Ever since Spike's introduction, we've all wondered when the little turtle would take a dip into some ooze and turn into the powerhouse we all know as "Slash." Well, that day has finally come and it was most definitely worth the wait.
The new mutant's story is very straightforward but that makes it no less compelling. Raph's fed up with the consistent silliness, goofing around and slip ups from his brothers. The dude just wants to fight crime and do it darn well, too. When one of Donny's experiments goes wrong and puts Raph's pet turtle in danger, it sets the hothead off and he takes the ooze canister from Donny until he can get his act together. One thing leads to another and Raph's lovable and cute pet ends up soaking in the glowing substance. Just like classic Splinter, Spike's been observing Raphael and his family this entire time. He's learned how to fight like Raph (aka viciously and like a boss) and, just like Raph, he's dedicated to one thing: wiping the city clean of evil. However, to become truly effective, he thinks he needs to cut (for a lack of better words) Raph's connection to his brothers. It's a very clear cut story with this guy but the pressure it puts on Raphael is stellar.
Needless to say, this is the episode Raph fans have been waiting for. While Slash obliterates his brothers with just one hit, Raph has a brutal brawl with the creature which explodes across multiple rooftops and is packed with plenty of hits. It's an awesome fight which forces Raph to show his true colors and even stand face-to-face with a twisted version of himself. It's a surprisingly dark, emotional and even violent plot, so the creative team makes the excellent choice to give Leo an absolutely hysterical subplot. To go into details would spoil the laughs, so let's just say he goes on an adventure to snag a mutagen container as various humans bump into it. This side story produces what is without question one of the biggest laughs from this show yet.
My gripes with this episode are relatively minor, but there's a few of 'em. Slash does one thing which left me scratching my head (flawless imitation of Leo) and it's odd to have one container spill open after falling off a desk but the other is perfectly fine after being hit by vehicles and such. Mikey and Donny don't get much focus here, but thankfully, the show has been more than able to give them proper attention in countless other episodes, so it's not that big of a deal. Lastly, there were a few direction choices which hindered the impact behind some seriously powerful and cool moments.
"Slash and Destroy" is a superb debut for Slash and a shockingly engrossing story for Raph. While their plot is filled with chaotic action and a darker tone, the show still holds onto its fun atmosphere with a downright hilarious adventure starring Leonardo. Overall, this is another great episode and one you definitely shouldn't miss.
