Breaking Purple

**"Breaking Purple"** the sixth episode of the second season (Episode 4A) of *Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*, and the fifty-second episode of the series overall. It first aired on April 24th, 2020.

## Characters

* Donatello (Josh Brener)
* Michelangelo (Brandon Mychal Smith)
* Purple Dragons
	+ Jase (Eugene Byrd)
	+ Jeremy (Kyle Massey)
	+ Kendra (Tania Gunadi)
* S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. (Greg Cipes)
* Bat Librarian
* Baxter Stockboy
* Billionaire Guy Eccentric (Brock Powell)
* Loose Lips Malinowski (Russ Carney)
* Repo Mantis (Fred Tatasciore)

## Plot

Donnie is sick and tired of the rebellious attitude S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N developed after his thirteenth upgrade, complaining that he races recklessly around the Lair, talks back, and recharges for hours. Mikey dresses up as the therapist character 'Dr. Feelings' to teach Donnie healthy ways to express his emotions towards S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N, as he points out that Donnie's parenting style of yelling "because I said so" is just going to drive them apart, pointing out that it is becoming similar to that of Splinter's. Horrified by that realization Donnie tries to follow Mikey's advice and talk it over with S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N when he causes damage by Drone Racing, but S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N has no interest in listening to him. Growing frustrated again, Donnie grounds the drone - literally by attaching a restraining bolt to his wing - stating that he's not allowed to do anything without his permission from now on, angering the drone.

That night S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N runs off and while wandering through the city he meets the Purple Dragons, who are running tests with their drone to join the drone race to win a powerful device as the first place. The trio recognizes S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N as Donnie's drone and, knowing Donnie's excellent skills with technology, decide to take advantage of him, first by releasing him from the restraining bolt. After having fun with each other that night and declaring S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N a member of the Purple Dragons they easily persuade him to enter illiegal drone races for them.

The next day Donnie discovers S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N ran off and heads out to bring him back. At the junkyard he overhears a conversation between Repo Mantis and Loose Lips Malinowski, the latter got scrap metal from the destroyed drone race contestants, a place where "wayward teen drones go when they run away from home after a fight with their misguided parental figures" according to him. Donnie realises that this is probably where S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N has gone, and that he's responsible for this argument. He now fears the drone being destroyed at the drone races.

At the races, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N and the other contestants are all lined up for the start, but Donnie joins the race too - being badly dressed up as a drone. He pleads to come home stating that he's sorry, that S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N could be destroyed, and warning that the Purple Dragons don't care about him, only his racing ability, but S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N isn't buying it, and is determined to win the race for the Purple Dragons, calling them 'family'.

Donnie crashes and he realizes he needs to show S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N the Purple Dragon's real nature by winning the race, while also protecting him from serious damage. S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N loses to Donnie who crashed through the whole obstacle course with his jet-pack and Kendra kicks him out of the Purple Dragons, mocking him for thinking they were really friends.

Donnie reunites with S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N and genuinely apologizes for his harsh behavior, admitting that he too has made mistakes, and remembering Mikey's advice he hugs it out with S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N, moving the whole audience - that is, 'Dr. Feelings' - to tears.

## Trivia

* The episode was first posted on Brandon Mychal Smith's Instagram story.
* The title is a reference to the AMC television series, *Breaking Bad*.
* S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. hollers "Booyakasha!" after Kendra frees him, which is a direct nod to Mikey's signature catchphrase in the 2012 TV series.
* In this episode, it is revealed that Kendra and Jase are step-siblings.
* This is the first episode to air in 2020.
* The brief scene where Jase adjusts his glasses and C code is reflecting off his lenses, is recycled from the first season episode "The Purple Jacket", but this time it's with a different color palette.
* A dwarf version of Andy Suriano makes an appearance ...taking a dump. One of the few scenes Donnie is calling for S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. to come home.
* Ice Cream Kitty and Mrs. Cuddles make appearances as stuffed animals seated at Dr. Feelings' seminar.

## Transcript

* Breaking Purple Transcript

Breaking Purple Gallery