How many non-filler OT eps?

[gobo]

Not that it's needed for anything, but if you were to pare down the series to the really relevant eps for a mini-series, how few do you think you'd be left with? I'm guessing that'd leave us with 20-50 eps. Anyone else have a differing estimate?

We'll start with "Divide And Conquer" and go backwards, listing each ep needed to arrive at that point, until we reach "Turtle Tracks".


EDIT: Okay, I think rephrasing is in order. How many eps does it take to get from point A to point B ("Turtle Tracks" to "Divide And Conquer")? Surely, someone who never saw the show before couldn't watch those two without some serious WTFing going on. So, how many eps would we need between them to make it a satisfying, conclusive story; not just just "which eps are your favorites".

[Jester]

Yikes....how do decide that? I mean do we count episodes that are referenced in one or more other episodes? Because if you do...Mr. Ogg is an essential episode as it mentions Saki's pension for porcelain.

[gobo]

Was Shredder's porcelain fetish ever a necessity tho? It was only ever mentioned in one other ep, IIRC.

[ABrown]

Well. I see the first five part mini-series as completely relevant, and well as the thirteen season two episodes. How many episodes over the following 47 were really relevant towards anything? What, I counted maybe around 14 or so. So through the first 65 episodes, there was around maybe 32 relevant episodes. And season four also featured mostly filler episodes. It's not until season five that the show finally gets back to decent sized seasons. Although, seasons 5-7 were probably mostly filler as well. It's not until season eight that the episodes really have relevance to the overall story of the show.

[oldmanwinters]

I'd probably include all the episodes in which Casey Jones, Zach, Kerma, the Punk Frogs, Rat King, and Leatherhead appeared. Not that they were all great, but they tend to be the jumping off points for introducing other new characters, locations, and vehicles.

EDIT:
And pretty much everything from the CBS Season 7... "Legend of Koji" and "White Belt, Black Heart" have to be locks! Season 3's "Turtles on Trial" would probably be an important inclusion to convey some of the public distrust of the turtles that is revisited in Season 8-10.

[gobo]

Okay, I think rephrasing is in order. How many eps does it take to get from point A to point B ("Turtle Tracks" to "Divide And Conquer")? Surely, someone who never saw the show before couldn't watch those two without some serious WTFing going on. So, how many eps would we need between them to make it a satisfying, conclusive story; not just just "which eps are your favorites".

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by gobo

Okay, I think rephrasing is in order. How many eps does it take to get from point A to point B ("Turtle Tracks" to "Divide And Conquer")? Surely, someone who never saw the show before couldn't watch those two without some serious WTFing going on. So, how many eps would we need between them to make it a satisfying, conclusive story; not just just "which eps are your favorites".

Then probably just every episode (after Season 2) in which the Technodrome changes locations, right?

[gobo]

Possibly, but not necessarily...

Key elements of D&Q were: Dregg, PPG (Portable Portal Generator ), Technodrome in Dimension X, Krang's android body, and probably one or more of the Turtle's vehicles. So, that means we'd have to include the eps where each of those are explained/introduced. Then, we'd have to do the same for each of thos eps as well. After we finish doing that, how many eps do you think we'd have on the list?

[ABrown]

Originally Posted by gobo

Okay, I think rephrasing is in order. How many eps does it take to get from point A to point B ("Turtle Tracks" to "Divide And Conquer")? Surely, someone who never saw the show before couldn't watch those two without some serious WTFing going on. So, how many eps would we need between them to make it a satisfying, conclusive story; not just just "which eps are your favorites".

Like I said, the first 18 episodes seem to all have relevance. Of the 47 episodes in season three, I'd include: Beneath These Streets, The Fifth Turtle, Enter The Rat King, Return Of The Fly, Beware The Lotus, Usagi Yojimbo, Case Of The Hot Kimono, Usagi Come Home, Leather Head Meets The Rat King, The Missing Map, Bye Bye Fly, Big Rip Off, Big Break In, and Big Blow Out. So that's roughly half of the first 65 episodes have relevance towards the overall story of the show.

From season four, I'd say that pretty much only Plan 6 From Outer Space, Son Of Return Of The Fly II, Slash, and Farewell Lotus Blossom have relevance. I've seen the episodes of seasons five through seven, but no where near as many times as I've seen the episodes from seasons 1-4. So I'm not the best person to judge which of those episode have the most relevance. But I will say that all of the final 24 "red sky" episodes should be included.

[themaxonline]

I think the easiest way for me to do this would be to take a list of all the episodes and then cross out which ones are filler, leaving only episodes that introduce characters and have activity that is felt for future episodes.

Of course, this then makes you wonder what you would consider to be significant enough. For example, you could cut out all the episodes that feature the Rat King and it wouldn't change the storyline at all.

[CyberCubed]

There is no such thing as filler in the OT. Every ep was just another adventure.

This is ridiculous since the Turtles always battle more than just Shredder.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by themaxonline

For example, you could cut out all the episodes that feature the Rat King and it wouldn't change the storyline at all.

Ah, but then he reappears once in Season 8 (and the theme song, yo!), so you'd at least need his debut episode.

[Jester]

I think what gobo is shooting for is the "essentials" that tell the story from Turtle Tracks to Divide And Conquer. These are the episodes that would "required viewing" if someone wanted to know what was going on.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Jester

I think what gobo is shooting for is the "essentials" that tell the story from Turtle Tracks to Divide And Conquer. These are the episodes that would "required viewing" if someone wanted to know what was going on.

Oh, so we aren't necessarily counting all of Season 8, even though it is one continuous story that sets the stage for the Season 9-10?

You peeps are so persnickety!

Eh... well... I guess we have to recognize "Get Shredder!" and "Turtle Trek" from Season 8. And those episodes are set up by "Shredder Triumphant" in Season 7.

Gobo is right when he says start at the back and go from there. If we are using "Divide and Conquer" as a ultimate reference point, we should probably start with the later episodes in mind and work our way back to Season 1, asking "what prior information do we need to know to understand this particular episode we want to watch?"

But really... focusing on the last episode and then cutting out all the non-essentials to that episode's plot... where's the fun in that?

[gobo]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

But really... focusing on the last episode and then cutting out all the non-essentials to that episode's plot... where's the fun in that?

It'll serve as an aid in other reference list. I think the reason why Jester's guide and Joe's chronological ep list have fallen into oblivion is because of the staggering weight of the tasks. If they had a set of primary eps to focus on before worrying about the 'fillers', it would be less daunting a task.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by gobo

It'll serve as an aid in other reference list. I think the reason why Jester's guide and Joe's chronological ep list have fallen into oblivion is because of the staggering weight of the tasks. If they had a set of primary eps to focus on before worrying about the 'fillers', it would be less daunting a task.

Eh, you should just join Jester and me in a TMNT Commentary session sometime. It's a lot more fun than typing out some boring ol' list!

[Jester]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Eh, you should just join Jester and me in a TMNT Commentary session sometime. It's a lot more fun than typing out some boring ol' list!

That's the big thing. I just lost interest in the list, because it requires repeat, and often stop and go, stop and go viewing of the episodes. To type all the stuff I decided to put in the guide, it could take me an hour for a 20 minute episode...and that's just a tad to time consuming.

So Winters, when are we gonna start up "season 2" of the commentaries?

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Jester

So Winters, when are we gonna start up "season 2" of the commentaries?

I'm waiting on your computer to heal up... and on you to recruit some guest talent!

[Jester]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

I'm waiting on your computer to heal up... and on you to recruit some guest talent!

Oh...well my computer is back in business. Hey, Gobo, wanna do some commentaries!?

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Jester

Oh...well my computer is back in business. Hey, Gobo, wanna do some commentaries!?

Shoot, I'd do one tonight if you're up for it.