Classic Ep talk: A Thing About Rats

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

And the transport module was the originally one, connected to the Technodrome, which was seen in the video games. Not those used during later seasons.

[The Big Bad]

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but I *really* hate the scene at April's apartment. While the fact that the turtles didn't really "get" interacting with humans had been a minor plot point before, here they go from "unsocialized" to "two-year-olds". In what world is it acceptable to just throw lipstick at walls? Just how is the Cagney-referencing Raphael not able to tell what a "capful" means? Who the heck told them they could just waltz in like they owned the place? People complain about the original toon turtles being misrepresented in Turtles Forever, and while they may have a case, this episode show that their take is not entirely without precedent, either.

[Jester]

This episode kinda gets the shaft in the "movie" version of the pilot. Poor Baxter is almost completely removed from "The Saga Begins."

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Jester

This episode kinda gets the shaft in the "movie" version of the pilot. Poor Baxter is almost completely removed from "The Saga Begins."

I know you feel like Hot Roddin' Teenagers should have been the one to suffer from the cutting room, but A Thing About Rats probably is the least essential episode of the bunch... with the only exception being the introduction of Baxter to explain how the turtles got the van and the lab.

Still, was F.H.E. really not able to fit 100 minutes of footage onto a single VHS? I'm so glad we live in the era of DVD. Although from what I've heard, the original Lionsgate DVD release was going to consist of "The Epic Beings" until David Wise warned them of a fan riot.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

I know you feel like Hot Roddin' Teenagers should have been the one to suffer from the cutting room, but A Thing About Rats probably is the least essential episode of the bunch... with the only exception being the introduction of Baxter to explain how the turtles got the van and the lab.

Still, was F.H.E. really not able to fit 100 minutes of footage onto a single VHS? I'm so glad we live in the era of DVD. Although from what I've heard, the original Lionsgate DVD release was going to consist of "The Epic Beings" until David Wise warned them of a fan riot.

Indeed. I may dislike Hot Roddin' Teenagers, but it is more essential to the story than A Thing About Rats...I mean excising it, really does little to confuse you...aside from the van. I'm glad Wise made Lionsgate "wise" up. As much as I dislike the Neutrinos (which is the main reason I don't like the 4th episode) I'd hate to not have the episode.

[CyberCubed]

The 4th episode rocked simply for General Traag and Lt. Granitor.

[pannoni1]

One thing however that may weigh against this as the "worst" episode of the pilot is the "A Better Mousetrap/Attack Of The Mousers" from the 2K3 series, which I will admit is a better plot. The question about when to introduce April is another thing, as such Turtles childish behavior looks like that they don't even know who April was until this episode. Instead of April from 2K3 witnessing the mouser demonstration, we have an average Joe instead. Plus the mousers feel cheap compared to the 2K3 version. Another big difference is that Shredder assists Baxter here, unlike 2K3 where Baxter himself created many mousers and would view him as more useful, whereas in A Thing About Rats, it is really Shredder that pirates Baxter just to stop the Turtles. The introduction of what would become Turtle Van however is what I like about this episode, along with Mikey trying to stop Shredder's plans here.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Stockman's mistake was that he was willing to work for Shredder knowing full well that his inventions were being used for evil means. That makes him a greedy lackey and he deserved the full penalty of the law.

He didn't know what Shredder intended to use his invention for, and a scientist searching for a means of mass production for his invention is hardly a crime, though Baxter not checking Shredder for business credentials and easily agreeing to work in an empty rundown mansion was probably naive of him.

The two things I suppose Baxter can be rightfully charged with is mass-producing inventions that don't meet safety standards and causing massive destruction of property. Even if he didn't know what his inventions were being used for, he knew his invention chewed through walls/furnishings/etc to do what they were meant to, that more than likely qualifies as careless and reckless.

[Xav]

The Turtles saw the Foot Soldiers about to off Stockman. You know the Turtles could have told him they just saved his life and that Shredder was a bad guy. Could have offered to protect him. Maybe could have turned him into an ally. But no instead they tie him to a lamp post, threaten him, and steal his van. They left him helpless knowing full well Shredder wanted to kill him. Some heroes in a half-shell they turned out to be.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

Originally Posted by Xav

The Turtles saw the Foot Soldiers about to off Stockman. You know the Turtles could have told him they just saved his life and that Shredder was a bad guy. Maybe could have turned him into an ally. But no instead they tie him to a lamp post and steal his van.

In tho original Eastman and Laird series, Baxter Stockman was a villain in his own right, and his mousers were not invented for good intentions.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by Type 97 Chi-ha

In tho original Eastman and Laird series, Baxter Stockman was a villain in his own right, and his mousers were not invented for good intentions.

If memory serves Baxter did invent them for good intentions but also thought he would be entertained by the thrill of robbing banks for funding that he could have gotten legally through distribution of the mousers. For better or worse I doubt Baxter Stockman will never be known as something other than Shredder's underling beyond the Mirage comics.

[Metropoliskid41]

Originally Posted by mikeandraph87

For better or worse I doubt Baxter Stockman will never be known as something other than Shredder's underling beyond the Mirage comics.

Well now in the IDW comics he appears to be Krang's underling

[Xav]

Don't forgot in the 4Kids toon he also got to be Bishop's and Hun's underling.

[Filespit]

This is a great episode, but so is the whole season 1. One thing I've always wondererd though. When the turtles push the van up the stairs, how in the world did they manage to get it through the door!? =P

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Filespit

This is a great episode, but so is the whole season 1. One thing I've always wondererd though. When the turtles push the van up the stairs, how in the world did they manage to get it through the door!? =P

Isn't that "Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X"?

[Killer Moth]

Besides being the obligatory Baxter/Mouser episode, it serves its purpose well as a breather. It's clear such an episode was needed, as the other episodes in the five-part pilot are quite heavy and intense in their way. Hence, the term.

A crucial aspect is the rather successful bridge between comedic Shredder and villain Shredder. While he usurped Baxter's invention, he did successfully destroy April's apartment building along the way. The plothole of "what about April's other tenants" aside, it was a successful bit of villainy. Not to mention, he paraphrased or start the phrase famously coined by Rita Repulsa several years beforehand ("it feels so good to be so bad").

Speaking of villainy, Krang plays a subtle-yet-key role, as well. After viewing "Enter The Shredder" and "Rats" back-to-back, there is a stark difference with both his character design -- from darker and monstrous to lighter and softer -- and his personality. The episode really makes the start of the whining, impatient warlord we'd know and somewhat love. His unexpected assistance with Mike also displays some subtlety and irony, when such details would likely have been telegraphed in other series at the time. (The former, of course, is his motivation to have Shredder fail with the Mousers, so there is no other recourse than to build his body; the latter is "I'll assist you today, so I can kill you, tomorrow, instead." Not that Mike was aware of the implication, but there it is.)

The Turtles had their moments, especially Mike in the climax. Mike tends to be underused frequently, so any episode where he saves the day should always be spotlighted. Meanwhile, as a pleasant side bonus, Raph was allowed to show his Mirage side when he first met Baxter, and what may be the most deadly use of sarcasm in 80's children animation.

We shouldn't forget about the comedy gold with the Turtles in April's apartment, even though, The Big Bad's criticisms are well taken. ("Raph knows Cagney, yet doesn't know what a capful is?") The Turtles said they watched television in the first episode, so one would think they would have some idea about what's inside an apartment. Oh, well, perhaps, it's the price to pay after all the semi-serious ness in "Enter the Shredder" and the following two episodes.

My assessment of Baxter's character will be in a future post, as there is much to say about him and what he'll become. At the very least, he certainly displayed a confidence than the sniveling underling we'd first see in "Return of the Shredder." Quite a revision.

[ryukenden]

It was pretty dark for Shredder to send foot soldiers to silence Baxter. But then wanting to kill him became moot as Shredder took Baxter as his sidekick throughout the Eye arc. The apartment antics were hilarious.

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by ryukenden

It was pretty dark for Shredder to send foot soldiers to silence Baxter. But then wanting to kill him became moot as Shredder took Baxter as his sidekick throughout the Eye arc. The apartment antics were hilarious.

Indeed, and apparently, he was too tired to realize the Foot Soldiers were about to shoot him? And, yes, it is or will be ironic to see Shredder changing his mind about Baxter in the next season. "Sorry about the attempted murder, there."

Either way, right, the episode foreshadowed a rather chilling pattern with how close Baxter would face death over the seasons. Given how '03 Baxter cheated death many times, it's a core theme with animated versions of Baxter, it seems. While the Foot Soldiers failed, Krang would try his best to "finish the job" in the next season. Sighs. But then, he would dish it out in his last two syndicated episodes, so it all compensates.

It's a pity the Mousers couldn't return in some form, but at least, they had a second life in the video games.

All this and April in a bathrobe, and people rank this episode lower because why? Heh.

Exit question: Can someone explain what Shredder was saying to the Foot Soldiers, "use the Turtle-team cycle?" Is that what he said? Because I've watched the episodes many times and I still can't quite make out what he said. Or, maybe my hearing is off, whichever.

[Dirty Blond]

This is my favorite episode of the first season and one of my all-time favorites of the OT. I think Raphael really shines, and I remember it solidified him as my all-time number-one Turtle.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by Dirty Blond

This is my favorite episode of the first season and one of my all-time favorites of the OT. I think Raphael really shines, and I remember it solidified him as my all-time number-one Turtle.

Its the fact that its a great blend of the scarastic hothead. The scarcasm has been left out but this is one of the few episodes that demonstrate the perfect templete for how Raphael can be portrayed. Raphael will always be awesome but he needs the sarcasm aspect of his personality as well!