Okay, I’ve been meaning to do this for a while but kept getting derailed. Thankfully I’m fully caught up on Rise (though it took me forever) and I was able to mostly sort out the in-universe order for the episodes.
Because fun fact– something I noticed way back in season 1– is that the episodes weren’t released in in-universe order. This was true on cable, this has held true on netflix and hbo-max paramount+ (I goofed, oops), and while [turtlepedia] does have them listed in tv broadcast order and has the episode production codes listed, neither of those entirely match up with the various in-episode context clues for what order things happen in.
And believe me, some of those context clues, those in-episode “signposts” are subtle enough to be blink-and-you’ll-miss-it details (like the fact that the background video for Donnie and Mikey in Hypno! Part Deux! implies that it’s happening at the same time as Repomantis). Needless to say it’s taken a lot of work and a lot of paying attention. And thankfully season 2 wasn’t as all over the place (mainly due to more of the episodes not having any distinct signposts beyond things that made it obvious they took place after season 1).
(I’ve done my best to get it as nailed down as possible. Episodes that occur at the same time are listed on the same bulletpoint in recommended watching order.)
So good news if you’re like me and you’d like to watch the episodes in in-universe order, because this is that list!
Without further ado, I give you:
The In-Universe Rise Episode Timeline
Repomantis & Hypno! Part Deux!
Down With The Sickness (Due to not really having any more than one possible signpost, this one could take place either before or after the previous point or The Purple Jacket. I don’t think it’s any later than that, but it’s debatable.)
The Fast And The Furriest
Mrs. Cuddles (Like Down With The Sickness this one has very few signposts, only two that I spotted and one of those is debatable, but it does take place sometime after The Fast And The Furriest.)
The Evil League of Mutants
Warren And Hypno, Sitting In A Tree
Sparring Partner (This is another one where the placement isn’t entirely certain, but it is after Origami Tsunami, The Fast and the Furriest, and Shadow of Evil.)
How To Make Enemies And Bend People To Your Will
Mystic Library (This is another one where there aren’t enough signposts to be sure where this one belongs exactly, but this was my best guess.)
The Ancient Art of Ninja Hide and Seek
Turtle-dega Nights: The Ballad of Rat Man
Snow Day (Yet another one where the time placement isn’t certain and this is my best guess, though it does take place sometime after Late Fee and possibly Jupiter Jim Ahoy!)
Flushed But Never Forgotten
Donnie vs. Witch-Town, Raph’s Ride-Along, Hidden City’s Most Wanted, Bad Hair Day
The Clothes Don’t Make the Turtle
Finale Part 1: E-Turtle Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Finale Part 2: Shreddy or Not
Finale Part 3: Anatawa Hitorijanai
Rise of the TMNT, the movie
(And if anyone wants my rationalization on any of this, just hit me up and I can go in detail.)
