Here we come…walkin’ down the street!
The Turtles are back and continuing to battle Shredder as he, Rocksteady and Beebop attempt to get the Technodrome back to Earth. Along the way, the Turtles find themselves battling a mutated Baxter Stockman, a catform April O’Neil, and pizza monsters, while teaming up with the Nutrinos, mutant frogs, and a robot cop named Rex-1. If the Turtles aren’t able to stop Shredder, at least they can still have pizza!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 2 aired from October 1, 1988 to December 24, 1988 in syndication on Saturday mornings. Season 2 was the official “start” of the series that was originally commissioned as a mini-series to stir the waters with the new storyline based on the comic book. When both the cartoon and the first season became a success, season two also had a short Saturday morning run followed by the much longer five-day-a-week syndicated run for Season 3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 2 was collected on DVD as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Volume 2.
So apparently Krang takes showers in his android suit…
The TV series continues to diverge from comic book and makes it more “kid friendly” with goofier plots and characters. Despite the change (which almost made the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a completely different concept), the series is fun and sometimes with multiple episode storylines a bit more complex than other Saturday morning cartoons.
The art for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is average but I do commend their sometimes complex compositions. Like most cartoons of the period however, for every good composition, there are some horribly framed scenes. The 2003 version of the series is much more stylized and visual than the earlier incarnation, but this version still has heart.
Let’s kick shell!!!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 2 is pure nostalgia for me. I can recall waiting for specific episodes to come up on this show which came at the end of my “kid” viewing period of cartoons. I don’t love how the series was initially collected in these volumes, but fortunately Volume 1 is Season 1 and Volume 2 is Season 2…Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 3 was initially released as part of the Volume series with multiple volumes, but has since been collected as one massive collection.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:
“Return of the Shredder”
2.1 Return of the Shredder (Episode #6) Airdate: 10/01/88
April’s boss Mr. Thompson demands April expose the Turtles when he is manipulated by a turtle-hating woman. Splinter gets a vision that the Shredder is returning from Dimension X, and the Turtles must spring into action when Shredder sets out to frame them with the “Crooked Ninja Turtle Gang”. Shredder springs Baxter Stockman to help construct a new weapon to take down the Turtles.
“The Incredible Shrinking Turtles”
2.2 The Incredible Shrinking Turtles (Episode #7) Airdate: 10/08/88
The Turtles witness an alien crash and learn that pieces of his ship crashed on Earth. The alien reveals that the three fragments of the Eye of Zarnoth can give them ultimate power, but Shredder learns about the fragments as well. When Shredder gets ahold of one of the fragments, the Turtles find themselves shrinking in size.
“It Came from Beneath the Sewers”
2.3 It Came from Beneath the Sewers (Episode #8) Airdate: 10/15/88
The Turtles seeks the crystals of the Eye of Zarnoth and the trails leads to a carnival. When Shredder captures the shard, he creates a mutated alien plant that attacks the city.
“The Mean Machines”
2.4 The Mean Machines (Episode #9) Airdate: 10/22/88
The Turtles seek the next crystal and find their machinery acting up. Baxter works to give the crystal power and brings the crystal to life with his computer. As the crystal taps into more energy, Shredder tries to open the portal to Dimension X.
“Curse of the Evil Eye”
2.5 Curse of the Evil Eye (Episode #10) Airdate: 10/29/88
The Turtles seek the last fragment of the Eye of Zarnoth but Shredder has discovered it first. With the complete Eye of Zarnoth, Shredder could be unstoppable. Baxter Stockman makes a power grab when Shredder loses the helmet.
“Case of the Killer Pizzas”
2.6 Case of the Killer Pizzas (Episode #11) Airdate: 11/05/88
Shredder gets weapons from Krang to take on the Turtles and plans a trap for the Turtles at a pizza giveaway. When the pizzas are spiked with eggs from Dimension X, aliens are unleashed.
“Enter: The Fly”
2.7 Enter: The Fly (Episode #12) Airdate: 11/12/88
When Baxter is sent to Dimension X in exchange for Beebop and Rocksteady, and Shredder targets April with a Doku Plant. When Baxter is accidentally merged with a fly, Shredder might use Baxter to stop the Turtles form saving April.
“Invasion of the Punk Frogs”
2.8 Invasion of the Punk Frogs (Episode #13) Airdate: 11/10/88
Mutagen is sent from Dimension X during an ion storm and accidentally ends up in a Florida swamp. The mutagen creates four mutant frogs, and Shredder plots to use the frogs against the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When the frogs are believed to be the Turtles, the city turns on the Turtles.
“Splinter No More”
2.9 Splinter No More (Episode #14) Airdate: 11/19/88
The Turtles manage to mix the last of the mutagen to restore Splinter to human form and the Turtles fear he will never come back. Shredder works to open a portal to Dimension X and tries to turn the Turtles against each other.
“New York’s Shiniest”
2.10 New York’s Shiniest (Episode #15) Airdate: 12/10/88
New York’s crime problem is growing more dangerous and Rex-1 has been created to stop the crime problem. When Rex-1 believes April is his controller, April finds she can’t get rid of him. When Shredder copies Rex-1, the Turtles and Rex-1 must stop the invading force.
“Teenagers from Dimension X”
2.11 Teenagers from Dimension X (Episode #16) Airdate: 12/10/88
The Neutrinos come to Earth to help the Turtles but are captured by Shredder. The Turtles rescue the Neutrinos and have to help them escape Shredder, Beebop, and Rocksteady but discover that they could be trapped on Earth.
“The Catwoman from Channel Six”
2.12 The Catwoman from Channel Six (Episode #17) Airdate: 12/17/88
When April investigates Shredder’s use of a matter transmitter, she accidentally is merged with a cat. As April slowly gives into the cat side of her, Irma contacts the Turtles for help in rescuing April.
“Return of the Technodrome”
2.13 Return of the Technodrome (Episode #18) Airdate: 12/24/88
Shredder and Krang succeed in bringing the Technodrome back to Earth. Now in battle, the Turtles fight to stop Krang and Shredder’s evil plans in a raid of the base.
Related Links:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 6 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 8 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 9 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Season 10 Review and Complete Episode Guide
