| “Fathers and Sons” | |||||||
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| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) episode | |||||||
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| Season Code: | S05E10 (Lost Season) | ||||||
| Episode: | 114 | ||||||
| Original airdate | April 13, 2008 | ||||||
| Written by | Roland Gonzalez | ||||||
| Supervising Producer | Lloyd Goldfine | ||||||
| Producers: | Gary Richardson | ||||||
| Frederick U. Fierst | |||||||
| Al Kahn | |||||||
| Norman Grossfeld | |||||||
| Thomas Kenney | |||||||
| Supervising Director | Roy Burdine | ||||||
| Story Editor: | Michael Ryan | ||||||
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"Fathers and Sons" is the tenth episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so-called "Lost 5th Season", which takes place after Season 4 of the series but aired after its sequel Fast Forward.
Characters[]
Major Characters[]
- Donatello (Sam Regal)
- Leonardo (Michael Sinterniklaas)
- Michelangelo (Wayne Grayson)
- Raphael (John Campbell)
- Splinter (Darren Dunstan)
- Ancient One (David Chen)
Secondary Characters[]
Main Locations, Vehicles and Accessories[]
Episode[]
Voice-over introduction[]
Young Michelangelo: My brothers are always making fun of me 'cause I'm still scared of the dark. I can't help it! Sometimes I think I see real spooky stuff at night like the Boogieman or monsters or scary skeleton-faced ghost men! But I'm pretty sure that tonight, my brothers are just as scared as me! And whatever that red, bat-winged, floating nasty thing is, it's so not helping my fear of the dark.
Plot Synopsis[]
Weary after their first battle with the new Shredder, the Turtles doubt they can defeat him. To lift their spirits, Splinter shares a tale of the Turtles’ toddler days. The story reveals that though the Turtles were small, they overcame impossible odds to vanquish Foot evil, though they may not remember it.
The episode begins at April's apartment in 2nd Time Around. Unsure as to whether the injured Karai is going to make it, the turtles express their fears that they they don't stand a chance against Shredder. Splinter tells his sons that they have overcome impossible odds in the past, which leads to the story of the first time they visited Japan when the turtles were mere tots.
The flashback begins inside the hold of a cargo ship, traveling from New York to Japan. Splinter and the turtles have hitched a ride in order to take the ashes of Hamato Yoshi to the land of his birth and the home of his adopted father, the Ancient One.
Splinter presents the urn containing the ashes to a very distraught Ancient One. While Splinter explains how Yoshi was slain, the turtle children run around the yard, playing. They soon spot a figure hiding in the bushes near the front gate. It jumps out and scares them and the tots run to their father, who does not see the figure, nor does the Ancient One.
After placing Yoshi's ashes to rest next to the grave of Tang Shen, the mutant family spends the night in the Ancient One's home. The scary figure, which turns out to be a Bone Demon, appears inside the room occupied by the children, sending them screaming downstairs. Splinter apologizes for their having disturbed the Ancient One, and explains that they are unused to sleeping alone. He then accompanies the tots back upstairs.
The following morning, Splinter and the turtles prepare to depart. After saying their goodbyes, they head down a path in front of the house, and the Ancient One goes in the opposite direction. The turtles then see the Bone Demon is following the Ancient One! Though Splinter does not see it, he senses evil and decides that they must follow the Ancient One to ensure his safety.
The Ancient One arrives at the Lap of the Gods in order to speak to the Ninja Tribunal in regards to Yoshi's passing. He enters the Oratory, unaware that the Bone Demon has followed him to the monastery.
The Bone Demon uses its red amulet to speak to the Foot Mystics. They remind him that the amulet will cloak his presence and that he must use the amulet's energy to part the waters of the Pool of Sorrows. Beneath that lie the master’s gauntlet, helmet, and sarcophagus. The Demon tries to tell them that the kame children can see him, but they cut him off and tell him that children are powerless.
Meanwhile, the Ancient One tells the Tribunal of Yoshi's slaying by the Shredder. They inform him that they already knew and that all is as it must be. The Ancient One is clearly distressed by this, but when they dismiss him, he leaves without a word.
As the Ancient One reaches the door, it opens inwards under the weight of the turtle tots. Splinter explains that they followed him to see that he came to no harm. Young Raphael exclaims that he sees the ghost entering a nearby building, which is the Pool of Sorrows. Though he can't see the Demon, the Ancient One becomes alarmed and urges them to follow him.
The Bone Demon manages to part the waters of the Pool of Sorrows and takes the stairs down to where the artifacts are stored. It is reaching for the gauntlet when the young turtles call out. Incensed, the Bone Demon transforms into a winged beast with three heads and attacks Splinter and the Ancient One.
Unable to see it, they can't fight back as the Demon smashes them against the floor, cackling at the now wailing tots. Young Leonardo picks up a stone and throws it, hitting the Demon. His brothers follow suit, though the Demon continues to laugh as the small stones are ineffective. Then young Donatello lifts a larger stone and launches it at the Demon, breaking the amulet around its neck.
The Bone Demon becomes visible to Splinter and the Ancient One, who have gotten free of its hold. The Ancient One takes a moment to praise young Donatello for his aim. Now that the playing field has been leveled, Splinter and the Ancient One attack and soon destroy the Bone Demon.
The Ninja Tribunal then appears and congratulates the Ancient One for crushing a Bone Demon. He tells them he only accomplished this with the help of Splinter and the children. He then asks how the children were able to see the Demon. Chikara explains that only those pure of heart, children, are immune to its power. Juto then states that not all children can manage this and that the four turtles are unique.
Kon states that their current knowledge is dangerous to them and to the children, and he erases their memories. Juto creates a portal directly into the mutant family lair. Before they leave, the Ancient One presents each of the turtles with their different colored masks, sliding them on each of the slightly groggy turtles' heads. The mutant family enters the portal and it closes.
Back in the present, the turtles express astonishment at the tale. The Ancient One then tells them that they will find a way to defeat the Shredder.
Quotes[]
Young Leonardo: Bye, Ancient One.
Young Michelangelo: Don't forget to write!
Young Raphael: What are you talking about? You can't even read yet.
Young Michelangelo: Oh yeah.
[After Young Raphael says the invisible bone is heading to a house]
Ancient One: The Pool of Sorrow! The Artifacts! Curse me for a donkey's bottom!
Splinter: What?
[After Splinter and Ancient One finish their story]
Donatello: Wow!
Leonardo: To think we been to Japan and met the Tribunal when we were just kids!
Splinter: Yes, my sons, and even though you were very small, you helped win a very big victory.
Ancient One: And we'll do it again. We will find a way to defeat the Shredder, all of us.
Leonardo: I hope you're right, masters. I hope you're right.
Trivia[]
- In the flashback Splinter refers to Ch'rell as "the Utrom Shredder," revealing that Splinter has (apparently) been aware of the Shredder's true nature the entire series.
- The toddler Turtles do not start with their bandanas, but can be told apart by their skin tones and voices. (Donatello: olive green; Leonardo: Asparagus green; Raphael: Dark green; Michelangelo: forest green.)
- As they are not wearing their bandanas, this flashback takes place before the past events of "Tales of Leo", "The Lesson" and "Incredible Shrinking Serling".
- This episode reveals that the Ancient One gave the Turtles their original bandanas and their colors.
- The Bone Demon was the very first villain the Turtles fought together.