If you had to write a 6th episode of the 1987 S1 Pilot, what would you have done?

Fishface · 03-19-2026, 09:42 PM

I would have had an episode based on the mutated punks, as well as Shredder using them similar to the Punk Frogs. Would have been cool to see Scrag, Grunt, Dumbo, and Dopey in battle. I also would have had an explanation of what happened to the human foot soldiers we see in the first episode of the show when they took over in Japan.

*neatoman* · 03-20-2026, 08:06 AM

I assume you mean something that continues the story from where the fifth episode left off, with the actual second season onwards not being taken into account? Well you see, I had this awesome idea of having a marine biologist transform into an eco-terrorist manta ray...

No but seriously. I think I would just have the human foot clan reform or something while leaving Shredder stranded in Dimension X, never to be heard from again.

*ToTheNines* · 03-20-2026, 08:27 AM

Episode with the turtles going to Dimension X and helping Fugitoid against the Triceratons. Could also give Krang way more backstory.

*Jephael* · 03-21-2026, 09:55 PM

Basically the first act of "Return of The Shredder", but instead of going to the Slash for Cash Dojo and recruiting those guys to dress up like the Turtles, he goes straight to Baxter Stockman and has him build mechanized armor like he had in the first Michael Bay film... except without Krang's Dimension X technology to aid him, the armor falls apart the moment he attempts to fight the Turtles.

*Prowler* · 03-21-2026, 10:06 PM

I've never thought about it and honestly, I can't think of anything. Those 5 episodes were all pretty good and satisfying.

*ZariusTwo* · 03-22-2026, 03:07 AM

If you something with the style and tone of those first five episodes, then you're probably best adapting a couple of early Archies to the small screen.

*Jephael* · 03-22-2026, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

If you something with the style and tone of those first five episodes, then you're probably best adapting a couple of early Archies to the small screen.

Pretty much everything from #5 to #25 along with the Mighty Mutanimals spin-off!

Looney Turtles · 05-09-2026, 04:36 PM

I wouldn't. Shredder and Krang were sent to Dimension X in the fifth episode. The series was originally intended to be a mini-series, which is why they were sent to Dimension X in the fifth episode. That was supposed to be it for them. While they were brought back in the Season 2 premiere, I thought it was better done that way than it would be in a 6th episode of the first season.

*ToTheNines* · 05-09-2026, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looney Turtles

I wouldn't. Shredder and Krang were sent to Dimension X in the fifth episode. The series was originally intended to be a mini-series, which is why they were sent to Dimension X in the fifth episode. That was supposed to be it for them. While they were brought back in the Season 2 premiere, I thought it was better done that way than it would be in a 6th episode of the first season.

I didn’t take the prompt as “write episode 6”, since episode 5 was such a good finale. I assumed he meant just plug in an extra episode anywhere.

*CyberCubed* · 05-09-2026, 06:32 PM

I suppose you could of thrown in Casey Jones debut in Season 1, with a completely different plot than his debut in Season 3. If the show continued he'd still appear in Season 3 but the Turtles would know him already.

**Jester** · 05-09-2026, 08:45 PM

Any idea when production began on the '87 mini-series? Then you could plug in ideas from the 1st volume of the comics that happened before that run. I mean, we get Baxter and Mousers so why not some introduction to Casey or the Fugitoid and Triceratons, but in that '87 style. Heck, now I'm wondering why Wise created Tragg and the Rock Soldiers when he could have had the Triceraton's as Krang's Dimension X minions. (I mean what kid wouldn't want an army of dinosaur toys?)

How much are we modifying the original mini-series to fit our 6th episode?

Oh...maybe my 6th episode would take place after Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X and sees the Turtles accidentally pulled into Dimension X with the Neutrinos where they face more of Krang's forces and enlist Prof. Honeycutt/ The Fugitoid and his transmat to get home (since Krang's portal tech is stolen from Honeycutt) to stop the Shredder and Krang before it's too late. It may even give Donatello a chance to work on the portal so he's not just working on the fly in Shredder & Splintered.

*neatoman* · 05-10-2026, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

Any idea when production began on the '87 mini-series? Then you could plug in ideas from the 1st volume of the comics that happened before that run. I mean, we get Baxter and Mousers so why not some introduction to Casey or the Fugitoid and Triceratons, but in that '87 style. Heck, now I'm wondering why Wise created Tragg and the Rock Soldiers when he could have had the Triceraton's as Krang's Dimension X minions. (I mean what kid wouldn't want an army of dinosaur toys?)

How much are we modifying the original mini-series to fit our 6th episode?

Oh...maybe my 6th episode would take place after Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X and sees the Turtles accidentally pulled into Dimension X with the Neutrinos where they face more of Krang's forces and enlist Prof. Honeycutt/ The Fugitoid and his transmat to get home (since Krang's portal tech is stolen from Honeycutt) to stop the Shredder and Krang before it's too late. It may even give Donatello a chance to work on the portal so he's not just working on the fly in Shredder & Splintered.

These alternative designs for Krang by Peter Laird are dated to late august 1987 and I think he claimed it was to dissuade the staff from actually going with the absurd design they actually did end up using. If that's true then season 1 was animated in less than five months:

*ToTheNines* · 05-14-2026, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

Any idea when production began on the '87 mini-series? Then you could plug in ideas from the 1st volume of the comics that happened before that run. I mean, we get Baxter and Mousers so why not some introduction to Casey or the Fugitoid and Triceratons, but in that '87 style. Heck, now I'm wondering why Wise created Tragg and the Rock Soldiers when he could have had the Triceraton's as Krang's Dimension X minions. (I mean what kid wouldn't want an army of dinosaur toys?)

How much are we modifying the original mini-series to fit our 6th episode?

Oh...maybe my 6th episode would take place after Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X and sees the Turtles accidentally pulled into Dimension X with the Neutrinos where they face more of Krang's forces and enlist Prof. Honeycutt/ The Fugitoid and his transmat to get home (since Krang's portal tech is stolen from Honeycutt) to stop the Shredder and Krang before it's too late. It may even give Donatello a chance to work on the portal so he's not just working on the fly in Shredder & Splintered.

Both of those are great ideas!

The only other idea I’ll throw in as a possible episode #6 would be an adaptation of Michaelangelo #1.

Season 1 takes place in June, but since it debuted in December of 1987 it could have been fun for episodes 6 to be a standalone Christmas special. Maybe have Michelangelo and Klunk as the B plot while the other 3 stop Shredder from kidnapping Santa. The plots converge at the end and Santa helps Mike get the toys back to the orphanage.

Or something.

*Zachatello00* · 05-14-2026, 08:36 AM

I've thought about this a lot. I think it would be fun to see the 87 turtles go through a "Fred-Wolfed" version of the mirage stories.

I'd bring back the Mousers and Stockman as a villain (keeping Shredder in Dimension X for now), with the mousers attacking Splinter (off screen) leading to his being abducted/restored by the Utroms. That would lead the turtles to space to deal with Honeycutt and the Triceratons, and we're off and running from there.

*ToTheNines* · 05-14-2026, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zachatello00

I've thought about this a lot. I think it would be fun to see the 87 turtles go through a "Fred-Wolfed" version of the mirage stories.

I'd bring back the Mousers and Stockman as a villain (keeping Shredder in Dimension X for now), with the mousers attacking Splinter (off screen) leading to his being abducted/restored by the Utroms. That would lead the turtles to space to deal with Honeycutt and the Triceratons, and we're off and running from there.

Yeah, that is fun. You could even pull off Leonardo #1/Silent Partner with Shredder and the Foot coming back from Dimension X unannounced. Maybe it would be Donatello who took the beat down since he was responsible sending Shredder through the portal and is the most important member of the team.

Then of course once you get to Return to New York:

Spoiler:

*Zachatello00* · 05-14-2026, 10:55 AM

Definitely like the idea of Casey Jones being a much more important part of the series; we never saw the FW turtles make it to the farmhouse.

Looney Turtles · 05-14-2026, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zachatello00

Definitely like the idea of Casey Jones being a much more important part of the series; we never saw the FW turtles make it to the farmhouse.

Yeah, when I first found out that Casey Jones was actually only in 5 episodes of the 1987 series, I was shocked. He's such a big part of the TMNT lore, it's easy to assume he would have been at least been a recurring character that pops up at least a few times per season, when in truth, he was barely a minor character.

*Andrew NDB* · 05-14-2026, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatoman

These alternative designs for Krang by Peter Laird are dated to late august 1987 and I think he claimed it was to dissuade the staff from actually going with the absurd design they actually did end up using. If that's true then season 1 was animated in less than five months:
https://live.staticflickr.com/2052/2...4acb0678_b.jpg

Looks like Laird brought that right design back for... what was it, the T-Cell nanobots in Vol. 4 that they shot into April?

03-21-2026, 09:55 PM	#4
Jephael That whack job behind you Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania Posts: 8,142	Basically the first act of "Return of The Shredder", but instead of going to the Slash for Cash Dojo and recruiting those guys to dress up like the Turtles, he goes straight to Baxter Stockman and has him build mechanized armor like he had in the first Michael Bay film... except without Krang's Dimension X technology to aid him, the armor falls apart the moment he attempts to fight the Turtles. __________________ "I like it. Simple, but effective!" Raphael; The Mean Machines - 1988

05-09-2026, 08:45 PM	#11
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,293	Any idea when production began on the '87 mini-series? Then you could plug in ideas from the 1st volume of the comics that happened before that run. I mean, we get Baxter and Mousers so why not some introduction to Casey or the Fugitoid and Triceratons, but in that '87 style. Heck, now I'm wondering why Wise created Tragg and the Rock Soldiers when he could have had the Triceraton's as Krang's Dimension X minions. (I mean what kid wouldn't want an army of dinosaur toys?) How much are we modifying the original mini-series to fit our 6th episode? Oh...maybe my 6th episode would take place after Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X and sees the Turtles accidentally pulled into Dimension X with the Neutrinos where they face more of Krang's forces and enlist Prof. Honeycutt/ The Fugitoid and his transmat to get home (since Krang's portal tech is stolen from Honeycutt) to stop the Shredder and Krang before it's too late. It may even give Donatello a chance to work on the portal so he's not just working on the fly in Shredder & Splintered. __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

05-14-2026, 08:36 AM	#14
Zachatello00 On the beat! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hiding behind the phone booth Posts: 2,131	I've thought about this a lot. I think it would be fun to see the 87 turtles go through a "Fred-Wolfed" version of the mirage stories. I'd bring back the Mousers and Stockman as a villain (keeping Shredder in Dimension X for now), with the mousers attacking Splinter (off screen) leading to his being abducted/restored by the Utroms. That would lead the turtles to space to deal with Honeycutt and the Triceratons, and we're off and running from there. __________________ "You're still news!"

05-14-2026, 10:55 AM	#16
Zachatello00 On the beat! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hiding behind the phone booth Posts: 2,131	Definitely like the idea of Casey Jones being a much more important part of the series; we never saw the FW turtles make it to the farmhouse. __________________ "You're still news!"

03-19-2026, 09:42 PM	#1
Fishface Foot Soldier Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 177	If you had to write a 6th episode of the 1987 S1 Pilot, what would you have done? I would have had an episode based on the mutated punks, as well as Shredder using them similar to the Punk Frogs. Would have been cool to see Scrag, Grunt, Dumbo, and Dopey in battle. I also would have had an explanation of what happened to the human foot soldiers we see in the first episode of the show when they took over in Japan.

03-20-2026, 08:27 AM	#3
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,084	Episode with the turtles going to Dimension X and helping Fugitoid against the Triceratons. Could also give Krang way more backstory.

03-22-2026, 03:07 AM	#6
ZariusTwo Overlord Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Britain, DINO THUNDER...POWER UP! Posts: 22,305	If you something with the style and tone of those first five episodes, then you're probably best adapting a couple of early Archies to the small screen. __________________ Spider-Man: The Rescue Spider-Man: The Galloping Cat Spider-Man: Scarlet Mirror Doctor Who: Child of the Daleks

05-09-2026, 04:36 PM	#8
Looney Turtles Random Punk Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 46	I wouldn't. Shredder and Krang were sent to Dimension X in the fifth episode. The series was originally intended to be a mini-series, which is why they were sent to Dimension X in the fifth episode. That was supposed to be it for them. While they were brought back in the Season 2 premiere, I thought it was better done that way than it would be in a 6th episode of the first season.

05-09-2026, 06:32 PM	#10
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,721	I suppose you could of thrown in Casey Jones debut in Season 1, with a completely different plot than his debut in Season 3. If the show continued he'd still appear in Season 3 but the Turtles would know him already.