Reflection pt. II). Sky also develops a newfound respect in the psychic abilities of his roommate Bridge Carson (Samurai, Endings pt. I) and seems to develop a friendship with Z Delgado and Sydney Drew. It is only after Sky has fully embraced his position as the Blue Ranger and a team player that he proves himself ready to be B-Squad's leader. In Endings pt. II, Jack leaves S.P.D. and Sky is promoted to Red Ranger after telling Commander Cruger that he would follow anybody into battle whom Cruger felt worthy of wearing the color red.

An unknown amount of time after the end of the series, Sky is promoted again to Commander of Earth when Supreme Commander Birdy retires and Doggie goes to fill his position. Whether this means Sky also inherited the Shadow Ranger's powers is unknown (Once a Ranger pt. I).

Sky is an avid reader and was shown with his nose in a book in multiple episodes throughout the season, although his favorite genre was never stated (and it's possible he was simply re-reading the handbook a lot). He also creates model planes (S.W.A.T. pts. I and II) and plays lightball in his free time.

All five of the core S.P.D. Rangers possess unique genetic powers. The origin of their powers remained a mystery until the episode Sam pt. II, where Cruger revealed that their parents worked for S.P.D. in a secret project that involved prolonged exposure to “cellular enhancers”. This exposure resulted in mutations in their childrens' DNA. Sky has the power to create forcefields with his mind. They appear from Sky's forearms and he creates the shields by waving his arms in a wide circle.

The Blue Ranger has the following arsenal:

• Delta Morpher - The morpher has four functions. It allows Sky to morph into the Blue Ranger, operates as a communication device, is used to judge criminals in “Judgment Mode” and to contain criminals in “Confinement Mode”.
• Deltamax Striker - This weapon combines the baton and knuckle sidearms to form a more powerful weapon.
• Delta Enforcer - A powerful rifle weapon used only in S.W.A.T. Mode. It has the power to contain guilty criminals when a Confinement Card is swiped and inserted.

The Blue Ranger has one power-up:

• S.W.A.T. Mode - Short for Special Weapons and Tactics. An upgrade all five core Rangers received after undergoing training under Sgt. Silverback to learn how to work together. S.W.A.T. Mode gives the Rangers extra armor and a weapon, the Delta Enforcer, as well as enhancing their helmets' tracking capabilities and their own physical strength.

The Blue Ranger's Vehicles:

• Patrol Bike - Sky had this patrol bike from the start of the series. It is fast and mobile and is equipped with lasers.
• Blue Delta Runner - Sky's Delta Runner is the only one capable of flight. It can shoot lasers, has a magnetic cable to catch and tow objects with, and also holds the Megazord's handcuffs, which are stored on its wings. It forms the left leg of the Delta Squad Megazord and the left arm of the Deltamax Megazord.
• Blue S.W.A.T. Flyer - The Blue Flyer can fly at high speeds, is armed with lasers, and forms the arms of the S.W.A.T. Megazord and the handle and trigger of the S.W.A.T. Flyer Cannon.

Sky's parents were both seen in a flashback in Reflection pt. I; neither were named, and his father was killed some years before the series began. He has no other known relatives.

Sky's “best friend” at the S.P.D. Academy when he started out was Dru Harrington, an alien from the planet Tangar. Dru is an S.P.D. cadet who was assigned to the Nebula Academy three years prior to the events of the episode Idol, and whom Sky believed to be dead after he went Missing in Action. Dru describes his relationship with Sky as “brother-like”, but this is later proven to be false when Dru betrays Sky and S.P.D. and is revealed to be a monster and an agent of Broodwing. Prior to this betrayal, Dru and Sky wore Tangarian Coil bracelets, a traditional gift on his home planet of Tangar shared by close friends. The coil is silver and has S.P.D. written on it. Sky's coil is shattered by a laser blast from Dru.

• Sky's profile on the Jetix website listed his age as 20. This is feasible, but was never confirmed in-show. As the accident that created their powers happened in 2001, none of the Rangers can be any older than 24 at season start.
• Given the above point, it can be safely assumed that Sky was born sometime during the year 2005.
• On the original casting sheets and in his initial character description, Sky's last name was Blake; this was changed sometime before filming. Notably, however, Doggie accidentally called Sky “Cadet Blake” in Idol and this mistake somehow made it into the final cut of the episode.
• Sky is never actually called by his full name in-show (unlike Syd and Z, whose full names are used at least once), though he introduces himself as “Schuyler” on one of the DVD extras.
• A hotly-disputed theory within the fandom stated that Sky is the son of Wesley Collins, the Red Time Force Ranger, due to the fact that Sky's father was seen in a modified Red Time Force suit in the photograph of him and young Sky, and in the flashback in Reflection pt. I. However, executive producer Greg Aronowitz said in a post-series interview that this is not the case.¹⁾ See the Wiki's fanon list for more info.
• The episode “Idol” gives one a rough approximation of when Sky started at S.P.D. Dru states that he was sent away “three years ago” to complete his training, and he and Sky had built up a very close friendship before then. Therefore, it's feasible to assume that Sky has been a part of S.P.D. for at least four years, or since he was sixteen years old- possibly longer, if his statements about training “since [he] was a little kid” and the fact that S.P.D. accepted young Sam as a cadet are anything to go by.
• Sky's original character description mentioned that being a Ranger was to be something his father wanted for him, rather than a path Sky chose for himself after his death. He was also to be known to spout off the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to anybody who would listen (and even those who would not), forego fun and friendships to hone his skills, have few friends in general due to his strict code of living, and only really have a sense of humor during battle. In addition, he was to be a master mechanic, a trait that was instead given to Bridge. (There may have been a subtle joke about this change in Walls, when Sky says “I'm trying! Bridge is the mechanical genius” upon trying to turn off a teleporter.)
• Sky's personality is very similar to that of his Japanese counterpart, Hoji Tomasu, though Hoji never really loosened up the way Sky did and in some ways was even more serious and professional than Sky ever was. Hoji also never had any desire to be Red; instead, his rivalry with Jack's counterpart Ban was due to the fact that Ban had replaced his previous commander, Gyokou Ryou, who was forced to retire when he saved Hoji and Jasmine (Z's counterpart) from a monster holding them captive and received a debilitating leg injury. His guilt over these events led him to reject Ban and his attempts at friendship- most commonly when Ban called him “aibou” (which means “buddy” or “partner”) and Hoji would always respond with some variation of “Don't call me aibou!”.