[Discussion] Rise of the TMNT: Episode #1

[Chris]

Just watched the first episode and was pleasantly surprised.

I liked the fast pace, I liked the Turtles' personalities and thought some of the switch ups worked (like them looking to Raph because he's the oldest but you can already see Leo's potential as leader). It was nice to see that there will be at least some form of continuity and long form story telling to the show as well.

The art style isn't really to my liking but the animation itself was very nice and better than I expected.


The villain was just kinda there (boss fight, like Raph said, seems like a very apt description) but its the pilot so its right that the focus was more on the TMNT. Hopefully he'll get a bit more depth as the series continues, they certainly set up some potential for that, but with the fast pace and 11 minute episodes I'm guessing the focus will be more action and humour than giving any serious development to characters outside of the Turtles. And that's ok. It's a kids show at the end of the day and if that's what works best for a modern audience then that's what they need to do.


April was something completely new. Her only similarity being that she's the Turtles human friend. But then 2012's April was pretty much a new take as well. Nick's basically creating April to fit whatever the story is. Not sure how I feel about her being more competent than the guys in a fight but I did like her leap into action spirit. Verdict is still out I guess, lets see how she develops.


Splinter though. Oh God what have they done to Splinter? I hope there's more to him than the joke they turned him into for the first episode because that was horrible. The design was already the worst re-design and now it looks like he'll be the worst character as well. It's a shame because both 2K3 and 2K12 had great Splinters.

Overall though, I enjoyed it enough to try the next few episodes. I don't see it becoming my favourite incarnation but with shorter 11 minute episodes it should be a fun time killer.

[CyberCubed]

I noticed Raph isn't so much "the leader" in that the Turtles all look up to him because he's the oldest brother in this incarnation. Leonardo still pretty much acts like the leader in most eps, or gives advice to Raph and the others, he's just more laid back. But still he's pretty much Leo. So this pretty much works.

Mikey seems to be more laid back too, for the obvious reason that the other Turtles now crack jokes and not just him, he seems a bit bland so far but I like how they're playing up his artist aspect.

Overall though I'm pleased with the Turtles themselves. April is meh and of course I don't like Splinter so far, but Splinter may just be lazy until Shredder shows up...

[plastroncafe]

Given how many times the word "leader" has shown up in these conversations, I'm beginning to feel like the word has lost all meaning.

[oldmanwinters]

Heh, Splinter called Donatello "Purple."

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I noticed Raph isn't so much "the leader" in that the Turtles all look up to him because he's the oldest brother in this incarnation. Leonardo still pretty much acts like the leader in most eps, or gives advice to Raph and the others, he's just more laid back. But still he's pretty much Leo. So this pretty much works.

I had a hunch Leo was still pretty much going to be the leader.

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Heh, Splinter called Donatello "Purple."

What was the Purple one's name again? Was it Georgia O'Keeffe?

[IndigoErth]

Saw the second airing this morning, even though unlike 2012 it had left me with zero feeling of needing to check it out again. (With 2012 it often felt like there were things I missed or didn't quite catch and would sometimes catch the repeat on another Nick channel to check it out again. Which I liked about it. This one? So little substance that you don't really feel like you missed anything important... )

I didn't really notice it last night, but after viewing it again this morning on not enough sleep... omg can we just not with the artificial animation "shaky cam" in action scenes... Bad enough PD started off doing that. (The amount of bright coloration and crazy shakiness, I feel for migraine sufferers.)



The only things I'm curious about is how the magic weapons came to even be there, or who even tied the mutagen(?) bottle to the cat, er, monkey-squirrel, er dog thingy... but I doubt there will be answers. Disappointed that the magic weapons and the mystic city reveal were treated so unimportant.

Way has April's bat appeared to become a field hockey stick.

Torn whether the magic "M" doorway could be a slight nod to the summoned Battle Nexus doorway from 2003 or...not. I really think Leo's portal sword powers should at least have been used for this. Like someone actually bestowing these weapons to them and the sword's power could be used for return trips and fast getaways. Rather than just a video game-like special fight move. Give the boy some purpose to be there rather than just feeling redundant.

[Drose18]

episode 1 thoughts: wow its great I definitely like it

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

The only things I'm curious about is how the magic weapons came to even be there, or who even tied the mutagen(?) bottle to the cat, er, monkey-squirrel, er dog thingy... but I doubt there will be answers. Disappointed that the magic weapons and the mystic city reveal were treated so unimportant.

I didn't think it was treated as unimportant, the mystic city is obviously something they'll revisit a number of times given it's all over the promos and Baron Draxum is from there. And we'll likely learn more about the mystic weapons as the series progresses. I mean you can't fit that much into one episode.

[IndigoErth]

Yes, of course those things will be revisited (questionable if any greater importance will be added), but for something that is the basis of and the general theme of the series the reveal of the mystic weapons and city couldn't have been more anticlimactic if they tried.

edit: Fell about as flat as Krang showing up in the last film. Some supposedly "big" aspect of it and then... Okay, so that happened, next scene.





Why did those big guys after the cat-squirl-monkey-dog-pokemon thing have little dogs with them?

And as I write that I'm theorizing that the dogs were actually in control of the people and the cat-dog thingy they were after was an escapee from some mystic dog experiment. As I'm not too familiar with Pokemon, I do however sort of want to give this creature a "experiment" number from the Lilo and Stitch series...

[Dejablue]

Indigo thinks Leo is redundant. Lol I think Mikey holds that prize. To be honest, mikey should become the straight man. At least then he has a different way to interact with the others. The one to go "How about we not go through with the obviously stupid plan."

Oy vey but even then, Donnie seems to hold that role to an extent (questioning the stupid plan in Origami Tsunami). So I really don't know...

Leos swords should be used for transportation. Thats a cool idea.

[Ashwolf]

Leave indigo alone

I get indigo thoughts on how rise makes Leo feel redundant. Yes, origami tsunami decrease that feeling some but then in the Warren stone ep segment feels almost like a complete 180. His line "I don't understand you" was completely out of nowhere and uncalled for. I mean seriously?!? At least have him pay attention to some of his environment. That line alone is makes him sound like my cousin and she's in a huge self-centered rebellious phase.

[ProphetofGanja]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Why did those big guys after the cat-squirl-monkey-dog-pokemon thing have little dogs with them?

And as I write that I'm theorizing that the dogs were actually in control of the people and the cat-dog thingy they were after was an escapee from some mystic dog experiment. As I'm not too familiar with Pokemon, I do however sort of want to give this creature a "experiment" number from the Lilo and Stitch series...

The little dogs were the big as wolf things the two mutant henchmen had. They were all in disguise.

[Leofan26]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Saw the second airing this morning, even though unlike 2012 it had left me with zero feeling of needing to check it out again. (With 2012 it often felt like there were things I missed or didn't quite catch and would sometimes catch the repeat on another Nick channel to check it out again. Which I liked about it. This one? So little substance that you don't really feel like you missed anything important... )

I didn't really notice it last night, but after viewing it again this morning on not enough sleep... omg can we just not with the artificial animation "shaky cam" in action scenes... Bad enough PD started off doing that. (The amount of bright coloration and crazy shakiness, I feel for migraine sufferers.)



The only things I'm curious about is how the magic weapons came to even be there, or who even tied the mutagen(?) bottle to the cat, er, monkey-squirrel, er dog thingy... but I doubt there will be answers. Disappointed that the magic weapons and the mystic city reveal were treated so unimportant.

Way has April's bat appeared to become a field hockey stick.

Torn whether the magic "M" doorway could be a slight nod to the summoned Battle Nexus doorway from 2003 or...not. I really think Leo's portal sword powers should at least have been used for this. Like someone actually bestowing these weapons to them and the sword's power could be used for return trips and fast getaways. Rather than just a video game-like special fight move. Give the boy some purpose to be there rather than just feeling redundant.

Really? You felt that way about Leo? I thought that about Raph, every time he'd think up an idea to help the team it'd fall flat on his face having Leo to do it instead. Every scene he'd do something and screw it up the next, maybe we're not watching the same show than and I'm one of Leo's biggest fans myself. I'm fine with the way there handling Leo in this version he's funny yet you can see leadership qualities in him and over time my bets season one final or later half of season one he will step in as leader.

Over all, I watched all four episodes and left me confused. I thought the plot was about the magic thing and the new magic weapons they found but that only showed up in episode one after that your average turtle episode with less emotion in it more comedy to fall back on.

April and Splinter are my least favorite characters of the series so far with Raph in third maybe if things don't change. I'd keep hitting my head on the key board whenever he did something. Leo and Donnie have been my favorites with Mikey kind of being meh.

I didn't find part B of episode four yet was that up and got taken down? If do bummer. Also, I am not noticing a change in relationships between the brothers in this series, they acted like Mikey would be with Leo more and be taken under his wing so far I haven't seen any of it but whatever I think I'll stay tune I'm kind of liking it so far and I want to see my boy Leo claim his rightful spot as leader again and hopefully Shredder show up as hinted soon.

[IndigoErth]

Don't start, Dejablue...

Personally, I'm not going to shortchange Mikey by figuring him the redundant one as he didn't ask for someone to try to steal his shtick.

Originally Posted by ProphetofGanja

The little dogs were the big as wolf things the two mutant henchmen had. They were all in disguise.

Ohhh, makes more sense then.

Originally Posted by Leofan26

Really? You felt that way about Leo? I thought that about Raph, every time he'd think up an idea to help the team it'd fall flat on his face having Leo to do it instead.

Well, my opinions so far are based only on the first episode. Sadly some of us are not able to view the rest that Nick decided to lock on their website. So some of you guys have gotten a better feel for it than us pitiful Comcast/Xfinity subscribers.

[Xiewin]

Yeah they really screwed Raph over in this show. He can't do anything right and is constantly overshadowed by his brothers. Once he's no longer leader, which he already sucks at lol, he'll have nothing left to stand out as a character. Hopefully they fix this in the future. I really want to fully enjoy the show but I can't stand seeing Raph consistently make a fool out of himself.

[Leofan26]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Well, my opinions so far are based only on the first episode. Sadly some of us are not able to view the rest that Nick decided to lock on their website. So some of you guys have gotten a better feel for it than us pitiful Comcast/Xfinity subscribers.

Want me to pm you a link I think people outside the US should be able to watch the, on? I won't post it here as I don't think we're allowed. Believe me, your opinion on Leo will change for the better as episodes go on.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Xiewin

Yeah they really screwed Raph over in this show. He can't do anything right and is constantly overshadowed by his brothers. Once he's no longer leader, which he already sucks at lol, he'll have nothing left to stand out as a character. Hopefully they fix this in the future. I really want to fully enjoy the show but I can't stand seeing Raph consistently make a fool out of himself.

That is a shame. As much as they touted him being the biggest, oldest, leader, etc, like it was focused on being the Raph Show, at least to start with, it's surprising if they're treating him like that. Can't say I really noticed it in the first since they were all failing quite a bit.

Hopefully maybe the rest of us will be allowed to see these other eps soon and not have to wait until September when it's old news to the rest of you.


I really thought it would end up being Donnie that might get overshadowed just by the nature of their trying too hard to mix stuff up with Leo and Raph.

Originally Posted by Leofan26

Want me to pm you a link I think people outside the US should be able to watch the, on? I won't post it here as I don't think we're allowed. Believe me, your opinion on Leo will change for the better as episodes go on.

If you would, if it would by chance work for me too, that would be great, thanks!

[drag0nfeathers]

I'll have to watch it again to double check this, but has the word "brothers" not been mentioned either? I mean... I know it's common sense by now the turtles have always been bros but seeing they are different species in this show I wonder if that's not a coincidence they haven't made any remarks about being brothers yet... Maybe they did and I missed it. I've only watched the first 2 so far.

[Leofan26]

Originally Posted by Xiewin

Yeah they really screwed Raph over in this show. He can't do anything right and is constantly overshadowed by his brothers. Once he's no longer leader, which he already sucks at lol, he'll have nothing left to stand out as a character. Hopefully they fix this in the future. I really want to fully enjoy the show but I can't stand seeing Raph consistently make a fool out of himself.

Right? As episodes go on including the first one seeing Raph act that way, I was like what have they done to you Raph? You guys thought he was changed for the worse in the 2012 version, awe man I feel for Raph fans right now.

Wonder when it will hit the other two brothers that Leo should be the leader instead?

Edit;

No problem Inigo, I'll pm you the link in a bit. You won't be disappointed in him beyond episode one.

[Xiewin]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

That is a shame. As much as they touted him being the biggest, oldest, leader, etc, like it was focused on being the Raph Show, at least to start with, it's surprising if they're treating him like that. Can't say I really noticed it in the first since they were all failing quite a bit.

Hopefully maybe the rest of us will be allowed to see these other eps soon and not have to wait until September when it's old news to the rest of you.


I really thought it would end up being Donnie that might get overshadowed just by the nature of their trying too hard to mix stuff up with Leo and Raph.

As soon as I saw the description of his character, I knew exactly what was going to happen. Honestly, as of now it feels like Raph is their least favorite turtle. They could have at-least kept his sarcasm. But as of now, he's the stereotypical big guy with a heart that's a huge screw up.