Guess Who’s Back? Details from Nick’s Ninja Turtles Season 3

With Season Two at its midpoint, retailers, executives, and advertisers are looking ahead to the end of the 2014, and what lies in store for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle franchise as the newest animated series enters its third season.  Even though the rest of the world is still deep in the action and adventure that surrounds the second season, the discussions among higher-ups regarding what’s to come have started trickling down to the public, providing some very interesting pieces of information to get the rumor mill circulating.

In a recently released retail guide used to show advertisers and retailers what toys Playmates had coming out the rest of this year, information was included about the success of the show, known casting decisions about the movie, and, surprisingly, what the television show had in store for its third season. 

From the preview:

“Shredder gets his revenge forcing the turtles to flee NYC in search of a strategy to retake the city.” 

Additionally, mutants known from the comics and old television show will return, including fan-favorites Bebop, Rocksteady, and Usagi Yojimbo.  This solitary statement is rife with possibility, so let’s dive in and start figuring out what could be happening in Season Three.

Most importantly, is that Shredder is getting his revenge for something.  While the turtles and their allies have given him plenty of problems so far, nothing they’ve done has been particularly worthy of revenge, which would suggest that something major is still to come in Season Two, or very early in Season Three.  Given what’s happened so far, there’s the possibility that the turtles thwart one evil scheme too many.  Of course, perhaps more likely would be something really drastic, like taking Karai away from him.  Shredder wants the turtles dead, but if they were to turn Karai against him finally, he may snap, and set his entire army on a reptile hunt the likes of which the TMNT universe has never seen before.

The next interesting idea to come from this statement is that the turtles have to leave NYC until they can mount a counterattack.  First, this must mean that Shredder finds the lair.  After so many close calls with Foot Bots and aliens, it was only a matter of time until the turtles’ hiding place was compromised.  Second, where could they possibly go?  While it would be pretty cool to see them holed up at an old O’Neil family farm again (just like the first live-action movie), and it would certainly be great if the show introduced a brand new locale, logic would suggest that the turtles will end up on Japan.  Since Usagi Yojimbo returns and it would be the perfect place to train to take on Shredder, Hamato Yoshi returning to his roots and making peace with his wife’s death and daughter’s return would be a wonderfully pivotal moment in Season Three.

What’s not suggested here is what becomes of other characters, like Casey and April.  Given how close the Kraang have come to capturing her, maybe they ultimately do get their hands on April by the end of the current season.  Maybe she and Casey go with the turtles when they leave (their identities aren’t exactly unknown to Shredder at this point, or at least April’s isn’t).  Maybe they are forced to stay behind and fight from the inside, bringing them closer together and ruining any chance Donatello had at a romantic tryst.  No matter what, their story is likely to be tied directly to the turtles’, and what happens is anyone’s guess.

With some new characters now known to be making appearances, who else will show up is anyone’s guess.  Will the Mighty Mutanimals or Punk Frogs band together while the turtles are gone?  Will the boys meet Venus de Milo if they end up in Japan or China?  Nothing is known for sure, but this teaser is ripe for interpretation.  What is for certain, though, is that Season Three will be an excellent adventure to add to this already wonderful show.