Turtletastic! is back with episodes 4 and 5. Here is our review of the improvisational comedy series from C.M. Selbrede and Ronan Guilfoyle (who also directs and voices Timothy), as it continues with its second season.
Episode 4 is called “Cold-Blooded” and it cleverly juggles Stone’s personal doubts with the growing problems at his low-paying job. Now 25, Stone worries about how his life compares to his friends’, a common feeling that makes his character relatable. A brief mention of an old school project about Colorado hints at unresolved issues from his past, though this point feels a bit unfinished.
Meanwhile, at “the cellar,” May, Mac, April, and Timothy try to catch Zach, Mac’s mischievous twin, wearing funny, homemade superhero disguises. Zach easily outsmarts them, turning their plan on its head. He tries to convince them to let their “old and crumbling” liquor store fail, offering them jobs at “Complete Booze” instead. Zach is a villain who uses people’s weaknesses against them.
During a rough rugby game where Stone gets another concussion. A confused Zach starts talking to Timothy, as if he is real. Timothy, always quick to find an opportunity, brings Zach into his plans, using Zach’s anger towards Kevin. This odd alliance is an unusual set up however, using a concussion as a plot device again feels a bit tired, and the episode’s pace sometimes drags before the big twist.
Episode 5 is called “You’re Not Special” dramatically shifts to a darker, more personal tone as Timothy tries to figure out Kevin’s past. The episode opens with Kevin’s deep sadness and belief that nothing matters. Timothy tries to help, but Kevin also has Kimmy the Koala, an evil imaginary friend who tells him to be superior and alone. Kimmy’s bad advice becomes a chilling look at self-deception with scenes painfully showing emotional manipulation, explaining how insecurities can turn feelings into a way to control April. The raw, almost awkward camerawork in these scenes sometimes makes the emotional abuse feel uncomfortable. The episode ends with Stone confronting Kevin. who fuelled by Kimmy’s ideas, thinks he deserves to win. Stone tries to break Kevin’s cycle, but April hits harder pointing out how he uses his friends and then leaves them. This moment of truth forces Stone to face his own actions, adding some depth to his character. The scene, while powerful, does feel a bit messy.
Together, “Cold-Blooded” and “You’re Not Special” mark a significant, darker shift for Turtletastic! taking a deeper look into Stone Scriven’s post-college worries and Timothy the stuffed turtle’s wild adventures. The episodes tackle issues like mental health, toxic relationships, and insecurity, using characters like Kimmy the Koala to show harmful thoughts. The improvised dialogue allows for raw, honest moments, but here is where the humour sometimes gets in the way of the serious drama. However, the show’s DIY aesthetic still gives it its charm. While the ambition is clear, the execution can be a bit uneven, but these episodes prove Turtletastic! isn’t afraid to challenge its characters or audience, delivering a memorable and surprisingly emotional part to the series.
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