Michelangelo befriends an unstable mutant alligator who possesses a strange piece of Kraang technology, but the other Turtles aren't sure whether "Leatherhead" is a friend or a foe.
This episode provides examples of:
- Beauty Equals Goodness: Invoked. Mikey says that his brothers are calling Leatherhead a monster because of his looks, which is the same way humans judge the Turtles.
- Being Tortured Makes You Crazy: Leatherhead.
- Berserk Button: The Kraang for Leatherhead. Just mentioning them is enough to send him into Unstoppable Rage.
- Big "NEVER!": Leatherhead to the Kraang when they demand the power cell.
- Booby Trap: Leatherhead made sure the power cell was very well protected when he hid it.
- Both Sides Have a Point: The Turtles get into an argument over how to deal with Leatherhead; Mikey believes that he deserves their sympathy, but the others don't want him around because of his instability and tendency to go into Unstoppable Rages. Splinter compromises; Leatherhead should be shown compassion, but he should also be kept chained up so he won't hurt anyone.
- Butt-Monkey: This episode takes this to truly ridiculous levels, wherein Don gets thrown around like a rag doll, shoved into the water multiple times, shocked by high-voltage technology, and then volunteered to face Leatherhead (the one who threw him around in the first place). This is all Played for Laughs, despite the fact that he is clearly terrified by the last part.Donnie: This is not my day!
- Call-Back: The Kraang are back after being absent since The Gauntlet.
- Chained by Fashion: Leatherhead. He also has large grommets on his arms and legs.
- Continuity Nod: Donnie's Static Stun Gun that appeared in The Gauntlet gets used again on Leatherhead.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Leatherhead's backstory. As a baby, Leatherhead was a boy's pet, but his parents flushed him down the toilet when they discovered him. He was later caught by the Kraang, mutated, and experimented on.
- Declarative Finger: Mikey does this while (mis)quoting Splinter.Mikey: It's like you always say: "The enemy of my enemy is my bro".
Splinter: That is not exactly what I said.- Donnie does the same thing later when he starts rambling about alligators.
Leo: If an alligator wanted to hide something, where would he put it?
Donnie: Ooh, I'm thinking underwater. Alligators love to drag their prey to the bottoms of swamps and—
Raph: (knocks Donnie into the water)
Leo: Thanks.
Raph: Don't mention it. - Dumbass Has a Point:Splinter: You made a wise decision, Michelangelo.
Turtles: Huh?
Splinter: Yes, I never thought I'd hear myself say that, either.- To elaborate, the turtles (excluding Michelangelo) and Splinter were reluctant to let Leatherhead stay in the lair. Mikey points out that they were doing to Leatherhead is what everyone else did to them, judging based on looks.
- Expressive Mask: More so than usual. When yelling at Mikey, poor Donnie gets so agitated by his mistreatment that even the tails of his mask stand upright in indignation.
- Extreme Omnivore: Mikey makes a pizza-milkshake combo and calls it a "P-Shake". He takes a swig, spits it out in disgust... and then drinks the rest of it anyway.
- Leatherhead likes Mikey's pizza noodle soup, and Mikey is surprised that somebody finally likes his cooking. How's that for extreme?
- Given that Leatherhead had been trapped with the Kraang for several years, anything tastes better than what they probably fed him.
- Leatherhead likes Mikey's pizza noodle soup, and Mikey is surprised that somebody finally likes his cooking. How's that for extreme?
- Freaky Fashion, Mild Mind: Leatherhead's previous owner.
- Genius Bruiser: Leatherhead is actually very intelligent and well-spoken. He's smart enough to know the significance of the power cell and Booby Trap its hiding place behind a hidden door in a wall, and once Mikey befriends him he's a Gentle Giant. Just be careful not to push his Berserk Button...
- Gentle Giant: Leatherhead, when he's in control.
- Good Is Not Dumb:Splinter: (about Leatherhead) His scars run deep, but they protect a genuine heart; When he awakens, Michelangelo, you must find a way to befriend him.
Donatello: But we're still chaining him up, right?
Splinter: Of course! I am compassionate, not insane! - Hypocritical Humor: In Space Heroes. Captain Ryan says "If there's one thing I'm known for, it's my humanity." Yet his idea of humanely getting rid of the annoying little Trumpet aliens is to suck them out the ship's airlock.
- I Am a Monster: Leatherhead believes himself to be one, because he can't control his anger and lashes out at everything around him. Mikey however thinks Leatherhead only believes he's a monster because it is how everyone has treated him.Leatherhead: There are times when I lose control. When I awaken, I am horrified by what I have done. A monster like me deserves to be chained.
- I'm Taking Him Home with Me!: Played with. Mikey wants to take the huge, scary, dangerous Leatherhead home with him because he wants to protect him from the Kraang, not because of Cuteness Proximity.
- Kick the Morality Pet: When Donnie reveals they found the power cell he stole from the Kraang, Leatherhead goes into another Unstoppable Rage and attacks them all; he even beats up Mikey, the only one of the Turtles who actually sympathized with him.
- Monster Roommate: Leatherhead. Not that the Turtles are all that normal themselves, but by comparison...
- Music Soothes the Savage Beast: After his fight with the Turtles and Splinter over the power cell, Leatherhead tries to soothe himself by listening to peaceful music on a record player.
- Neck Lift: More like Head Lift. Leatherhead's hands are so huge he can grab Donnie's entire head and lift him off the ground with it.
- Never Given a Name: When Mikey asks Leatherhead what his name is, he says he does not have one. This gives Mikey the chance to name him himself since he is a self-proclaimed "genius at naming things".
- No, Except Yes: When Mikey's brothers return to the lair, he tells them that Leatherhead is "off the chain".Raph: (panicking) You mean you set him free?!
Mikey: What? No. "Off the chain" means he's cool. (his brothers sigh in relief) And that's why I set him free. - Overdrive: What happens when Donnie hooks the power cell up to the motor of a subway car.
- Papa Wolf: Later in the episode when Leatherhed loses it and fights the Turtles for the power cell, Splinter comes to their rescue and wins.Splinter: Get away from my sons!
- Plot Coupon: Leatherhead knows about a "power cell" that the Kraang are looking for. Naturally the Turtles have to keep them from finding it. It turns out the Kraang need it to open the portal between their dimension and ours.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: Mikey, complete with whimpering sounds.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: After Splinter hears about Leatherhead's problems with the Kraang, he allows Mikey to let him stay in the lair, but only as long as he's chained up.Splinter: I am compassionate, not insane.
- Reluctant Psycho: Leatherhead is fully aware of how unstable he is and isn't happy about it.
- Running Gag: Donatello having things latch onto his face.
- Shown Their Work: Leatherhead uses several maneuvers real crocodilians use to hunt with when he fights, such as vigorously shaking prey to tear it apart and the famous Death Roll (which he uses to crush Raphael against and grind into the floor), and a powerful Tail Slap.
- Static Stun Gun: How Leo subdues Leatherhead.
- Suddenly Shouting: Donnie pulls this off twice, and in an indignified way.Donatello: And the fact that he grabbed me BY THE FACE, MIKEY!!!Donatello: Maybe you forgot that he grabbed me by the face. So I'll remind you. He grabbed me.... BY THE FACE!!!
- Tastes Like Friendship: Leatherhead starts out aggressive towards Mikey after waking up and finding himself chained. But when Mikey shares some of his "pizza noodle soup" with him, Leatherhead instantly calms down and says it is the best thing he has ever tasted, starting their friendship.
- Tragic Monster: Poor, poor Leatherhead.
- Who Needs Their Whole Body?: When the Kraang-droids attack the Turtles and Leatherhead in the subway car, their dismembered limbs keep fighting as if they have minds of their own.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Leatherhead calls Mikey this.
- You Shall Not Pass!: Leatherhead pulls this at the end of the episode.
