Official Episode Discussion S2 Finale: The Invasion

[miru]

I came in after the Plotwisti Horridus Masculinum, so the episode was pretty good for me. I feel they should have saved a glance at what the Kraangnids looked like until Kirby mutated, to make the scene more effective. I do like the feeling of isolation our heroes have regained.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

...

*faints* This is great news.

Pah, suck it up. The world is full of violence, this one is nothing in comparison. Kids today are not like the wimpy past (like those stupid parents censoring the word "ninja" and banning nunchuks,etc), they can handle it and watch/play more hardcore things nowadays.

Ciro and his team are doing great - he pleases the kids and growing adults fans alike. Win-win situation.

The nunchuck issue wasn't a US one, it was a European one. To my knowledge, nunchucks were illegal or something at the time there.

[Mega Man]

So to sum up my thoughts, good 2-part season finale, lots of surprises in the episode, and I look forward to the turtles making things right and winning next time.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by miru

I came in after the Plotwisti Horridus Masculinum

The what-what in the what?

Did I miss a Sara Hill cameo?

[Crynal]

Gilbert Gottfried doing the voice of the sub prime spy?

Thought after the Japanese tsunami his career would of been completely washed up.

Also I knew rosanne barr was Prime.

[miru]

Originally Posted by Ninjinister

The what-what in the what?

Did I miss a Sara Hill cameo?

I meant the infamous Irma scene.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Crynal

Gilbert Gottfried doing the voice of the sub prime spy?

Thought after the Japanese tsunami his career would of been completely washed up.

Also I knew rosanne barr was Prime.

What happened?

[victory_angel]

Originally Posted by ssjup81

What happened?

Gottfried used to work for Aflak as the voice of the Aflak duck. However he lost his job and I think he was also dropped from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno after the big Earthquake and Tsunami back in 2011, because he said Japan had it coming.

[Rukitron]

Turtles are gonna return to a creepy desolate post apocalyptic new york at this rate.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by victory_angel

Gottfried used to work for Aflak as the voice of the Aflak duck. However he lost his job and I think he was also dropped from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno after the big Earthquake and Tsunami back in 2011, because he said Japan had it coming.

Wow...just wow. After the earthquake/tsunami thing happened, I suffered from PTSD, just didn't realize it. Couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, etc. Someone also from near me in Richmond actually was killed here during that. I didn't know her though. I guess he felt the non-Japanese deserved it too.

[Wretched Reptile]

Originally Posted by Mega Man

This show just jumped the shark, and this is coming from a fan of TMNT for over 20 years.

Sadly, I'm kind of inclined to agree. I thought this finale was a completely frustrating mess after really enjoying the past 2 weeks of the show being back leading up to it.

As some others have also pointed out, this felt quite "samey" to the first season's finale, only with a heaping, depressingly dour dosage of DARK dumped all over it, smothering the ingredients to death. Not only did this finale feel waaaaaay too familiar to the first season, it also felt like the FUN had entirely been sucked out of the show. Look, as a hardcore horror nerd, I'm all for dark and weird and uncomfortable - it makes for good stuff when balanced correctly among the other necessary components of great storytelling. But something just didn't stick the landing here. There was no sense of balance IMO. It just didn't feel like the same show in many respects that I'd been watching and enjoying up to this point. It's almost as if the creators just decided to take the gloves off with this one, and while it's undeniably somewhat admirable to an extent, I also feel like it may have slightly backfired.

And I'm firmly entrenched in the camp that feels Irma's "M. Night twist" was absolutely awful. It was like Karai mutating all over again. Such a letdown to a classic character and really makes the writing concerning her in past episodes fairly questionable now. Kirby getting re-mutated after that felt like a bad joke, which, let's face it, it was. It's like there's no restraint on this stuff now, which, in turn, makes it far less effective to utilize such elements as meaningful stakes or provocative plot devices. The same is applicable to the overall "invasion" threat level as repeated from season one's finale. It's like most of the revived Doctor Who finales all over again. We can't have conflict on a personally intimate or character-driven level that narrows its focus - nope, the whole CITY or WORLD has to be at stake every time. It's just getting beyond tired and worn out. The point of all this criticism is simple - just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

I also feel like Shredder's story is getting lost inside the Kraang drama. I know other fans have slightly touched on this before as a potential problem, but it really leapt out at me in this one. I definitely want more renewed focus on Shredder and the Foot where it's simply dedicated to THEIR conflict with the Turtles, with no other baggage on board.

Kudos to those championing the Splinter and Leatherhead scenes though, as they truly were the standout moments here. I wish they'd met back up at the end and paired off together until they can be reunited with the others. Maybe that will still happen. I'd love some dedicated episodes focusing on that. The potential there is quite promising, as both were fantastic in their scenes together in this one.

I'm hardly giving up on the show, but I really hope much of what was running rampant through this finale isn't a sign of things to come next season. I want the show to remain fun on top of everything else it offers up, and this finale just wasn't IMO. Nothing is perfect though, and plenty of past episodes I've flat-out loved wound up underwhelming many others on varying levels, so maybe it was just time for me to feel some of that same disappointment for my own personal reasons.

[BubblyShell22]

Whoa. What a finale that was! I loved every bit of it from Irma's reveal as a Kraang to Leo's beat down, to Raph's reaction to Splinter being tossed down the drain. I know Leo won't be totally out of commission by the next ep, but I know he's going to be going through some emotional baggage for a little while due to Splinter's absence. I hope he and Donnie can patch things up though. Loved the Earth Protection Force and I do hope that Bishop may possibly show up in the future. Overall, this finale was even better than season 1's, and I can't wait for more next week! Leo's one-shot adaptation was awesome for sure, and that had to be my favorite part, but you all know I'm biased. Oh, and I loved how Kraang Prime used evolution and explained how they created everyone. That actually makes sense, and maybe in time the Turtles will be accepted by humans in time. Also wanted to add I loved Leatherhead and Splinter in this and really hope they reunite along with Karai. Well done, Ciro and crew. Well done on this for sure!

[IndigoErth]

You think maybe April's aunt will show up at the place they're all headed to? I believe she was mentioned back in the beginning of the series? After April's dad was kidnapped. Would be interesting if she shows up and would love to finally have an adult female character in there finally.

[snake]

Posted from last thread. SPOILERS

SPOILERS AHEAD
It was a short preview. It opens up with April explaining the state of the team and then Leo wakes up. His voice is changed becuase Shredder crushed it throat. Donnie feeds him mutagen medicne and he goes out to train and then pukes up the medicne. It sinks into the ground and two glowing eyes appear.


Leo's vomit created the Creep.

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

This was a phenomenal episode. I mean a really awesome finale. The heart that Leo showed was really great. I'm a Raph fan since 87 but that was a really great scene and really one of the best in all of Turtledom. I loved it. The way Leatherhead attacked like an actual alligator was really awesome too. That was an incredibly violent attack for a "kids show". I love that they headed upstate at the end. Definitely the most emotional ep since Metalhead Rewired for me. One thing I was hoping Donnie would take as a memento is his piece of Metalhead because didn't he keep a piece of him around?

[TonySiegel]

great episode! i know they can't go fully hardcore (kid's show) but they definitely raised the bar (tone wise) with the series...

[Wildcat]

Great episode. I really hope they keep that van and customize it. Yes I know it would be rehashing the OT van but I don't care. I want a new OT van.

Some nitpicks though...Shredder slashing Leo implies stabbing or at least a lethal hit yet there is no blood, just slash marks on his chest. I understand its a cartoon but since you can't get away with it in the first place don't imply it...just comes of silly.

Same with Spinter's fingertips Hadouken or whatever it was. That was ridiculous.

More importantly how is it that only NY is being invaded? Kraang should be able to invade all of earth at once. Even before Prime was taken down, I mean they're the Kraang. 1 city at a time makes no sense.

[Metalwolf]

Originally Posted by Wildcat

More importantly how is it that only NY is being invaded? Kraang should be able to invade all of earth at once. Even before Prime was taken down, I mean they're the Kraang. 1 city at a time makes no sense.

They probably want to establish a beachhead first. Once they get established, they can move on to other cities while they use New York as a fortified command base.

[blindturtle02]

Originally Posted by Metalwolf

They probably want to establish a beachhead first. Once they get established, they can move on to other cities while they use New York as a fortified command base.

I can see that happening. I can't wait until we get to see NYC again. Sounds like it'll be something straight out of Resident Evil. Well, with Kraang mutants rather than zombies but there you go. Hope they raise the Technodrome at some point in s3. I miss that thing. Also waiting for the Kraang to turn on Shredder. That should prove to be a heck of a fight.

[snake]

Did Donatello take Metalhead's head with him?