Wild Force Power Rangers - Merrick Balitou

Merrick Balitou (played by Phillip Andrew) is the Lunar Wolf Ranger, the sixth Ranger of the series. He was once one of the original six warriors of Animaria. He witnessed the battle between the ancient, evil Master Org and Animus, a force for good. When Animus fell, Merrick took it upon himself to defeat Master Org.

Knowing that he did not have enough power to defeat Master Org alone, he donned a cursed wolf mask which gave him the power of the Duke Org sealed in it, Zen-Aku. With this power, he was able to defeat Master Org, however he was soon corrupted by the mask's power and Zen-Aku took control of his body. Merrick pleaded with his comrades to destroy him before the mask took complete control. He was then taken over completely by the mask's power and attacked them. But rather than destroy Merrick, they sealed him into a stone-coffin in order to protect the world from Zen-Aku's power.

Centuries later, he was released by Nayzor to destroy the Wild Force Rangers of the present day. As Zen-Aku, he battled them on several occasions. But he was not all evil. When Alyssa was gravley injured he bandaged her wound that could have broken her ankle. The fighting went on until the Power Rangers learned the truth and helped free him from the curse, with help from the Rhino and Armadillo Wild Zords. Princess Shayla had figured out the curse's power was tied to his Zords and had the Rangers destroy his Zords as the Predazord, breaking the curse. Before that, it seemed like Merrick was gaining short busts of control, such as when he saw Alyssa lying injured and unconscious after tumbling down a hill, he stops to bandage up her wounds. Merrick soon became the Lunar Wolf Ranger and comes to the others' aid when needed. He is also the strongest Ranger of them all, as he was able to defeat the others while he was still Zen-Aku. His Silver Wolf, Violet Hammerhead and Emerald Alligator Zords combine to form the Predazord. Unfortunately, breaking the curse also freed Zen-Aku from his curse and he returned to do battle with the Rangers. Merrick had to face his apparently unbeatable dark side, but using a new pool trick he learned from his friend and boss Willie, Merrick weakened Zen-Aku and destroyed him himself with the help of the Armadilo Zord. Its later revealed that Zen-Aku somehow survived, but he seeks redemption now like Merrick.

Unlike Rangers turned from evil to good in previous series of Power Rangers (notably Tommy Oliver in the original series and Ryan Mitchell in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue), Merrick did not immediately join the cohesive group of the other Rangers. Indeed, he is notable for remaining something of an antihero, like his Time Force counterpart Eric Myers throughout the series because of his largely self-imposed exile from Animaria. He, however, befriends a roadside bar operator named Willie, who he convinces to stay with as an employee after defending his establishment from thugs. It is repeatedly hinted that Willie is aware of his identity as a Power Ranger due to his mysterious disappearances. He is an avid player of pool, although he only plays pool to repeatedly practice one trick shot (the same one used in his Lunar Cue finishing move, which also served to summon his Wild Zords).

It is suggested throughout the series that Merrick has long been romantically involved with Princess Shayla, although presumably the guilt he had being under the curse of Zen-Aku, along with his self-imposed exile, prevented them from expressing it for a long while.

In the finale, it is revealed that Merrick has made his peace with the now independent Zen-Aku, and that they are travelling the world together both seeking redemption for their actions.