Official Episode Discussion S4 Ep 15: City At War

[lonewarrior20]

i was also suprised they let shinigami into the lair so soon.

[TMNTInsighter]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

You trollin, or what?

No but I know you're retarded.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by TMNTInsighter

No but I know you're retarded.

Hey, uncalled for man. This behavior seems weird from you, I've never noticed you being aggressive before.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Just watched it, and I loved every bit of it.

I dunno why people are not satisfied with April delivering the final blow to tiger claw? She really took him by surprise there, after he had become worn out from fighting shinigami, the turtles, karai and april, (while having the upper hand most of the time) so i don't think jts unreasonable that april got the opening she needed. And besides, April showed throughout the episode that she was still pretty unexperienced as a kunoich. Shinigami defeated her multiple times in the episode, Raph stated she has a long way to go and even Fishface got the better of her during a fight.

But on topic, I think this was an amazing episode, from the major introduction of shinigami and karai as taking control over Shredder's old lair, to the little details like April being corrupted by that gem and Shredder's new lair. It feels great to have the show back again, and like many here, I agree that this episodes title is not meant to cover the entire adaptation from mirage, but just to show the tip of the iceberg. There's still 11 episodes on the season, I'm sure they will flesh out this arc alot more. Now to go and watch Andre Meadow's review.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

Just watched it, and I loved every bit of it.

I dunno why people are not satisfied with April delivering the final blow to tiger claw? She really took him by surprise there, after he had become worn out from fighting shinigami, the turtles, karai and april, (while having the upper hand most of the time) so i don't think jts unreasonable that april got the opening she needed. And besides, April showed throughout the episode that she was still pretty unexperienced as a kunoich. Shinigami defeated her multiple times in the episode, Raph stated she has a long way to go and even Fishface got the better of her during a fight.

But on topic, I think this was an amazing episode, from the major introduction of shinigami and karai as taking control over Shredder's old lair, to the little details like April being corrupted by that gem and Shredder's new lair. It feels great to have the show back again, and like many here, I agree that this episodes title is not meant to cover the entire adaptation from mirage, but just to show the tip of the iceberg. There's still 11 episodes on the season, I'm sure they will flesh out this arc alot more. Now to go and watch Andre Meadow's review.

I thought it was funny that he got kicked between the balls, you never seen that in TMNT before.

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

I thought it was funny that he got kicked between the balls, you never seen that in TMNT before.

I literally laughed out loud. That's one of the greatest payoffs in the history of the show. It's so awesome that Splinter showed her how to do that when all else fails. It works for sure! Is Shredder gonna become Super Shredder?

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

Man, I really missed the show. It was gone too long.

But yeah, a lot of what Powder said. Mainly, why even call it City at War? It wasn't an offensive halfass adaption like the 4kids version, but it was just a waste of the namesake.

Shinigami was very cool. She looks like a Sophie Campbell drawing, and Yeo is a great VA for her.

Also very confused by Shredder's condition... I thought Splinter just nailed him in a couple of pressure points and pieced him up. Did we miss an episode?

Last gripe... Xever needs to go. He's making Dos Equis guy jokes and perving on April. The writers just need to sweep him under the rug if it's come to this.

Glad the show is back, let's hope it runs straight into season 5.

EDIT: Yeah Powder, that new foot hideout is a reference to another show/movie. But I'm currently blanking on it.

I do agree that City At War seemed an odd title but I really did enjoy it overall. Usually the episode titles actually do seem to set the tone for the episode but that was just seemed like a pure homage and nothing else. I don't even know if "homage" is the correct word. Almost more of just like a reference or easter egg or something.

[CyberCubed]

This is the second show that used, "City at War" for its episodes, and couldn't quite do it justice.

I think cartoons should just stop trying to make their own version of City at War. Its obvious no cartoon can handle the subject material without it being toned down considerably.

[Ninjinister]

Y'alls would be a bit more content if you weren't creating your own hype for things beyond what the show will likely deliver.

I feel City at War did enough for what it was supposed to be. It was obviously a one-part episode, so instead of cramming it all into one 22 minute blurb, it's setting things up. Leo mentioned the power vacuum and we know the mob's coming up. Think of the back half of this season as "City at War" as its theme, if you have to.

Also it delivered on "Karai taking back the Foot from Shredder loyalists" which was a major theme of the original. The only difference is that Saki's still around.

[NikitaZhukov]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

I thought it was funny that he got kicked between the balls, you never seen that in TMNT before.

Well, Casey did kick Tiger Claw between the balls in "Casey Jones vs The Underworld" episode. There goes Tiger Claw's future kids.

[Utrommaniac]

I don't think he'd be having kids anyway

[TheCollector]

Okay but did anyone else notice how wolf man reminiscent Karai's lose of control mutation scene? Cause I loved that bit.

EDIT: Also, I very much prefer Shini being with Karai in the 2k12 eps they're in then I ever did Chaplin from 2k3.

[Utrommaniac]

That being said, it's almost funny how drastically different Karai's role here is from any other time around - especially with the parallels to the 2003 version.

Meeting Karai for the first time - Well known, sort of on the turtles side
Cleaning up a mess in lieu of her beloved adoptive father - f**king sh*t up for revenge against her kidnapper who called himself her father, whose guts she can now no longer stand
Shredder, in a tube, covered in worms - Shredder, burned more than ever, connected to "what is that green stuff, it disturbs me, please stop glowing, sir"

[Zatoichi]

Originally Posted by NikitaZhukov

Well, Casey did kick Tiger Claw between the balls in "Casey Jones vs The Underworld" episode. There goes Tiger Claw's future kids.

He just has to wear a sport cup and nobody can stop him.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by neatoman

So did April use the Dragon's Tail incorrectly or is the technique reallt just a kick in the balls? Because it would be hilarious if that was the case.

I doubt it, even though this is like the third time Tigerclaw's been hit in the nuts. April's much shorter than Tigerclaw. It probably connected there for that very reason. Let's say she was Rahzar's height, or even Donnie or Casey's height or something...it probably would've connected with his stomach or torso.

[Chopperface]

Let's talk.

First off, the episode isn't really an adaptation of CAW whatsoever, Mirage or 2003. Instead, it kicks off the storyline which apparently looks to last for the rest of the season considering we know Hun and Don Vizioso are gonna be major threats in the future. So it pacified me, though I still think the actual title should've been saved for the season finale when the city is actually at war.

Good to be back in New York. And good to have some actual plot progression for the first time in two years regarding Karai. It was somewhat abrupt that she was suddenly fully recovered mentally from the brain worm in this episode. Not as bad as last year when Stockman hamfistedly said "I've returned you to your human form" in the first 20 seconds of the episode. But still. I thought she had taken the mantle of the Shredder.

Like I said, the city wasn't really at war here. Karai and Shinigami don't really stand a chance against the Foot, even as bad off as they are. Shinigami is powerful, yes, but if eight powerful mutants couldn't lick Shredder and only Splinter can, they don't stand a chance in a fight. So I wasn't sold on the two as a credible threat to Shredder's organization, only as a threat to his ego. Destroying weapon caches is a good start though, considering how strapped the Foot are.

If you haven't noticed, I've talked about the Foot most here. That's because other than Splinter, I don't care about the main protagonists anymore. Casey and Mikey are obnoxious comic relief, Raph's development was thrown out the window forever ago, Donnie is bland these days (I don't miss his stalker stuff, however). And Leo is still on my shitlist after the last episode. But yes it was wonderful to see Splinter again.

The Foot have become why I watch the show, and it's so good to have them back. We haven't even seen Stockman in a year. Bradford and Xever fared well here for the most part and good to see Tigerclaw not suffer the Worf effect to Shinigami.

On that note I'm glad we're slowly getting more female characters, let alone female fighters.

I'll give it a 5.8/10.

Pros:
* The Foot and Splinter are back!
* Plot progression after two whole years.
* Promise of half a season devoted to City At War
* The ending.
Cons:
* Abrupt resolution of Karai's mental state.
* The title was wasted here since the city wasn't actually at war.
* Karai and Shinigami aren't that impressive as a rival to Shredder.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Chopperface

* Abrupt resolution of Karai's mental state.

How was it abrupt? We knew that she coughed up the worm episodes ago. The fight she had with Splinter showed her coughing it up right after, even though I felt she would've even without that final hit since Splinter said he loved her which caused her to hesitate right before she was hit. It's like how Raph coughed up the worm after Leo got to him emotionally.

If anything, the way they discussed the worm being gone felt a bit clumsy. They also mentioned weeks had gone by and quite a bit of time had gone by after the worm incident prior to the Triceraton stuff, so no...it wasn't abrupt. She had a load of time to regain her mental state. This was how she was prior to having the worms and stuff...out for revenge against Shredder.

* Karai and Shinigami aren't that impressive as a rival to Shredder.

I figured that was the point. Karai will have to eventually realize that they can't do things on their own and will need help, whether it be from the turtles, April, and Casey or even the Mutanimals. Who knows, maybe Anton and Steranko may join her at some point. The implication is that she will eventually form a team.

[ToTheNines]

I'm kinda bummed that this episode retroactively made Splinter vs Shredder in Earth's Last Stand kinda lame. It should have been more brutal and ended with him being further burned. I just really can't understand why he's all bandaged.

[matteso586]

Apparently, the guys at IGN didn't give this episode a review yet.

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

I'm kinda bummed that this episode retroactively made Splinter vs Shredder in Earth's Last Stand kinda lame. It should have been more brutal and ended with him being further burned. I just really can't understand why he's all bandaged.

This is actually a major problem I have with this episode.

Shredder has spent three whole seasons basically being invincible to the point of absolute absurdity, remember when he fought eight mutants at once without getting a scratch and only losing on a technicality? Turns out hitting a few pressure points will put him in a hospital bed for a few months...