The episode idea thread (Turtle Torture Edition)

[victory_angel]

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

Poor Donnie does get the worst of it in these doesn't he?

Would this scenario work with Mikey as the 'missing' turtle? I can imagine his reactions better as he slowly notices, and the reactions of the others being determined to save him.

Yes that would work with Mikey. But since Donnie is the smart one, he is the one they can't function without.

As we have seen in these past episodes you can remove, Leo, Raph, or Mikey from the group...and the group would still function. They don't function quite as well but they still function.

However if Donnie is not with the group everything begins to fall apart and there are situations they wouldn't have gotten out if Donnie hadn't been there.

Such as Mousers Attack when Donnie tells Leo and Raph that the stuff that Stockman sprayed them would come off gradually. But if someone else was hit with it, it would give off a bigger signal.

Or the Wormquake Episode where Donnie is seperated from his brothers, but he also helps them by getting rid of the Kraang Worms.

In so far the group has had small moments without Donnie present, but Donnie is summoned back to the group, or rejoined the group at the climax of the episode.

The only episode the three of them as a whole really had trouble without him was in Operation Breakout when they were flopping about and trying to figure out what Donnie would have done if he was there.

But they have yet to be in a situation where they *need* Donnie and he can't come help them because of XYZ.

That's why episodes such as Same as it Never Was were so impactful. Because Mikey essentially tells Donnie that when he disappeared, they tried to work together without him there to balance out the team they eventually went their separate ways.

And in Good Genes, Leonardo states to Master Splinter that he feels lost without Donnie there. And in a cold opening during the final episode of the arc. Leo says if the situation had happened to anyone else they would have turned to Donnie for a cure.

[Tarris Vaal]

That's very true - and I cant really complain as Donnie is my favourite anyway

That said, I always worry he does get a lot of focus (and especially in 2k12) so I find I try deliberately to steer away from coming up with speculation around him! Daft really, but there we are.

It'd be interesting to see Donnie's mindset of how he feels when his brothers are not part of the team. The examples you give are great examples of how the rest of the team feel when he isn't there, whereas we rarely get a glimpse into how Donnie's mind works when he's forced to act without one of the others.

Invasion is the closest we've had so far, but we didnt have much time in the episode to explore his thoughts on the matter - he just went with the flow. We did have operation breakout, but I'm not sure that should count as he was operating independently and not as part of the team with 2 of the others.

Like you suggested earlier, with the pent up guilt for what happened from the end of Invasion, that could be an interesting avenue to explore. If and when Raph turns to the dark side, it could also open up that area again if Donnie blames himself for what happens. I'm trying to imagine scenarios where that may occur and all I can come up with off the top of my head is;

A major threat causes Slash to join with the Turtles briefly, but aside from Raph, the rest of the team struggle to trust him. At the climax of the battle, Slash is seemingly lost/destroyed alongside the threat (in a similar way to Leatherhead). Donnie had the opportunity to save him, and didn't take it because of his distrust.
Raph immediately blames Donnie and storms off, leaving a major rift between them (possibly with Mikey giving chase to calm him down). Donnie is then left blaming himself for this later when Raph joins Shredder.
Even have Raph then remind him of this moment when they are fighting (as there is speculation they have foreshadowed a potential attack on Donnie by Dark Raph) - 'You think the others think you worth saving? Like you did Slash?'


Something like that anyway

[victory_angel]

How about there is a moment where the Turtles are in a situation and they are all scattered through out New York. While they are trying to reunite with one another they have to contend with the forces of the Foot and the Kraang.

[Luckyday]

I once read somewhere on how a cobra will guard her eggs with total dedication, even to a point of starvation, but once eggs hatch she will get as far away from them as she can or else she will end eating her young.

Now this situation might be similar to Karai. Granted that the turtles are not her sons but they are family. Snakes don't have a sense of self control when they get hunger and they will attack anything that moves, and I mean anything including the same species of snake, but fortunately snakes have slow metabolisms so Karai would only need to go to the woods every other weekend and prey on some local wild life.

"Ok so where's the conflict?"

The conflict is set around the fact that she doesn't explain why she has go out into the woods. Since she just recently switch sides and also had spit venom in Raph eyes, the group is understandable suspicious. Master Splinter is fully aware of Karai's needs since he probably had some first hand experiences but he is not explaining the situation either because there no real immediate danger since they have set a system. It also a matter of believing that Karai should be the one that explains the situation or else they would have more reason to distrust her but how do you explain in nonchalant manner to your friends and family that you have go away or else you will go into a murderous feeding frenzy without them developing a healthy fear of you?

[Tarris Vaal]

I think the idea of her being prone to frenzies is really interesting and opens a lot of avenues to develop her character without having her as a 'bad guy' per se, but more of a good guy with issues.

I can also see Raph taking it more personally than most, whilst also having the most in common with her.

How about there is a moment where the Turtles are in a situation and they are all scattered through out New York. While they are trying to reunite with one another they have to contend with the forces of the Foot and the Kraang.

I'm actually kinda surprised that this hasnt already happened. It seems a good way to emphasise each turtles strengths and weaknesses. But then I guess we sort of had this with vision quest recently.

[JTH]

Originally Posted by victory_angel

Yes that would work with Mikey. But since Donnie is the smart one, he is the one they can't function without.

As we have seen in these past episodes you can remove, Leo, Raph, or Mikey from the group...and the group would still function. They don't function quite as well but they still function.

However if Donnie is not with the group everything begins to fall apart and there are situations they wouldn't have gotten out if Donnie hadn't been there.

Such as Mousers Attack when Donnie tells Leo and Raph that the stuff that Stockman sprayed them would come off gradually. But if someone else was hit with it, it would give off a bigger signal.

Or the Wormquake Episode where Donnie is seperated from his brothers, but he also helps them by getting rid of the Kraang Worms.

In so far the group has had small moments without Donnie present, but Donnie is summoned back to the group, or rejoined the group at the climax of the episode.

The only episode the three of them as a whole really had trouble without him was in Operation Breakout when they were flopping about and trying to figure out what Donnie would have done if he was there.

But they have yet to be in a situation where they *need* Donnie and he can't come help them because of XYZ.

That's why episodes such as Same as it Never Was were so impactful. Because Mikey essentially tells Donnie that when he disappeared, they tried to work together without him there to balance out the team they eventually went their separate ways.

And in Good Genes, Leonardo states to Master Splinter that he feels lost without Donnie there. And in a cold opening during the final episode of the arc. Leo says if the situation had happened to anyone else they would have turned to Donnie for a cure.

True, this is also what makes his affection with April an interesting element to the show, because this show has really made Donnie more valuable to the team, but him becoming too worried about April and not about everyone as a whole could hurt them in the long haul.

Which is another reason the turtles try to tell Donnie to move on because to them and even to Splinter in a sense, it will hurt them as a team, but the irony is the others don't want him to be too concerned for April, because therefore they believe he does not see the bigger picture; where as Donnie knows April effects the bigger picture, so therefore he has to be overly focused on her safety, but the others just think Donnie's that way just because he likes her.

[Luckyday]

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

I think the idea of her being prone to frenzies is really interesting and opens a lot of avenues to develop her character without having her as a 'bad guy' per se, but more of a good guy with issues.

I can also see Raph taking it more personally than most, whilst also having the most in common with her.

Honestly, I just want them to do something with the mutation that will actually lead into something interesting. There has been too many times when amutation of establish character hardly went any where even though the potential was there.

*Slash mutation could been a Raph arc with Slash being mirror of Raph inner demons.
*Rahzar could been a character arc of Bradford bitting the hand that feeds since he was transform from a loyal dog to a unyielding wolf.
*With Baxter Stockman (well maybe this would too dark) since his mutation was base on the movie "The fly". His arc would been a tragedy with his brilliant mind slowly degrading but then again it would been more sense to write him as an anti hero like Walter White from Breaking Bad.

Sure new mutations are cool but once the coolness factor wears off, they are just another monster that roars in your face.

It's like mutations demotes you to background status.

[victory_angel]

Originally Posted by JTH

Which is another reason the turtles try to tell Donnie to move on because to them and even to Splinter in a sense, it will hurt them as a team, but the irony is the others don't want him to be too concerned for April, because therefore they believe he does not see the bigger picture; where as Donnie knows April effects the bigger picture, so therefore he has to be overly focused on her safety, but the others just think Donnie's that way just because he likes her.

Splinter appears to have grasped that Donnie's feelings for April were not a crush but actual true love way back in season 1. Because initially when Donnie protests about being kept in the lair for year so they can learn to fight as a team, Splinter isn't happy about him speaking out of turn. But when Donnie continues to plead his case, Splinter senses something and that enabled him to change his mind. If it had just been a crush, Splinter would have just said this is a girl he barely knows and the authorities in the city will deal with the abduction.

Mikey at some point in season one seemed to be grasp that Donnie's feelings for April are deeper then an actual crush. I don't think he is aware how deep it is, but he is the one who points out to Raph that the heart is fragile. And he also feels bad for Donnie after April rejects the music box he made for her. But that doesn't mean he won't tease his brother for it.

Leo only recently seems to be grasping that Donnie's infatuation with April isn't just a crush. I guess he was hoping that perhaps since Casey and Donnie have been getting along better he was hoping the whole crush thing would be resolved. The way he looks up while he's packing his gear...the moment Donnie comments about how he is worried about what April and Casey would be doing while they are gone. It's like he had been hoping that he didn't have to say what his brother needed to hear which is they needed to leave their worry's and fears or rather their earthly attachments behind. That is also probably why Leo didn't allow April to join them on the camping trip. It wasn't because she couldn't benefit from it. However in order for Donnie to do the changing he needed to do he can't be distracted from the lessons he needed to learn.

It kinda reminded me of that one episode of Avatar the Last Airbender where Aang must meet a man named Guru Pathik so he can be instructed in how to obtain and control his avatar state by opening his seven chakras. Aang is able to open six of them, but when he gets to the seventh one he refuses to open it because doing so meant he had to let go of his feelings of attachment to Katara.

Raph is the only Turtle who continues to see Donnie's feelings for April as delusional. And even points out that April is not going to see him beyond being a friend and possibly a brother figure, so he should do himself a favor and just stop believing that April would even want to be with him in that way.

[Tarris Vaal]

Sure new mutations are cool but once the coolness factor wears off, they are just another monster that roars in your face.

It's like mutations demotes you to background status.

I am a little worried that is what will happen to Bebop/Rocksteady.

I think a lot of the problem is simply screentime. Fishface, Rahzar, Baxter and Tigerclaw are actually all quite interesting characters - and I also really agree Slash has a huge amount of potential (and Newtralizer/Leatherhead for that matter).

But

Its just fitting the time in the show for everyone, when it just isnt there; Especially with mid range villains.

I'm hoping at some point they will do a 'villain's perspective' episode, where we get very little of the Turtles themselves, and the episode focuses on a little bit more background and the thoughts on each of Tigerclaw, Rahzar and Fishface. I'd love to see Tigerclaws reasons for joining with the Shredder, and a potential rivalry brewing between him and Rahzar/Fishface.
I'd also love to see Fishface and Rahzar starting to doubt Shredder's motives (perhaps as Bebop/Rocksteady start to seemingly replace them). Having them partly redeem themselves (and possibly even dying in the process) by helping the Turtles I would think would make for a nice resolution to their characters. - Mikey forgiving Rahzar as Rahzar dies would be quite moving I think, and equally a mutual respect between Fishface and Raph would be great development. (Raph raging at Tigerclaw for taking down Xever for example)

Baxter has enough potential to provide a quiet little betrayal arc in the background of other episodes and I dont think he really needs a focus until he is in position to make good on it (perhaps quietly replacing Shredder as the Kraang's main ally).

Karai will be fine simply because of who she is, and the importance of her position between Shredder and Splinter. Once she is back, its unlikely she will leave much until her story is largely resolved.

I'm really hoping that Slash becomes much more prevalent in the context of a Dark Raph arc. Slash seems to have mellowed since his first appearance, so he is in the position of having 'been in that dark place' where Raph could end up, and come back from it. If Raph was forced to fight and kill Slash it would really provide a seismic shift for Raph's character (and allows him to kill/seriously injure a character close to him who isn't primary cast).

Splinter appears to have grasped that Donnie's feelings for April were not a crush but actual true love way back in season 1. Because initially when Donnie protests about being kept in the lair for year so they can learn to fight as a team, Splinter isn't happy about him speaking out of turn. But when Donnie continues to plead his case, Splinter senses something and that enabled him to change his mind. If it had just been a crush, Splinter would have just said this is a girl he barely knows and the authorities in the city will deal with the abduction.

Splinter does go out of his way to true and put him off though - the whole 'liking falling down' lesson. I suspect Splinter is trying to warn him off, but without outright banning him from pursuing her. I suspect he is somewhere between Leo and Raph's perspectives on the whole thing.

Of all of them you're right that Mikey does seem the most sympathetic about it. It might make for a good one shot episode if he helps arrange something nice for Donnie and April (like secretly trying to arrange a mutation day date between them, even as Mikey is trying to avoid being attacked by 'mutant of the week'). As sickeningly sweet as that sounds

[victory_angel]

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

Splinter does go out of his way to true and put him off though - the whole 'liking falling down' lesson. I suspect Splinter is trying to warn him off, but without outright banning him from pursuing her. I suspect he is somewhere between Leo and Raph's perspectives on the whole thing.

Well if you remember Splinter early on in season one said that the Shredder couldn't accept that Tang Shen didn't choose him as her husband and became consumed by jealousy.

So when Splinter comes in and invites Donnie to join him in that "learn to love falling down." lesson. Donnie had been ranting to Timothy in jealousy about how April is hanging out with another boy.

So Splinter was meaning the lesson as a reminder that he can't force April to like him back. But it also was to help derail Donatello from falling down the Shredder's path. And later when he talks to Donatello he says April's desire to leave was her choice and if she returns it's because she wants to. Which also points out that in the end it will be April's choice over which boy she ends up with. Though recent actions have indicated that yes she has chosen Donnie as her suitor it is still anyone's guess.

[victory_angel]

Recent episode had Stockman attempting to create retromutagen. So perhaps Stockman attempts to test a batch and it's a failure. Shredder sees it and is anything but pleased with Stockman's progress.

Stockman pleads with Shredder for one more chance...and then blurts out one of the Turtles has made Retromutagen. Shredder allows Stockman to explain but he isn't happy that he is only now learning of this.

Tiger Claw says he would go out and retrieve the Turtle.

The mean time the turtles are out looking for Karai and they've Split into teams of three. Donnie is leading the group with Mikey/Casey while Leo has Raph and April. Donnie's team doesn't see any sign of Karai in their section of the city so he says they should return to their meet up point, but keep an eye out for Karai.

That's when they are attacked by Foot Bots. There are too many for them to send fight alone so Donnie sends a distress signal to his brothers and April when he is grabbed by Tiger Claw and brought to the Shredder.

The Shredder demands that Donatello help Stockman create Retromutagen. Donnie refuses to say. So he gets locked up in Stockman's lab until he is able to cooperate. Before leaving, Tiger Claw warns Donnie that he should save himself a lot of trouble and just do as the Shredder says.

[Tarris Vaal]

Tiger Claw says he would go out and retrieve the Turtle.

Did anyone else hear Tigerclaw's voice in their head whilst reading that line?

That actually seems very plausible overall. It would be a nice way to reinforce the vision quest of Donnie vs Tigerclaw as well

[victory_angel]

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

Did anyone else hear Tigerclaw's voice in their head whilst reading that line?

That actually seems very plausible overall. It would be a nice way to reinforce the vision quest of Donnie vs Tigerclaw as well

Also Tiger Claws statement of "And they call you the smart one?! I am twice your size and three times your strength! You...Will...Fall!!"

He was pretty much saying "If your really as smart as they say you would know you have no chance in beating me."

However Tiger Claw also shown he believes in honor and he was sort of impressed by Leonardo during the invasion when he comments that Leonardo fights bravely.

And he also isn't above reason as he does question the Shredder in this recent episode where he says "We already have the city! Are you just going to let the Kraang take over the world?"

And the Shredder is pretty much "Destroying the Kraang is on my to do list, but Karai has greater priority."


So I can see him telling Donnie to do the 'smart thing' and just give into the Shredder. But I can see Donnie trying to get to know and understand Tiger Claw as an enemy as well even if it's just biding time until his family arrives.

[Tarris Vaal]

Thats an interesting thought in itself! - The idea of several of Shredder's mutants slowing turning against him (even siding with the turtles) as Shredder becomes progressively more insane.

I can well imagine Tigerclaw slowly coming to an agreement with a captured Donatello and organising Rahzar/Fishface to try and take Shredder down - especially if Rocksteady/Bebop become his go to hit men. As you say, Tigerclaw - brutal though he is - has a sense of honour and seems to share Karai's (justified) distrust of the Kraang and Rahzar and Fishface already have some justification to be disenchanted of the Foot.

It could well mark the transition of the older mutants to the newer 'gang' with many of the older ones being killed in the fight, to be replaced with Rocksteady, Bebop and potentially Dark Raph.

I could also imagine Baxter would be slowly twisting Shredder's mental state behind the scenes, making odd suggestions now and then to manipulate Shredder's actions, eventually making Baxter the 'power behind the throne' (at least in Baxter's mind).

[victory_angel]

I doubt Donnie is going to stay home just because the Retromutagen puts his life at greater risk. So I normally don't like it when fics has one of the Turtles (mostly Donnie) told to stay home because their in grave danger. And I don't think this incarnation of Donnie would appreciate being under constant protective guard either.

They are all probably well aware that since retromutagen while a valuable tool in restoring the city, can also be dangerous if their enemies become aware of it. So they all would have to be on their guard for whatever happens

[Bitsy83]

Originally Posted by victory_angel

They are all probably well aware that since retromutagen while a valuable tool in restoring the city, can also be dangerous if their enemies become aware of it. So they all would have to be on their guard for whatever happens

Let's focus on this for a moment.

In the last episodes with Tigerclaw and Shredder, we're definitely seeing some tension between the two. I know Tigerclaw is bad and and is loyal to the Shredder, but he he does have his morals. In the "Wormquake" episode, he sided with Karai that killing Splinter while he was weak and defenseless had no honor; He found using Karai as bait to lure Splinter was diabolical; and he's has clearly stated more than once that the alliance with the Kraang is going to end badly.

Still, he sees himself as a valuable asset to Shredder and doesn't think his position will be compromised anytime soon.

Now, since Victory Angel and I are still hoping for the "Kidnap Donnie" arc, let's say this does happen and Donnie is held in that weird habitat that Splinter was held in. And we go on my prediction that the Turtles, Casey, and April were sent to another dimension and try to get back home without Donnie, (but find their way to the 80s and get help from OT Donnie).

While that's going on, Donnie is still a prisoner. He finds out that Shredder isn't going to go to the Kraang for any "mind control" devices to brainwash Donnie into revealing the formula. This is mainly due to the fact that he doesn't want the Kraang to know that he's searching for Retromutagen; by this point, he has given up on relying on them to cure Karai since they have no value for human life.

Tigerclaw takes full-responsibilty in trying to get the formula from Donnie, making threats and even beating him up a few times. (Remember, he has a vendetta against the Turtles, so he doesn't feel it TOO dishonorable to torture him a bit). Donnie remains strong, but can't understand how he wasn't able to defeat Tigerclaw in the real world since he was able to defeat him in the spirit world. Then he has the epiphany that while he shouldn't ALWAYS rely on his mind, some battles HAVE to be fought with his mind. So he takes a different approach...

When Tigerclaw confronts him again, asking him why he has not given the formula to Shredder since they both want to help Karai, Donnie says that it's not the only reason Shredder would want that retromutagen.

It's true, the Shredder's main reason is to use it on Karai and he's totally ok with that, but if he had access to that formula for future doses, it could be used against Tigerclaw as well....

DONNIE: Think about it, Kitty. Sure, Shredder will get his "daughter" back and achieve his goal, but he was willing to sacrifice her as bait for Splinter. You and I both know that Shredder only cares for one thing: complete domination. Whether it be over his clan, his enemies....or his number one guy.

TIGERCLAW: What are you talking about, Turtle?

DONNIE: Do you really think the retromutagen would be a threat to Fishface or Stockman or even Rahzar? If he used it on them, he'd be doing them a favor. Last time they found out I made retromutgen, they were fighting over it like lions over a scrap of meat. They would love to be human again. But you? You'd just go back to being a regular tiger, wouldn't you? A one-eyed, no-tailed, simple-minded creature who wouldn't be as much of a threat as you are now. You're like me, Tigerclaw. You love having the intellect and motor skills of a human. You'd hate to lose that. Once Shredder gets that formula, it's like he'd be putting a big ol' leash on you. One more step out of line, and he'd just put that stuff in a spray bottle and make you his pet...or a nice fur skinned rug. I bet you'd look great draped over his throne; it'd really bring the room together.

TIGERCLAW: SILENCE!!! I have proven myself to Master Shredder! He knows I am...

DONNIE: What, irreplaceable? Dude, the psycho's got enough mutagen to make a whole army of you guys. He's already made a giant rhino; what would stop him from moving on to other deadly creatures? Wolverines, lions, grizzly bears...possibilities are endless. Face it, Tigerclaw. He's already risked his whole planet on this; what makes you any more special?

(Sorry for the script, but I felt this was easier to describe in dialogue.)

Now this could all backfire on Donnie later. Like maybe he finds a way to escape and as he's going to the tunnels, Tigerclaw finds him, but instead of bringing him back to Shredder alive, he'd stage an "accident" where Donnie was killed trying to get away. Tigerclaw knows that as long as Donnie's alive, his future as a regular tiger is still possible. So he'd rather die like a man than fear living like a beast. Then we'd get a proper fight between Donnie and Tigerclaw and would hopefully end in epicness.

[victory_angel]

Great idea Bits, however Tiger Claw was originally a human not a tiger. It was stated in Wormquake by Rahzar that the Kraang had turned him into a mutant when he had been a child decades ago. We don't know what Shredder did to entice tiger claw. Perhaps finding the person who sliced off his tail. Or maybe getting eventual vengeance against the Kraang.

So if Donnie is trapped in on of those cells at Stockman's lab, I can see Donnie trying to understand his enemy rather then taunt them. Even if it's taunting them with the truth.

For example if it was Fishface:

Fishface: If you know whats good for you boy, you will make the retromutagen for Master Shredder.

Donatello: Why do you wish to be human once again?

Fishface: You dare to ask me that?! It was you and your brothers who made me this way!

Donatello: Actually we were stopping the mutagen bomb when you and Bradford arrived. Your mutation didn't need to happen. You both were given the choice to walk away, Bradford is the one who stabbed the mutagen container causing your mutation.

Fishface: Either way...I intend to see you suffer for your crimes.

Donatello: Do you think Shredder would allow you to become human again?

Fishface: Shut up...once Master Shredder his daughter is returned to human...then...

Donatello: He will eliminate me so that no one in his mutant army could be returned to human ever again.

Fishface: You...watch you're mouth.

Donatello: He might consider testing the retromutagen on me first...and I suspect when that happens he would get a sudden craving for Turtle Soup.

Fishface: I hope so...You are only alive because the Shredder has need of you! But I will take so much pleasure at seeing the look on your brothers faces when they learn you were not only turned back into a lowly little Turtle but put on the Shredder's dinner menu.

If they don't capture Donatello, I can see Tiger Claw given the task of retrieving the Retromutagen because he's the one who is least likely to use it on himself. Even if it's claimed as an accident or just to test it out the Shredder would kill them if he learned they used it before Karai.

So if Donatello is imprisoned and it's Tiger Claw who is brought in to persuade him to create the retromutagen I can see something along the lines of:

Tiger Claw: I am impressed with your resilience Turtle, but in the end it will get you nowhere.

Donatello: Can I ask you a question...why did you join the Foot Clan?

Tiger Claw: That is between me and the Shredder...why would such things matter to an insolent cub?

Donatello: You aren't like the other people that Shredder hires, so I thought perhaps if I understood your reason...

Tiger Claw: All you need to understand boy...is that your life is in the Shredder's hands.

[Tarris Vaal]

How would you imagine Donatello being captured in the first instance? I'm just wondering how it might fit into the existing time span.

If we assume the show is intended for 5 seasons max, with shorter seasons 4/5, then we have 2 1/2 seasons to go. There is still the Kraang arc to resolve (potentially end of season 3), but then you'd need a good cliffhanger to drag viewers back for season 4.

So it would make for good timing for Donnie to be separated and captured then, allowing a lot of the beatings/torture to be implied 'between seasons'.

For myself, I imagine that the Kraang are likely to be defeated using a reverse polarity portal (similar to wormquake) - and trapped in Dimension X. I would expect the crazy shopkeeper from the Dream Beaver episode to make a reappearance, as we know he has made 'dimensional tech' before, and have Donnie assist with using it to banish the Kraang to another dimension.

During that climax, I can imagine Kraang prime making a last ditch effort to force her way back to Earth, so the other Turtles, Casey and April face her whilst Donnie desperately tries to close the portal they've opened. During the fight, Donnie discovers Shredder has laid a trap and the others are in terrible danger. He seals them deliberately away in a different dimension to the Kraang, maybe sending some message or instructions to April's Tphone on how to return.
Portal closes, Kraang and the others sealed away and Donnie is captured by Shredder.

The trauma of the journey into Dimension Y causes the message he sent to April to become scrambled. They now have to work their way back alone without it (maybe have just one line unscrambled, something personal to April - 'I will find you'. Or something like that).

Season 4 starts with Donnie being beaten to reveal the retromutagen's secrets, and a slow shift in Tigerclaw's loyalties. The others start making their way back - April constantly checking her phone and listening to the one message that survived. She seems more affected by Donnie's loss than anyone. They meet up with a Donnie from a different dimension who helps them decode the message and starts getting them home.

During this period in Dimension jumping, rifts between Raph and the others start to widen - particularly given the tension of not knowing what's happened to Donnie.

They get back to Earth roughly mid season 4 and manage to rescue Donnie from Shredder. When they do, Donnie hugs April, he doesn't say anything because he's too exhausted and hurt to do so. She returns it eagerly without a word.

However, Raph has become increasingly distant, and by the end of Season 4 joins the Foot clan - replacing Tigerclaw after Tigerclaw makes a failed effort to replace Shredder who is clearly insane by this point and has been manipulated by Baxter to confront the EPF with increasingly ferocious tactics. Tigerclaw and Baxter do not survive the end of season 4, both falling to Raph, as a shock ending to draw viewers for season 5.

[victory_angel]

Well since we do have the 2012 Turtles meeting their 1987 counter parts. Perhaps there could be a situation where they meet their 2003 counter parts as well.

We also have the Dark Raph plot line, and I think Raph trying to put the brain washing device on Mikey in Buyakashowdown was foreshadowing he would get get it placed on him.

This Shredder isn't really the capturing and imprisoning type and he also isn't very patient. He is more like slow and horrible or quick and painful death sort. Generally he tries to kill the Turtles if he sees them though he doesn't think they are worthy of being killed by him.

He imprisons Karai but that is more of a very extreme time out for betraying him. And Splinter because he had lost his sanity so he wanted Hamato Yoshi's mind restored so he would at least know who it was that was killing him.

Perhaps the season could end with a cliff hanger and that could be Donnie is sucked into a time vortex and finds himself a few decades in the future. And that could be the explanation as to what happened to Donatello rather then vaguely saying that he had disappeared and was supposedly dead.

But if possible focusing on the other turtles as they try to open the time vortex to get Donnie back...

Another possibility is that same as it never was universe made the places the other guys were sent to look like vacations and this version of Donnie tends to withdraw more then come foreword with his problems and issues. Perhaps he is sent forward a few decades and he's able to come back at the end of the finally, but we don't know what he saw or experienced. All the other guys know is whatever he experience bothered him and changed him in some way.

Then the next season we could have memory flashes of the world Donnie experienced as night terrors or and also maybe him obsessively trying to fix the security system and such.

[ninja-zero]

Wonder after bebop and rocksteady get mutated, will they explain their origins to the turtles?

And the pig & rhino secretly team up with Stockman to make a retromutagen for themselves to get their revenge on Shredder.