So is the Foot Recruit the series' Karai?
 

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...L722A8f52IAfOE
I just noticed a very strong clue that she might well be.

Because THIS is Karai from the IDW series, notice anything familiar?
https://tortueman.files.wordpress.co...mnt2.jpg?w=286
The purple Gi and red wraps around her arms and waste are the same, as is the general look of the character.

But what they also have in common is the fact that it took IDW Karai a long time to finally make decisions of her own without asking Shredder and other high ranking members of the Foot Clan for permission.

https://comicattack.net//wp-content/...TMNT-49pg5.jpg
One of the very first times Karai rebelled against Shredder's wishes.

And just like Karai, Foot Recruit has severe INTENSITY issues.
https://mlpnk72yciwc.i.optimole.com/...1.00.59-pm.jpg

I prefer to call her Crackhead instead of Foot recruit, because of her general erratic behaviour.

Anyway, yes. It is certainly possible that Crackhead is indeed Karai. It's kind of weird that she doesn't have an official name despite showing up so much, so I am leaning towards her being an established character and Karai does seem like the most likely candidate. Admittedly there's quite a lot of differences between Crackhead and Karai, but if they are the same it would hardly be the biggest case of deviation in the show.

Probably
 

Probably, or maybe Lotus Blossom

I kinda hope not because one of the things I enjoy about this show is that its making original characters instead of "Oh this character is going to be a canon character very soon" so I hope its just some nobody and not Karai

Unlikely, she has so many appearances that she's not going to be somebody who will fade into the background.

Foot Recruit also sports red eye make-up. But I'd prefer her to be a new character then Rise!Karai

If she's anyone in particular, then obviously that's the most likely choice, though they've dragged it out so long without giving the girl a name that it's going to be kind of dull if they do ever reveal her to be Karai.

I find her craziness kind of obnoxious though... I'd likewise prefer her to be new, rather than having taken yet another serious character from canon and turned her into this.

Lotus Blossom IS Karai

What.

Aren't they separate characters?

Plot twist, turns out every female character in TMNT was Karai all along. That crafty ninja

Yes they are but Lotus Blossom CAN be seen as the prototype for Karai.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06Vybxopi...tusBlossom.jpg
A Kunoichi working for the Foot Clan who has the most clashes with Leonardo and also has a romantic interest in him?

It was well worth bringing that back...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...f4Vxo4cTF5gA&s
TWICE!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/73/a7...21d4d16b43.jpg

Heck, seeing the more recent comics of the IDW series. might suggest something too.
https://mlpnk72yciwc.i.optimole.com/...3.03.58-PM.jpg



So don't be too surprised if Foot Recruit is the next in line of the dangerous love interests for Leonardo.
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...ULDfyrPuF2miKA

My headcanon has always been that Lotus blossom is karai, that's just her nickname like Oroku Saki's is Shredder. don't care karai was made later, also that one girl in the 1990 TMNT movie in the foot recruit place that looks at the camera, she's the only one to get any screentime focused on them, even if it's like a second. She's Karai of the 90s movies and that was her cameo, already claimed it like 15 years ago on the drome.

I never took Lotus to be Karai, just most likely part of the inspiration for her. And a part of that handful of proof that Leo's got a thing for butt kicking human girls... lol

It could always turn out her name is Pimiko.

Reminds me of that scene from the Great Saiyaman saga in Dragonball Z when Chichi recounts her first date with Goku: they spend the whole day fighting.

The problem with all of this is that the Recruit doesn't have a special relationship with Leo in this incarnation, in fact he has the least encounters with her if i remember correctly.

You're wrong, out of all the turtles, he has interacted (as in fought) with her the most. In fact, apart from her debut episode "Hot soup, the game" she and Leo fought with every single one of her appearances.

That's untrue they only fought in Normal Day/Sparring Partner(which funny enough was the same episode), she didn't really fight anyone unless for a slight scuffle with Raph in How to Make Enemies and Bend People to your Will and she pretty much fought everyone except for Leonardo in Insane in the Mama's Train.

I like this idea. :thumbsup: Could be a nice reuse of a character that is lesser known.