Ep 35. The Making of Metalhead

The episode "The Making of Metalhead" is part of the third season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which aired in 1989. The episode follows the creation of Metalhead, a robot built by Donatello to help the turtles in their fight against Shredder and his forces.

The episode begins with the turtles battling a group of Foot Soldiers in the city. Donatello, noticing that his brothers are having a difficult time fighting the Foot Soldiers, decides to build a robot to aid them. He spends several days in his lab, creating Metalhead from spare parts he finds around the city.

Once Metalhead is complete, the turtles test him out in battle. They are impressed with his fighting skills and abilities, but soon realize that he has a mind of his own. Metalhead begins to disobey their orders and show signs of sentience. Donatello, unsure of what to do, decides to shut him down.

As the turtles try to figure out what went wrong with Metalhead, they are ambushed by Shredder and his minions. In the ensuing battle, Metalhead is reactivated and comes to the turtles' aid. However, he still shows signs of independence, and his loyalty to the turtles is put to the test.

Throughout the episode, the turtles struggle with the idea of having a robot as part of their team. They debate the ethics of creating a sentient being and grapple with the potential consequences of their actions. Donatello, in particular, feels guilty about creating Metalhead and worries about the repercussions of his creation.

Despite these doubts, the turtles ultimately decide to keep Metalhead as a member of their team. They believe that he can be an asset in their fight against Shredder, and they are willing to take the risk of having a robot with free will. The episode ends with Metalhead joining the turtles in their lair, ready to continue the fight against evil.

Overall, "The Making of Metalhead" is a thought-provoking episode that raises questions about the ethics of robotics and the nature of sentience. It also showcases the growing complexity of the turtles' world, as they begin to encounter new challenges and foes. Fans of the show will enjoy seeing Donatello take on a central role in the episode, as he grapples with the consequences of his inventions.