Finally: this two-parter is the high point of the fifth season--watching The Shredder fight the Shredder is ridiculously fun, and it gets a hundred times better next episode.
Random thoughts:
I originally thought Chaplin had been recast, based on his different his voice sounds here; since learning that Regal can, when needed, do a pretty darn good Sisternlinkaas impression (which is who Chaplin's new voice reminds me of), I'm not so sure. Yes, CyberCubed, he was redesigned, quite heavily, too. Still, I'm glad to see it, and to see at something acknowledge that years have passed between episodes.
Why is One Piece's Vivi crying for help in TMNT? Oh, wait, it's just Karai.
Remember back in the first two seasons, when defeated Foot Ninja were inevitably shown moaning and trying to get up, so that we were damn sure that the turtles weren't killing anyone? I'm glad that doesn't happen any more, cause really, that scene with Flying Shredder just mowing down the Foot really wouldn't have worked if that were still the case.
Between the Shredder's recomposition and Sandman's origin over in Spectacular Spider-Man, it was a good week for transformation sequences. Very nice opening, and not something I would have ever expected to see in a Saturday morning cartoon.
Funny how the new/old Shredder gets more personality in five minutes than the acolytes got in five episodes. While this is mostly parlor trickery--the new/old Shredder wouldn't work if we didn't have the old/new Shredder to contrast him with--but it's interesting to see.
Speaking of the new/old Shredder's personality, I like how it bears little to no resemblance to the old/new Shredder and he's just doing his own thing. And it makes perfect sense that they would be different--the Utrom Shredder never had the luxury of raw power his predecessor enjoys, and the Demon Shredder had a need for subtlety (not that a guy with spiked armor is ever subtle, but you know what I mean). Still, this Shredder has nowhere near the staying power of the old/new one, and I'm glad he doesn't overstay his welcome.
I’ve heard speculation that this season had been operating under a smaller budget than usual; if true, you can certainly see some money-saving measures here. The Shredder and the Heralds barely move, and a good half-minute is taken by an unnecessary flashback.
