Review: Nickelodeon TMNT "TCRI"

In the first two episodes of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rise of the Turtles, we learn of the Kraang.  Some aliens that have come to Earth, brought the Mutagen and have kidnapped April O’Neil’s father.  Up to this point, we have seen the Kraang are kidnapping and working with Scientists with Mutagen.  Though their plot has not been revealed, as the main reasons the Turtles are fighting them is to save April’s father, Kirby.  We went 16 episodes waiting to learn why the Kraang are here.  Only knowing that they are up to no good.  In the episode TCRI we finally learn the secret behind the Kraang’s.  Here is my review of this action packed adventure through the TCRI building.

This episode starts off with the Turtles on a chase after the Kraang.  Somehow the Turtles were able to get their Patrol Buggy and start chasing the Kraang down after pushing the Shellraiser home in "The Pulverizer", before the Kraang could get the power cell to their location.  The Turtles try to follow the Kraang through New York, causing some damage to the city before bumping into a dead end.  Losing the Kraang.

This is a full on chase scene where we get to watch the Turtles as Donatello has his t phone as the tracker for the power cell.  Though it’s a cool chase scene, it felt out of place.  The Turtles are hot on the Kraangs tail, yet they had to push the Shellraiser home.  So how did they find the Kraang who have a helicopter and get on their trail before they could reach the TCRI building?  And it sounds like they even had mistakes in the tracking device before.  Why were the Kraang moving that slow at getting the power cell where they needed to get it?  Because of that, this scene was a little disappointing to me.  But the animation was great, the lines were fun, and it was a thrilling start for an episode.

At TCRI the Kraangs with the power cell show up walking up to another Kraang who is working.  That Kraang insults these two thinking their plans were foiled by the Turtles.  Though they have the power cell and even have the awesome line “In Kraang’s face”.  They take the power cell and attach it to their portal.  As they pull back and show a better look at the inside of TCRI.

This is one of my favorite scenes only because you hear the Kraangs pick on each other.  I like the idea that we’re seeing stuff that the Kraang are doing, without good guys spying on them.  Finally growth in the Kraang story line and this was a nice introduction to it.  They could of started the show off with this scene alone, instead of adding the chase since that still does not make sense to me.

The Turtles are in the alley and Leonardo is tired of not having a lead.  He wants to go see Leatherhead.  Donatello protest this since Leatherhead likes to grab his face and shake him like a rag doll.  Michelangelo uses this time to pick on Don.  Who does not take that to well, as Mike realizes he best get away from Don he runs to the others saying ‘Let’s move’.

It’s a nice lead up to why they go to see Leatherhead.  I truly love the follow up on Donatello’s character about having issues with Leatherhead for grabbing his face.  This Don does have a lot more of a temper than most versions of Don.  For me this is more of a love/hate feeling.  I love the comedy that comes out of Donatello’s anger.  But I hate the lost of companionship between Don and Mike.  This was one of my favorite things in other incarnations of the Ninja Turtles.  And now it’s like Don is only with Mike because he drew the short straw.  He’s angry at Mike more than he’s happy with his little bro.  So while that was funny, I do hope these two bond as they get older some.

The Turtles come up in Leatherhead’s place as they talk about how Michelangelo had them under water longer to grab trash.  This is when we get to see that Leatherhead is sleeping.  Mikey is chosen to wake him up.  Leatherhead wakes up with a temper and attacks, grabbing Donatello’s face for most of this fight.  He comes to when he realizes he’s holding Mikey.  Leatherhead says sorry and starts to talk with the Turtles on how he trusts them which is why he gave them the power cell for safe keeping.  The Turtles take this time to explain that they lost it, which is when Leatherhead loses his temper again going after Donatello’s face.  Though he pulls himself out of this and goes to telling the Turtles all he remembers of the Kraang’s base.

This was a fun scene.  I am enjoying the Leatherhead fight scenes.  He’s big and powerful, a true threat to the Turtles.  Even though he is their friend, they must be careful.  The fun things during this scene is how the Turtles act like kids while trying to tell Leatherhead about the missing power cell, you can hear the fear in Leonardo’s voice.  Jason Biggs did really well at getting Leo’s voice to even crack a little during this.  I also love after the second time that Leatherhead grabbed Donatello’s face, he stood there stretching Don’s face after coming too.  A good scene, with character growth.  Though the clue he gives them, is something they’ve had all along with the ooze canister, Metalhead and more.  So that part was kind of pointless.

Donatello knows the clue, it is now something he’s seen before.  He’s trying to remember but is drawing blanks, Michelangelo is not helping with his guessing.  He chases his brother’s off, only for Splinter to come up behind him.  He tells Splinter his problem and Splinter has him clear his mind.  As soon as he does, he remembers and takes off.  Going straight into the next scene of the Turtles jumping from rooftop to rooftop.   Don stops and shows his brothers that the TCRI building is what they are looking for.  Leonardo realizes they have to go inside.

This scene is showing how they find the Kraang’s base.  That’s nice, since there’s a lot of times we’re not shown these details.  Where the Turtles can just find Baxter Stockman.  It’s good to see them when they do work out something.  But there is another detail left out here.  How do the Turtles know of TCRI?  What is TCRI to them?  Why would it be such a shock to them?  Other than it being a building with TCRI on the front of it, has it meant something to them.  Why did this stand out to Don?   It’s questions like this, that I wish could be slipped into these scenes to replace at least one of the jokes.  It just made the scene feel like it was missing something.

In the Turtle’s lair Donatello is working on a bomb as he warns Michelangelo not to touch it.  Leonardo is with April going over the blueprints of the TCRI building.  He jokes around a little bit, then gets down to serious planning.  As they realizes that the main action is near the top of the building.  Because of a smart remark from April, Leonardo comes up with the plan to be snuck into the building in a box for special delivery.

Awesome, we even get to see them plan their way into this mission.  This episode is traveling have a good place as we’re getting the building tools for an awesome story and fight scene.  Which is just what we get with the rest of this episodes with more one liners, surprises, and action as the Turtles go through the Kraang building.  And even get a taste of battle against Rock!  As General Traag appears through the portal to fight the Turtles.   I will let everyone watch this fight for themselves to enjoy the rest of the ride!

In this episodes you see in the TCRI building, meet General Traag, watch one of the Turtle’s friends go into a bad spot, and find out what the Kraang is really after.  A huge episode for the Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series!  Which I truly did enjoy.

Did you watch “TCRI”?  What is your favorite part?  Favorite quote?  Please share your reviews, comments and questions below!

UPDATE:

While on Tumblr I saw this:

fearlessleonardo:

Baxter Stockman attacked the TCRI building waaaaaaaay back in episode I forget. He used to work at TCRI. He used to WORK for TCRI.

Baxter Stockman used to punch the card that is known as the time card in the clock that is known as the clock of time.

I don’t know why this is making me so happy, it must be my bed time.

Awesome point fearlessleonardo!  I did not catch that one, but you're totally right.  And it helps clear some of the air on how the Turtles know of TCRI.  Thanks so much for posting this to Tumblr!  For those who don't remember it's in the episode "I think his name is Baxter Stockman"