The Acolytes continue their training with the Ninja Tribunal, but not everyone is making satisfactory progress. Meanwhile, the Second artifact is found.
This episode provides examples of
- Amazonian Beauty: Chikara. At least, Adam certainly thinks so...
- Animal Motifs/ Mythical Motifs: The Acolytes' avatars. Adam's is a bear, symbolizing strength. Joi's is a hawk, symbolizing fearlessness. Tora's is a wolf, symbolizing ferocity and speed. Faraji's is a lion, symbolizing courage and honor, and Leo's is a dragon, the ancient symbol for wisdom and strength
- Brick Joke: Once Don points out that Nezumi means rat, Adam says "Dude, your sensei is a Nezumi". He previously said "Dude, your sensei is a rat" in "Lap of the Gods"
- Dramatically Missing the Point: The Ancient One thinks that the Turtles are being deceived by Chikara-Shisho's beauty and/or "lack of yelling" and informs Leo and Mike (who are moping) that she can be quite harsh, apparently not realizing that not only do the Turtles not find her attractive, Mike and Leo are moping specifically because of Chikara-Shisho's rather harsh criticism towards their lack of progress, despite their efforts. Once Leo and Mikey point this out, only then does he assures them that the Ninja Tribunal is strict with them because they see great potential in them.
- Dreaming of Things to Come/ Foreshadowing: Master Splinter's nightmare
- The End... Or Is It?: "All is ready."
- Foreshadowing: Kon says concentration and training will allow the Acolytes to become their spirit totems.
- Hellish Horse: The Demon Shredder's mount
- Interspecies Romance: Defied. Adam thinks Chikara is beautiful. Don just snarks at that and Mike thinks she could be considered attractive if she were a turtle like them.Adam: Whoa! Isn't she dreamy?
Don: Chikara-Shisho? Sure, dreamy like a panzer tank.
Mike: Oh, I don't know. Give her a shell, add a touch of green, you might have something. - Irony: The Turtles having to fight rat demons.
- Jerkass Ball: Defied. Earlier drafts had Mike refusing to fight Chikara because she is a woman. Peter Laird questioned, why Mike, who has faced Karai in the past and moments ago witnessed Chikara shatter a huge boulder with a palm strike, would think she would be some weakling just because she is a woman and suggested to have the line changed to Mike just having a This Is Gonna Suck reaction as he is being asked to attack the ninjutsu master of strength.
- Mythology Gag: It's never explicitly pointed out but there's a joke about the Competitive Balance from the games. In a speed test, Mikey blasts off after Hisomi, Leo and Raph keep a relatively even pace, and Don brings up the tail end, chatting enthusiastically with his running partner and noting how unlikely it is that they're going to catch up.Donnie: Um, we're not going to catch Hisomi today, are we?Adam: I don't see that happening.
- Earlier in the same episode, there's a test of strength that Raph and Don ace, but Mikey and Leo don't, making this an episode-long gag.
- Nothing but Skulls: piles of them are seen in the nezumi tengu den
- Rock Monster: The creatures Chikara-Shisho makes the Acolytes fight by harnessing their chi
- So Proud of You: Hisomi bows his head to Mikey for matching his speed. Kon is also most impressed when Leo demonstrates he has a dragon spirit.
