NickToons TMNT Episode 7- Monkey Brains

 By Mark Rodriguez

Originally written on November 16, 2012. Keep in mind, these were our thoughts as they were back in 2012 when the show was new and was written shortly after seeing the episodes after their initial broadcast. At the time we had zero way of knowing what to expect.

We start with Don and Mike having a spar session. Don is about to throw Mike with a Seoi Nage throw, but he backflips out of it. Don argues how one can't just backflip out of that technique and mentions several ways to counter it. Splinter walks in and says it's better not to think so much during a fight and just do it. He then uses Saoi Nage against Don, to which he couldn't defend against, and Mike pokes fun saying a backflip would have worked.

Later on, Don is working on his 'master plan' which is a flowchart to help him hang out with April no matter what excuse she might come up with to get out of it. Just then April comes in with a laptop telling them that a scientist named Rockwell was recently kidnapped, and his assistant Dr. Falco knows nothing about it. April suggests that since The Kraang have been kidnapping scientists all over town, they should look around Rockwell's lab. Don takes this as a chance to hang with her alone. As they leave, Leo jokes that this was something that Don couldn't have predicted on his flowchart.... until he checks the chart and finds out that he did.

Don and April sneak into the lab and find Mutagen. Someone attacks Don until April turns on the light to reveal it was Dr. Falco. They ask him about the Mutagen, and Falco tells them that The Kraang paid Rockwell to experiment with it. He also mentions a monkey Rockwell was experimenting with. April thinks maybe the monkey broke out of its cage and dragged Rockwell off.

Don and April head home as Don tells her that he swiped a flash drive from the lab that might give them more information on Rockwell. Just then they are attacked by the escaped monkey. Don tries to fight him but is easily taken down. The monkey is about to attack April, but she manages to calm him down. The monkey lets her go and runs off into the night.

April drags Don home, and as soon as everything is ok, the Turtles laugh over his embarrassing defeat. Later on, Don is alone pondering how a monkey was able to defeat him. Splinter reminds him that he can't be thinking too much during a fight. Mikey wanders in listening to his music and Splinter attacks him. Don is surprised to see Mikey dodge and defend against his moves, even when still listening to his jams. Splinter says he must find the space between his thoughts and live there.

April checks the flash drive and finds notes on Rockwell modifying the Mutagen to help someone read people's thoughts and emotions. The monkey was able to read others' emotions, which is why it was only hostile when Don was hostile. Leo decides it's time to spread out and search. Raph asks how everyone will stay in touch, and Don reveals this show's version of the Turtlecom/Shell Cell... the T-Phone. Mike is disappointed that he didn't get to name it.

The Turtles hit the streets and track down the monkey. April finally finds him hidden in a dumpster and calms him down. Mikey then ties him up with his kusarigama. April looks into the mokey's eyes and has the feeling that the monkey is Dr. Rockwell. The gang take the monkey to Dr. Falco, and he promises to take care of him.

Back at the lair, Splinter wonders how April was able to determine that the monkey was once a human. April says it's a feeling she gets, and this intrigues him. As they eat pizza, Don continues to check the flashdrive and finds out that Rockwell and Falco never had a monkey, but were experimenting with monkey DNA. This means Falco mutated Rockwell into a monkey and was experimenting on him. The Turtles head back to the lab to face him.

At the lab Falco removes a sample from Rockwell's brain and injects himself with it. As the Turtles arrive, Falco reveals he is able to read their minds and predict their moves. He easily dodges and sidesteps all of Raph and Leo's attacks and defeats them. Mike thinks it will be easy to beat him, but he spends too much time thinking about not thinking that he is quickly taken down. It's up to Don, and after a little trouble, he is able to tune out his thoughts and attack Falco on instinct alone. The Turtles congratulate Don and decide to question Falco further, but he already got away. They also let Rockwell free and he runs out into the city.

Later on in the lair, Splinter tells April he is impressed by the skill she has in being able to read people's feelings and decides to train her as a kunoichi. April accepts the offer and heads off. As she does so, Don asks her to hang out. April turns him down since she will be busy training with Splinter. Don looks through his flowchart and actually finds that possibility and offers to help her train. April agrees and Don cheers that his flowchart is awesome, as Raphael rolls his eyes.

My thoughts-

This was a fun episode, and while Don and April got to hang out, it still gave enough attention to the rest of the cast. My favorite part was Don's flowchart. He REALLY did put down every possible answer April might give, didn't he? The fight scene with Falco was cool, though I'm surprised Leo went full force with his swords against an unarmed man. Of course, Falco was able to dodge every strike, following the rule of kiddy cartoons where one can only swing a sharp weapon at someone if the move is dodged, blocked or otherwise avoided. I wonder how everyone would have reacted if Leo actually did slice the guy to ribbons.

Don and April hanging out was ok, but not much really happened. He did manage to impress her a little with his electronic lockpick, but he didn't any stupid or awkward comments or anything to freak her out at all. I do wonder how this whole 'Don likes April' thing will continue, and I have to admit, it was funny when Falco asked Don if he really thought he had a chance with her. I know a lot of people have been finding this whole scenario awkward, but it doesn't really bother me. It adds more character to Don and brings on more comedy. April herself seems rather awkward towards the whole thing. She can't be completely oblivious to it, especially after the Metalhead episode, but we do know she only sees him as a friend.

As for Falco, wow, he has some quick reflexes for a scientist guy. They should have mentioned that the mutagen gave him Rockwell's monkey moves or something because it's one thing to know a sword is coming at you... it's another thing to actually be fast enough to get out of the way of it. Especially fast consecutive sword strikes.

As for Rockwell himself... he basically just looked like a monkey, as in a normal monkey. I wonder why the Mutagen didn't make him look more human, or at least talk. Maybe Falco's tampering with the psychic powered Mutagen did this, but it is interesting to see how Mutagen can be altered in many ways. I do feel the Turtles just letting Rockwell to run wild in the city like they did with Spiderbytes reeked of 'eh, the episode's almost over, why bother', but oh well.

I am surprised that Splinter offered to train April this early into the series. We'll see how that goes. I probably mentioned this before, but I do love the use of Japanese terms, like the Seoi Nage and Kunoichi. And finally... the T-Phone... I kinda knew they were gonna do something like that. After all, the Turtlecom was based on walkie-talkies, and the Shell Cell was, of course, a cellphone... so it kinda made sense for the new TMNT communication device to be based on an i-phone. And hey, Don already put games on it. I wonder if this will lead to helpful apps in the future. But even so... I noticed that the T-Phone and Shell Cell still lack the best feature of the Turtlecom... letting you actually see the person you're talking to on a small screen. That's hardcore dude.