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The Best Episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1

Every episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1!

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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in an all-new animated series on Nickelodeon! Surfacing topside for the first time on their fifteenth birthday, the titular turtles, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello, find that life

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 1 - Rise of the Turtles (1)
    8.1/10(737 votes)

    #1 - Rise of the Turtles (1)

    S1:E1

    For fifteen years, four mutant Turtles and their rodent sensei have lived a secret life beneath the sewers of New York. Coming to the surface for the first time, the Turtles soon find their day out interrupted as a young girl and her father become the targets of mysterious, and dangerous, men...

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writers:Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

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  2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 2 - Rise of the Turtles (2)
    8.2/10(636 votes)

    #2 - Rise of the Turtles (2)

    S1:E2

    When April O'Neil is abducted, the Turtles search leads to the base of the robotic Kraang army, and Leonardo struggles to unify his rebellious brothers to victory.

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writers:Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

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  3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 3 - Turtle Temper
    7.8/10(544 votes)

    #3 - Turtle Temper

    S1:E3

    The Turtles are in danger of exposure when hot-headed Raphael is caught on video arguing with a human on the street. He must learn to control his temper in order to help the others retrieve the video before it falls into the wrong hands.

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writer:Jeremy Shipp

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  4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 4 - New Friend, Old Enemy
    8.0/10(524 votes)

    #4 - New Friend, Old Enemy

    S1:E4

    To prove that Turtles can be friends with humans, Michelangelo uses a social networking site to befriend a famous martial artist who is secretly Shredder's top lieutenant.

    Director:Juan Meza-Leon
    Writer:Joshua Hamilton

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  5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 5 - I Think His Name Is Baxter Stockman
    7.5/10(504 votes)

    #5 - I Think His Name Is Baxter Stockman

    S1:E5

    When Donatello's latest invention gives failed inventor and perpetual loser Baxter Stockman enhanced abilities, the turtles must learn to use their heads instead of brute force to defeat him.

    Directors:Michael Chang, Ciro Nieli
    Writers:Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

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  6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 6 - Metalhead
    7.8/10(485 votes)

    #6 - Metalhead

    S1:E6

    When Donatello loses confidence in his bo staff as an effective weapon, he constructs Metalhead, a fully armed robotic turtle based on Kraang technology.

    Director:Juan Meza-Leon
    Writer:Tom Alvarado

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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  7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 7 - Monkey Brains
    7.6/10(461 votes)

    #7 - Monkey Brains

    S1:E7

    Donatello and April investigate a scientist’s disappearance, but discover a conspiracy regarding a bizarre psychic monkey instead.

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writers:Ron Corcillo, Russ Carney

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  8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 8 - Never Say Xever
    8.1/10(456 votes)

    #8 - Never Say Xever

    S1:E8

    Leo fears his act of mercy has come back to haunt him when Xever holds a local noodle shop owner hostage.

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writer:Kenny Byerly

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  9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 9 - The Gauntlet
    8.8/10(503 votes)

    #9 - The Gauntlet

    S1:E9

    After April receives a warning from her imprisoned father, she and the Turtles embark on a mission to save him and stop The Kraang from detonating a mutagen bomb in the city.

    Director:Juan Meza-Leon
    Writers:Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

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  10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 10 - Panic in the Sewers
    8.2/10(439 votes)

    #10 - Panic in the Sewers

    S1:E10

    The Turtles must defend their home in the sewers when Chris Bradford tries to destroy it with a dangerous chemical.

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writer:Jeremy Shipp

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  11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 11 - Mousers Attack!
    7.8/10(431 votes)

    #11 - Mousers Attack!

    S1:E11

    When simultaneous threats from the Purple Dragons and Baxter Stockman’s mechanical Mousers force the Turtles to split into two groups, Donnie & Mikey must prove that their “B Team” is just as valuable as Leo & Raph’s “A Team.

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writer:Kenny Byerly

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  12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 12 - It Came From the Depths
    8.3/10(452 votes)

    #12 - It Came From the Depths

    S1:E12

    Michelangelo befriends Leatherhead, an unstable mutant alligator who possesses a strange piece of Kraang technology, but the other Turtles aren’t sure whether Leatherhead is a friend or a foe.

    Director:Juan Meza-Leon
    Writers:Ron Corcillo, Russ Carney

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  13. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 13 - I, Monster
    8.4/10(429 votes)

    #13 - I, Monster

    S1:E13

    The Turtles must face off against a new enemy, The Rat King, who threatens not only to take control of the city, but of Splinter's mind as well.

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writer:Jase Ricci

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  14. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 14 - New Girl in Town
    8.4/10(439 votes)

    #14 - New Girl in Town

    S1:E14

    Snakeweed returns and begins abducting people. Tired of Raphael's constant criticism while trying to stop Snakeweed, Leonardo lets Raphael try his hand at leadership. While away from the group, Leonardo meets a female Foot Ninja named Karai, who tries to lure him to the dark side.

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writer:Jeremy Shipp

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  15. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 15 - The Alien Agenda
    8.1/10(410 votes)

    #15 - The Alien Agenda

    S1:E15

    The Turtles get their first look at high school when April's school project draws attention from the Kraang.

    Director:Juan Meza-Leon
    Writer:Kenny Byerly

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  16. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 16 - The Pulverizer
    7.2/10(403 votes)

    #16 - The Pulverizer

    S1:E16

    The Turtles meet their first fan when a teenager decides to dress up and fight crime as "The Pulverizer."

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writers:Ron Corcillo, Russ Carney

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  17. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 17 - TCRI
    8.2/10(398 votes)

    #17 - TCRI

    S1:E17

    While breaking into the hostile environment of TCRI headquarters, the Turtles discover the true intent of the Kraang and resolve to stop the alien invasion once and for all.

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writers:Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

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  18. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 18 - Cockroach Terminator
    7.6/10(393 votes)

    #18 - Cockroach Terminator

    S1:E18

    While trying to foil a Kraang invasion plot, the Turtles are hunted by a giant cockroach.

    Director:Juan Meza-Leon
    Writer:Jeremy Shipp

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  19. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 19 - Baxter's Gambit
    8.1/10(394 votes)

    #19 - Baxter's Gambit

    S1:E19

    Baxter Stockman seeks revenge on Fishface and Dogpound as well as the Turtles, and lures them all into a deadly labyrinth.

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writer:Jase Ricci

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  20. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 20 - Enemy of My Enemy
    8.5/10(403 votes)

    #20 - Enemy of My Enemy

    S1:E20

    After witnessing the Kraang in action, Karai realizes the seriousness of the alien threat and proposes an alliance with the Turtles....unless the Shredder finds out.

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writer:Kenny Byerly

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  21. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 21 - Karai's Vendetta
    8.1/10(389 votes)

    #21 - Karai's Vendetta

    S1:E21

    While the Turtles are infiltrating an undersea Kraang base, the Foot Clan attempts to capture April.

    Directors:Sebastian Montes, Juan Meza-Leon
    Writers:Ron Corcillo, Russ Carney

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  22. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 22 - The Pulverizer Returns!
    7.5/10(391 votes)

    #22 - The Pulverizer Returns!

    S1:E22

    When Shredder plans to create an army of mutants, the Turtles must rely on the help of the Pulverizer, who was recruited into the Foot (to be expendable) and volunteers to gather information on the inside on their behalf. When he agrees to be a test subject for a stolen supply of Kraang Mutagen, the Turtles rescue him, but not before he recklessly gets himself mutated.

    Director:Alan Wan
    Writer:Jeremy Shipp

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  23. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 23 - Parasitica
    8.1/10(395 votes)

    #23 - Parasitica

    S1:E23

    Michaelangelo must fight his brothers when they fall under the control of a parasitic wasp.

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writer:Pete Goldfinger

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  24. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 24 - Operation: Break Out
    8.3/10(385 votes)

    #24 - Operation: Break Out

    S1:E24

    Donatello breaks into a secret Kraang detention center in order to rescue Kirby O'Neil, but ends up trapped inside with a deadly prisoner called the Newtralizer.

    Director:Michael Chang
    Writer:Jase Ricci

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  25. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 Episode 25 - Showdown (1)
    9.0/10(440 votes)

    #25 - Showdown (1)

    S1:E25

    The turtles engage in a difficult battle, as they make a desperate assault on TCRI to shut down the Kraang portal.

    Directors:Sebastian Montes, Juan Meza-Leon
    Writers:Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Rise of the Turtles (1)" is the best rated episode of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 737 votes. Directed by Michael Chang and written by Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia, it aired on 9/28/2012. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Rise of the Turtles (2)".