Ep 3. A Thing About Rats (3)

In the third episode of the first season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), titled "A Thing About Rats," the turtles are facing a new challenge in their efforts to protect the citizens of New York City from the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan. This time, the challenge comes in the form of a group of rats who have undergone a mysterious transformation and are wreaking havoc on the city.

The episode begins with the turtles hanging out in their sewer lair, trying to relax after their previous battles with Shredder. But their peace is short-lived when they discover that a strange new wave of crime is sweeping the city. Reports are coming in of rats attacking people, stealing jewelry and other items, and causing all kinds of destruction.

At first, the turtles are skeptical of these reports. They don't see how rats could be causing so much trouble on their own, and they suspect that Shredder might be behind it all. But their skepticism is quickly put to rest when they witness a group of rats stealing a valuable diamond right in front of them.

Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, the turtles set out to investigate. They follow the rats to an abandoned factory, where they discover a strange machine that seems to be responsible for the rats' transformation. Just as the turtles are about to take action, they are ambushed by Shredder and his Foot Clan.

A battle ensues, with the turtles fighting off the Foot Clan while trying to avoid getting caught up in the rats' chaos. Eventually, they are able to destroy the machine that was causing the rats to mutate and bring an end to the threat to the city.

Throughout the episode, we see the turtles grappling with questions of trust and loyalty. They must decide who to believe - the humans who are accusing the rats of causing trouble, or the rats themselves, who claim that they are innocent victims of a sinister plot. This tension is heightened by the fact that the turtles themselves are seen as outsiders and sometimes treated with distrust by the humans they are trying to protect.

Overall, "A Thing About Rats" is an action-packed episode that delivers plenty of excitement and humor while also exploring deeper themes of trust and belonging. It sets the stage for more adventures to come as the turtles continue to fight against Shredder and other threats to their city.