BloodRawEngine
Video Game Engine of War
I haven't talked about the episodes since the hiatus. Obvious spoilers ahead:
Slash and Destroy was damn good. Not only did Corey Feldman knock it out of the park with his performance as Slash, but they also managed to really bring Raph's development a bit more into its own, something that I think was kinda lacking in the previous season compared to how much Donatello or Leonardo seemed to get (and that's not just cuz Raphael is my favorite turtle). The episode seemed to try playing Slash as more of a really dark grey morality since all things considered, he still seems to hold Raph close, and I never got the idea that he was absolutely beyond some form or redemption into at least an anti-hero of a lighter shade of grey--like, he might stop seeing Raph's brothers as road-blocks for Raph and more as rivals. Oh, and Leo at a tea party.
"The Good, the Bad, and the Casey Jones" not only is named after one of my all-time favorite films, but it turned out to be one of the best episodes this season. Probably the top three imo. Not only was the action taken up a great notch in each scene, considering we finally Casey Jones going all-out toe-to-toe with Raph as per damn near tradition of the franchise in almost every continuity, but the episode was also a really good continuation of the arc that started with Slash and Destroy, making for a pretty good transition and continuity that more or less helped Raph become more well-rounded while establishing one of the most notable cameraderies in the franchise next to that of the four turtles themselves. As someone who adores the first live-action movie, I was almost INSTANT in recognizing the reference they made as well.
The Kraang Conspiracy was okay. I obviously ain't expecting the show to continue raising itself higher and higher in terms of episode quality and whatnot, but I definitely think they managed to bring out the main plot points that they wanted, and those that have been a question for many regarding April since the first season. April-Derp I can only say I'm glad was apparently a one-time villain, because I found her presence kinda forced, as opposed to established.
Fungus Humongous turned out to be the first real filler episode since like, Invasion of the Squirrelanoids. While I liked the idea of the plot, it could'a been represented better. I didn't get the Fantasia reference the first time, but I still think it was kind of a waste of 45 seconds. The Captain Ryan cameo though, INSTA-WIN. BRING BACK SPACE HEROES GODDAMMIT! All in all though, I'd have to call it the weakest ep this season so far imo, but I still got my laughs.
Metalhead Rewired started out modestly enough, but eventually turned itself up to be a pretty good episode altogether. The sci-fi robot movie references were noticeable, but not blatant, the plot twist regarding Metalhead's loyalty was actually somewhat heartwarming, and the big revelation of all the largely absent Mutants turned out to be a pretty sensible plot twist all things considered, though I understand some who might complain it was kind of a "wrote-into-a-corner" escape, but it still managed to push forward a few major subplots like with April's father, and I honestly loved that few-seconds moment of semi-reconciliation between Raph and Slash, even though Raph clearly wasn't the central focus of this episode. I do still think it was a pretty risky choice to outright free all of the captive mutants, some of whom are more than likely still gonna be hostile, but I suppose it can be surmised as a way to make sure they're around for if and/or when Donnie finally finds a cure to the mutations. I just hope Leatherhead finds a way out of Dimension X, since he was one of the few who wasn't in Kraang captivity. Overall, an improvement over the two previous ones imo.
We have the Ice Cream Kitty to look forward to next, and while I expect that to be more in line as another filler episode, I do think it was about time to re-explore Mikey's largely franchise-consistent love for cats, and in a rather interesting little twist.