Whilst taking some time out at the Jones farm upstate, Mikey, Raph and Don run into a group of conspiracy theorists out to rid the world of extraterrestrials...
This episode provides examples of
- Adaptation Name Change: In the original comic, the hate group was named Committee to Rebuild American Patriotism. The change fits with the fallout of the Triceraton invasion, but the original acronym obviously wouldn't have flew with the censors.
- Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering?: While trying to gin up his crew, Skonk walks them through this:Skonk: What do these sightings have in common?
Mook: Uh, aliens?
Skonk: No! Well, yeah, but no. What else?
Mooks: [beat] New York City! - Be Careful What You Wish For: When Donatello points out their foes have a lot of tech and could be numerous, Raphael says to bring them on. Cue sudden attack.
- Beware the Silly Ones: Raphael initially dismisses H.A.T.E. as a bunch of wackos, but Donatello warns him that they still got some dangerous tech at their disposal. He's immediately proven right.
- Blatant Lies: Casey denies that he told his mother that he and April are engaged immediately after the woman just said that.
- Breather Episode: Lampshaded by Casey, who notes they got away from the city to have some quiet time after the invasion and other events.
- Can't Get Away with Nuthin': Casey's mom reveals she knows he wasn't upfront with her about April. She also knew about Leo and Splinter's presence the entire time—saying she'd really like to know the explanation someday.
- Character Catchphrase: Don yells "Cowabunga" while jumping out of the truck which is carrying an activated bomb.
- Conspiracy Theorist: The group Humans Against The Extraterrestrials.
- Continuity Nod: To prove aliens are among us, Skonk cites reports of not just Turtle sightings in the sewers, but also a subway fight and alley chase.
- Cult Defector: The episode opens with the Turtles encountering a wounded former Right-Wing Militia Fanatic. The other militiamen shot him for trying to stop their plan to nuke New York City due to all of the alien sightings there.
- Didn't Think This Through: Casey told his mother that he got engaged to April just to get her off his back. It never occurred to him that she would want to meet her only child's fiancée.
- Don't Try This at Home: Donatello's opening narration.Donatello: Warning: the stunt you are about to witness is performed by professional maniacs. Do not attempt this yourself.
- Embarrassing First Name:Mrs. Jones: Who is this crazy woman, Arnold?
Casey: Ma, I told ya never to call me that! - Even Evil Has Standards: One of the Mooks chasing the Cult Defector has reservations about "hunting down one of our own."
- Insane Troll Logic: Skonk says the supposed alien sightings have all taken place in New York City, so the only solution is to blow it up.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: At first, April is more irritated with Casey about this and figures she just got off on the wrong foot with his mother. Getting immediately berated makes her reconsider this, though we learn the old woman was testing her here.
- Mistaken for Aliens: The Turtles.
- Moment Killer: April and Casey are about to share a moment when they realize that Leonardo and Splinter are sitting in the room.
- Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Skonk proclaims himself a defender of humanity, but has no qualms killing other humans to carry out his scheme of alien genocide.
- Pursued Protagonist: "H.A.T.E." begins with the Turtles leaving the farmhouse for some exercise, only to run into a wounded Cult Defector who is deliriously babbling about a terrorist attack his old group is planning. The Turtles proceed to beat up some armed members of said group when they arrive looking for the wounded man.
- Race Lift: One-shot villain Skonk, who was turned from black to white.
- Secret Secret-Keeper: Casey’s Mom was aware of Splinter and Leo’s presence the entire time.
- Secret Test of Character: Casey's mother does this to April throughout the episode.
- Shout-Out: One of the conspiracy theorists calls Mikey "E.T."Mike: E.T., phone home!
- So Proud of You: Casey's mom is most impressed with how April handled her tests.
- Spared by the Adaptation: In the comic, Skonk was killed off in the explosion, here he's gets merely incapacitated and left for the authorities.
- Unnamed Parent: Casey's mom.
- William Telling: Mikey and Raph are doing this with Don in their first scene.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: Skonk incorrectly that the sightings of the Turtles, Master Splinter, and Leatherhead are alien sightings, they have set up a base in New York City, which H.A.T.E. plans to blow up the city with a nuclear bomb to destroy all aliens.
