Ep 12. Of Rats and Men

Splinter shares his past with his sons and how he once met someone special, who he believed to be the love of his life - the rat mutant Tang Shen. He reveals how they met while he was living in the streets of New York City and fending for himself. One day, when he was cornered by a gang of thugs, Tang Shen came to his rescue. From that point on, they fell in love and became inseparable. But their happiness was short-lived when they were both captured by the Shredder and his Foot Clan.

Things take a turn for the worse when we learn that Splinter was not the only one interested in Tang Shen. Oroku Saki, aka the Shredder, also had his sights set on her and was jealous of Splinter for winning her heart. When the Shredder finds out about their relationship, he becomes enraged and orders his minions to attack them. In the ensuing chaos, Splinter and Tang Shen are separated, and Splinter is left for dead.

After the attack, Tang Shen is taken by the Shredder and subjected to experiments that turn her into a mutant rat like Splinter. The Shredder offers her the chance to be with him, but she refuses, declaring her love for Splinter. As punishment, the Shredder orders his minions to kill her.

With Tang Shen dead and his life in shambles, Splinter renounces his former life and devotes himself to the study of ninjitsu. He then finds the four baby turtles and raises them as his own, teaching them the ways of the ninja and molding them into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Back in the present day, the Turtles and April come across an abandoned lab where they encounter a mutated rat who apparently has some connection to Splinter. The rat speaks and reveals that his name is Kirby, and he was once human before being mutated into a rat during a lab experiment gone wrong.

The Turtles take Kirby back to their lair, where Splinter recognizes him as an old friend. Kirby is hesitant to trust them at first but eventually reveals that he was one of Tang Shen's assistants before the attack by the Foot Clan. He had been helping her with her research on the mutagen, which is why he was at the lab when the accident occurred.

Through a series of flashbacks, we see how Kirby, Tang Shen, and Splinter formed a bond, but also how their friendship was tested when the Shredder started to become more aggressive in his pursuit of power. Things come to a head when the Shredder attacks the lab where they are all working, and they are forced to fight for their lives.

After the battle, Tang Shen decides to leave the city and return to China, fearing that her presence is endangering her friends. Before she leaves, she gives Splinter a kiss, acknowledging their mutual attraction, but also stating that their paths must go in separate ways.

In the present, Kirby reveals that after the attack, he was mutated into a rat and has been living in the shadows ever since, afraid to face the outside world. But with the Turtles' help, he is able to regain his confidence and even fight alongside them in the final battle against the Foot Clan.

Overall, "Of Rats and Men" is a touching and action-packed episode that explores the past of Splinter, Tang Shen, and Kirby. It's a reminder that even in a show about mutants and ninjas, the characters are grounded in real emotions and relationships. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing how the Turtles and their sensei are all connected, even if it's through tragedy and loss.