"Fungus Humungous" is without question the most out-there and weirdest episode of Nick Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This week's "A Foot Too Big" though? I'm going to say it's earning second place. What we have is essentially a really, really odd version of Harry and the Hendersons mixed with a love story. That's right, this one features Bigfoot and a whole lot of "romance." You see, when the team decides to take in Bigfoot, they're unaware it's female and the creature becomes infatuated with Donatello (who can blame her? The dude's a sweetheart!). To make things especially strange, we have a new villain named the Finger. He's a hunter who has clearly had his sights set on Bigfoot for quite some time. That's not all that far-fetched, but you're obviously wondering why he has that name. Well, it's because he has an extra finger and he doesn't cut its nail, either. Still not that weird, eh? Now, to make things extra peculiar, he has a necklace with a shrunken head attached to it. According to him, it's his mother and he has back and forth conversations with it. Now picture this dude placed in a narrative with Bigfoot and love. I told you it was one of the weirdest episodes, didn't I?!
As strange and hilariously wacky as many of these plot elements may be, it does bring about a more emotional arc for Donnie. As you likely could have guessed by now, being sought after by a creature he isn't physically attracted to gives him a major epiphany. Is that how April has felt about him all along and continues to feel that way whenever he tries to show his affection for her? When Raphael points this out, there's a heartbreaking moment as Donatello immediately wants to make a comeback, but then realizes his brother is right and gets hit with a wave of sadness. And I won't spoil the ending, but I will say Donatello's final remark accurately sums up how I feel about the situation as well. I really hope this gets some proper follow-up in the next chapter because I can't be the only one left with questions! But really, who would have thought an episode that involves Bigfoot getting a makeover and screaming at Ice Cream Kitty could have a good dose of heart, too?
The big brawl with the Finger -- they so need to make a toy of this weird dude -- is both hysterical and thrilling. Some bits made me burst into laughter, others made crack a big ol' smile, and some of it even dropped my jaw. On paper, it's an absurdly savage and violent fight, but the way it's directed and presented makes it fun! It's amazingly over-the-top and I loved every second of it. The bit with Donatello using his bo staff and the Finger was going, "oh yeah"? Priceless.
The Ninja Turtles have spent all of their time in the city, so it's nice to see this episode shed a little light on the fact that they're now totally out of their element. They've been lurking in the sewers, flipping across rooftops, and vanishing into alleyways, but what happens when there's nothing but grass and trees? It's an amusing scene that's cut short by Bigfoot's emergence, but it drove home the point that these dudes still have a lot to learn. They are just teenagers, after all!
This is Donnie's arc and the other characters are basically supporting roles (Raph's blunt yet sincere; Mikey's once again there for some good laughs), but since there's been such a big shakeup with Leo, it would be great to see the guy continue to receive more of the spotlight. I get he's still healing and needs time (he did take a brutal beating in the last episode), but many of us are curious to see how Seth Green will handle the role, and, since Leo's in a rough spot, this is seems like a good chance to really test his range.
"A Foot Too Big" is a pretty unique experience and odds are some of you will think it's too out-there at times. It has moments that are so absurd and over-the-top that you can't help but laugh, yet it still offers a more compelling story. Yeah, there's a ton of ridiculously fun action and absolutely crazy humor along the way, but the developments with Donnie take a pretty powerful turn. And the ending? Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next.
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