Official Episode Discussion: "Virtual Reality Check"

**Machias Banshee** · 11-20-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English, Oxford University Press, 2005

Reality• noun (pl. realities): 1. The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. 2. A thing that is actually experienced or seen. 3. The quality of being lifelike. 4 the state or quality of having existence or substance."

Truth. Fact. Axiom.

Truth: We want this season to go well
Fact: Many are not happy with this season
Axiom: The fandom is entering a recession, and a subpar Anniversary.

In this week's episode, we find out that the boys have been taken over by the Shredder. They live in what they Think is reality, not knowing the truth.

The question I ask is this: How long have they been under this control? One day? One week? Ever since their first run in with Shredder? For all we know, they may Not have fought the Foot, may Not have found as much of Splinter's data as they thought...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I know many of you have been losing your enthusiasm over this season, with the storylines (or lack thereof). But after this episode, we get the final arc, and then *maybe* the mini-movie that will tie things up. I hate to see the end of this series, after meeting so many people Because of getting together to watch this show.

One of the issues I see is that we *know* what is going to happen in the episodes. Who here Hasn't read the leaked summaries? It takes away the intrigue of "What if?" and all we get is an anticlimactic disappointment. No suspense. I know that if I hadn't seen the summary for this week, It would have been much more interesting. No pre-conceived info that everything's fake, no hindsight, so to speak. The same thing happened with 'Bad Day', plot-wise... BUT, we didn't Know. We assumed it to be truth, making it much more dramatic to us the viewers.

We are unfortunately a jaded audience, with expectations of what an episode *should* be. What we consider should be Reality.

But the truth is.. well, you decide what Your truth is.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And even though the FF and BttS factions break out into war when I say it...

Hang in there and Stay Tuned.

((Thanks to Jester for helping me kill my writer's block

))

*VaughnMichael* · 11-22-2008, 08:38 AM

So far so much better than last week, ugh please no more episodes of them stuck in video lames.
hah I love that Casey called Mikey Mickey, made me think of all the random new people who sign up here who spell his name that way.
Boy the turtles are dumb or is that the writers? Lol @ Donald & Gondola.
Ok I know I can't be the only person who totally had an old toon flashback with April in that Yellow outfit and driving the turtles new Van.
Had another old toon moment with Raph grabbing some random fire hose on a roof, saving Mikey and then climbing up the building.
Damn now this is sooo much better than last week, I love what Raph did to Cyber Shredder that was awesome.
I also really liked when Cyber Shredder sprouted all of those arms.
I'm honestly shocked Donatello is falling for all of this and that of all of them Mikey noticed first.
In the end it finally brought Shredder out this seriously shouldn't have taken them this long.
I'm really looking forward to next week now.

**Machias Banshee** · 11-22-2008, 08:38 AM

OPEN Sesame!

edit:

Wow, you're quick!

*VaughnMichael* · 11-22-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machias Banshee

OPEN Sesame!

edit:

Wow, you're quick!

hah I was sitting here refreshing, I work overnight so I really need to go lay down now ZZZzzzzZZzzz

Aneras713 · 11-22-2008, 08:43 AM

Donny's face when he suddenly found out that he was still in cyberspace was hillarious!

*ToTheNines* · 11-22-2008, 08:45 AM

Even though most of this episode had that "been there, done that" feeling to it... I'm really pleased with it.

It was pretty funny, and I liked the fight. I thought it was cool seeing cyber-turtles fighting in the real world for some reason.

Only complaint is not enough emotion out of Casey's "death", but on the bright side: It's better than too much emotion.

*Drtooth* · 11-22-2008, 08:52 AM

A total 180 from last week's balderdash... and I think that the Shredder fight made the episode. If it was just them fighting in the cyberworld without knowing it until 5 minutes to the end, it would have been a weak copy of that 2K3 episode where everyone was about to die at the end.... I forget the title, but the one the Foot Mystics were screwing with the turtles' heads...

And all I can say:

Spoiler:

I agree... Laughin' at Mickey and Donald. Of course, Don probably should have known Serling was a fake when he didn't say the word "Miscreants" at least once. I like the character and all, but he's wading deep in prospects of drinking games.

And, I'll just assume that April was originally going to lose control and crash into the wall more dramatically but the censors didn't allow it.

Now, had they done more Foot Fighting and less playful acrobatics....

*CyberCubed* · 11-22-2008, 09:02 AM

Good episode.

I knew Shredder would finally be revived now.

kerfootw · 11-22-2008, 09:03 AM

Just saw the sneak peek for next week, both it and today's episode were good. At first I thought this episode was going to be a rehash of "Bad Day" (the one you were thinking about Drtooth) but thankfully that didn't exactly turn out to be the case. Raph's rescue of Mikey reminded me of "Die Hard" and I liked how they made good use of that black cat disguised as Shredder where it's only there for a second or two when the Turtles are up on the rooftops and then he comes back and you see it for what it was. And contrary to one of the other posters, they brought out the emotions of the Turtles pretty well, especially considering how much BTTS has held back as of late.
Pretty good fights with the Shredder too and I liked how they were able to use the old "mind over matter" (or body) lesson that's been common throughout TMNT history--especially when you consider that the whole season has been just cyber this and cyber that, but here they're able to bring both together. Pretty good twist at the end too in which the Foot are able to finish the portal even w/o Don finishing it for them.

As for the preview, the opening was pretty good. Shredder showing off his ture ninja skills even though he's a cyber replica. And I NEVER thought I'd see a Hun vs. Shredder fight! I doubt Don'll get his first date with April while touring cyberspace with her and I wonder what'll happen when they realize what's going on. And might I add that the chaos music was really professional and great! Leo tutoring Mikey on the rooftops was good too as was their hoped rescue of the train car, even though I question what Leo meant for Mikey to turn on the emergency brake 'cus surely I don't really think he meant in front of the passengers. And it was a little funny (mostly 'cus Mikey screamed back) how someone supposedly in a costume becomes their biggest worry...
Really looking forward to how this plays out next Saturday. Thanks for reading.

*MrPliggins* · 11-22-2008, 09:32 AM

today's episode was ok, but it should've happened weeks ago. I never thought I'd see Shredder escape the cyber world. Ok, so April talks with Casey's voice, and the Turtles still think she's the real April? The cyber stuff is starting to get redundant and old...I'm kinda glad this wasn't a 26 episode season.

kerfootw · 11-22-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPliggins

today's episode was ok, but it should've happened weeks ago. I never thought I'd see Shredder escape the cyber world. Ok, so April talks with Casey's voice, and the Turtles still think she's the real April? The cyber stuff is starting to get redundant and old...I'm kinda glad this wasn't a 26 episode season.

Dude, not only did they have very much time to question it, they also didn't believe Mikey when he said that the building moved, and she was about to (and did) die.

*gobo* · 11-22-2008, 09:49 AM

What a rush...

*Drtooth* · 11-22-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPliggins

Ok, so April talks with Casey's voice, and the Turtles still think she's the real April?

Hey, in the OT, Donatello talked with Raph's voice, and Leonardo talked with Mikey's voice, Don and Raph's voices kept changing and no one knew anything was wrong!

maryshine · 11-22-2008, 11:10 AM

I thought the episodes so far this season were okay. But this one was painful to watch!

Does anyone have the link for the preview of next week's espisode? I've been looking for it on CW.kids and I can't even find teh TMNT page. Thanks!

TerranigmaFreak · 11-22-2008, 11:13 AM

I see this episode as Bad Day done right. Also agree they brought out more emotions of the turtles. Hell, this probably the only episode I can think of in the entire run of the series that actually brought out their emotions after a death, or at least felt more real.

**Jester** · 11-22-2008, 11:34 AM

It's that time again...
To clean our underpants?
To floss?
No, it's time for Jester's Running Commentary!!

Spoiler:

*Raph's Girl* · 11-22-2008, 11:47 AM

Spoiler:

Well frak!! That was a major sneaky idea of Shredder! Now he's in the real world and gonna cause major trouble next week!!

But the thing is...the foot made it so that the turtles were familiar with everything right down to their lair. Does this mean Shredder knows where the turtles live??

Next week: Remember that ep of the OS or even the issue of TMNT Adventures where tech was running amok and April saved the day by pulling the plug? Yeah...it's like that....only with subway trains...

kerfootw · 11-22-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerranigmaFreak

I see this episode as Bad Day done right. Also agree they brought out more emotions of the turtles. Hell, this probably the only episode I can think of in the entire run of the series that actually brought out their emotions after a death, or at least felt more real.

What do you mean "done right"? That episode was done right too, it's one of my favorites.

*CyberCubed* · 11-22-2008, 12:55 PM

It was a good episode. The cyber world stuff is starting to get old, but as said the season is pretty much over now so it doesn't matter.

If there is a Season 8 I hope the cyberworld stuff is replaced by something new.

*cowabunga14* · 11-22-2008, 01:56 PM

This episode was pretty good. I'm glad it got into the more exciting aspects and was what most wanted to see. Shredder's starting to seem like a greater threat, which is remaining interesting. I wonder how things will play out next week regarding Shredder being a threat. Hopefully he'll be quite a challenge for the Turtles, much like previous episodes.

The action was mostly what I expected, but in a good way. The cyber aspect didn't seem to bother me a second time because it didn't seem like there was too much of a focus on it.

All in all, I was pleased with this episode even though there could've been a tad bit more humor, but I can kinda see why there wasn't. Next week's looks good, especially regarding Casey and Shredder.

View Poll Results: Did your Reality Check bounce?
Gondala!	15	42.86%
The building MOVED!	14	40.00%
The distraction is not perfect...	6	17.14%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll

11-22-2008, 08:43 AM	#5
Aneras713 Hench Mutant Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA (or anywhere near a computer) Posts: 314	Donny's face when he suddenly found out that he was still in cyberspace was hillarious! __________________ Why the shell am I here? Cause it's 3:15 in the morning and what else am I gonna do?

11-22-2008, 08:52 AM	#7
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	A total 180 from last week's balderdash... and I think that the Shredder fight made the episode. If it was just them fighting in the cyberworld without knowing it until 5 minutes to the end, it would have been a weak copy of that 2K3 episode where everyone was about to die at the end.... I forget the title, but the one the Foot Mystics were screwing with the turtles' heads... And all I can say: Spoiler: About Damn time. You really should have gotten Shredder out a couple weeks ago, instead of stalling. NOW the series is going to get back on track. And if you can't get Shredder out with regular detergents, try new Oxyclean! I agree... Laughin' at Mickey and Donald. Of course, Don probably should have known Serling was a fake when he didn't say the word "Miscreants" at least once. I like the character and all, but he's wading deep in prospects of drinking games. And, I'll just assume that April was originally going to lose control and crash into the wall more dramatically but the censors didn't allow it. Now, had they done more Foot Fighting and less playful acrobatics.... __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

11-22-2008, 09:49 AM	#12
gobo Wacky Action Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: on Earth Posts: 12,784	What a rush... __________________ Live and let live... or go to hell.

11-22-2008, 11:13 AM	#15
TerranigmaFreak Stone Warrior Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 715	I see this episode as Bad Day done right. Also agree they brought out more emotions of the turtles. Hell, this probably the only episode I can think of in the entire run of the series that actually brought out their emotions after a death, or at least felt more real. __________________ First footage of the new R rated TMNT movie.

11-22-2008, 08:38 AM	#2
VaughnMichael I'm Baaaaaaccck! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11,833	So far so much better than last week, ugh please no more episodes of them stuck in video lames. hah I love that Casey called Mikey Mickey, made me think of all the random new people who sign up here who spell his name that way. Boy the turtles are dumb or is that the writers? Lol @ Donald & Gondola. Ok I know I can't be the only person who totally had an old toon flashback with April in that Yellow outfit and driving the turtles new Van. Had another old toon moment with Raph grabbing some random fire hose on a roof, saving Mikey and then climbing up the building. Damn now this is sooo much better than last week, I love what Raph did to Cyber Shredder that was awesome. I also really liked when Cyber Shredder sprouted all of those arms. I'm honestly shocked Donatello is falling for all of this and that of all of them Mikey noticed first. In the end it finally brought Shredder out this seriously shouldn't have taken them this long. I'm really looking forward to next week now.

11-22-2008, 08:38 AM	#3
Machias Banshee Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 17,163	OPEN Sesame! edit: Wow, you're quick!

11-22-2008, 08:45 AM	#6
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,039	Even though most of this episode had that "been there, done that" feeling to it... I'm really pleased with it. It was pretty funny, and I liked the fight. I thought it was cool seeing cyber-turtles fighting in the real world for some reason. Only complaint is not enough emotion out of Casey's "death", but on the bright side: It's better than too much emotion.

11-22-2008, 09:02 AM	#8
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,693	Good episode. I knew Shredder would finally be revived now.

11-22-2008, 09:03 AM	#9
kerfootw Hench Mutant Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 405	Just saw the sneak peek for next week, both it and today's episode were good. At first I thought this episode was going to be a rehash of "Bad Day" (the one you were thinking about Drtooth) but thankfully that didn't exactly turn out to be the case. Raph's rescue of Mikey reminded me of "Die Hard" and I liked how they made good use of that black cat disguised as Shredder where it's only there for a second or two when the Turtles are up on the rooftops and then he comes back and you see it for what it was. And contrary to one of the other posters, they brought out the emotions of the Turtles pretty well, especially considering how much BTTS has held back as of late. Pretty good fights with the Shredder too and I liked how they were able to use the old "mind over matter" (or body) lesson that's been common throughout TMNT history--especially when you consider that the whole season has been just cyber this and cyber that, but here they're able to bring both together. Pretty good twist at the end too in which the Foot are able to finish the portal even w/o Don finishing it for them. As for the preview, the opening was pretty good. Shredder showing off his ture ninja skills even though he's a cyber replica. And I NEVER thought I'd see a Hun vs. Shredder fight! I doubt Don'll get his first date with April while touring cyberspace with her and I wonder what'll happen when they realize what's going on. And might I add that the chaos music was really professional and great! Leo tutoring Mikey on the rooftops was good too as was their hoped rescue of the train car, even though I question what Leo meant for Mikey to turn on the emergency brake 'cus surely I don't really think he meant in front of the passengers. And it was a little funny (mostly 'cus Mikey screamed back) how someone supposedly in a costume becomes their biggest worry... Really looking forward to how this plays out next Saturday. Thanks for reading.

11-22-2008, 09:32 AM	#10
MrPliggins Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,050	today's episode was ok, but it should've happened weeks ago. I never thought I'd see Shredder escape the cyber world. Ok, so April talks with Casey's voice, and the Turtles still think she's the real April? The cyber stuff is starting to get redundant and old...I'm kinda glad this wasn't a 26 episode season.

11-22-2008, 11:10 AM	#14
maryshine Foot Soldier Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 118	I thought the episodes so far this season were okay. But this one was painful to watch! Does anyone have the link for the preview of next week's espisode? I've been looking for it on CW.kids and I can't even find teh TMNT page. Thanks!

11-22-2008, 11:34 AM	#16
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,293	It's that time again... To clean our underpants? To floss? No, it's time for Jester's Running Commentary!! Spoiler: Yea More cyber world stuff...wait technically this whole episode is there...Oh...boy... How does the Foot know about the new Lair and Serling? Of course it doesn't because [Admiral Akbar]It's a trap![/Admiral Akbar] Mickey....wow, they get that wrong but the lair and Serling are perfect. This diversion is far from perfect... Yes, that'll make them not realize it's fake...moving buildings. Is it sad that Mikey's the first to question this "reality"? Donald? Man Khaaaannnn!!!'s recon on the Turtles is a little shaky. Gandala....ok they are trying way to hard....why aren't the guys noticing how wrong this is. Wow...more emotion for Casey than Splinter. Ok...what the shell?? Is there a glitch in the Matrix? No...freaky not-April...she's...not-dead. Thank you Raph...what the shell is going on... Bingo, Leo... Oye...not Cybernaught armor...way too Power Ranger-esque...sorry Zarius. Again, Bingo Leo. Man, is that Shredder's catch phrase: "You will not leave here alive!" If the Turtles have all these powers in the cyber relm, why not just skunk Tin Skin in cyber space. Oh, he had powers too...right.... Wait...."Shred-head"...oh boy! Couldn't Shredder just alter virtual NYC to make the Turtles get turned around inb their own sewers?? Heck, if the Turtles "go home" then Khaaaannn!!! would have to know where "home" is....wouldn't he...my head hurts. Great, more Donnie angst...not just for spliting Splinter, but for "helping" Shredder. Khaaaannnn! Vader: Yes, my Master! Uh oh...Shredder's back...if slightly anti-climatic. Next Week: How does Real Cyber Shredder still have cyber powers? __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

11-22-2008, 11:47 AM	#17
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Spoiler: Darn it all...I still haven't seen last week's ep...meh.. :/ Meanwhile online... portal go boooom! Perhaps you should all you know... HELP Casey and Serling put out the fire instead of standing there going "Great...what do we do now to find Splinter?" Funny that they're not worried that they probably lost all the databits they had gathered the last couple months Mickey? Khaaaaaaan! Klunk is now a black kitty.... Darn...I hate it when a building moves as Im trying to jump to it... Thankfully there was a firehose on the roof that was long enough... Donald... lmoa Gondala! Casey go booom! Guys: "Waaaa!!! Casey's dead!" April: "Meh..." Awww...Mikey's the saddest over April going boom... Leo looked constipated... Shredder the kitty?! Cyber punch! That's lots of arms! Cyber boom!! Cyber bug! Meeep!!! Well frak!! That was a major sneaky idea of Shredder! Now he's in the real world and gonna cause major trouble next week!! But the thing is...the foot made it so that the turtles were familiar with everything right down to their lair. Does this mean Shredder knows where the turtles live?? Next week: Remember that ep of the OS or even the issue of TMNT Adventures where tech was running amok and April saved the day by pulling the plug? Yeah...it's like that....only with subway trains... __________________

11-22-2008, 12:55 PM	#19
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,693	It was a good episode. The cyber world stuff is starting to get old, but as said the season is pretty much over now so it doesn't matter. If there is a Season 8 I hope the cyberworld stuff is replaced by something new.

11-22-2008, 01:56 PM	#20
cowabunga14 Lover of Weird Things Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CA Posts: 4,014	This episode was pretty good. I'm glad it got into the more exciting aspects and was what most wanted to see. Shredder's starting to seem like a greater threat, which is remaining interesting. I wonder how things will play out next week regarding Shredder being a threat. Hopefully he'll be quite a challenge for the Turtles, much like previous episodes. The action was mostly what I expected, but in a good way. The cyber aspect didn't seem to bother me a second time because it didn't seem like there was too much of a focus on it. All in all, I was pleased with this episode even though there could've been a tad bit more humor, but I can kinda see why there wasn't. Next week's looks good, especially regarding Casey and Shredder. __________________ How can something so beautiful shine on something so dreadful?