Official Episode Discussion: S2 #4 "Mutagen Man Unleashed"

[BubblyShell22]

No, he wasn't, but Don feels responsible for him because Splinter put the responsibility on his shoulders when he agreed that Don could train him. Since then, Don has taken that responsibility to heart and feels that he could be the one to cure him and April's dad.

[Electric]

i get when people say that this series has focused a lot on donatello, but i think it will even out soon. right now we have april and mutagen man and naturally in this series those correspond with donnie. leo has gotten some attention, with karai episodes.

leatherhead tends to involve mikey, and when he comes back, we should be getting some mikey episodes. Raph will have slash and casey soon, so episodes involving them will probably base around him.

so yeah, right now, it is very donnie-heavy, but i think thatll change very soon

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by ElectricN

i get when people say that this series has focused a lot on donatello, but i think it will even out soon. right now we have april and mutagen man and naturally in this series those correspond with donnie. leo has gotten some attention, with karai episodes.

leatherhead tends to involve mikey, and when he comes back, we should be getting some mikey episodes. Raph will have slash and casey soon, so episodes involving them will probably base around him.

so yeah, right now, it is very donnie-heavy, but i think thatll change very soon

still wishes April was a every turtle thing...not just a Donnie thing..

oh well can't have it all. XD

[Bossa Nova]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

still wishes April was a every turtle thing...not just a Donnie thing..

oh well can't have it all. XD

Agreed. Donnie DOES have his connection with Mutagen Man, and that's great, but April's entire tantrum she's throwing should be something that affects all the turtles, not just Don. It's weird when I read that if something is happening to April then "naturally" it'll be a Don heavy episode. Um, no...it's only natural because Nick forced it that way.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Bossa Nova

Agreed. Donnie DOES have his connection with Mutagen Man, and that's great, but April's entire tantrum she's throwing should be something that affects all the turtles, not just Don. It's weird when I read that if something is happening to April then "naturally" it'll be a Don heavy episode. Um, no...it's only natural because Nick forced it that way.

....sigh....don't start bumming me out T^T I'm trying my best to cope with this Donnie thing already....cause I know it won't go away...I've come to terms with that.

I just want ONE episode about April....and it not totally include Donnie...

ya know if April cared about the other turtles more and vice versa then maybe I would have been more bummed when she left.

[Electric]

Originally Posted by Bossa Nova

Agreed. Donnie DOES have his connection with Mutagen Man, and that's great, but April's entire tantrum she's throwing should be something that affects all the turtles, not just Don. It's weird when I read that if something is happening to April then "naturally" it'll be a Don heavy episode. Um, no...it's only natural because Nick forced it that way.

thats why i said "in this series"

[Turtle-X]

even when i was a kid Don was my least favorite of the Turtles. that being said i'm really liking the eps in this series that are Don focused.

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by JH24

I understand where April is coming from, but to cut off a friendship like that is harsh. I do like how the writers are taking the time with this "break-up" and how they are developing this plotline so far, especially by adding Casey into the mix.

Originally Posted by blue_angel99

The only unsettling thing is how April walked away from the turtles as they were saving her and Casey from Tim. I was hoping she'd at least watch quietly to make sure they were ok. Harsh.

Originally Posted by ObiWanFan4life

I'm curious how This pans out. Will April come to her senses and realize she's being bitchy and irrational? Or will somebody snap her out of it? Just wondering.

I don't know why some people think Nick April's anger is completely irrational. In The Mutation Situation, she was clearly guilt-ridden and blamed herself for deceiving her father and letting him get mutated, but it wasn't for dumb Mikey opening his mouth, she wouldn't have realized that the Turtles were to blame as well.
I think the willing deception the Turtles had in not telling April, was probably the most hurtful. Remember how Raph, Leo, and Don were waving their hands and trying to silence Mikey to not tell April about their responsibility in it? Not only does she have to deal with the fact that her own father is mutated after he suffered from a form of PTSD being with the Kraang, but that these Turtles weren't willing to be honest in their involvement with Kirby's mutation in the first place.

I don't blame April for feeling the way she does. I mean would you want to be friends with 4 individuals that wouldn't fess up to their involvement for a tragic accident, and just let you feel solely guilty?

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

hmm didn't think of it like that...

but April lost her dad....and even though she's being irrational about it...it's kinda realistic...she just wants someone to blame and be angry at.....and the turtles were there admitting it was there fault...so yea..

she's being a little harsh...but wouldn't you if the person you cared about got mutated?

she'll come around, she just needs to blow off some major steam.



I kinda hope she forgives them soon cause if Mikey mutates April's cat when she's still kinda angry at them... then that's not gonna help one bit

Psh, seems like the Turtles should be apologizing to April for not fessing up to their involvement. And the Turtles didn't actually apologize, the only thing they did were look "guilty" and Don promising to change Kirby back. Some of you guys are forgetting that April's father Kirby, is the symbol of her "normal life" and seeing her father become mutated is a harsh, irreversible blow to her shattered life (on top of not having a mother or siblings for emotional support; at least those Turtles got themselves and Splinter, who does April have but an aunt left?) and yet those Turtles didn't want to accept some responsibility for that, even if it was an "accident".

What if the roles were reversed? And somehow April tried to hide her partial involvement in mutating Splinter into a semi-sentient being? Psh, most of you guys would be demonizing April. I doubt most of you would say, "The Turtles need to get over it already and need to be friends with April again! Don't they realize that her father helped the Turtles track down the invisible Kraang ship and that she helped in infiltrating the Purple Dragons lair one time? Plus they need her telepathic powers that could help in defeating the Kraang."

...Well this show certainly has the teenage immaturity with these Turtles I must say.

[JH24]

^

I don't think April saw the others were waving behind her back signalling Mikey not to tell her, only the audience saw that. April was only focused on Mikey when he was telling her this. And he was way to insensitive about it. (Don't worry, we'll fix it) But it can be appreciated at least he was being honest.


You make a good point about April's dad being her last link to a normal life, and her anger and reaction is understandable.

But April and the turtles also have been through a lot together, they have saved April a lot of times, April has helped the turtles a lot of times as well and they have become close friends.

The turtles would always be there for her, risking their life to save/help April or her dad without question or hesitation. And they will still be there for her now, even if April doesn't want it anymore.


She's now convinced she can get her old life back, but she should also know that even though the turtles had a hand in her dad's mutation, they would never do this on purpose. She doesn't know the fight the turtles were in or what happened on the ship.


I agree about their attempt to "silence" Mikey. Apparently they were willing to let April blame herself for what happened. That definitely is the teenage part shining through.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by JYX

Psh, seems like the Turtles should be apologizing to April for not fessing up to their involvement. And the Turtles didn't actually apologize, the only thing they did were look "guilty" and Don promising to change Kirby back. Some of you guys are forgetting that April's father Kirby, is the symbol of her "normal life" and seeing her father become mutated is a harsh, irreversible blow to her shattered life (on top of not having a mother or siblings for emotional support; at least those Turtles got themselves and Splinter, who does April have but an aunt left?) and yet those Turtles didn't want to accept some responsibility for that, even if it was an "accident".

What if the roles were reversed? And somehow April tried to hide her partial involvement in mutating Splinter into a semi-sentient being? Psh, most of you guys would be demonizing April. I doubt most of you would say, "The Turtles need to get over it already and need to be friends with April again! Don't they realize that her father helped the Turtles track down the invisible Kraang ship? That she helped in infiltrating the Purple Dragons lair one time? Plus they need her telepathic powers that could help in defeating the Kraang."

...Well this show certainly has the teenage immaturity with these Turtles I must say.

1) it's kinda hard for the turtles to apologize when she's turning off her t-phone and avoiding them...

2)they kinda did fess up...well Mikey did anyway XD he told her the truth.(quite frankly what good came from telling April the truth anyway?? XD they were going to help her dad either way)....but I guess her blaming herself wasn't good.

3) what do you mean they didn't accept responsibility? the boys are trying to do everything to get those mutagen canisters back and find a cure. They obviously felt responsible (even if they weren't all going to tell April it was their fault)


also.....WHY is April even trying this...?? they are the only ones that can help cure her dad....if she wants nothing to do with them how is THAT helping her dad!? XD

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

1) it's kinda hard for the turtles to apologize when she's turning off her t-phone and avoiding them...

2)they kinda did fess up...well Mikey did anyway XD he told her the truth.(quite frankly what good came from telling April the truth anyway?? XD they were going to help her dad either way)

3) what do you mean they didn't accept responsibility? the boys are trying to do everything to get those mutagen canisters back and find a cure. They obviously felt responsible (even if they weren't all going to tell April it was their fault)


also.....WHY is April even trying this...?? they are the only ones that can help her cure dad....if she wants nothing to do with them how is THAT helping her dad!?

1) Maybe but this topic is about her initial anger at that moment in The Mutation Situation.

2) The Turtles didn't fess up, they were caught by Mikey blurting it out. There's a difference between admitting to doing something wrong and being caught in a lie or an assumed truth. "What good came from telling April the truth anyways?" Wow... wouldn't you expect some honesty from friends if they partially contributed to your father's accident even if it could be resolved with a simple medical treatment? From a storytelling standpoint I could understand your perspective, but from a relationship standpoint... I can't agree with that.

3) Felt responsible? Or more like concerned about getting caught? (The Turtles appeared to be more resistant to tell April the truth [trying to silence Mikey] and were more comfortable in letting April have all the blame excluding Mikey, rather than trying to alleviate her guilt somewhat as April was feeling intense remorse.) It seemed like the Turtles understood the magnitude of their actions after the fact Mikey blurted out what happened on the Kraang ship, AND April shouted at them.

Why is April doing "trying" this? While it's true that the Turtles are the only chance she has in retro-mutating her father, you have to think if she would want to deal with the Turtles after being comfortable enough to lie to her. I mean when somebody lies to you about such an important issue, the mind can really wander off in wondering what other lies the Turtles have done or will do in the future. How is "nothing to do with Turtles" helping her dad? Well she realized that doing something with the Turtles got her father in a mess ("The Mutation Situation"), so why would she want to get into a deeper hole? I mean all she has to do is remember Timothy and see what less of a sentient being he is. On top of that, Donnie's promise of retro-mutagen hasn't come through yet either. As I said before, I wouldn't blame April for not wanting to deal with the Turtles.

[Bossa Nova]

We actually don't know if Leo, Don and Raph were going to accept responsibility or not, Mikey just went ahead and told April in the most blatant way possible. For all we know the boys would have liked to take April back to the lair, let her calm down from everything she had just experienced and then gently explain to her about the accident and what they were planning on doing to fix it. Honestly, it's not like they had a pep talk before the scene where they all agreed that they were never ever going to tell April about their involvement, and anyone with an ounce of common sense (which excludes Mikey apparently in this show) would wait to tell April the full story after she's had a moment to digest everything that just happened. So really, pinning the blame on the turtles for acting like jerks and avoiding responsibility is a little unfair since we have no idea if they were actually going to or not.

Also, while April didn't play a hand in mutating Splinter, she DID send him into danger that could have very well cost him his life. Do I see anyone blaming April for that? Did the turtles even seem to hold it against her? I'm not saying April isn't justified in her initial anger, but drawing it out the way she has and flat out refusing to even help the turtles when she saw them fighting Mutagen Man was downright low. She knows they can be KILLED by that thing and she would rather follow her anger than to help out the ones who not only saved her own life, but risked everything to save her father's life (including their own lives), and gave her a place of shelter and protection when she was in danger. Being upset and hurt by feelings of betrayal is one thing, but it's a different level entirely to turn a blind eye in the face of life-risking danger. It's as though she's forgotten that the turtles are not the enemy here, does she remember nothing about the Foot or Kraang? Would she really rather choose to waste her energy blaming the ONLY people who can actually help and care about her instead of the true culprits of her pain? Honestly, this is just not an April I can get behind and support.

[JTH]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

also.....WHY is April even trying this...?? they are the only ones that can help cure her dad....if she wants nothing to do with them how is THAT helping her dad!? XD

Maybe because the writers forget to tell April that a cure will be made and that her dad can be saved...

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by Bossa Nova

We actually don't know if Leo, Don and Raph were going to accept responsibility or not, Mikey just went ahead and told April in the most blatant way possible. For all we know the boys would have liked to take April back to the lair, let her calm down from everything she had just experienced and then gently explain to her about the accident and what they were planning on doing to fix it. Honestly, it's not like they had a pep talk before the scene where they all agreed that they were never ever going to tell April about their involvement, and anyone with an ounce of common sense (which excludes Mikey apparently in this show) would wait to tell April the full story after she's had a moment to digest everything that just happened. So really, pinning the blame on the turtles for acting like jerks and avoiding responsibility is a little unfair since we have no idea if they were actually going to or not.

If that were the case, with the emotional bomb being dropped then and there (with Mikey blurting it out), the three Turtles should have admitted and apologized right afterward rather than looking guilty, but in April's eyes its going to be assumed as deception. As I mentioned before, it seemed the Turtles understood the magnitude of their actions after the fact April had to shout at them.

Originally Posted by Bossa Nova

Also, while April didn't play a hand in mutating Splinter, she DID send him into danger that could have very well cost him his life. Do I see anyone blaming April for that? Did the turtles even seem to hold it against her? I'm not saying April isn't justified in her initial anger, but drawing it out the way she has and flat out refusing to even help the turtles when she saw them fighting Mutagen Man was downright low. She knows they can be KILLED by that thing and she would rather follow her anger than to help out the ones who not only saved her own life, but risked everything to save her father's life (including their own lives), and gave her a place of shelter and protection when she was in danger. Being upset and hurt by feelings of betrayal is one thing, but it's a different level entirely to turn a blind eye in the face of life-risking danger. It's as though she's forgotten that the turtles are not the enemy here, does she remember nothing about the Foot or Kraang? Would she really rather choose to waste her energy blaming the ONLY people who can actually help and care about her instead of the true culprits of her pain? Honestly, this is just not an April I can get behind and support.

You're thinking about it too logically Bossa Nova, and from an audience perspective. But again... as I said before:

Originally Posted by JYX

Is her anger toward the Turtles the wisest thing? Of course not, but honestly how many teenagers are mature enough, if they would have endured the same hardships, to not give out some form of misguided, emotional retaliation? ...Very few. If this show was some twisted R rated version of the Turtles, 70% most likely Nick April would have been drinking, partying, or getting high to dull the psychological pain.

All I'm emphasizing is the viewpoint from April's perspective, and for people to say her behavior is completely irrational or she's too mean is too easy from our audience perspective, denying the teenage aspect of the character, and belittling her personal loss considering all the craziness she endured. It's a whole other experience when its personal and one's sense family has been shattered three times (the loss of her mother, her father being kidnapped in Season 1, and her father being irreversibly mutated [at least so far] in Season 2). I mean how many times have we heard in high school about teens complaining, even with the most smallest things, "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH! "

These Nick Turtles can't empathize and understand the magnitude of losing a family member(s) when they still have each other and Splinter, and April only has her aunt left.

[victory_angel]

I think the poor girl is scared and confused and doesn't really know what to do. At this time being mutated is impossible to reverse and as such considered being a fate worse then death.


While I think she should have stuck around and watched the fight against mutagen man, even if it's just to learn the guys (Donatello in particular) are really sorry about what happened to April's father and Donnie is trying to develop a cure even if the end result is just to make it so someone at least tried to find a way to reverse mutations.

She's still just too upset to think straight because every time she see them she will see the people who made here father into the freak he is now. And while she is aware there were other people involved in her fathers mutation. She had expressed her doubts about involving her father in helping them locate the kraang ship. The Turtles had lead her to believe that nothing would go wrong and her father would be safe. So to her it was like they knew her father was suffering from PTSD because of what he's been through they involve her father in this Kraang plot anyway, they told her everything would be fine and then it wasn't.

The way I see it, it will take either one of the Turtles getting hurt trying to protect her in order for her to really come around and see that avoiding them is not helping anyone.
That and Casey (and Irma) learning of them also keeps them in her life as well so like it or not she is stuck with them.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

Originally Posted by Airconny

A good episode overall, in my opinion. The Voltron-like show at the beginning was a nice start-off, and the animation for it was surprisingly a nice touch for it.

Mutagen Man's motive for going after April was a little perplexing, but that probably stems from the fact that almost all train of thought from his is virtually gone ever since his mutation. I do hope he does come into play later in the series, though. I don't want him to be a ''lost'' character within the series that is never mentioned again, since it'll be disappointing on how a character how could have a lot of potential be written out so fast.

Casey Jones, I was a little disappointed with how little he actually appeared, but I must admit, he looked totally awesome. The bike scene also got me tensed it, I just enjoyed how fast-paced it became. The animation also was good for that scene, and really employed how good CG could be at times. I do hope to see more of him, however, since this was a nice start for him, honestly.

Overall, a good episode.

I'm pretty sure that they said that mutagen man was going to play a big part in this season.

[DarkLightDragon]

Though I've voiced my issues with April, I'm personally in no hurry for her to reconcile with them. This is a pretty big issue for both of them that'll take time to sort out and it'd be unrealistic (even for TMNT standards) for it to be resolved within 1 or 2 episodes. They can take all their d*** time for all I care, I'm patient. Like I said before, she acted and said things out of anger and after a while of reflecting and gives up her attempt to be normal, she'll come around like Raph said.

[BubblyShell22]

I also have no issue with April not forgiving the Turtles. Her father was taken from her again and it was the Turtles' fault. While I do commend Mikey for being honest with her, he didn't actually apologize for it and just said that they'd fix as though it was easy to do. So, I'd be mad at them, too, and I certainly wouldn't want to forgive them like that. Forgiveness is overrated anyway, and no one is obligated to forgive anybody unless they can trust that said person won't make the same mistake again.

[Bauer536]

Great episode. Really like this Casey Jones. Can't wait to see him develop.

Also, Timothy must be stupid, or the mutagen must have rotted his brain. He goes to search for April but wants to destroy the turtles. Ugly.

Also, loved the Voltron rip-off! And I also loved seeing Raph get into that show.

[victory_angel]

Pulverizer Returns left me with the impression that something emotionally broke or slipped in Donatello.

This episode left me feeling that whatever was broken before...became even more so.

Did anyone else get this impression?

It's possible this is how Donnie's pacifistic nature will be established and discovered.
In Metalhead it felt as though Donnie was struggling with and hasn't accepted this aspect of himself as of yet. And given brothers his brothers it's possible he is worried they would consider him a coward if it became known.

But it's clear in this episode that Donnie didn't want to resort to what he did to the Pulverizer and the end result did appear to hurt him on a deeply emotional level.

__________________________

Hey did anyone else find it ironic that Casey wanted April to Tutor him in Trig, when April said that is the class she's failing in Karai's Vendetta.