The Season Two finale approaches and the latest episode, "Into Dimension X," is a totally fun and out-there way to set the stage for it. There are still no updates on what's going on with Karai or the Foot Clan, but this episodes aims to fully embrace Dimension X, the Kraang, and all of the wackiness that comes with it. On top of all the Dimension X zaniness and the focus on the aliens' plot, "Into Dimension X" also brings back a fan favorite: Leatherhead!
The return of Leatherhead of course means we're going to get some oh-so-brutal action and this episode certainly delivers. Before he goes on the offensive, we're hit with a huge roar and the vivid, red background sells the moment extremely well. Simply put, when that happens, you just know it's about to go down and can't help but get excited. Watching the mutant rip apart and smash his robotic foes is a thrill and there's even a pretty dark moment during the opening sequence. Let's just say Leatherhead isn't as kind as the heroes in a half shell are when it comes to dropping the alien enemies. Honestly, I'm pretty surprised they got away with it. The show always aims to please fans of any age, but man, you don't expect something like that on Nick!
Back on Earth, there's a hilarious bit with Mikey as he basically breaks the fourth wall. As if that wasn't funny enough, we're then treated to a lovable dose of Super Robo Mecha Force Five! I can't help but love those campy scenes and the foreshadowing they always offer. The only downside to this bit is they go a little too overboard to express the point that Mikey can sometimes be a bit careless and a liability. Sure, he slips up from time to time, but there's a moment in there that just made him seem, well, stupid. I get what happens with the orb (he's reacting because he wants to save his friend), but the TV seemed a tad overboard.
Once the team enters Dimension X, there's an awesomely fitting sci-fi score -- it almost feels like something out of Mars Attacks! The music sells the eccentric setting and all that it has to offer very well. Plus, it's just joyous watching the team learn about the location and leap around. Now, having Mikey look like a total fool back home is to sell the point that he thrives in Dimension X. His mentality tends to be "different" at times and this is humorously displayed as he points out that something far-fetched and really odd is "obvious" to him. Plus, Mikey excelling in this location gives us a bit of a more serious approach to the character (don't worry, there's plenty that keeps the tone lighthearted). Having him essentially take the lead also generates an amusing response or two from Leonardo.
The plot here is simple enough and it does an able job building up our interest in the finale. While the previous finale seemed to lose a bit of steam by focusing on April's unclear powers, this one seems to be far more straightforward. Even though there aren't any big surprises in this chapter, the pacing makes it feel like a quick episode and that's a good thing. None of the scenes dragged on. If we're not getting some action sequences, there's some levity or exploration of what makes Dimension X unique and all kinds of weird. It was surprising to see there wasn't a big cliffhanger -- especially since the dialogue seemed to imply something massive would happen -- but I guess they're saving that moment for the finale. Speaking of the final scene, I have a pretty minor gripe with it. I love that they're showing us New York isn't deserted. The final rooftop scene had people walking below and cars driving by -- it's clearly populated and a commonly taken road. But doing this was a bit of a double-edge sword because a character falls onto the street below and it's seemingly no big deal. I know the bit is there for laughs and kids will obviously enjoy it, so like I said, it's just a minor gripe. Still, it's nice to see they've been focusing on making the world feel more alive.
"Into Dimension X" is pretty much a celebration of the sci-genre and all of the creative things it can offer. On top of the imaginative setting and obstacles the Ninja Turtles face, there's also a decent look at Mikey, plenty of entertaining action, and it does what's needed to build interest in the finale. It was surprising to see the episode didn't end on a stronger tease, but "Into Dimension X" was still a really good time and left me anxious to see how Season Two's conclusion will be handled! The episode may be a little too out-there for some of you, but I had a blast with all of the strangeness it presented.
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