Serling is so sick of being stuck in the 21st century that he secretly builds a Time Window and uses it to return to 2105. Unfortunately his machine doesn't work properly, and instead shrinks him down to the size of a toy and sends him back to the time when the Turtles were little children.
This episode provides examples of
- An Aesop: Splinter talks to the Turtle Tots about how relationships with loved ones are more important than possessions and that obsession is self-destructive.
- Batman Gambit: In order to use his experimental Time Window in peace, Serling provides each of the Turtles with things that will absolutely get them to leave the lair: a ticket to Wrestle-Romp 74 for Raph, news of a Japanese weapons exhibit for Leo, coordinates to a cluster of Splinter bits for Donnie, and a sneak screening of Zombie Pleasure Cruise for Mikey.
- Berserk Button: Yet again, Mike attacks Raph when he takes away his toy (this time, as shrunken Serling).
- Big Damn Heroes:
- Splinter shows up just in time to rescue his sons.
- Donnie says if he hadn't gotten back from cyberspace when he did, the Time Window would've short-circuited and stranded Serling in the past.
- Big "NO!": Wendell when his massive Ultra-Bot suffers a sudden battery failure, courtesy of Serling.
- Children Are Innocent: With the Turtle Tots having learned their lesson, young Donnie offers Serling to Wendell. Wendell is so touched by this display that he's able to let go of his own obsession.
- Child Prodigy: Even as a Turtle Tot, Don was as interested in science and technology as he is in the present day.
- Cut Lex Luthor a Check: Averted. While Wendell is obsessed with having the supposed toy, he also intended to figure out how to reverse-engineer Serling so that he could make more and sell them.
- Forgotten First Meeting: Due to time travel, the Turtles first meet Serling when they were toddlers. They don't recognize him later, partly because it was a long time ago and they forgot, and partly because he was so much smaller thanks to his Time Window's malfunction
- Instantly Proven Wrong: Finding himself back in the sewers after his recent troubles, Serling remarks he's at least back in the present. He then encounters the Turtles' younger selves.
- Not So Above It All:
- Even young Leo gets obsessed over claiming the supposed toy for himself.
- Serling enjoys the Turtles' coping strategy of roof-jumping.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Serling can't stand having to live in the sewers and stay hidden all the time. Leonardo admits the Turtles actually feel the same; they've just developed coping skills to help them deal with it.
- Only Sane Man: Before the Turtle Tots enter the toy store, Leo's the only one pointing out how much trouble they'll get in if Splinter finds out they've gone to the surface.
- Percussive Maintenance: How Serling gets the Time Window to work in the first place
- A Rare Sentence: "Hooray! The Turtles! Funny, never thought I'd hear myself think that."
- Secret-Keeper: Wendell assures the Turtle Tots and Splinter that he'll be keeping all this under wraps.
- Shadow Archetype: Wendell to the Turtle Tots, being so obsessed over claiming the toy that it consumed his life and made him willing to do anything to have it.
- Wham Shot:
- Serling revealing his very own Time Window.
- Serling being approached by the Turtle Tots.
- Would Hurt a Child: The Turtle Tots meet an old man who unleashes an army of deadly toy robots and a life sized one to attack them.
