The Technodrome Forums

Go Back   The Technodrome Forums > TMNT Universes > Nick TMNT Cartoon Discussion

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-01-2017, 03:09 AM   #1
Noxonius
Random Punk
 
Noxonius's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 30
Angry Baxter Stockman's treatment in the series

I recently caught up to the latest TMNT episodes, including Owari. I was very surprised at what happened to Baxter Stockman. To my complete surprise, he was quickly cured from his mutation in a rather forced, dull manner.

When I thought about it further, I realized, that in all three TMNT cartoon series, Baxter never gets the treatment he deserves. The writers always seem to write his conclusion story backwards. Let me explain.

In the original 80's cartoon, Stockman gets trapped in a wormhole, never to return. This ending for Stockman is rather cruel and undeserved. In this series, Stockman started out as a good guy who was abused, tortured, and lied to all the time, which slowly turned him cynical, evil and insane. He did not deserve any of the treatment he got in the series, let alone his ending. The Turtles act like complete jerks and push him into the portal. The guy can't catch a break.

In the 2003 series, Stockman is handled in a completely different manner. He's introduced to us as a straight forward bad guy. He's evil right from the start, and totally deserves all the crappy treatment by Shredder and everyone else. However, once again, he gets an ending that is absolutely undeserved. This asshole gets rescued 100 years in the future by Bishop, because reasons unknown. Throughout the series, Stockman was a psychopathic evil genius who sought nothing more but fame and power, and never once hesitated to hurt other people to get it. Yet STILL, he gets a good ending in Bishop's side and suddenly turns into a good guy. What a load of barnacles. Bishop and the Turtles had all the reasons in the world to leave him die in that underground base of his. They had zero reasons to rescue him, yet Stockman gets a jail free card for being evil. At the very least he should have been jailed for life for all the crimes he committed.

Moving on to the 2012 series, Stockman once again starts out as a bad guy. He is clearly a spoiled, bitter geek who thinks he deserves more than he actually does, and is seen robbing places with his badly crafted tech. He gets the treatment he deserves by the people around him, HOWEVER, once again, the writers don't seem to know what the heck they are doing, because they decide to give Baxter a good ending this season. He gets cured for NO REASON. Baxter has spent this series being a mean spirited jerk with no sense of morals, and gets rewarded by getting turned back to human and the turtles are like whatever. I know, he laments the turtles for doing that since apparently he liked being a bug, but to me it seems like he complains only because that's what he likes to do, and not because he actually hates being human. All in all, it's a rather comical scene and I'm sure Baxter enjoys being human again at the end. But as I was saying, this ending was totally undeserved. Baxter should have been left as a freak because he's a bad guy. Mikey had no reason whatsoever to waste that dosage of mutagen on him. Sloppy writing at it's best. If the writers want Baxter to be human again for whatever they have planned for him in the next season, they could have done it in a far more interesting manner, like Baxter stealing the retro-mutagen or inventing it himself, or him getting cured by accident. Point is, that scene made no sense and Mikey was being a bigger idiot that what he usually is.

See what I mean by all this? Whenever Baxter starts out as a good guy, he gets abuse. Whenever he starts out as a bad guy, he gets to weasel out of all the **** that he's done for no reason. The writers just can't give this guy proper treatment. He's always written backwards at the end. I hope in the final season he finally gets a proper, well deserved ending for his character.
Noxonius is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 03:22 AM   #2
Powder
So tired of this place
 
Powder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Shell Ri La
Posts: 26,801
He got his end, de-mutation.
__________________



I'm convinced that none of you have ever experienced joy
Powder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 03:28 AM   #3
Vicky82
Emperor
 
Vicky82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Dunstable, UK
Posts: 5,774
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noxonius View Post
I recently caught up to the latest TMNT episodes, including Owari. I was very surprised at what happened to Baxter Stockman. To my complete surprise, he was quickly cured from his mutation in a rather forced, dull manner.

When I thought about it further, I realized, that in all three TMNT cartoon series, Baxter never gets the treatment he deserves. The writers always seem to write his conclusion story backwards. Let me explain.

In the original 80's cartoon, Stockman gets trapped in a wormhole, never to return. This ending for Stockman is rather cruel and undeserved. In this series, Stockman started out as a good guy who was abused, tortured, and lied to all the time, which slowly turned him cynical, evil and insane. He did not deserve any of the treatment he got in the series, let alone his ending. The Turtles act like complete jerks and push him into the portal. The guy can't catch a break.

In the 2003 series, Stockman is handled in a completely different manner. He's introduced to us as a straight forward bad guy. He's evil right from the start, and totally deserves all the crappy treatment by Shredder and everyone else. However, once again, he gets an ending that is absolutely undeserved. This asshole gets rescued 100 years in the future by Bishop, because reasons unknown. Throughout the series, Stockman was a psychopathic evil genius who sought nothing more but fame and power, and never once hesitated to hurt other people to get it. Yet STILL, he gets a good ending in Bishop's side and suddenly turns into a good guy. What a load of barnacles. Bishop and the Turtles had all the reasons in the world to leave him die in that underground base of his. They had zero reasons to rescue him, yet Stockman gets a jail free card for being evil. At the very least he should have been jailed for life for all the crimes he committed.

Moving on to the 2012 series, Stockman once again starts out as a bad guy. He is clearly a spoiled, bitter geek who thinks he deserves more than he actually does, and is seen robbing places with his badly crafted tech. He gets the treatment he deserves by the people around him, HOWEVER, once again, the writers don't seem to know what the heck they are doing, because they decide to give Baxter a good ending this season. He gets cured for NO REASON. Baxter has spent this series being a mean spirited jerk with no sense of morals, and gets rewarded by getting turned back to human and the turtles are like whatever. I know, he laments the turtles for doing that since apparently he liked being a bug, but to me it seems like he complains only because that's what he likes to do, and not because he actually hates being human. All in all, it's a rather comical scene and I'm sure Baxter enjoys being human again at the end. But as I was saying, this ending was totally undeserved. Baxter should have been left as a freak because he's a bad guy. Mikey had no reason whatsoever to waste that dosage of mutagen on him. Sloppy writing at it's best. If the writers want Baxter to be human again for whatever they have planned for him in the next season, they could have done it in a far more interesting manner, like Baxter stealing the retro-mutagen or inventing it himself, or him getting cured by accident. Point is, that scene made no sense and Mikey was being a bigger idiot that what he usually is.

See what I mean by all this? Whenever Baxter starts out as a good guy, he gets abuse. Whenever he starts out as a bad guy, he gets to weasel out of all the **** that he's done for no reason. The writers just can't give this guy proper treatment. He's always written backwards at the end. I hope in the final season he finally gets a proper, well deserved ending for his character.
You forgot the Mirage comic book series and IDW Comic Book series,

The 2003 Baxter is based on the Mirage Baxter.
__________________
My heart!!!! One of my favourite moments.

Vicky82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 03:34 AM   #4
Noxonius
Random Punk
 
Noxonius's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vicky82 View Post
You forgot the Mirage comic book series and IDW Comic Book series, The 2003 Baxter is based on the Mirage Baxter.
For this post I was observing only the cartoon series, not comics or anything else. I haven't really gotten into those anyways.
Noxonius is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 03:41 AM   #5
CyberCubed
Overlord
 
CyberCubed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 40,949
Go read the IDW comics then. Baxter has a huge role in that and he stays human its entire run up to this point.
CyberCubed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 03:55 AM   #6
Powder
So tired of this place
 
Powder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Shell Ri La
Posts: 26,801
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vicky82 View Post
The 2003 Baxter is based on the Mirage Baxter.
Barely.

The only real similarities are that they start out as a nefarious mouser developing scientist for whom April works, & later become a robot.
__________________



I'm convinced that none of you have ever experienced joy
Powder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 04:08 AM   #7
Vicky82
Emperor
 
Vicky82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Dunstable, UK
Posts: 5,774
Quote:
Originally Posted by Powder View Post
Barely.

The only real similarities are that they start out as a nefarious mouser developing scientist for whom April works, & later become a robot.
And in both versions he was just a brain as well.

One of the main difference is that he was killed off in Mirage, Donnie secretly kept Baxter's brain in his room and when Baxter refused to help cure April, Donnie Killed him.
__________________
My heart!!!! One of my favourite moments.

Vicky82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 04:28 AM   #8
FredWolfLeonardo
Big Blue Boy Scout
 
FredWolfLeonardo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New Bark Town
Posts: 4,463
We all wanted Baxter de mutated in FW at the end and I felt like the turtles were complete jerks to banish him in Limbo forever, stripping him of his one chance to be normal again and destroying his only friend the computer.

Ironically, I didn't feel much for him being de-mutated in Nick. It was a nice plot twist but I didn't feel anywhere as sad for Nick Baxter as I did for FW Baxter so it didn't feel as impactful. But there's still potential with his character in season 5, assuming he managed to escape the building before shredder lit it on fire. But I did like many things about Nick Baxter, like his origin and that he actually got kind of a closure at Owari unlike FW so there's that.

4kids is still the best Baxter of all (tv shows, not comics), hands down.

Last edited by FredWolfLeonardo; 04-01-2017 at 04:38 AM.
FredWolfLeonardo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 12:09 PM   #9
victory_angel
Foot Elite
 
victory_angel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ca
Posts: 3,103
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vicky82 View Post
And in both versions he was just a brain as well.

One of the main difference is that he was killed off in Mirage, Donnie secretly kept Baxter's brain in his room and when Baxter refused to help cure April, Donnie Killed him.
It wasn't so much his room as much as it was a secret lab and he had been keeping Stockman alive for several years. When he arrives and says that if his brothers knew that he had been keeping Stockman alive all this time, they would be unhappy with him. But the only reason he had kept him alive at all is because he felt there was something he could learn from him. Now he has come realize that he's nothing but evil through and through. And then Donnie kills him.
__________________
victory_angel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 01:38 PM   #10
CyberCubed
Overlord
 
CyberCubed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 40,949
Read the IDW comics. They even make trade collections so you don't have to track down individual issues.

Assuming you guys have some money, they're easy to buy online at places like amazon.
CyberCubed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 01:43 PM   #11
Noxonius
Random Punk
 
Noxonius's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by CyberCubed View Post
Read the IDW comics. They even make trade collections so you don't have to track down individual issues.

Assuming you guys have some money, they're easy to buy online at places like amazon.
I'm sure the comics are great, but I made this thread with the intention of discussing the three main animated incarnations of Stockman.
Noxonius is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 04:41 PM   #12
PApagreg
Mad Scientist
 
PApagreg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,828
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noxonius View Post
I recently caught up to the latest TMNT episodes, including Owari. I was very surprised at what happened to Baxter Stockman. To my complete surprise, he was quickly cured from his mutation in a rather forced, dull manner.

When I thought about it further, I realized, that in all three TMNT cartoon series, Baxter never gets the treatment he deserves. The writers always seem to write his conclusion story backwards. Let me explain.

In the original 80's cartoon, Stockman gets trapped in a wormhole, never to return. This ending for Stockman is rather cruel and undeserved. In this series, Stockman started out as a good guy who was abused, tortured, and lied to all the time, which slowly turned him cynical, evil and insane. He did not deserve any of the treatment he got in the series, let alone his ending. The Turtles act like complete jerks and push him into the portal. The guy can't catch a break.

In the 2003 series, Stockman is handled in a completely different manner. He's introduced to us as a straight forward bad guy. He's evil right from the start, and totally deserves all the crappy treatment by Shredder and everyone else. However, once again, he gets an ending that is absolutely undeserved. This asshole gets rescued 100 years in the future by Bishop, because reasons unknown. Throughout the series, Stockman was a psychopathic evil genius who sought nothing more but fame and power, and never once hesitated to hurt other people to get it. Yet STILL, he gets a good ending in Bishop's side and suddenly turns into a good guy. What a load of barnacles. Bishop and the Turtles had all the reasons in the world to leave him die in that underground base of his. They had zero reasons to rescue him, yet Stockman gets a jail free card for being evil. At the very least he should have been jailed for life for all the crimes he committed.
In defense to the 2k3 Baxter the dude had gone through multiple mutilations and he didn't really get his "happy end" until a century later. So its not like Orochimaru levels of B.S
__________________
PApagreg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 05:49 PM   #13
GoldMutant
Control Your Narrative
 
GoldMutant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: New England
Posts: 1,763
As noted in some of my recent posts in the Nick section, specifically my Owari review, Baxter Stockman has always been my favorite character. Allow me to reiterate from before:

Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldMutant View Post
He's my favorite character in the franchise, a scapegoat who just doesn't catch a break but shines in small doses. I am happy that he was cured here as the fly. While synonymous with him after Fred Wolf besides being a cyborg, I certainly didn't like him saying he liked being a fly. Again, I understand you can argue he was woozy after being cured but I don't see how it helped Baxter at all, especially because when he was mutated in Lonely Mutation, he claimed he was a freak. It feels off putting for him to want to remain a fly, it's like I missed an episode when he hasn't had primary focus at all in season 3 and only in The Insecta Trifecta did he get the spotlight one last time.
My feelings for this Baxter though are more of indifference, moreso negative than positive. What I'll say for positives is like other casting choices in the series, Phil Lamarr is a solid selection. He nails that slimy side of Baxter but also brings to light his ego as did his 2k3 voice actor, Scott Williams. His design is also good, seems to resemble the Mirage Comics version slightly except the shirt and hairstyle. However after season 1, Baxter just becomes an anomaly.

I think a major issue Baxter has is his lack of screen focus. However, Rat King has had fewer appearances and has always stood out since his debut in Monkey Brains and subsequent disfiguration/mutation in I, Monster. While I feel with the exception of Shredder, who shines better and better in practically any appearance, Baxter seems to get worse and worse after Baxter's Gambit. Although one could fault Phil Lamarr's schedule, the lack of focus on anything really hurts him.

Additionally, I'm going to say this, I really don't like his fly form. Despite the homage to The Fly in Fred Wolf, there's almost no reason for him to turn into it outside merchandise. The fact he claims he liked being a fly, as noted by Noxious and others, myself included, confuses me. Since that mutation in Lonely Mutation of Baxter Stockman, the sixteenth episode of the second season, he never appears. The list of episodes he appears in and what he does are as follows:
  • The Legend of the Kuro Kabuto (non speaking, action scene)
  • Vengeance is Mine (minimal, only to set up the Karai mutation)
  • Return to New York (major appearance, fights Turtles/uses Shredder Elite)
  • Serpent Hunt/The Pig and the Rhino (both nonspeaking; former to mutate Zeck and Steranko, latter in cold open with other Foot members)
  • Casey Jones vs the Underworld (brief, threatened to cure Karai)
  • Clash of the Mutanimals (sort of major, not by much for brain worms)
  • Meet Mondo Gecko (brief cameo in arena)
  • The Deadly Venom (brief appearance in cold open to control Karai)
  • City at War (brief at end)
  • The Insecta Trifecta (last major appearance, being the central villain)
  • The Super Shredder (cold open)
  • Owari (demutation)

I am not noting appearances prior to mutation from the first and second season because prior to it, Baxter did something in each episode or the plot. Any opportunity Baxter had to become relevant is rather amiss, he's barely there. Really, besides his two biggest appearances (RtNY and Insecta), all he's here for was to advance the Karai story in season 3, that's it. Not as bad as Fishface or Rahzar, but his mutation hasn't done much for him. It felt like a placeholder just for action or to make another character look intimidating, specifically Shredder.

If Owari really is his final appearance of this time, it's a pretty underwhelming send off. Several of the other major villains (Shredder, the Triceratons, and the Kraang) went out with some sort of bang. Baxter, like Armaggon and Lord Dregg before him, really just felt there. I hope to see him one last time in the fold, but it's been a puzzling use of what could've been one of the best Baxters in TMNT. At least there's IDW and 2k3 to satisfy my Baxter needs.
__________________
GoldMutant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 09:13 PM   #14
victory_angel
Foot Elite
 
victory_angel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ca
Posts: 3,103
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldMutant View Post
As noted in some of my recent posts in the Nick section, specifically my Owari review, Baxter Stockman has always been my favorite character. Allow me to reiterate from before:



My feelings for this Baxter though are more of indifference, moreso negative than positive. What I'll say for positives is like other casting choices in the series, Phil Lamarr is a solid selection. He nails that slimy side of Baxter but also brings to light his ego as did his 2k3 voice actor, Scott Williams. His design is also good, seems to resemble the Mirage Comics version slightly except the shirt and hairstyle. However after season 1, Baxter just becomes an anomaly.

I think a major issue Baxter has is his lack of screen focus. However, Rat King has had fewer appearances and has always stood out since his debut in Monkey Brains and subsequent disfiguration/mutation in I, Monster. While I feel with the exception of Shredder, who shines better and better in practically any appearance, Baxter seems to get worse and worse after Baxter's Gambit. Although one could fault Phil Lamarr's schedule, the lack of focus on anything really hurts him.

Additionally, I'm going to say this, I really don't like his fly form. Despite the homage to The Fly in Fred Wolf, there's almost no reason for him to turn into it outside merchandise. The fact he claims he liked being a fly, as noted by Noxious and others, myself included, confuses me. Since that mutation in Lonely Mutation of Baxter Stockman, the sixteenth episode of the second season, he never appears. The list of episodes he appears in and what he does are as follows:
  • The Legend of the Kuro Kabuto (non speaking, action scene)
  • Vengeance is Mine (minimal, only to set up the Karai mutation)
  • Return to New York (major appearance, fights Turtles/uses Shredder Elite)
  • Serpent Hunt/The Pig and the Rhino (both nonspeaking; former to mutate Zeck and Steranko, latter in cold open with other Foot members)
  • Casey Jones vs the Underworld (brief, threatened to cure Karai)
  • Clash of the Mutanimals (sort of major, not by much for brain worms)
  • Meet Mondo Gecko (brief cameo in arena)
  • The Deadly Venom (brief appearance in cold open to control Karai)
  • City at War (brief at end)
  • The Insecta Trifecta (last major appearance, being the central villain)
  • The Super Shredder (cold open)
  • Owari (demutation)

I am not noting appearances prior to mutation from the first and second season because prior to it, Baxter did something in each episode or the plot. Any opportunity Baxter had to become relevant is rather amiss, he's barely there. Really, besides his two biggest appearances (RtNY and Insecta), all he's here for was to advance the Karai story in season 3, that's it. Not as bad as Fishface or Rahzar, but his mutation hasn't done much for him. It felt like a placeholder just for action or to make another character look intimidating, specifically Shredder.

If Owari really is his final appearance of this time, it's a pretty underwhelming send off. Several of the other major villains (Shredder, the Triceratons, and the Kraang) went out with some sort of bang. Baxter, like Armaggon and Lord Dregg before him, really just felt there. I hope to see him one last time in the fold, but it's been a puzzling use of what could've been one of the best Baxters in TMNT. At least there's IDW and 2k3 to satisfy my Baxter needs.
He also appears in requiem administering that last dose of Mutagen to the Shredder that stablizes his mutation.
__________________
victory_angel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 11:12 PM   #15
Xav
Foot Elite
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,975
He also appears in The Noxious Avenger where he is seen working on the mind control serum.
Xav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2017, 07:28 AM   #16
superstaff
Mad Scientist
 
superstaff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,091
I think his best incarnation in animation was 2K3, even though I liked the Nick version a lot in s1. In the Nick version, he just felt so underused. GoldMutant put it quite well, he lacked prominence and was just there because...he had to be as an alum character in the franchise. I guess, given that s3 and s4 had a huge chunk taking place away from NY was a big culprit in that.
superstaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2017, 11:16 AM   #17
neatoman
Emperor
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 9,402
So what was up with that time he was only able to buzz? And nobody thought it was weird, acted like he always did that, then he never did again and it wasn't ever explained? Wasn't that bizarre?
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by JTH View Post
Turtles is basically the red-headed stepchild of Nick.
Hahahaha!

Last edited by neatoman; 04-02-2017 at 11:52 AM.
neatoman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2017, 11:47 AM   #18
Noxonius
Random Punk
 
Noxonius's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by neatoman View Post
So what was up with that time he was only able to buzz? And nobody thought it was weird, acted like he always did that, then he never did again and it wasn't ever eplained? Wasn't that bizarre?
I always just assumed they couldn't get the voice actor to record for those episodes.
Noxonius is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2017, 11:49 AM   #19
Vicky82
Emperor
 
Vicky82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Dunstable, UK
Posts: 5,774
Quote:
Originally Posted by neatoman View Post
So what was up with that time he was only able to buzz? And nobody thought it was weird, acted like he always did that, then he never did again and it wasn't ever eplained? Wasn't that bizarre?
Actually it was explained, Ciro and Brandon said it was due to budget reasons.
__________________
My heart!!!! One of my favourite moments.

Vicky82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2017, 01:01 PM   #20
MikeandRaph87
Jedi Master
 
MikeandRaph87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: JLA Satellite Headquarters
Posts: 11,110
I assumed it was understood why Baxter was seen but not heard. Same for other characters. These days one cant hire a VA and get up to three voices per hire.That is why the 1987 voice cast did nearly all of the guest stars as well not just the main cast of TMNT & Splinter, Channel Six News quartet, and Technodrome Four. They are already present and contacts read they can get up to three voices out of each for one specific episode. There were roughly 9 VAs that were regular contributors during the run so they made use of them without having to resort to outsourcing often like the Cullen, Musick and Rashad one offs. It is the same reason as to why 4Kids used a certain set of VAs for all of their series. Its all about the money. That is one of the problems with swelling Shredder's right hand henchmutants to six instead of two to three. Getting Fishface and Dogpound/Razhar then Tiger Claw joining up. Later Baxter Stockman is puinshed for failure by being mutated and the same with Bebop and Rocksteady not long afterwards. It wasn't just cramming in so many that made Bradford lose his notoriety and become dispensable but affected screen time for all of them. Nick didn't have their main cast take on secondary characters often so bringing in another VA salary would cost more.
__________________
Michelangelo: This looks like a job for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Raphael: Sheesh, Mikey this ain't a cartoon!
MikeandRaph87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
baxter stockman

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.