Top Ten darkest episodes of the original cartoon series

The Great Saiyaman · 10-23-2021, 06:57 PM

Enjoy and discuss.

*oldmanwinters* · 10-23-2021, 07:12 PM

I'm very surprised that Enter the Fly isn't on this list. I think that one is probably the clear candidate for "Darkest of Season 2" between Krang having no hesitation to disintegrate Baxter for a screwup (Shredder doesn't care either) and April being poisoned unto the point of actual death (and everybody gets very sad about it).

*FredWolfLeonardo* · 10-23-2021, 07:45 PM

"Cowabunga Shredhead" in a top 10 darkest episodes list, are you kidding me?

*Leo656* · 10-23-2021, 10:14 PM

I'll be honest, at a glance I thought this was a joke thread.

"There were 'dark' episodes of FW TMNT? F*cking WHERE?"

I guess a couple of them might be considered "Dark" when compared to, like... the 99.999% of the episodes that were cotton candy fluffballs. But even then, like... the "darkest" episode of TMNT isn't even half as "dark" as the most benign Real Ghostbusters episode. Pre-"Slimer and..." seasons, obviously.

I guess that's why, to me, even as a kid I wouldn't have said a single episode of FW TMNT was "dark". To me the show was always nothing but a lark from A to Z.

*FredWolfLeonardo* · 10-23-2021, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

I'll be honest, at a glance I thought this was a joke thread.

"There were 'dark' episodes of FW TMNT? F*cking WHERE?"

I guess a couple of them might be considered "Dark" when compared to, like... the 99.999% of the episodes that were cotton candy fluffballs. But even then, like... the "darkest" episode of TMNT isn't even half as "dark" as the most benign Real Ghostbusters episode. Pre-"Slimer and..." seasons, obviously.

I guess that's why, to me, even as a kid I wouldn't have said a single episode of FW TMNT was "dark". To me the show was always nothing but a lark from A to Z.

I agree with you that the show isn't dark, but the top 10 list is extremely bizzare, it doesn't even attempt to explain why the episodes are "dark", just summarises the plot in them. There were better episodes to choose from like the first episode of Red Sky where Shredder blew up Channel Six building or the episode where Krang tries to have Baxter executed like Oldmanwinters said.

*Leo656* · 10-23-2021, 10:49 PM

I honestly didn't watch it yet.

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 10-24-2021, 12:56 PM

Some "dark episodes":

"Enter: the Fly" (Krang almost kills Baxter Stockman and Shredder almost poisons April O'Neil to death)

"Splinter No More" (deals with racism, Human fear of unknown)

"The Catwoman from Channel Six" (cat-April O'Neil almost kills Splinter)

"Enter the Rat King" (The Turtles coud have been beaten and kicked to death by their own sensei)

"Take Me to Your Leader" (Sun is shrinking and Leonardo si gone. The tone feels darker than many other episodes where Earth is in danger)

"Shredderville" (just a dream, but it deals with totalitarian governments and they aren't fun, even for a microsecond)

*Icebot* · 10-24-2021, 05:18 PM

I totally agree with the others about Enter The Fly. Krang was going to execute Baxter.

Here are some other episodes I think are dark:

A Thing About Rats - Shredder had the foot soldiers destroy Baxter from knowing too much.

The Big Ripoff - April suffocating in the vault.

Night of the Dark Turtle: as Donatello became the dark turtle, he was super obsessed with killing Shredder and he came so close to doing it in the end.

The Legend of Koji - Shredder tried to destroy Splinter’s ancestor to prevent Splinter and the turtles from ever existing.

Carter The Enforcer, the turtles go to the future where Dregg rules the world and the turtles were destroyed. Landor and Merrick were holding hands as they were about to be destroyed as they sent the turtles back to the present. I find this episode similar to Same As It Never Was from the 2003 series though that episode is way way way darker.

In Doomquest, Splinter said the turtles may have to sacrifice more than they can imagine to defeat Dregg. They had to destroy the vortex crystal because there was more at stake than what happens to the four of them.

The Return of Dregg, the way he got rid of hi tech.

Beginning of the End, Leonardo came so close to exploding with his mutation.

A Turtle In Time - getting their life energy drained.

~~ABrown~~ · 10-25-2021, 08:14 AM

And these episodes in the video are considered "dark" in comparison to what exactly?

*Anarchistguy* · 10-27-2021, 05:44 AM

None of the pre red sky episodes were dark in any way, shape or form.

What about "Get Shredder", where the latter blew up the Channel 6 building?

the_minimizer · 10-27-2021, 07:06 PM

1987 TMNT was hated by some parents for being too violent. There's darkness in that.

I think it's important to distinguish peril from darkness. The 1987 series was more perilous than dark.

Some moments that had darkness were The Technodrome being at full power, the raw power and technological advantage Shredder and Krang had over the turtles and the world.

The highway scene in the Big Blowout had darkness.

shredder orokusaki · 10-29-2021, 08:36 AM

The best was the one where i blew up the channel 6 bulding. I was very close to kill April but unfortunately she managed to escape GRRRR!!!! But this is nothing compared to the millions i kiled in 2003 series !

*Prowler* · 05-20-2022, 09:21 AM

OK I was curious about this video but then I saw it was 36 minutes long. I was expecting a quick top 10 list or something. Not a full analysis.

Anyway, I don't agree with the list at all. Cowabunga Shredhead, really?!

From the pre Red Sky seasons I can only think of two episodes I could possibly call dark: Enter The Fly and Shredderville. That's it.

Most of the darkest episodes and moments were in the Red Sky episodes. And yet, only one of the Red Sky seasons episodes made it to the list. Which makes it not very credible in my eyes.

*neatoman* · 05-20-2022, 09:31 AM

You know, it's kind of hard to think of anything in this show as being "dark". Not just because it's the TMNT show you are meant to take less seriously than the others, but also because the source material has a storyline in which Casey commits manslaughter and becomes a depressed alcoholic, just saying.

*Prowler* · 05-20-2022, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatoman

You know, it's kind of hard to think of anything in this show as being "dark". Not just because it's the TMNT show you are meant to take less seriously than the others, but also because the source material has a storyline in which Casey commits manslaughter and becomes a depressed alcoholic, just saying.

Well yeah. It's not a dark series at all. When I talk about dark moments in it I mean dark in relation to most of the rest of the series and other kids cartoons from its era.

*PizzaPower* · 05-30-2022, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

"Cowabunga Shredhead" in a top 10 darkest episodes list, are you kidding me?

Great episode too lol

*neatoman* · 05-31-2022, 02:58 PM

I have kind of toyed around with the idea that a "dark" episode of this show, would be to reveal that the happy-go-lucky world of this show is a fake reality created by Savanti Romero to torment and weaken a more comic accurate version of the turtles, with the Red Sky season being a result of the illusion starting to break apart.

That would probably be a really hated episode though.

*oldmanwinters* · 06-01-2022, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatoman

I have kind of toyed around with the idea that a "dark" episode of this show, would be to reveal that the happy-go-lucky world of this show is a fake reality created by Savanti Romero to torment and weaken a more comic accurate version of the turtles, with the Red Sky season being a result of the illusion starting to break apart.

That would probably be a really hated episode though.

Heh, Peter Laird might enjoy that. Or Andrew.

*sdp* · 06-02-2022, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatoman

I have kind of toyed around with the idea that a "dark" episode of this show, would be to reveal that the happy-go-lucky world of this show is a fake reality created by Savanti Romero to torment and weaken a more comic accurate version of the turtles, with the Red Sky season being a result of the illusion starting to break apart.

That would probably be a really hated episode though.

We have a winner.

superstaff · 06-03-2022, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_minimizer

1987 TMNT was hated by some parents for being too violent. There's darkness in that.

I think it's important to distinguish peril from darkness. The 1987 series was more perilous than dark.

My mother was one of those parents, for TMNT, Simpsons, Power Rangers, etc. Those shows are pretty tame, in my opinion, especially after re-watching them as a teen/adult over time. But...you know, some people are too dumb to distinguish between peril and dark.

I'm actually surprised she didn't think Pokemon was satanic. No, she just thought Pokemon was 'stupid', not evil.

10-23-2021, 06:57 PM	#1
The Great Saiyaman Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 907	Top Ten darkest episodes of the original cartoon series Enjoy and discuss. __________________ "I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage, "Mythbusters" Last edited by The Great Saiyaman; 10-23-2021 at 07:03 PM.

10-23-2021, 07:12 PM	#2
oldmanwinters Overlord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Between yesterday and tomorrow! Posts: 14,940	I'm very surprised that Enter the Fly isn't on this list. I think that one is probably the clear candidate for "Darkest of Season 2" between Krang having no hesitation to disintegrate Baxter for a screwup (Shredder doesn't care either) and April being poisoned unto the point of actual death (and everybody gets very sad about it). __________________ Experience the TMNT Fan Commentaries! Check out my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear"! View my sketch work! I'm selling some of my hard-to-find TMNT items!

10-23-2021, 10:14 PM	#4
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	I'll be honest, at a glance I thought this was a joke thread. "There were 'dark' episodes of FW TMNT? Fcking WHERE?" I guess a couple of them might be considered "Dark" when compared to, like... the 99.999% of the episodes that were cotton candy fluffballs. But even then, like... the "darkest" episode of TMNT isn't even half as "dark" as the most benign Real Ghostbusters episode. Pre-"Slimer and..." seasons, obviously. I guess that's why, to me, even as a kid I wouldn't have said a single episode of FW TMNT was "dark". To me the show was always nothing but a lark from A to Z. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know."* nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

10-23-2021, 10:49 PM	#6
Leo656 The Franchise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,696	I honestly didn't watch it yet. __________________ "I left some words quite far from here to be a short reminder... I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever..." "But hey... I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know." nWo Tech: The Official Thread Poison of the Technodrome Forums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr...awnHgDz1ceDcfA https://theroxxshow.blogspot.com/

10-24-2021, 12:56 PM	#7
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan Overlord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,155	Some "dark episodes": "Enter: the Fly" (Krang almost kills Baxter Stockman and Shredder almost poisons April O'Neil to death) "Splinter No More" (deals with racism, Human fear of unknown) "The Catwoman from Channel Six" (cat-April O'Neil almost kills Splinter) "Enter the Rat King" (The Turtles coud have been beaten and kicked to death by their own sensei) "Take Me to Your Leader" (Sun is shrinking and Leonardo si gone. The tone feels darker than many other episodes where Earth is in danger) "Shredderville" (just a dream, but it deals with totalitarian governments and they aren't fun, even for a microsecond) Last edited by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan; 10-25-2021 at 03:45 AM.

10-23-2021, 07:45 PM	#3
FredWolfLeonardo Big Blue Boy Scout Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: New Bark Town Posts: 4,484	"Cowabunga Shredhead" in a top 10 darkest episodes list, are you kidding me?

10-24-2021, 05:18 PM	#8
Icebot Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: East Coast, US Posts: 3,191	I totally agree with the others about Enter The Fly. Krang was going to execute Baxter. Here are some other episodes I think are dark: A Thing About Rats - Shredder had the foot soldiers destroy Baxter from knowing too much. The Big Ripoff - April suffocating in the vault. Night of the Dark Turtle: as Donatello became the dark turtle, he was super obsessed with killing Shredder and he came so close to doing it in the end. The Legend of Koji - Shredder tried to destroy Splinter’s ancestor to prevent Splinter and the turtles from ever existing. Carter The Enforcer, the turtles go to the future where Dregg rules the world and the turtles were destroyed. Landor and Merrick were holding hands as they were about to be destroyed as they sent the turtles back to the present. I find this episode similar to Same As It Never Was from the 2003 series though that episode is way way way darker. In Doomquest, Splinter said the turtles may have to sacrifice more than they can imagine to defeat Dregg. They had to destroy the vortex crystal because there was more at stake than what happens to the four of them. The Return of Dregg, the way he got rid of hi tech. Beginning of the End, Leonardo came so close to exploding with his mutation. A Turtle In Time - getting their life energy drained.

10-25-2021, 08:14 AM	#9
~~ABrown~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,831	And these episodes in the video are considered "dark" in comparison to what exactly?

10-27-2021, 05:44 AM	#10
Anarchistguy Mad Scientist Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canada (This country is too peaceful, Something's up...) Posts: 2,087	None of the pre red sky episodes were dark in any way, shape or form. What about "Get Shredder", where the latter blew up the Channel 6 building? __________________ M.D.K. Maim! Destroy! Kill!!! "When my time comes, I wanna be buried face down, so those who don't like me can kiss my ass!"

10-27-2021, 07:06 PM	#11
the_minimizer Foot Soldier Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 216	1987 TMNT was hated by some parents for being too violent. There's darkness in that. I think it's important to distinguish peril from darkness. The 1987 series was more perilous than dark. Some moments that had darkness were The Technodrome being at full power, the raw power and technological advantage Shredder and Krang had over the turtles and the world. The highway scene in the Big Blowout had darkness.

10-29-2021, 08:36 AM	#12
shredder orokusaki Mad Scientist Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Japan Posts: 1,407	The best was the one where i blew up the channel 6 bulding. I was very close to kill April but unfortunately she managed to escape GRRRR!!!! But this is nothing compared to the millions i kiled in 2003 series ! __________________ I AM THE SHREDDER!!!!!

05-20-2022, 09:21 AM	#13
Prowler Emperor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Portugal Posts: 8,909	OK I was curious about this video but then I saw it was 36 minutes long. I was expecting a quick top 10 list or something. Not a full analysis. Anyway, I don't agree with the list at all. Cowabunga Shredhead, really?! From the pre Red Sky seasons I can only think of two episodes I could possibly call dark: Enter The Fly and Shredderville. That's it. Most of the darkest episodes and moments were in the Red Sky episodes. And yet, only one of the Red Sky seasons episodes made it to the list. Which makes it not very credible in my eyes.