Official Episode Discussion S4 Ep 16: Broken Foot
 

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Leo apparently hasn't learned his lesson about going off on his own as he secretly joins forces with Karai and finds himself in serious Danger.

Will Leo truly be acting on his own, or will a certain Foot Clan witch be responsible for turning him rogue?

Pretty excited about this episode. I hope Dark Leo is more Dork Leo with him attempting to act "cool" in front of Karai and Shinigami. :lol:

The episode is out on iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-seaso...s/id1134575658

Oh my god!!!!!!!!! that was intense :o and has to be my favorite episode so far.

Leo become a vigilante and helping Karai and Shinigami out and keeping a secret from the others. They were obviously angry when they found out.

Chompy and Ice Cream kitty don't get along and Chompy breaths fire.

Poor Donnie, he got injured by saving Mikey and Raph when the Auman Chemical plant was blown up. I loved that Mikey, Raph and Leo ran up and hugged him when he woke up.

The best funny moment has to be the 2007 movie reference that Raph said he wanted to dress up as a vigilante but got talked out of it.

Karia can cure her injuries by turning into her snake form.

Yeah, that was totally a 2007 reference

That was good Ep. :tsmile:
I like new Footbots.... :tlove:

I'm going to assume Casey's not in this ep either.

No he's not and April is a minor character in this episode.

At least Josh is getting a break. I always figured they leave supporting characters out for a time to give the voice actors a rest...like how we didn't have Splinter for so long.

2007 TMNT reference! :tlol: I'm sure it won't get anywhere beyond this episode, but I would love it if they had the Nightwatcher in this series.

Have to say, Leo does a great job recreating Shawn Michaels' entrance gear. :lol:

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9.5 out of 10 for that Leo, made my day.

Saw the episode earlier; overall Broken Foot I feel is better than last week's episode, but still possesses similar issues.

Similarly to last week, the little moments in the episode were good. The whole Mazes and Mutants part was adorable; in addition, there were nice Turtle moments. Raph mentioning Nightwatcher, Don's sacrifice and hug (though I feel it should have been Mikey), in general the small moments are well done.

Additionally, the action is also solid, good intensity and visual flare this time, but it feels slightly a step back from last week. Don't know why, maybe the April vs Shinigami duel was the highlight in City at War. Lastly, there's further plot progression with what I assume are the Foot Elite, but again it's subdued.

Unfortunately, Broken Foot carries identical flaws from last week as well. Though the action is well done, there's not that much story outside "Let's break in and cripple Shredder by doing X!" It won't surprise me if that's the new formula; it has newer ways of doing so to destroy a criminal empire if the villains are switched up each week, but there's something missing. I feel due to action taking over, there's really no story this episode besides destroying Shredder's robotic army. It doesn't do a really good job

Lastly, Dark Leo. I thought it'd be Shinigami (who I'm not huge on still) controlling him, but it's instead Leo gone rogue. The design's really good, heck the animation in general is excellent, but something feels amiss. I wish it were mentioned when the episode takes place after last week, because there's really no explanation of Leo outside the artwork for future episodes or selling merchandise. His talk with Splinter was fine, but I don't know, it feels quick.

It's solid, but could've done so much more. Maybe a little less action and more substance would've helped. I give it 7 burning Chromedomes out of 10.

I thought Tiger Claw was gonna die or something. That lava almost hit him. Well actually it only hit the footbots around him. Same thing with Shini. Gosh darn plot armor. It also appears that Karai hasn't learned her lesson yet. I kinda want her to live with the turtles normally for a while. And Shini makes a mistake at the beginning when she calls Shredder Karai's dad. But I guess not everyone is out of that loop yet.

Pretty much what I expected featuring pretty much the "A" cast looking to see what's about to happen next, although the ending was well worth it and you can really feel Leo after he caused Don to get in trouble, and this is also where Splinter shines. I'll have to say with Shini, we got a good new "female villain" in place of Karai, who I see as a good midway between an April and Shini, leaning toward one or the other as the series has progressed, which makes this Karai one of the more interesting versions of her.

Show Grade: 7.5/10

He's not, and I'm glad. The Space arc really, really made me hate his character. I didn't mind him initially, but he is by and large the most annoying version of the character. That and I could go the entire rest of the season wthout hearing him say "metal" ever again.

Also I love ICK's crown. Just saying.

Another solid episode, as always. On a side note, I'm so relieved that they didn't make "Dark Leo" an arc. 8/10 for me.

God this episode was stupid, so Karai has the great plan of crippling Shredders empire when Shredder is at his weakest but Splinter thinks it isnt a good idea because of "revenge" nevermind the fact Shredder is going after Splinters family and he will use every arsenal at his disposal.

Well I doubt Shredder's weak now, he's probably getting stronger now that he's getting mutated.

But Splinter is right getting revenge is bad because it will end up hurting others, poor Donnie got injured and of course Tang Shen's death in Tale of the Yokai, they were caused by revenge.

Just like last week's ep, this one has little to no identity of its own. Things that should be a big deal are pretty much swept under the rug (Donnie's injury, which isn't brought up again until the very end of the episode, Leo going off on his own yet again).

I appreciate that they are trying to listen to us, though. There are cute, lighthearted, humorous moments in there that did get a couple laughs out of me (the Mazes & Mutants gag was probably my favorite). And the characters are getting their personalities back, but we're still not quite at that point where you can really relate to them.

I liked the Nightwatcher reference, though being a huge fan of that arc myself, I feel it would've been better as a stand-alone Raph-centric episode. But that's just me. Glad to at least know they acknowledge its existence.

However, they couldn't have hammered in the moral any harder than they did here. It got pretty annoying. Rather than doing it somewhat subtlely, the episode comes right out about five or six times saying "REVENGE IS BAD KIDS!!" and not being the least bit subtle about it. It's episodes like these that show me the days where it didn't just feel like voice actors reading off lines on a piece of paper are gone.

Something's also been bugging me for awhile -- where the hell is April's personality? Is it gone? Did it die? I remember April being a pretty fun character once upon a time. Now she's just the dues ex machina in every situation (see the very beginning of this particular episode, where they rushedly already figure out what Leo's up to because "ooh, mind powers, oooooh"). Can April's personality come back?

Can Splinter's, too? Because I get that he's the mentor/father and all that, but he used to remind me of Mr. Miyagi in that most of his humor came from his strange teachings that somehow even made sense. Now he's just, "don't do thing, bad thing is bad, now you see why bad thing is bad, cheese-sicle." I don't get it. For a show that's trying so hard to be lighthearted now, it sure isn't doing a very good job being humorous.

Mikey's "relationship" with Shinigami just hammers in that these writers probably never had an actual relationship with a girl as a teenager. I mean, maybe they did, I can't know for sure, but the way they write all these female characters as love interests for everyone, and kinda slutty at times (Karai's "charms" with Leo in this very episode), it just doesn't seem that way. Mikey and Shinigami "flirting" is just nothing short of cringey (I hate to use this word, but there really is no other way I can describe it). Renet better come back and both her and Shinigami better give Mikey a piece of their minds. Otherwise, this is just useless.

Okay, one last thing and then I'm done. The new Foot. I thought this was going to be really cool at first. But, like every other major thing in this episode, it's swept under the rug almost like it doesn't even exist. At this moment, the shock value is too high and the actual value of the show is too low, and that's just an example. Many major things happened in this episode, but there were too many. This whole show just feels like a bad episode of Family Guy now because of that. Nothing's memorable because everything's a big, memorable thing.

Yeah, this episode wasn't too good. Better than last week, but not by much. Had most of the same problems. However, I do appreciate they are at least trying to make the show better. Who knows? It might actually get back to its original levels of writing by the end of this season. We can hope.

The point of the matter is that he is out of commission and his little money making schemes are vulnerable doesn't it make sense to destroy his foot bot factories or weapon cache and making his empire more vulnerable as for Donnie if Leo told the team then this would't have happened Karai's plan was a good plan but Mr.Seek Victory not fairness thinks its a bad idea for some reason.

No because even those things are destroyed he will only start those things again somewhere else. He will just keep going until he's destroyed the turtles and Splinter.

I thought it was ok, but it felt really rushed. Maybe could have stood being a two parter.

Wilhelm scream made me laugh.

NightWatcher reference was pretty ham fisted. I'll take it though.

Yeah, I'm with you there. Pretty out of character for Splinter.

@Aaronardo I agree about the "moral". Zero subtlety. Shame.

Except its gonna cost him money and resources to do it so its all the more reason to do it, hell worst case scenario(for the turtles) it could set Shredder back a few months and have his mutant bodyguards focus on the factories leaving him in the open

I put the mark of a thing with the new elite foot bots?
The very similar to the Chrome Dome ...(their body)

Yes, Splinter have right about " revenge.."
It's give much pain for others....

I think its not so much that he's against Karai going after the Foot, but letting revenge GUIDE Karai in taking on the Foot. I mean really, if she didn't have help from Leo, Raph, and Mikey, three COMPETENT ninjas she would've probably died. She had NO idea the robots they were making were upgrades, she just found the factory and was all "Well *CLAP* let's blow it up!" While it was kind-of a hammered in moral, the dude is right. They'll go after Shredder when the time comes, but with a bit more level head than...crazy, obviously mentally unbalanced snake lady, and her enabling witch friend.

It looks like he does have a lot of money, did you see his house last week so it won't set him back months, maybe weeks. He's also got Baxter Stockman and he probably still has Kraang technology.

So even if he's set back a few months or weeks, he can keep coming up with other ideas on how to destroy the turtles.

Also he controls the mafia as well and they will be in the episode Mutant Gangland and they will be using anti mutant weapons on the turtles.

"When the time comes" the time is now if it was up to Splinter, Shredder would've been healed AND he would've had an army of Chrome Domes with him both parties were wrong in this episode but for some reason Spinter was in the right he should've told Karai to attack Shredder from a pragmatic point of view and had the rest of the turtles including April to help her the whole lesson could've been "When having a dangerous situation always tell your family or friends because they can help you" but no its revenge is bad because we are too stupid to see a good opportunity.

And guess what money is finite, everytime Karai and Shini attacks Shredder's money making schemes or when they attack his factories Shredder loses money also Baxter needs money to get the resources to build foot bots

Once again I think he meant revenge guiding her was bad, and keep in mind she never asked for help from him because SHE assumed he'd just say no. She could've given them the reconnaissance she found to help her destroy it more properly, as well as tell Leo/Leo didn't tell his brothers what he was doing causing Donnie to get injured(I forget if she told him not to tell them or not, and am too busy to rewatch the ep). Regardless its also on Leo a LOT, he encouraged her behavior and lied to his bros because he can't keep it in his Shell. SHE AIN'T WORTH IT LEO-find your world's version of Radical and move on!

Should't the mid 40s Jounin who's family been attacked by Shredder offer her help like all 3 parties are somewhat in the wrong but this show is too stupid to tell Splinter that Karai idea was good and she needs guidance.

Shredder won't give a **** on how much money he's lost, he will just keep going and going insane and be obsessed on destroying the turtles and Splinter, that's all he cares about.

Karai destroying his things isn't going to affect him too much and is going to make things a lot worse and make him more insane on revenge.

Well he should its money that employs a good chunk of his minions and its money that keeps his foot bots manufactured also I don't know if you noticed but Tiger Claw(you know Shredders most efficient Lieutenant) would probably leave if Shredder becomes too unstable Karai's idea while bullheaded and emotional was a good idea and its hell of a lot better than sitting around and having the turtles thumb up their asses and wait until Shredder has an army of Chrome Domes.

I had quite a bit of fun writing this review. "Broken Foot" is surely a step up from last week's episode (B-, 3.5/5 to a B, 4/5). Here it is:

An episode such as “City at War” did a decent job of establishing a new character in Shinigami, Karai’s questionable means of loosening Shredder’s grip on the power he wields (the old ends vs. means dilemma), and ending on a dangerous and suspenseful note showing how much this war is just getting started. Some of the things it did lack was Leonardo’s and Karai’s somewhat complex yet caring relationship and what may be the true cost(s) and consequences of winning this war once and for all. Those things are finally touched upon in its succeeding episode, “Broken Foot” while it walks a strenuous line between (revenge) tragedy and melodrama. Most of this series’ tragedy springs from revenge in episodes such as “Vengeance is Mine”, "Tale of the Yokai", and “Annihilation: Earth!” just to name a couple and while it's a guiding force here, Karai has so far displayed herself different from those who've become villains due to it (ex. Newtralizer, the Triceratons, Shredder, etc.) It's always fun when the series explores both revenge and tragedy and while not as powerful as the aforementioned episodes, it still isn't lacking here.

Now obviously, Leo is not fooling the audience with his new look and he wouldn’t fool any of his friends and family up close as well. There’s also not much point to it either, aside from providing a visual meaning that neither he nor his two female allies are supposed to be aware of. He and everyone else may as well be under the illusion of him wearing his same old blue mask and combo of belts and pads while the audience is treated to both a cool visual (and it is undoubtedly cool) and a highly probable sense of impending trouble. Still, the fact that he’s the only turtle to be teaming up with Karai shows how much he still cares for her and that remains one of the more interesting aspects of both their characters. It’s also fitting that one of the spots on Karai’s “To Destroy List” is the old Auman chemical plant which supplied the chemicals that made her turn back to her old team. While Leo becomes hesitant towards going any further with their plans, he still sees the good in Karai’s motivations and believes in her plan of restoring the Foot to a period of honor—or at least what it might have been before Shredder’s reign. Also, the Auman chemical plant’s part in Karai’s arc from the previous season also caused him quite a bit of pain so it’s understandable how much he’d like to take part in this. These things are all supposed to be indicative of the attempt at tragedy ahead.

Now of course, the plan works but at the near cost of Donatello. A cost that could’ve been avoided if only there was just a bit more communication between the turtle family. Not that that should be held against the episode. After all, the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet came about due to a lack of communication and that story is still held in high regard to this day. Specifically, this is the part of the story which blurs between tragedy and melodrama. Whereas a tragedy involves a great person destined to fall in some way, shape, or form due to flaws, an overpowering force, fate, or society; a melodrama (which this series has arguably become the most) meanwhile exaggerates emotions while emphasizing plot or action at the expense of both cause and effect and characterization. Now a lot of tragedies are built on emotions since most of the recognizable titles in history come from either the Romantic era or the English Renaissance (or what some refer to as the Elizabethan Age). One of my favorite books is The Count of Monte Cristo, a melodrama which at first wouldn’t be held in such high regard today when placed in that category. However, it remains notable not only for its revenge and bucking of social norms at the time, but also for providing what most modern melodramas do not: character development (perhaps the best I’ve ever seen) and cause and effect despite some of the proclaimed chance encounters and ridiculous situations some of the story’s critics proclaim. This episode does a mostly good job of the latter rather than the former even if the characters with opposite viewpoints regarding the latter don't come to an exact understanding.

Still, this story fits more under the terms of the melodramatic, especially when you consider the fates of “Vengeance is Mine” and “Annihilation: Earth!” Karai’s tragedy, aside from being raised by an overbearing and overpowered sociopathic father figure as well as no Tang Shen, is a lack of inclusion as well as anger issues and lack of trust shared between herself and others--not to mention the unbearable nature of bad things resulting from good intentions. Despite these flaws; she’s still trying to do the right thing even if the means remain questionable and that's why her plans, whether they will work out well or not, remains something to be invested in going forward. While all these things are on full display here, not only does “Broken Foot” not reach the tragic levels of episodes like the two previously mentioned but it also doesn’t explore the issue of Karai’s ends vs means dilemma as much or as effectively as it should have been able to; instead giving way to a lot of suspicions, accusations, and then resentments between the family in the wake of Donatello's accident. Indicative of this all is the final shot showing that the ideals of Karai versus those of her family don’t end up exactly closing quarters.

I think the thing is...Splinter’s fine right now- with living hidden, with laying low.

And yeah, the sensei in him wants to end this, wants to fight it- get rid of Shredder for good.

But he's also a father. He just got his kids back, all of his kids back. And right now he just wants to breathe, just to enjoy them and be at peace.

Like Vicky said vengeance and vendetta are all the reasons why he's lost so much, lost his daughter for years, his wife forever, almost lost Leo plenty of times and, like in this ep, his sons get hurt- people get hurt.

So, yeah, he knows this will have to come to an end soon, through a battle most likely. But right now he just wants his kids.

And I think, in my opinion, he's always been this way. Since season one he's wanted to keep them secluded. I don't find it as a weakness as much as it's the love of a father overreaching the determination of a master.

But I do see where the frustration comes from. Splinter only resurfaces in a mid or season finale to really fight against Shredder.

Yeah and it was Shredder who did all of that so it makes since to completely eradicate the sickness before it spreads AGAIN, Splinter has a chance to permanently make sure his family is safe and as we seen in this episode them not doing anything is going to make the situation worse

I think he only pays Tigerclaw and probably Rahzar, the rest of them were forced to join him.

Also he's probably making money in Japan as well, not just New York.

That's the thing though it WASN'T a good idea, and she re-FUSED help from him. She be stubborn.

On the topic of her plan she probably should've just gone STRAIGHT to the robots, THAN the other two rather than the money laundering operation and chemical factory that gave off her scent. Her attack lacked subtlety, "Go to place, blow it up, REPEAT!" The robot factory halts his army, the laundering and the chemicals were just dents in Shred-head's wallet.

Xever also gets payed and Karai could have her ninjas attack Shredder's money making place in Japan

When did Splinter offer her help and yeah I agree she should've went straight to the robots but I think making dents in Shred head wallet is gonna hurt him a lot.

He didn't offer her help, he let Karai make her own decisions and she decided not to ask for help and instead made a terrible backwards plan. Plus as she said, destroying the robot factory wasn't about halting him, it was about destroying his possessions, HURTING him rather than stopping him. If she were truly trying to rebuild the honor of the Foot Clan, she'd be more strategic in where she'd attack first, rather than let herself be known letting her enemies prepare traps for her.

And I politely disagree, this is the Foot clan we're talking here, they got pockets ALL over the place.

All the more reason for Splinter the adult should have offer her help he was right that Karai was too emotional in her schemes so he should've told he to look at it from a pragmatic view this is on Splinter's head to and Shredder having pockets all over the place is more reason to dent his wallet

That reference to the Nightwatcher was awesome. Overall, pretty decent episode.