Official Ep Discussion: #9 "The Gauntlet" aka "Enter Shredder"

[Machias Banshee]

Alrighty, let's give this a go!

So, April is a little more than shocked to get a warning from her dad - from a giant mutant pigeon of all things. Apparently, the Kraang have something up their collective sleeves, and it involves mutagen and the NYC water supply.

Scary mutant thing out to poison the water, only to be stopped by other scary mutant thing... sounds a lot like Dreamcatcher by Stephen King.

After seeing this week's preview with Pete the giant pigeon, I can't imagine trying to take a walk in a park with a flock of mutant birds flying overhead. It'd be like getting pooped on by a pterodactyl... or Big Bird. But it shows that there's only going to be more problems of the Kraang doing their weird experiments in the dark alleys of the city.

The question I have is... how will the Shredder fit into all of this? We know so little about Shredder at this point. We saw a (fairly young and handsome) picture of Saki from the episode of Mike and Chris Bradford... that photo has intrigued many ever since it first appeared. There's going to be a history between Saki and Yoshi unlike anything we've seen on TV.

So, first impressions: Shredder is horribly scarred, and he's got some sort of skyscraper in use in the center of the city. But he's coming with the intention of getting Splinter once and for all. Is his physical state the result of something that happened between the two? Perhaps he was injured during the major fire that killed Tang Shen and cost Yoshi his daughter? Perhaps we'll have a little bit of the financial powerhouse that Shredder was in the 2K3 series. Perhaps he's looking at TCRI as a financial ally? Or weapons developer...


Also, some people are predicting that this episode may be the one where we see Bradford and Xever possibly get mutated into Dogpound and Fishface, respectively. While I'm looking forward to what the writers have in store for us, I personally like the idea of having more human villains.

Bradford is SO well known in the martial arts circles, there would have to be some sort of way for him to use that to his advantage - TV, social media, local live events. Xever's more important in the lower levels of society, in the gangs and prisons. He could have a major network of bad guys to collaborate with, if he had the reputation to be that kind of leader.

I think the most dangerous villain is one that has the power to influence public opinion. Anyone remember Dregg from the OT? Or Shredder from 2K3? It's all about the people you know...

So,

WILT THY EVIL SHREDDER COMMETH AND MERRILY SMOTE MANY A TURTLE?!
CAN APRIL FIND HER DAD BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO HIM?
AND WILL MIKE SURVIVE THE 'TRAUMA' OF A GIANT PIGEON PROBING HIM FOR BREADCRUMBS?!

Stay Tuned!!!

[Machias Banshee]

We're Open!

*runs!*

[marcelangelo]

hey, why do some assume that here rad brad and xever will be mutated?I cant follow this somehow...advice would be welcome, compadres!)...
I hope we get another motion comic scene in this episode!wishing all of you who are able to watch this in a few minutes mucho fun!looking forward to read your thoughts and observations!...
booyakashaa!

[oldmanwinters]

It's pretty cool that the Nick Turtles Vs. Foot campaign admits this episode is an intentional reference to Fred Wolf episode, "What's Michaelangelo Good For?"

Nice concept art too!

[NinjaMan]

LOL gotta love Mikey and the smoke bombs. So close to saving her dad. And now we have Fishface and Dogpound!!!!!! And Shredder!!!!!! He kicked the Turtles butts! And was about to kill them all! Wow! I love t his show! Shredder is no joke!

[oldmanwinters]

I really liked this episode. I thought the promise of mutant pidgeon, mutation of Bradford & Xever, Kraang bomb plot, AND the turtles' 1st encounter with Shredder wok be too much plot for one episode, but it didn't feel overambitious at all. Great episode!

[marcelangelo]

oh man, dudes!more, more, MORE information!!who knows when some of us over here will be able to see it...
sounds like a pretty b b b bb baaaaad episode!!!

[Donatello19]

Best episode so far IMO. Shredder was epic and at first I thought they were going to end the battle leaving Shredder hanging from the building, but for the first time in the series so far, the turtles actually lost. Shredder is a foe that is no joke. I also can't wait to see Dogpound and Fishface in action. One thing that I thought was very stupid however, was the pigeon. Whats the point of making a mutant if they're only going to be in the episode for like, less than 5 minutes?
EDIT: Why was this episode titled "The Gauntlet"? What does that even mean?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

It's pretty cool that the Nick Turtles Vs. Foot campaign admits this episode is an intentional reference to Fred Wolf episode, "What's Michaelangelo Good For?"

Nice concept art too!

And I liked the "Wolf Hotel" name. A reference to the Murakami-Wolf-Swenson show?

[magicallypuzzled]

I think my favorite part had to be when shredder reallized that those strange creatures in the weird ooze were actually xever and bradford. he actually seemed concerned for a second before he reallized he was being distracted from the turtles. frankly i like a shredder that isn't, i am so evil i don;t even know what concern means. he clearly doesn't tolerate failure but at the same time i got the impression he did some what care about his underlings.

then again maybe i am reading too much into something that might not even be there.

[pannoni1]

Definitely an episode I really need to watch again to get a better feel about what happened, since so much took place! As soon as I saw the dog by Christ Bradford, I knew that it was almost certain that the Dogpund/Fishface mutation was bound to happen, and I felt that the Wolf tower was the place that it was going to happen, and that once the Turtles knocked Chris and Xever with the liquid substance, they would get mutated as soon as they returned, and I was right. Too bad the Turtles couldn't rescue Kirby, it was too good to be true for the Turtles to defeat Shredder the first time around, since they defeated him the first time in the comics, 4kids, the movies, and the OT. I also wonder if the "WOLF" tower was in reference to Fred Wolf perhaps, since we had Murakami in the last episode. I still can't believe that the Kraang control base is directly underground in the sewers in a Star Wars-esque chamber. I'm not sure too, but I think we also get the series' first daytime appearance above ground at the start of the episode.

Overall: 9/10

[NinjaMan]

Originally Posted by pannoni1

Definitely an episode I really need to watch again to get a better feel about what happened, since so much took place! As soon as I saw the dog by Christ Bradford, I knew that it was almost certain that the Dogpund/Fishface mutation was bound to happen, and I felt that the Wolf tower was the place that it was going to happen, and that once the Turtles knocked Chris and Xever with the liquid substance, they would get mutated as soon as they returned, and I was right. Too bad the Turtles couldn't rescue Kirby, it was too good to be true for the Turtles to defeat Shredder the first time around, since they defeated him the first time in the comics, 4kids, the movies, and the OT. I also wonder if the "WOLF" tower was in reference to Fred Wolf perhaps, since we had Murakami in the last episode. I still can't believe that the Kraang control base is directly underground in the sewers in a Star Wars-esque chamber. I'm not sure too, but I think we also get the series' first daytime appearance above ground at the start of the episode.

Overall: 9/10

I think we got a day time clip when Mikey and Bradford were eating their pizza earlier in the season. I also like how Shredder ran through them and they didn't win. Very humbling experience for them.

[Slade]

Awesome awesome awesome episode. Shredder ran through the guys like they were nothing. Can't wait to see more.

[TurtleTitan97]

This was a VERY good episode. My favorite parts are when Mikey uses the smokebombs, and the turtles first encounter with Shredder. That was a very awesome fight scene. Hope we get to see Splinter take him on soon.

[chrisdude]

Definitely my favorite episode, yet. But I say that every two episodes.

Spoiler:

I had a few flashbacks to the rooftop fight from the first movie. Like the turtles taking him one at a time, especially seeing Leo get laid out sorta the same way. Watching Mikey get knocked off the roof was kind of hard to watch. The whole fight was, really. I also liked seeing each turtle stop Shredder from making the killing blow on Raph.

Then seeing the turtles all battle-damaged. "Epic" is right.

[DarkLightDragon]

Best episode so far.

Spoiler:

And like chrisdude said, I got major flashbacks to the first movie's climax as well as Mirage #1 upon seeing the Turtles's injuries. The way they transistioned to the lair was cool too combined with sad/defeated music.

[Telekinesis]

I loved this episode. Didn't really dig the opening encounter, found it to be a bit strange. Other than that, very solid.

Spoiler:

Shot of the turtles 'fading into the night' after the battle with Shredder = epic. Very cool.

[Irishmile]

This one was probably my favorite episode yet.... mainly because of the really awesome Shredder fight at the end... THIS is exactly how he should be handled..

My biggest complaint is the treatment of Mikey.. I like how goofy and funny he is with the smoke bombs and everything... BUT I do not like how stupid they make him seem... I have mentioned it before.. I am thinking of this as REALLY early in their story so I am just going to chalk it up as Mikey not yet maturing as fast as his bros.. and he will mature into the Mikey we all expect him to be... Hopefully in season two or if its too late by season three they will fix this.

Another strange thing about Bradford and Xever's mutation is they both actually touched turtles last... Or is there some rule where you can not mutate from something that is already mutated?

[Coola Yagami]

I don't think they even specifically stated that you mutate into the last thing you touched. They just show it. But true, Chris and Xever touched the dog and fish way before they started fighting against the Turtles. Even Hun became a Turtle after fighting with them.

Still don't like how noone wanted to hang with Mikey. Reeks of 2K3 Mikey....

[gobo]

Originally Posted by irishmile

or is there some rule where you can not mutate from something that is already mutated?

Originally Posted by nickolas l. O'deon

i am the great and powerful nickelodeon! Pay no attention to the elephant in the room!

. ^_^