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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 4 Review

The fourth season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a new low for the series with too many either rehashed or ridiculous episodes and not enough great ones.

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“Shredder, come see my newest invention“

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Plan Six from Outer Space finds a good use of Rocksteady and Bebop and they are quite a lot of fun here. Turtles of the Jungle is your typical gimmicky episode, but it is solid and far from the worst that the setting could have led to.

Michelangelo Toys Around is just a ploy to sell more toys to kids with a silly storyline and not enough humor. Peking Turtle is much better than the previous episode as it is unique in the Japanese setting and it is an action-packed, fun little episode.

Shredder’s Mom is definitely one of the season’s finest episodes. Although silly, it is positively silly and his mom is so funny and the banter between the two is hilarious. This episode is certainly out there, but it is so much fun that I could not resist it. Four Turtles and a Baby is silly and typical. The Neutrinos are getting dull by now, seriously.

The toy collector wants to collect the turtles for his collection in Turtlemaniac – a silly, but actually rather entertaining episode. Rondo in New York, on the other hand, is so forgettable that I forgot it entirely.

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Planet of the Turtles has a killer premise, but not that great execution. It should have been much funnier and much more entertaining. Name That Toon is too silly, forgettable and ultimately uninspired.

Menace Maestro, Please is a dull opera episode that works as a pretty weak parody. Super Hero for a Day is actually a pretty good superhero parody that is silly, but certainly a lot of fun.

Back to the Egg is a guilty pleasure. It is silly and childish, but seeing Michelangelo and Leonardo as little boys definitely provided a couple of heartwarming/fun moments. The Turtles and the Hare is also solid and definitely enough fun to compensate for all of its silliness. This show truly is silly.

Once Upon a Time Machine is also solid and I would like to get more of these time travel TMNT episodes as they can be surprisingly solid. Son of Return of the Fly II has a forgettable computer, but Baxter is always a welcome villain on this show.

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Raphael Knocks ‘Em Dead is entirely implausible, but seeing Raphael become a stand-up comedian was sometimes cringy, but mostly entertaining as he has always been my favorite turtle. Bebop and Rocksteady Conquer the Universe is delightfully silly and fun, but far from great. These two are amusing nonetheless.

Raphael Meets His Match should have been better given the premise, but it does have its sweet moments between Raphael and that lizard lady. Slash – The Evil Turtle from Dimension X introduces this new villain who should be important, but is ultimately not all that well utilized.

Leonardo Lightens Up has a solid premise, but Leonardo still remains boring and this episode was cringe-worthy in its humor. One of the worst parts of the season for sure. Were-Rats from Dimension X is not that great use of the Rat King as we’ve seen the kidnapping of Irma and Vernon plot many times before.

Funny, They Shrunk Michelangelo is your cliched cartoon shrinking episode and it is so dull and weakly animated leading to one of the worst episodes of the fourth season. The Big Zipp Attack is your typical alien episode and one of the most boring and inconsequential ones.

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Donatello Makes Time features a solid new gadget, a fun mad scientist villain and very good scenarios and action leading to one of the season’s finest entries. Farewell, Lotus Blossom! is okay, but I was never a fan of her character so I didn’t love this episode too.

Rebel Without a Fin is such a ridiculous, cliched episode where April gets turned into a fish. It is both dull and uninspired. Rhino-Man is actually pretty solid and definitely different than usual in its interesting, fun plot.

Michelangelo Meets Bugman is fine. Again silly in superheroics, but with a good and memorable use of Michelangelo. Poor Little Rich Turtle is actually pretty well crafted and entertaining and watching the foursome tackle an annoying teenage girl was a lot of fun.

What’s Michelangelo Good For? is solid and somewhat well executed, but I want more respect for this character on this show. The Dimension X Story is an action-packed, fun episode that reminded me of the first season pleasantly. I want more of these episodes in my TMNT.

Donatello’s Degree is one situational and Donatello episode too many with forgettable Irma as well. The Big Cufflink Caper! is too crime-oriented and gangster-like for my personal taste.

Leonardo Versus Tempestra is an over-the-top, cartoony video game episode with a good villain and fine action. Splinter Vanishes has too much going in it, but Leatherhead and the Rat King are always welcome villains.

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Raphael Drives ‘Em Wild is another one of those dull, stupid body swap episodes and by this point the show has repeated itself way too often. Beyond the Donatello Nebula is very interesting, though not well executed in its plot. I want another one of these episodes, but done right.

Big Bug Blunder has too much action and too much everything going on in it. The Foot Soldiers Are Revolting has some fun banter between Shredder and Krang, but should have been better as a whole. Unidentified Flying Leonardo is way too silly and stupid to work as a good finale for the season.

Overall, this fourth season is very weak and mostly dull and rehashed. It has its good and funny episodes, but I wanted more action and originality in it and Shredder and Krang need to get back on this show soon.

Worst Episodes: Four Turtles and a Baby, Name That Toon, Leonardo Lightens Up and Unidentified Flying Leonardo.
Best Episodes: Peking Turtle, Shredder’s Mom and Donatello Makes Time.

My Rating – 3.3

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