Things Change

{{TVEpisode
 * Title       = Things Change
 * Series      = Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
 * Image       = [[Image:TMNT2K3_S01E01.jpg|250px]]
 * Caption     =
 * Season      = S01E01
 * Episode     = 1
 * Airdate     = February 8, 2003
 * Writer      = Michael Ryan
 * SupervisingProducer = Lloyd Goldfine
 * Producers1  = Gary Richardson
 * Producers2  = Frederick U. Fierst
 * Producers3  = Al Kahn
 * Producers4  = Norman Grossfeld
 * Producers5  = Thomas Kenney
 * Director    =
 * Photographer =
 * Production  =
 * SupervisingDirector = Chuck Patton
 * StoryEditor = Lloyd Goldfine
 * Prev        =
 * Next        = A Better Mousetrap
 * EpisodeList = {{TMNT (2003) Season 1}}
 * MajorCharacters =
 * Donatello (Sam Regal)
 * Leonardo (Michael Sinterniklaas)
 * Michelangelo (Wayne Grayson)
 * Raphael (Frank Frankson)
 * Splinter (Darren Dunstan)
 * Oroku Saki (Scottie Ray)


 * SecondaryCharacters =
 * Purple Dragon Gang Members
 * John
 * Two Ton
 * Foot Soldiers
 * Police
 * Officer Eastman (Chris Adams II)
 * Officer Laird


 * MainLocations =
 * Old Lair
 * Sewer Tunnels
 * City Streets and Rooftops
 * Purple Dragon Warehouse
 * Saki’s Rooftop Palace
 * New Lair


 * MainVehicles =
 * Armored Truck (Battle Shell pre-mods)


 * MainAccessories =
 * Mousers
 * Shell-Cell

Leonardo : "My name is Leonardo. And right now my brothers and I are in a mess of trouble. Our backs are up against the wall in some trash strewn alley, cornered by the toughest street gang in the East Side."
 * VoiceOverIntroduction =
 * Purple Dragon Member #1 : "Look at the freaks."
 * Purple Dragon Member #2 : "What's with the dweeby costumes?"
 * Purple Dragon Member #3 : "This ain't Halloween."
 * Purple Dragon Member #4 : "You're going down, freaks. Nobody messes with the Purple Dragons, especially wearing stupid turtle costumes."

Leonardo : "He's wrong. We're not wearing costumes."

The TMNT are enduring another one of Splinter’s training sessions in the old lair. All is going as usual until the lair starts to shake and crumble. Suddenly, a horde of Mousers burst through a wall. A big battle ensues between the mechanical menaces and our heroes. Just when it looks like the Turtles have defeated the Mousers, there is a cave-in in the lair that separates the TMNT from Master Splinter.
 * PlotSynopsis =

The Turtles communicate with Splinter via Shell-Cell, and agree to rendezvous in another part of the sewer system. On the way to the rendezvous point, the TMNT are forced to go above ground, and in so doing interrupt a Purple Dragon robbery. During the course of this side adventure, Raph manages to get locked inside the Dragon’s Armored Truck. The rest of the guys can only watch and follow as Raphael gets hauled off with the loot.

By taking rooftop shortcuts the other three Turtles are able to see where the truck stops to unload. The ninjas drop down, dispatch a couple of Dragons and free Raph. But, just as they are about to make their exit, the TMNT are surrounded by a number of Dragons and Foot Soldiers. A battle royal occurs in the alley outside the Dragon warehouse. The Turtles do just fine, but the bad guy reinforcements just keep coming. Therefore, the mutants decide to "borrow" the armored truck and get the shell out of there.

After ditching the truck in an abandoned sewer tunnel, the TMNT finally rendezvous with Splinter, who has a discovery to share with them. The Sensei has stumbled across an old abandoned chamber in the sewer system, and has decided this will be their new home and HQ. After inspecting the cavernous space, the Turtles couldn’t agree more, and we leave them as they are beginning to make things tidy for living. .

The Purple Dragon that lead the robbery returns to his own master, Oroku Saki, but soon meets an unfortunate end for losing the armored truck and money.

Quotes

 * [After Leonardo extinguishes the flame.] Splinter: Well done Leonardo. Raphael: Teacher's pet. Leonardo: Ninja dropout. Michelangelo and Donatello: Oooooo!


 * [Donatello calls Master Splinter on the shell cell.] Splinter: Hmm, which button do you press to answer this thing? *presses buttons* Hello? Leonardo: Master Splinter, are you alright? Splinter: *continues to press buttons* Hello? Leonardo: Master Splinter- Splinter: *presses more buttons* Stupid device.


 * [The Purple Dragon's van is parked right over a manhole cover.] Raphael: Great, just great. The old Turtle luck true to form. Errrg! *kicks van in anger* Leonardo: Way to be stealthy, Raph. Michelangelo: Yeah, I don't think they heard you over in Joisy!


 * Michelangelo: Hey, this is a no-parking zone. Here's your ticket *holds up paper* and here's your fine! *kicks Two-Ton in the face* Leonardo: Nice work, Mikey. Michelangelo: Heh, it's a Ninja thing. *grins*


 * [The guys throw bags of stolen money on the hood of a police car.] Leonardo: Take care of this money, will ya guys? Officer Eastmen: Did you see that?! Some little green men in an armored car just threw a bunch of money at us! Officer Laird: Tch, rookie.


 * Michelangelo: No offense Master Splinter, but this place doesn't seem so great. Splinter: Look with your heart Michelangelo, and not your eyes. Michelangelo: Um...okay. *scratches head* Splinter: And walk this way... [Michelangelo imitates Master Splinter by hunching over and walking slowly with an invisible cane, only to be hit on the head by Donatello's bo staff.] Michelangelo: Ow!

Trivia

 * This is the first appearance of the Turtles on television since the Saban 1997-1998 series, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.
 * The introduction to the episode begins with a voice-over by Leonardo where the Turtles are cornered in an alley by the Purple Dragons. This sequence is identical to the opening of the first issue of the Mirage comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1.
 * The first episode of the 1987 TMNT series also had the Turtles fighting a street gang who took orders from the Shredder.
 * The Turtles' original lair also looks similar to the lair in he first issue of the Mirage comic book.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of Mouser robots.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of the Purple Dragons and Foot Ninja.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of Oroku Saki.
 * The two cops in this episode are modeled after series creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.
 * This is the first episode where Mikey attempts to say his 1987 counterpart's famous catchphrase "Cowabunga!", but is stopped by Raph before he can finish.
 * Despite accurately describing the Turtles by their species (albeit thinking they were costumes), the Purple Dragon leader in this episode calls them "frogs" when pleading for mercy before Oroku Saki.
 * This episode is ranked #2 on the TMNT Top Ten.


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