Whilst out in the city the Turtles are ambushed and captured by four wooden warriors. When they wake up they find themselves in an unknown locations with four human warriors, who were also captured. Together they explore their location, and meet the mysterious Ninja Tribunal.
First appearance of Faraji Ngala, Tora Yoshida, Joi Reynard and Adam Mckay
This episode provides examples of
- Cliffhanger: The Turtles and acolytes realize there's no way off the Tribunal's ship or mission, since they're warned that they will be trained to fight a great evil on the way. The episode and season end with the ship arriving in Japan. Infamously, this cliffhanger was not resolved for viewers in the United States for around two years. Fast Forward was aired as the next season instead of the planned fifth season which directly continued the story; with the fifth season not airing until two years after this episode in spring 2008.
- Foreshadowing:
- Splinter is shown looking at the sigil of the Foot when the Ancient One arrives, and warily laments that "it has begun again". He's also shown to already be familiar with the Ninja Tribunal; their shared history and Splinter's hostility will be explained next season.
- There are four members of the Ninja Tribunal, but five chairs. They also wear variations of the Shredder's armor.
- Honor Before Reason: The Ninja Tribunals' wooden warriors are supposed to bring in their targets, but in a fair fight. When Leo loses his sword, the warrior he's fighting gives it back before continuing fighting.
- Let's You and Him Fight: The Ninja Tribunal try to make the Turtles and the warriors fight each other. They all refuse.
- Made of Iron: The Wooden warriors are extremely tough and they completely No-Sell direct physical attacks.Raph tries to punch his opponent but hurts his hand
Raph: What is up with these jokers? Talk about your rock hard abs!
Don: (gets kicked down) It's their rock hard kicks I'm worried about. - Mythology Gag: Michelangelo and his Wooden Warrior opponent briefly get into a face-off, where Mike spins his chucks while the Wooden warrior spins his tonfa in increasingly impressive manners, similar to the "a fellow chucker" scene from the 1990 live-action movie only with Mikey getting outshined this time.
- No Name Given: The members of the Ninja Tribunal. They won't reveal their names (or faces) until the next episode.
- Not So Above It All: Don and Mike briefly start playing on the roof top, with Don, pretending to still be Monster Don, chasing Mike around, who pretends to be a helpless victim. A few minutes later, Leo and Raph join in on the fun, with Don chasing them all around while making monster noises and they all have a good laugh afterwards.
- Oh, Crap!: The Turtles when they see the Ninja Tribunal wears Shredder armor.
- Papa Wolf: Splinter decides he is going to protect his sons, even if it means defying the Ninja Tribunals.Splinter: The Ninja Tribunal has taken my sons! Ancient One, you must take me to the tribunal.
Ancient One: You know that what you ask is simply not permitted.
Splinter: Permitted or not, I will protect my sons. - Protectorate: At the beginning of the episode, it's apparent that the brothers haven't been out for weeks, and haven't been letting Donnie do much of anything, in the aftermath of Donnie's secondary mutation and subsequent recovery.
- Secret Test of Character: The Ninja Tribunal's first test turns out to be this. They ordered the Turtles and acolytes to fight each other to help thin the herd of any weaker warriors. The heroes are unwilling to do this, and decide to simply team up and fight the Tribunal instead.
- Take a Third Option: When ordered to either fight each other or fight the virtually unbeatable wooden soldiers in a fight they'll surely lose, the Turtles and acolytes decide to fight the Tribunal instead. This passes their Secret Test of Character.
- You Are Too Late: The Ancient One arrives at the lair and asks where the Turtles are. Splinter says they've left to go and exercise, and the Ancient One says this nearly word-for-word.
