Question about episode "the Darkness Within"

[Ulisa]

This episode easily remains one of my favorites but I have to admit, it was one of the more confusing episodes, at least the first few times that I saw it. I can follow enough of it to enjoy it but I was wondering if you all had better answers than I can come up with.

First, I did hear that a lot of H. P Lovecraft's themes/ideas were involved in this episode. Now, while that name is familiar, I have to admit I have never read those works, though I have tried to explore them some, getting some information on them...didn't help me much. I was utterly lost.

My real question lies with this odd creature that the Turtles face. I understand that it utilizes their worst fears against them, but what exactly was its true purpose? Is this ever alluded to or explained, in any form? I understand the possession but the actual POINT to the possession, well, that still escapes me.

It seemed to feed off of the souls it captured, though what exact PART of them it fed off still confuses me. Was it the body itself? the mind? the spirit? Is it something to do with the fact it uses greed and fear to lure?

Sorry to throw all those questions at you but I was wondering you all had any insight to this genuinely creepy episode.

[Powder]

I'd love to see some feedback myself, I've never gotten into Lovecraft stuff & that episode was kinda wild/unexplained.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Why did it need someone to control? I guess it was a way for it to survive on Earth.

[BubblyShell22]

I think the creature fed off of the greed of others and used that for its power as well as that stone thing that it had. It also fed off the fears of the people and used that to gain power as well. I think its sole purpose was to lure people in with the promise of riches and that it would feed off of the person's greed and fear. That's the way I took it anyway. As for what part of the body it would feed on, it would probably be the mind as that's the place where emotions are stored.

[ABrown]

To be honest, I consider it to be one of the weaker episodes of the season. I mean it's pretty much the only episode of the season that doesn't in some way contribute to one of the ongoing stories of the first five seasons. And as a stand alone episode, it didn't really do anything to distinguish itself. It seemed like nothing more than filler.

[Leonardo Mystic]

I've wondered about this myself, but it does make for a good Halloween episode.

[Spitfire]

It fed off fear. It was an alien so it needed a human to lure victims to it but it also used greed to attract people. He shacked up with the one guy because he was very greedy and heard the aliens call across the ocean. The Native Americans were immune to his call because they desired nothing. Once the alien had you in his clutches he would show you your worst nightmare and feed from it.

Personally one of my favorites but I'm a Lovecraft fan so that's probably why.

[oldmanwinters]

After reading Peter Laird's notes on the various drafts of this episode, I realized why the "dream sequences" seem so unrelated to the initial problem. In the finished episode, you have an alien monster underneath Wall Street who draws people in by playing upon their greedy natures, yet once it captures the turtles, it gives them nightmare scenarios. Laird pushed for a greater emphasis on the monster's ability to "tempt" rather than to "frighten." At the end of the day, the episode reflects many of Laird's suggestions but not enough of them to make the episode consistent with its own established themes.

Laird Notes:
http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/blast-from-past-369-more-development.html

http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/blast-from-past-375-feb-3-2004-more.html

(second draft)
http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/blast-from-past-383-feb-23-2004.html

Also, I'm happy to report that Jester and I recorded a Fan Commentary session on this episode last night. Look for it soon!