Why is it when Billy is out of his Power Ranger suit he can't even fight and runs from the Putties but when he's in his Power Ranger suit he has really good coordination and is equally as powerful as the others?
shareBecause the suit gives him more power? I thought that was obvious.
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.
Tapping into the Morphing Grid makes the Rangers better fighters, but those who are already talented in martial arts appear to be far more formidable in combat. This is why Jason, Trini, Zack, and Tommy are regarded as such skilled fighters while Kim and Billy are simply average. The former all had martial arts training prior to connecting to their Power Coins while the latter had only gymnastics training (with Kim having more and thus being slightly better than Billy). Lack of formal training paired with being the most easily frightened of the team made Kim and Billy the weakest links of the team, in the beginning.
Later, we see Kim and Billy receive training from their fellow Rangers to put them on their skill level, as well. Thus, they become just as talented as the others morphed and unmorphed. Both even go so far as to exibit impressive leadership skills (with Kim leading the Wild West Rangers and Billy acting as a mentor in Zeo.)
After the original 5 (technically 6), it appears Zordon does a better job of picking already skilled Rangers when he chooses replacements (likely learning from the slight mistake of choosing two Rangers who weren't fighters to begin with). Rocky, Adam, and Aisha all had martial arts training equal to the likes of Jason and Tommy. All three had previously won tournaments AND demonstrated great synergy in fighting as a team. They were the best possible choices to replace 3 highly skilled Rangers who themselves worked best when fighting together.
Zordon didn't choose Katherine or Tanya but they were luckily quick studies (with Katherine being handpicked by Rita prior). We see both Kat and Tanya struggle as much as Kim and Billy did but learn to fight on their own far quicker. Finally, T.J., Carlos, Ashley, and Cassie were not as skilled as the Rangers before them but likewise not novices like Kim and Billy began either. We can assume they were roughly at Zack's initial level of training, being skilled but not experts like Jason, Trini, or Tommy. Like Kat and Tanya, they were quick studies, coming fully into their powers as the Astro Ranger in Power Rangers in Space.
I...honestly couldn't explain Justin, however. Maybe Zordon saw potential in him that we couldn't. He did seem talented for his age and size so maybe Zordon intended for Justin to grow into his powers and perhaps defend a section of the Earth as Mountain Blaster Blue Ranger all on his own?
The funniest part is that David Yost, who played Billy "the weak nerd" was actually an accomplished gymnast and was built like a freight train. They put him in all that baggy clothing to cover up a rather impressive physique.
Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment. -Michael Corleone
They put him in all that baggy clothing to cover up a rather impressive physique.
Well at first they did. Halfway through Season 2 Billy lost his glasses and started wearing less baggy clothes.
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.
Also the movie. You can see his build. Observe even in the first season-- Billy's moves are not exactly things a "weakling" could do easily. He had to be in some kind of shape to even be able to play that role. Which is why Power Rangers actors usually have some background in martial arts, gymnastics, or dancing.
Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment. -Michael Corleone
There's a funny anecdote about the movie. David Yost didn't like wearing the "Billy glasses" because even though they were non-prescription, they had to rub some irritating stuff on them so they wouldn't glare on-camera. He hated those things.
So when the movie went into production, he asked one of the producers if he could be allowed to not wear the glasses, and the producer was just kinda like "Sure, whatever." like it wasn't even a big deal.
Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment. -Michael Corleone
Most of the in suit footage was taken from zyurangers where the blue ranger had the same fighting style outside the suit. In the american show the in suit scenes sometimes wasn't consistent with the characters, for example Zack never used hip hop kido while morphed and Kimberly had trouble piloting a plane in an episode even though she piloted her pterodactyl zord with ease.
In universe: Just speculating since it was never addressed in detail but maybe when they are tapped into the morphin grid via the suit they gain knowledge and muscle memory.