Defining Series Episodes
 

What's up? Brand new to the forums. Lil bit about myself, obsessed over TMNT growing up(big surprise) and hearing that a new version that is separating itself from the ones before it, yet taking elements from others has got me completely intrigued.

With this new iteration of the Turtles I was wondering, if you could sum up each series with one episode, what would it be?

For the 87 series for me it would have to be all the early episodes made be Toei(Do I have the right company?) Imo the animation is simply ahead of the rest of the series.(I tend to be very visual) And if I were to single out one episode, it would be the last of that season. I think it exemplifies the series as a whole. We get both Shredder and Krang, the introduction of the 'blimp' (If I'm not mistaken) and the goofiness factor with a monster Krang stomping through New York. Very comedic and light hearted.

As far as "Next Mutation" is concerned. Avoided it all together. Hearing the hate spewed toward the series, guess I didn't miss out on much. What's the hate towards Venus anyway? Like I said, never bothered to watch the series.

The 4kids series, is easily my favorite version of the turtles, thus far. I love the character designs of everyone and how they've managed to adapt major storylines into the series. Sadly I can't really give an answer to this because life gets in the way, so couldn't invest too much into it.

'Fast Foward' took me completely out of it, by the time 'Back To The Sewers' aired I pretty much thought their best days were behind them.

The Fred Wolf show went through so many phases that it's hard to pick episodes that define the series. In terms of quality the original five by Toei would be up there as among the best but ones that arn't necessarrily the best but defining of the series I would probably go with...

Turtle Tracks
Shredder and Splintered
Return of the Technodrome
Beneath These Streets
Pizza by the Shred
The Big Blowout
Shredder's Mom
Leonardo Lightens Up
Night Of The Dark Turtle
Get Shredder
The Unknown Ninja
Dregg of the Earth
Divide and Conquer

I think that would be the best episodes to present an accurate cross section of the old show. As for the Next Mutation...

East Meets West Parts 1 - 5

Not only is it the best the show had to offer but once you watched that you pretty much know everything you need to know about the series story and general feel. I wouldn't mind putting the first Dr. Quease episode on there and probably should try and find eps that feature some of the other recurring villains like Silver or Bonesteel but...eh

Shredder Strikes Back Parts 1 - 2
Return To New York
New Blood
Hun on the Run
Same As it Never Was
Exodus Parts 1 & 2
Bad Day
The Acient One
Past and Present
Enter the Dragons Parts 1 - 2

I wouldn't mind putting some filler in there as the show had a fair amount. The Uncovincing Turtle Titan may not good but it was representative of a lot of the non-event episodes in the first two seasons. There's a few other eps her and there but I think the ones I listed highlight what the show was about. I view Fast Forward and Back To The Sewers as part of the 2k2 show but if we view them as seperate I'd go with..

Future Shellshock Parts 1 & 2
Obsolete
Bishop to Knight
The Journal
Timing is Everything
The Fall of Darius Dunn
DNA is Thicker Tha Water
Day of Awakening

As for BTTS...

Tempus Fugit
Karate Schooled
Hacking Stockman
Superquest
Wedding Bells and Bytes

For TNM I'd definitely put the episode were Shredder gets his memory back and the one about the "good" dragon, those were definitely some of the best the series had to offer. Also while Vaami was a terrible villain in her story arc Bonesteel had his best appearance, so I might include that one. The Venus clip show episode is actually not bad and serves as a "tribute" to a character we haven't seen since.

For the OT, all of Season 1, Return of the Shredder, Enter the Fly, Return of the Technodrome, Beneath These Streets, "The Big" trilogy, The Dimension X Story, White Belt, Black Heart, Rock Around the Block, The Legend of Koji, Shredder Triumphant, Get Shredder!, Turtle Trek, the three parter of Season 10 that includes "A Turtle in Time", and Divide and Conquer. The most crucial to the plot with Technodrome movement and other "key" moments.

If the movies count, then the battle with the Foot in April's apartment and the final battle with Shredder towards the end of the first movie. The other movies just don't have those defining moments like the first one has.

Like others have said for TNM, the East Meets West 5-parter.

In addition to what others have said above, I'd also add the first four episodes from 4kids as those early episodes establish how the Turtles encountered the Purple Dragons, Splinter's origin story, and how April and Casey met and how Baxter loss the first time which resulted in the first of his many punishments. "The Shredder Strikes" as the first encounter with Shredder is important to the 4kids story is another I'd add, as the battle ends much like Vol. 1 #1, but with Shredder barely moving at the end indicating that he'll be back. City at War from Season 2 I feel is another defining moment, especially part 2 with the introduction of Karai.