I, Monster (2012 TV series episode)

“I, Monster”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) episode
Splinter under Rat King's control
Season Code:	113
Episode:	13
Original airdate	January 25, 2013
Written by	Jase Ricci
Supervising Producer	Ant Ward
Producers:	MacGregor Middleton
	Joshua Sternin
	J.R. Ventimilia
	Peter Hastings
	Ciro Nieli
Directed by	Michael Chang
Episode chronology ← Previous Next → "It Came From The Depths" "The Alien Agenda"

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 September 29, 2012 - August 8, 2013 List of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes

Episodes: Rise of the Turtles, Part 1 Rise of the Turtles, Part 2 Turtle Temper New Friend, Old Enemy I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman Metalhead Monkey Brains Never Say Xever The Gauntlet Panic in the Sewers Mousers Attack! It Came From The Depths I, Monster New Girl in Town The Alien Agenda The Pulverizer TCRI Cockroach Terminator Baxter's Gambit Enemy of My Enemy Karai's Vendetta The Pulverizer Returns! Parasitica Operation: Break Out Showdown, Part 1 Showdown, Part 2 Season 1 – Season 2 - Season 3 - Season 4 - Season 5

"I, Monster" is the thirteenth episode of the animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 TV series). It first aired on January 25, 2013.

Plot Synopsis

The episode starts off with Dr. Victor Falco trying to re-create his psychic neuro-chemical. He succeeds, but some of his lab rats chew through the power lines in the ceiling and the lab catches fire. Falco is horribly injured, but thanks to his chemical, he is able to communicate with his rats and survives.

In the Lair, Splinter and the Turtles are in a training session and Leo finally manages to punch Splinter in the face, but hesitates and is once again defeated. The boys declare that they may not need Splinter to teach them anymore.

Meanwhile, Falco, now living in the sewers and calling himself The Rat King, plots to dominate the city. The rats start to invade the city, causing a huge panic. Rat King decides to try to control Splinter, but Splinter fights back. April calls Donnie telling him that she is having a "pest problem". The turtles come to her rescue and manage to escape rats. They figure that someone or something is controlling every single rat in the city, meaning Splinter is at risk.

Meanwhile, Rat King decides to try to control Splinter, but Splinter fights back. Rat King reminds him of his losses, his mutation and his inner rat. But Splinter still refuses to join him. He wakes up and tell the turtles who the perpetrator. Splinter says that Rat King will not stop until he has total control of his mind, informs them of Rat King's hideout. April stays behind to look after Splinter while the Turtles head out to stop Rat King.

The turtles find the junction and are chased by a wave of rats. Unfortunately, Rat King has finally taken control over Splinter. He attacks April, but in the middle of the scene, is called back to Rat King. The turtles find the hideout but also find Splinter there as well. Rat King orders Splinter to attack but when Leo talks to him, Splinter stops. This causes Rat King to uncover his mask, revealing his everlasting creepy eyes. Leo orders them to take their own sensei down but have their butts easily kicked. Donnie realizes that Splinter may have taught them everything they know about ninjutsu all these years, but he has not taught them everything he knows.

When Leo is at Splinter's hand, he shows him a picture of Splinter when he was human, his wife, and his daughter, along with saying his human name. When the turtles pin Splinter to the ground, Leo calls him "father" for the first time. It seem that Rat King remains in control, but Splinter suddenly snaps out of his trance and attacks Rat King, who then disappears in a swarm of rats.

Later, Splinter is seen in meditation when Leo comes into check on him. He then says that someday he will be a greater martial artist than him. Splinter replies that he has taught his sons everything they know, then strikes Leo and adds that he hasn't taught them everything he knows.

Gallery

See: I, Monster (2012 TV series episode) / Gallery

Trivia

• the protagonist of this episode is the Master Splinter
• April is shown using a T-Phone like the Turtles in this episode. Her original cell phone (and its first replacement) were destroyed in "Mousers Attack!".
• This is the third episode where the naginata blade in Donnie's staff appears. The first time was in "I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman", and the second time was in "It Came From The Depths".
• Mr. Murakami makes a non-speaking cameo during the montage of the rat invasion.
• This is the first episode where the turtles actually fight Splinter as opposed to training with him in previous episodes.
• This is the first time the turtles call Splinter; "Father".
• At the beginning of the episode, Dr. Falco makes several references to the events of "Monkey Brains".
• This is the first episode to focus on Splinter.

Notes

• According to Kenny Byerly, the original episode production order was "New Girl in Town", "I, Monster (2012 TV series episode)", "The Alien Agenda"; US Nick chose to air them out of order and placed "I, Monster" before "New Girl in Town". [1]
• This episode was originally titled "Rat Trap", which is the same title of issue #22 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures.
• The episode title "I, Monster" is the same title for the Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue and the 2003 TV series episode which introduced the Rat King.
• An early summary for this episode from Wikipedia, posted on December 28, 2012, said "Leonardo, tired of Raphael's criticism, lets his brother try his hand at leadership. Leonardo meets a beautiful and dangerous Kunoichi who tries to lure Leonardo to the dark side." This is actually the summary of New Girl in Town, not I, Monster.