Ep 9. Lone Rat and Cubs

The fifth season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came with the episode 'Lone Rat and Cubs'. The episode was directed by Sebastian Montes and written by Kevin Burke & Chris Wyatt.

The episode starts off with a hurting Splinter sneaking back into the sewers. He is shown to be severely injured, and it is clear that he has been attacked by someone. He is barely conscious, and as he lies on the floor, he remembers how he had previously encountered an ancient wolf-spirit manifesting through a Japanese clay bell. The wolf had warned him of an impending danger to the city and had said that his survival was vital to protecting the city.

Soon it is revealed that the intruder who had beaten Splinter up was no one else but his old nemesis, Oroku Saki AKA the Shredder, who had believed that Splinter was holding back valuable information related to the wolf-spirit. Meanwhile, the turtles and April are shown to be enraged when they discover their sensei's condition and are determined to rescue him. As they follow the trail left by Shredder, they come across three teenage mutated rats who call themselves the "Hired Guns."

The Hired Guns share their backstory with the turtles and reveal that they had once been part of Splinter's original clan before they had abandoned him to side with the Shredder. Despite their past mistakes, the Hired Guns agree to help the turtles rescue their sensei in the hope of finding redemption.

The entirety of the episode revolves around the turtles, April, and the Hired Guns coming together to save Splinter from the clutches of Shredder. Along the way, they encounter a series of challenges, including fighting off a pack of mutated wolves that Shredder had brought along with him to take down the turtles and their allies. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, the turtles refuse to give up and are determined to bring their sensei back home safely.

With the help of their new allies, the turtles are finally able to sneak into Shredder's hideout and rescue their sensei. However, in the midst of their escape, the Hired Guns are captured by Shredder. Splinter, sensing danger for his young pupils, decides that it is time to confront his old foe once and for all.

The episode ends with a dramatic showdown between Splinter and the Shredder. The turtles and April watch helplessly as their sensei squares off against his ancient foe. Although the outcome of the fight is left ambiguous until the next episode, it is clear that the episode serves as a turning point in the turtles' journey. Not only do they form an alliance with the Hired Guns, but they also get a glimpse of their sensei's past and the secrets that he has been keeping from them.

Overall, Lone Rat and Cubs is an action-packed episode that revolves around the theme of redemption. It highlights the importance of choosing the right path and demonstrates that no matter how much one may have sinned in the past, there is always a chance for redemption. The episode also introduces some exciting new characters and sets the groundwork for the upcoming episodes.