Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 2

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8.5 Overall Score
Story: 9/10
Acting: 7/10
Visuals: 9/10

Great looking with smart adaptations of Turtles stories, better than season 1

Sometimes the Turtles are too goofy

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“I Love Being a Turtle!!”

The Turtles are trapped in space!  After searching for their origin at the TCRI building, the Turtles find themselves teaming with a robot called a Fugitoid and hunted by the Federation and Triceratons.  Once back on Earth, the Turtles might just learn their true origin and the ultimate secret of their enemy Shredder…plus, the Turtles find themselves in an intergalactic fighting competition.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 2 ran from November 8, 2003 to October 2, 2004 on FOX Saturday morning cartoon block.  The series continues to present stories from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.  Originally collected by 4KidsTV, the series is currently out of print.

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Super heroes TMNT style!

I used to love the 1987 version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  It was goofier than the comic and loaded with mutants and characters that were much more marketable as toys.  Here, you get some of the themes of the original comic mixed with aspects of the classic cartoon series.

I enjoyed the first season of this show, but I think I like this season a bit more.  The stories flowed better and the overall plot was more interesting.  I was glad that though the season was Shredder heavy, it felt like there were more stories touched upon.

The Turtles had lots of visitors from the comic including the Triceratons, the Fugitoid, and Miyamoto Usagi (from Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo), and Leatherhead.  I enjoyed the last Big Brawl serial in that it brought lots of characters together and felt like a true “season finale”…something weekly cartoon rarely have.

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Now can we get Miyamoto Usagi series?

The cartoon also is very stylish.  I love the art for this series.  The only thing that could have improved it was losing the color-coded Turtles (which would make the show a bit harder to follow).  The show constantly has interesting compositions (something the old show rarely did).  It is an interesting combination of manga, classic cartoon animation, and comic book art.

If you like the Turtles and haven’t seen this series make sure you check it out.  I really hope that the series goes back in print because it is very good and entertaining. It has a very pop opening theme song that really gets wedged in your head…good or bad “I love being a Turtle!”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:

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“Turtles in Space: Part 1”

2.1       Turtles in Space:  Part 1 Airdate:  11/08/03

The Fugitoid—A Fugitoid finds itself on the run from authorities when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles find themselves transported to space.  Finding themselves on the run with the Fugitoid, the Turtles learn that the Fugitoid holds the mind of  a scientist named Honeycutt who stood up against General Blank who wanted his invention for military use.

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“Turtles in Space: Part 2”

2.2       Turtles in Space:  Part 2 Airdate:  11/15/03

The Trouble with Triceratons—The Turtles and the Fugitoid try to avoid the Federation soldiers and realize they must find a way off the planet.  When the Fugitoid is captured by the Federation’s rival Triceratons, the Tutrles must travel to space to try to rescue him.

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“Turtles in Space: Part 3”

2.3       Turtles in Space:  Part 3 Airdate:  11/22/03

The Big House—The Turtles find themselves prisoners of the Triceratons as they travel to the Triceraton homeworld.  The Fugitoid learns that the Turtles are being held hostage and that he might have to work with the Triceratons to save them as they enter the Games to fight for their lives.

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“Turtles in Space: Part 4”

2.4       Turtles in Space:  Part 4 Airdate:  11/29/03

The Arena—The Turtles battle for their lives in the Games and as the Triceratons try to force the Fugitoid to make his transporter for them.  When the Turtles are found to be victorious, a free-for-all fight with all the arena’s winners is planned…and the Turtles must gain the respect of the gladiators to survive.

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“Turtles in Space: Part 5”

2.5       Turtles in Space:  Part 5 Airdate:  12/06/03

Triceraton Wars—The Turtles escape with the Fugitoid and must convince him to help them get home.  As the Federation and Triceratons move in on the Turtles and the Fugitoid, the Turtles’ chances of getting home get smaller and smaller.

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“Secret Origin: Part 1”

2.6       Secret Origins:  Part 1 Airdate:  01/17/04

The Turtles and the Fugitoid are back on Earth and learn while they were gone three weeks, on Earth only eight hours passed.  The Turtles discover Splinter is alive and the true origin of the Guardians and the aliens called Utroms…but Baxter Stockman is back and seeking the truth as well.

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“Secret Origins: Part 2”

2.7       Secret Origins:  Part 2 Airdate:  01/24/04

The Turtles are trapped in the Utroms’ recreation of their history and find themselves trapped in a virtual reality of Feudal Japan by Baxter Stockman.  With the Turtles faced by the Shredder’s ancestor and the Foot, the Turtles must seek out the Guardians of the past if they hope to escape.  The military moves in on TCRI and the Utroms might have to abandon the Turtles.

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“Secret Origins: Part 3”

2.8       Secret Origins:  Part 3 Airdate:  01/31/04

The truth of Shredder is revealed as the Turtles learn that Shredder is an Utrom.  As the Turtles and the Utroms battle Shredder, the Utrom learn that their time could be running out as the military moves in on the Utrom’s headquarters.

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“Reflections”

2.9       Reflections Airdate:  02/07/04

With the battle of TCRI over, the Turtles, Casey, and April decide for a retreat in the country to reflect over their encounters with the Shredder and how he ties into their past.

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“The Ultimate Ninja”

2.10     The Ultimate Ninja Airdate:  02/14/04

A warrior calling himself the Ultimate Ninja comes to Earth to challenge Leonardo to combat since he defeated the Shredder.  With Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, April, and Casey as hostages, Leonardo might be forced into a fight-to-the-death.

"Modern Love—The Return of Nano"

“Modern Love—The Return of Nano”

2.11     Modern Love—The Return of Nano Airdate:  02/21/04

April finds living with the Turtles in the sewers is stressful and takes Casey Jones up on an offer to work on repairing a rollercoaster at Coney Island.  When Nano returns and is determined to make a family for himself, the Turtles find they might have to crash Casey and April’s date.

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“What a Croc!”

2.12     What a Croc! Airdate:  02/28/04

While exploring the sewers for Donatello’s submarine access, Michelangelo encounters a giant mutated crocodile.  Tracking the crocodile man to the Turtle’s old home, the crocodile man reveals his name is Leatherhead, and the Turtles learn that he was created by the Utrons.  Leatherhead reveals he’s hoping to be reunited with the Utrons and his ally Baxter Stockman might turn him against the Turtles.

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“Return to the Underground”

2.13     Return to the Underground Airdate:  03/06/04

Donatello works to restore the Foot experiments from monster form and travels to the underground with the Turtles.  When they arrive to find the crystal moon gone, the Turtles discover their old allies have reverted to their monster form.  The Turtles find the crystals they need to cure their friends are potentially lost beneath lava and must battle the monsters while looking for a cure.

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“City at War: Part 1”

2.14     City at War:  Part 1 Airdate:  03/13/04

Leonardo and Raphael go out on patrol and witness ninjas caught in a gang fight.  When they discover the city is at war with the break-out of gang activity due to the Shredder’s fall, Leonardo sets out to stop the violence against Splinter’s orders…when the Turtles become involved in the battle, the source of the technology behind the fight is revealed.

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“City at War: Part 2”

2.15     City at War:  Part 2 Airdate:  03/20/04

Baxter Stockman enters the battle for power of New York City’s underworld, and the Turtles find themselves battling his creation.  As the battle intensifies, the Purple Dragons make their move to claim the turf.

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“City at War: Part 3”

2.16     City at War:  Part 3 Airdate:  03/27/04

Raphael and Leonardo continue to spar about the Turtles role in gang war.  The Turtles are confronted by Karai of the Foot who seeks to regain control of New York.  When the Shredder seems to return, the war might come to an end…but it also could be part of Karai’s plans.

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“Junklantis”

2.17     Junklantis Airdate:  04/03/04

Ships are disappearing in New York Harbor as Donatello sets out to test the Shell-Sub.  When Donatello and Michelangelo discover an underwater city, and their old enemy the Garbageman causing new problems.

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“The Golden Puck”

2.18     The Golden Puck Airdate:  04/10/04

Men attack a Super-Slam hockey game being attended by Casey Jones and the Turtles and steal the “Golden Puck”.  When Casey goes after the Golden Puck, the Turtles are forced to follow.

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“Rogue in the House: Part 1”

2.19     Rouge in the House:  Part 1 Airdate:  04/17/04

The Shredder has been resurrected but the Shredder learns that his followers have been depleted in the war for control of New York City.  With new robot agents called the Foot-Mech created by Baxter Stockman, Shredder orders a Splinter Foot-Mech sent out to destroy the Turtles.  The Turtles find a lost Triceraton from the Fugitoid mission and find themselves in battle with the android Splinter.

 

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“Rogue in the House: Part 2”

2.20     Rouge in the House:  Part 2 Airdate:  04/24/04

At the Shredder’s mercy, Karai must decide where if her honor lies with her master or what she has been taught.  As the Turtles face off against Shredder and Baxter Stockman’s creations, their greatest hope could lie in the Triceraton Zog.

 

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“April’s Artifact”

2.21     April’s Artifact Airdate:  05/01/04

April finds a strange box among her Uncle Augie’s things at the antique shop and finds herself and the Turtles transported to another world ruled by insects.  With no weapons, the Turtles and April must head into the heart of the hive if they want to return to Earth.

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“Return of the Justice Force”

2.22     Return of the Justice Force Airdate:  05/08/04

Michelangelo’s search for a Justice Force comic leads to a Turtles’ road trip with Casey Jones.  When the Turtles find the Justice Force is real, they find themselves teaming with Stainless Steve to free the Justice Force from their former ally Dr. Dome…but the real enemy might be someone from the Justice Force’s past.

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“The Big Brawl: Part 1”

2.23     Big Brawl:  Part 1 Airdate:  05/15/04

When Splinter leaves the Turtles under mysterious circumstances, the Turtles pursue him.  The Turtles open a portal to another dimension where they learn that Splinter is a competitor in the multi-dimensional competition called “The Big Brawl”.  Learning Splinter’s history in the Big Brawl, the Turtles are permitted to join the battle.

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“The Big Brawl: Part 2”

2.24     Big Brawl:  Part 2 Airdate:  09/18/04

Leonardo finds something is amiss at the Big Brawl when he is attacked by Dark Ninja Assassins…but meet an ally in Miyamoto Usagi.  As the first round of the Big Brawl begins, the Turtles find themselves in battle and one Turtle will fall.  The second round sees Splinter facing off against one of his students and Leonardo targeted once again during his fight with Miyamoto Usagi.

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“The Big Brawl: Part 3”

2.25     Big Brawl:  Part 3 Airdate:  09/25/04

Leonardo has been poisoned by Ultimate Ninja, and Donatello and Miyamoto Usagi must uncover the source.  When Ultimate Ninja reveals his deeds to his father, Splinter is framed for attacking the Daimyo, and the Ultimate Ninja’s ally is revealed.  Raphael and Michelangelo find themselves facing off in the Big Brawl…and only one will walk away a winner.

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“The Big Brawl: Part 4”

2.26     Big Brawl:  Part 4 Airdate:  10/02/04

The final battle is on!  Donatello and Miyamoto Usagi fight to protect the Daimyo from Dark Ninja Assassins as Raphael fights to free Splinter from captivity.  Michelangelo finds himself in final battle with the to become champion but Ultimate Ninja and Drako have other plans.  Plus, an old enemy targets Earth as the Turtles’ past might come back to haunt them.

Related Links:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide

 

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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