Turtles on Trial: Review

[AsylumTurtle]

If you was to put a laser blaster to my head (please don't) and asked me to pick my favourite episode of all time, hands down its Turtles on Trial. In fact screw it! I don't need a blaster aimed at my head in order to say that. I bloody love this story. Am sure this classic must have been covered here already? But just had to do my own post on it, as its unquestionably a brilliant episode.

It was only when I acquired the complete series (DVD) boxset that I truly began to appreciate it. The only thing I remember about its original UK (Saturday morning) broadcast, was me being ill and Krang coming up to the surface and not having his android body. But when I revisited it on DVD (all them years later) Oh man, I fell in love. The animation is pitch perfect, humour spot on and action is none stop. It could almost be a season finally. I love the satire on the abrasive talk show host, wonder if UK host Jeremy Kyle was inspired by Clayton Kellerman? And I do sense a slight undertone subtext on racism as the crowd shouts, GET OUT OF TOWN TURTLES. WE DON'T WANT YOUR KIND HERE.

Its only watching it uncut/unedited, that one can really appreciate it properly. After I watched the DVD, I dugout my VHS copy of the original UK transmission. WOW did they censor it to hell and back Disgraceful. The fight sequence in the Natural Museum of History is cut up pretty badly, especially with Michelangelo and his nunchucks and Bebop with his chain ball; both none existent in the original transmission. Why even broadcast the EP if your not going to show it properly? I wonder if this EP was something of a middle finger to the programs critics of the time who claimed the show to be to violent for children? The censorship of the Turtles is something I really want to cover, as it's no wonder I didn't appreciate this episode at the time, given how badly they butchered it. Actually makes me mad to think about it.

This for me is peek Turtles. Everything just works. In fact, and I mean no disrespect to following episodes/Seasons ( I do love them all) but for me its almost as if nothing quite matched this level of quality again. That said, season 7 gets pretty darn close at times. So what are your thoughts? How would you rate it on a scale of 1-10? No surprise for me its a 10/10. Hands down. In fact, I think I will watch it right now as I await your responses But before I do I will leave you with my favourite line in this truly amazing episode, Its during the interview between Clayton and the Turtles.

Leo: You don't understand. We are trying to save the world from an invasion from an alien brain from Dimension X

Clayton: Oh come on, that's a little hard to swallow.

Raph: What is? The invasion, the Brain or the Dimension X?