[The Great Saiyaman]

First of all, my apologies if this list has been posted before but I figured that they made so many good points here that it bears repeating.

https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/03...rtles-episodes

10. Metalhead rewired
In addition to featuring the return/sacrifice of Donnie's robot pal Metalhead, this episode includes a not-oft-seen conflict between Leonardo and Donatello, plus a smorgasbord of mutant cameos. Unbeknownst to us, the big breakout scene also set the stage for the Mighty Mutanimals to show up in future episodes.

9. Turtles in time
While the majority of Season 4 was all about time travel, Season 3's "Turtles in Time" was the green team's first real experience with it. As standalone episodes go, this one packs a real punch thanks to its medieval setting and well-drawn characters (Renet Tilly, Savanti Romero, etc.). Plus, it teases another episode on this list -- but more on that in a bit.

8. The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones
"Great, now we have two Raphaels!"
In "The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones," we get our first real team-up between fellow hotheads Raphael and Casey Jones, who hit it off much to great effect. Highlights include the debut of Casey's vigilante outfit, a skirmish between Casey and Raph, and a baller subway chase that still holds up as one of the show's coolest set pieces.

7. Target: April O'Neil
While its stakes are relatively low, "Target: April O'Neil" may be the best standalone episode the series has to offer. When Karai starts hunting April again, both Casey and the Turtles join the fight against the Foot (and Chrome Dome) in one awesome, funny, interweaving storyline. This was also the first time we saw April's human life collide with her mutant life in a major way.

6. Annihilation: Earth!
TMNT's Season 3 finale wasn't the first end-of-the-world episode to hit the scene, but it certainly was the biggest. "Annihilation: Earth!" stands out for having all the mutants and Shredder's crew team up for the first time, as well as the tragic death of Master Splinter. Suffice to say, this was one of the darkest episodes ever, mainly because, well... the freaking Earth was destroyed!

5. Tale of the Yokai
"Tale of the Yokai" is wonderful on so many levels, but the big draw of this one is how it brings the Turtles into Master Splinter and Shredder's origin. As a followup to "Turtles in Time," this episode brings all the emotions, and tells its own Back to the Future-style story that explains Tang Shen's demise and how Karai ended up with Shredder.

4. Vision Quest
As the last episode of Season 3's farmhouse arc, "Vision Quest" sets the Turtles on a journey of self-discovery. Here, each of the brothers taps into his spiritual side and assumes one of four elements: Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain. This of course comes with new "Mystic" looks for all the Turtles, as well as their own thought-provoking missions. In terms of developing the four main characters, this one is hard to beat.

3. The Gauntlet
The most notable thing about this episode is that it's the first time the Turtles fight Shredder one-on-one -- and boy is it brutal. After seven episodes of building up the main conflict in Season 1, "The Gauntlet" pays off in a big, stylized brawl, while also setting up the framework for future episodes. Pure entertainment, top to bottom.

2. The Manhattan Project (AKA Wormquake)
Going off the title, "Wormquake!" sounds like a freak-of-the-week episode, but it's really anything but. In this two-parter, we meet one of the series' best original characters, Tiger Claw, while also delving into a Shredder/Kraang conflict of epic proportions. That's not to mention the 1987 Turtles cameo, which eventually comes back around in "Trans-Dimensional Turtles."

1. Invasion.
It's the end of the world! Again.
In terms of balancing action, humor and drama, "The Invasion" is the big kahuna of season finales. This episode has just about everything, from big, emotional twists to jaw-dropping spectacle. At the same time, this episode never goes too dark and maintains a sense of fun throughout. Basically, it's TMNT at its finest.


Honorable mention: Trans-dimensional turtles
Special shout-out to "Trans-Dimensional Turtles" for bringing back the original '87 Turtles and deftly meshing them with the modern-day Turtles. Pure fan-service, but you gotta love it. "Turtle Power," indeed!

So what do you guys think about this list, what would be your own top ten?