Not a bad episode today that was sort of the Nick version of the OT's "Turtles of the Jungle" without the wackiness of the jungle vines, giant monkey/Donatello, and Shredder's involvement. April was really the star of this episode along with Donatello, since it eventually led to her first encounter with Splinter and agreed upon being a Ninja with the rest of the team. It also exploited more about what happened to April's father. This April really is good in self-defense, as the OT April after the monkey grabbed her would almost surely say "Put me down you big ape", but this April really shows how to calm the monkey.

The flow chart about Don about how to hang out with April was a little silly, but it does note that Don does go to much over his head sometimes and it did cost him for awhile in battle, but in the end he over encountered the "pyschic" powers and forced the scientist to escape presumably to the Kraang. No real development with the Krang and no mention of Shredder and the Foot means that we're due for them to come out with a plan soon. At least unlike the OT where this would just be another "Mad Scientist" episode, there is some connection to the Kraang, and the Turtles still use their weapons, and there were some funny jokes about monkeys.

Overall: 7/10

This might be my new fave. Loved the chase, T-Phone and new Space Heroes stuff.

a) the Turtles had been more compassionate and had showed the monkey a spot in the sewers he could live in, as they did with Leatherhead in the past, and b) Don was able to use his greatest strength--his mind--to defeat the villain. For example, thinking so much that he confuses the villain, like by imagining multiple attacks at once so the villain couldn't fight back.

Donnie defeated the scientist by using his superior brain power rather than turning off his brain altogether. For example, if he'd imagined a bunch of different attacks and confused the scientist.