Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Original Series
(Season 5) - (3-Disc Set)
Teenage Mutant
DVDs
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On October 5, 1991, the second season (and fifth overall) of the
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" debuted on the CBS network. Riding a
wave of almost unparalleled popularity at that time, the series had
truly become a pop-cultural phenomenon.
This DVD set contains, to my understanding, 18 episodes of the fifth
season of this series. However, for reasons that I don't understand,
two episodes from the end of that season, a two-parter that aired in
primetime -- "Planet of the Turtleoids" -- has not been included in
this set. I am assuming that these episodes will be released in a
later set (presumably the sixth season), but to not include them
here is a shame. Why Lion's Gate would skimp out on these two
episodes remains to be seen.
However, that minor quibble aside, there are some other assorted
goodies to feed the senses. Continuing in the tradition that was set
with the previous release, there are three bonus features included
in this set:
"Heroes in a Half Shell" featurette on the Ninja Turtles phenomenon
"Inside the Turtle Shell" character portrait of Donatello
"Inside the Turtle Shell" character portrait of the Evil Splinter
On a sidenote, it will be interesting to see if the voice actor
behind Donatello makes any references to the other voice actor who
sometimes portrayed Donatello in the third season. I, in particular,
have always been intrigued by this; to my memory, only Donatello and
Raphael of the Fearsome Foursome ever had different voice actors at
certain times in the series. Donatello and Raphael had notable voice
changes in some episodes of the third season (in "The Turtle
Terminator," both their voices are different...in the SAME
EPISODE!), and a brand new voice actor gave voice to Raphael in the
show's final season. But I digress.
Any fan of this classic series (and I am one of the legions!) will
pick up this release come August 7, along with a side-order of
peanut-butter and pickled-beets pizza, a dish Michaelangelo would
have loved. There is much to savor in this three-disk set, "Planet
of the Turtleoids" not withstanding.
By the way, I love the box-cover art and packaging for this release.
Very clever!
