The Varlesh are mentioned and do appear in the 2003 show, but extremely briefly. In episode Turtles in Space, Part 1: The Fugitoid, Honeycutt reveals his origin and escape to the TMNT in a flashback. While the encounter with the Crab aliens is very similar to the original comic-book story, it is edited and scaled down. Blanque's soldiers are shown merely running past the Varlesh shells in the small clearing after what they think is the Droid's trail. After they have left, like the comic the Fugitoid emerges from the sanctity of the Varlesh's shell. The Fugitoid then continues his escape to Peblak. The conversation with the Crab is omitted. However it is eluded to that a bond had been formed and that the Varlesh were Honeycutt's allies.