"End Times" is the fourth episode of the fifth and final season of the 2012 TV series, and is the one-hundred and eighth episode overall in the series. It first aired on April 9th, 2017.
With the resurrection of Shredder set in motion as an undead zombie, things seem to be going in Tiger Claw's favor. Meanwhile, the Turtles prepare to head down and try to stop Kavaxas before he could complete the ritual. As they do, they run into Fishface, who scares off the Foot Cultists, before explaining that they were ordinary humans mutated by the leftover mutagen from Super Shredder, effectively making them each contain some form of Shredder's memories in their mutated state, and reveals that the Shredder has already been revived. Having provided his two cents on recent events to the Turtles, Fishface takes his leave, dreaming of returning to his old life of crime before any of this happened.
The Turtles soon engage the resurrected Shredder and Kavaxas, but soon escape after Donnie retrieves the info he needed on Kavaxas. As for Tiger Claw, he soon is horrified when Shredder names Kavaxas as his new second-in-command, and requests the Seal of the Ancients from him. When Tiger Claw refuses, he is attacked by Shredder and Rahzar, causing him to drop the seal, which Shredder breaks into three pieces under his foot.
This is just what Kavaxas was waiting for: the destruction of the Seal was the third piece needed for him to launch his own invasion of the surface world. Taking Tatsu's soul was Step 1, reviving Shredder was Step 2. With the Seal being destroyed Step 3, Kavaxas summons his staff and begins his takeover, summoning the undead spirits to begin taking over NYC, while Tiger Claw recoils in horror at what he has brought upon Earth in his quest for revenge for Shredder's demise by the Turtles. He begs Shredder to stop but the latter tells him that he was nothing but a puppet controlled by Kavaxas. Bebop and Rocksteady choose that moment to run for their own lives while Rahzar is kicked into the chasm to the Netherworld by Tiger Claw.
Meanwhile, Donnie has finished construction on five special devices the Turtles can use to stop Kavaxas. However, they also get additional support from Karai and Leatherhead. Once topside, Mikey gives his device to Casey to help April, Raphael, and Donnie, while he, Leo, Leatherhead, and Karai go after Kavaxas. As the undead continue to rise to the surface, among them are the spirits of Ho-Chan and Tatsu, but to the amazement and shock of April and the others, Master Splinter is with them, personally protecting them from Ho-Chan after they manage to send Tatsu back themselves.
As for Kavaxas, even with the support of the resurrected Shredder, the addition of Leo, Leatherhead, and Karai, are able to help Tiger Claw hold them off while Mikey finds the broken Seal and manages to repair it with bubblegum, to Kavaxas' disbelief that Mikey repaired the Seal and could control him again. Under Mikey's orders, Kavaxas is forced to call off his invasion, then reopen the portal to the Netherworld, which Shredder personally shoves him back through after declaring that they don't belong in the land of the living, ending Kavaxas' threat once and for all, while Splinter sends Ho-Chan back himself when the undead are recalled by Mikey's order.
The following evening, the spirit of Splinter is allowed one last chance to give his final goodbyes to Miwa, the Turtles, April, Leatherhead, and Casey, thanking them and wishing them good luck in future endeavors before he returns to the afterlife. Even better, because of what happened with Kavaxas, Tiger Claw has agreed to call a ceasefire between the Hamato and Foot Clans while the Turtles destroy the seal and drop the remains into the sea to make sure Kavaxas let alone Shredder doesn't come back. With peace having been restored, the Turtles and their allies take some time to enjoy the beautiful sunset before returning home.
Trivia[]
The name of the episode "End Times" is a common biblical reference to the concept of the Apocalypse.
Michelangelo references the 2014 film, when he claims that he did meet Megan Fox on a rooftop.
This episode marks the final appearance of Shredder, Tiger Claw, Fishface, Rahzar, Kavaxas, Ho Chan, Tatsu, and the Foot Cultists.
This episode truly concludes the rivalry between the 2012 series' Hamato and Foot Clans.
Donatello's Spectro Blasters both resemble and work just like the Proton Blasters from Ghostbusters.
Raph even declares, "We got the tools, we got the talent!", a quote from Winston Zeddemore.
Kavaxas rounds out the references by referencing Ghostbusters 2 villain Vigo during the climax. A sanitized version of Vigo's "On a mountain of skulls, in a castle of pain, I sat on a throne of blood!": "In a dimension of suffering, in an age of pain, I ruled on a throne of bone!" and later, when facing Mikey and Leatherhead "Now is the season of Evil!"Ho Chan targets Casey with his giant hands, referencing the rivalry between their inspirations from Big Trouble in Little China.
Zombie Shredder's appearance resembles a Revenant from the Doom video game series.
Errors[]
When Leo first sheathes his swords, he does so one over each shoulder like his animatedpredecessors, despite his straps being over his left shoulder like they've always been. At the very least there shouldn't be anything to slide the right hand weapon into. Both swords are shown in their traditional place over his left shoulder for the rest of the episode.
Eric Bauza is credited as The Hammer even though the character does not appear in the episode.
