Showdown, Part 1

"With the world at stake, the only thing of importance is that you complete your mission. No matter what you have to sacrifice...or who."

- Splinter

Booyaka-Showdown, Part 1 (also known simply as Showdown, Part 1) is the twenty-fifth episode of the 2012 TV series. It was originally aired on August 8, 2013.

Plot Synopsis
The episode begins inside the TCRI, with the Kraang receiving a message from their glorious leader, Kraang Prime, announcing that the earth invasion begins now. The order is given to activate their ultimate tool of destruction, the Technodrome. At the lair, the stolen communication orb alerts Donnie that something big is going down. He and April manage to decode the alien code and are shocked by what they find.

Leo, Raph, and Mikey are watching the final episode of Space Heroes, but are interrupted when Donnie calls them all to come see what he's uncovered. The Kraang are plotting to mutate the world with the power of the Technodrone. Donnie surmises that this is the final phase of the Kraang invasion and, if the Technodrome gets through the dimensional portal, it could mean the end of the world. They wonder if they are ready for such a challenge, but Splinter assures them that if the fate of the world must rest in someone's hands, he is glad that it is theirs. The turtles rush out but Splinter keeps Leo back a moment. He tells him that for a mission of this magnitude, the only thing that matters is completing it no matter what the sacrifice. As Leo goes to join his brothers, it is revealed that Kirby has been implanted with some sort of Kraang device on the back of his neck.

The turles all prepare, with Leo and Donnie discussing strategy, constructing new equipment, and Raphael loading himself down with weapons. They all board the Shell Raiser to begin their mission. Once they are gone, April asks Splinter why he isn't going with them. He explains that, as a teacher, it is his job to prepare them for the challenges they face. She counters that, with the fate of the world in the balance, he should help. He angrily retorts that he doesn't have to explain himself to a child and storms out.

The turtles reach the surface and Leo lays out the plan. They are to head to TCRI and use the new Microfission Omni-Disintegrator that Donnie created to take out the portal with a single shot. Back at the lair, April is approached by her father Kirby, who asks where everyone is. She explains that the turtles are on their way to TCRI, and Kirby tells her that the Kraang know about their plan, as they have cracked the T-Phones' encryption. He convinces her that they must go to warn the turtles in person. As they leave, Splinter warns that it is dangerous for her to be on the surface. She coldy replies that, unlike him, she can't just sit and do nothing. As April and her father walk through the sewers, she notices that this isn't the way to TCRI. Suddenly two Foot Clan ninja appear and grab her. When she is secured, Karai appears and orders a brainwashed Kirby to take a message to Splinter. He goes back to the lair with two Mousers, ignoring April's cries for help.

At TCRI, the Shell Raiser crashes into the building and is fired upon by a large squad of Kraang droids led by "Ms. Campbell". She calls a cease fire and the hatch opens, as Metalhead leaps out and engages the Kraang in battle. It is then revealed that turtles aren't in the Shell Raiser, but instead, are high above the building using a new invention, the Turtle Gliders! They land on the roof and infiltrate the building.

Meanwhile, Splinter contemplates on what April had said, but senses danger and confronts Kirby. He tells Splinter that he has a message from Master Shredder. Upon Kirby saying this, Splinter is stunned to hear him call the Shredder his "master", and appears to be fearful of the message that will come next. The mousers project a hologram of Shredder who addresses Splinter. He challenges Splinter to face him if he wants April back. At TCRI, the turtles approach the portal which is being guarded by Traag. Leo takes aim with the Omni-Disintegrator and fires, but the portal is protected by a force field and is unharmed. The turtles are attacked by Traag and an army of Kraang. Donnie attempts to hack into the computer systems while Leo uses the Disintegrator to blast the limbs off of Traag.

At the Foot Clan headquarters, April is chained with Dogpound and Fishface guarding. Splinter, in disguise, approaches the Foot Clan headquarters as Dogpound explains to Fishface that Splinter and Shredder trained at the same school of ninjutsu and were as brothers until Splinter "betrayed him". Splinter decimates a large squad of ninja and enters the throne room. He squares off with both mutants and defeats them both. He rushes to free April only to find that is nothing but another mouser hologram. Shredder reveals that, now that Splinter is here, he had no further use for April and gave her to the Kraang. Shredder then appears out of nowhere and knocks Splinter down, informing him that he's going to put an end to him once and for all. Splinter then takes off his hood revealing his face, leaving Shredder appalled. Splinter, now enraged with how carelessly he handled April, threatens that he will be the last thing Shredder ever sees.

Back with the turtles, Donnie is able to bring the force field down but it immediately activates and the Technodrome hovers through. It is a massive warship with incredible destructive power. Leo tries one more blast with the disintegrator but the battery dies, and turns to ashes. As the ship continues to pass through the portal and the Kraang closes in, Leo notices the Power Cell. Donnie tells him that if he ruptures it, the whole place would go up in flames. Leo cuts his way to the power cell as the others flee and buries his blade into the crystal. He leaps out the window as the building explodes and falls to what seems like his death but is snagged at the last second by Raph on his glider. However, it is too early to celebrate as the Technodrone has made it through the portal.

To be continued...

Trivia

 * This is the first time in the series (That is not a flashback) we see Shredder fight Splinter.


 * This is the first time Splinter meets Dogpound and Fishface.


 * Kirby O'Neil was brainwashed because of the chip on his neck that we saw in Operation: Break Out.
 * The "pigeon in front of the camera" bit alludes to how the Turtles broke into the TCRI building in issue #4 of the original Mirage books.
 * This is the second episode when Donnie says, "Booyakasha!"
 * This is the first episode where the Mousers appear without Baxter Stockman.
 * This is the third episode where Metalhead makes an appearance and the seocnd where he's fighting.
 * It's implied that Donnie made Metalhead self-aware.
 * The Microfission Omni-Disintegrator has the same design as the Sub-Spacial EndoParticle Disruptor, as seen in "Baxter's Gambit."
 * Space Heroes has its final episode.

Quotes
Donatello: We gotta take out the portal. (sees Traag guarding it)

Raphael: I forgot about him.

Donatello: Don't worry. We'll be gone before that rock monster even knows we're here.

Leonardo: Alright guys, this all ends in 3...2...1. (fires the Omni-Disintegrator, but it doesn't work because of a forcefield) What? There's a forcefield? Why didn't you tell me?

Donatello: Well, because I wanted us to fail. OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T KNOW!

More to be added....

Related Works
To tie-in with this season finale, the episodes were novelized under the name Showdown with Shredder. The novelization was written by Matthew J. Gilbert.

Gallery
See: Booyaka-Showdown/Gallery

Links

 * Listings
 * Full Episode on Nick.com

Videos