Spoilers for TMNT 2012 S5 episode 5

Okay, hate me all you want, but the SHIPPING in this episode actually made me want to stop watching. Do you know what it takes for me to want to stop watching an episode of TMNT? A LOT.

Before I rant about that, I'll say this. There was a lot about this episode that I really liked, like Mikey getting electric powers! It was awesome!

But! I have a TON of issues and just general annoyances.

Surprisingly, the Raphalisa didn't bug me as much this time. Raph and Mona acted really casual with each other and I felt like Raph was a lot more in character than he usually is. Also, they actually had him playing the drum kit in his room.

For things that bugged me...yikes, where do I begin?

First off...wow, I actually thought "Where is Splinter" and almost typed that in as a serious inquiry...but now I remember that he's dead. Ohhhhh boy I am so not okay. I'm really feeling the absence of Rat Daddy right now.

*thinks about it some more* Oh my freaking word I really miss Splinter *sniffles*

Two...WHERE IN THE FLYING FUDGSICLES IS CASEY MOTHERF-ING JONES?!?!?!?!?! WHERE IS HE AND WHY WAS HE NOT IN THE LAIR OR FIGHTING WITH THE GUYS?! DID HE DROP OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH?! DID HE GIVE UP VIGILANTING!? I NEED ANSWERS.

OH YEAH SAME GOES FOR SHINIGAMI. WHERE IS SHE?!?!? I LOVE HER! I WANT MORE SHINIGAMI!

Three, STOP. WITH. LEORAI. I won't type this rant in caps but OH BOY, do I want to. The start of this episode had a bunch of stuff with Raph trying to hang out with his siblings, but they're all with their love interests. But...uggghhhhh I literally cannot stand Leorai.

I've said it one million times before but I see them as siblings. ADOPTED. SIBLINGS. And no, I don't care if they aren't biologically related and I don't care if they weren't raised together, they are siblings. All I see is me and my little brother and...*pauses to try not to puke* Yeah, no. Don't romanticize siblings like that. It's creepy.

I'm also annoyed at how April and Donnie are acting. Fine, Apritello isn't the worst ship ever, but I don't like how they've handled it. I never have.

Did I miss an episode or something where April suddenly started accepting Donnie's crush and reciprocating the feelings? Because this episode had out of the blue, "throwing popcorn at each other and giggling", worrying about each other, hugging crap that was just...well, out of the blue. I was really liking how during the space arc, the writers deviated from making the show all about love to being about them as a team. April interacted with Donnie and Casey like they were all just friends that can get along!

But now, Casey is MIA and April and Donnie are being lovey. It's creeping me out and I really feel like I missed something where that actually makes sense for them to be acting that way. Yes, April's been off and on about Donnie the entire show, but to have a turn around that happens this fast is giving me whiplash. And yes, maybe it's weird to me because I'm on the S.S Capril, but my point stands.

Mikey was hologram-facetiming Renet through a future device, and okay, I don't actually hate Renetangelo. I have a hard time hating Mikey-centric ships because they're all so pure. Mikey's this jokey ladies' man and the girls he shows interest in are pretty much always lovable too. So no, I didn't have a problem with the Renetangelo, although...that's more than just a long distance relationship.

Bishop and the Utrom were back in this episode! YAY! I still really like Bishop, sorry if you disagree XD He cracks me up. Newtralizer and Lord Dregg also came back and they were a great dynamic, no problems there.

So...my final opinions here? Tbh, I'm starting to see how it's a good thing that the show is ending after this season. I love TMNT, I've loved it for five years, but it's time for it to be over. I miss the old days of Shredder and Splinter and Rahzar, Fishface, Tiger Claw, Bebop, Rocksteady...the old Foot Clan. I miss the old title sequence. I even miss the old Kraang troubles.

I mean, we haven't seen Ice Cream Kitty in like...FOREVER! Where is ICK?!

The episodes nowadays are intense and a lot more angsty than older ones. I still enjoy them, but there's a lot of filler with the romance and to be completely honest, TMNT feels to me like one of those shows where romance can be left to the fanfiction writers. I enjoy fanfic TMNT romance SO much more than the romance on the show, maybe because the romance in the show feels like an afterthought and fanservice. TMNT started out as being about four brothers and their dad, and eventually it expanded to their human friends, but now it's about them having their girls and their dad is gone and again, WHERE IS CASEY?!

TMNT is still enjoyable, but when the season five finale comes along, I'll watch it with both sadness and happiness. The show will have ended while in their best spirits, maybe not their prime, but at the best time. It will end and I will continue to enjoy past episodes while continuing on to new cartoon worlds.

I know this turned out really cheesy, but I had a lot of feelings to explain after this episode. I'm more at peace with TMNT ending now.