Season 3 the "Last good Season"?

[Weird Pizza]

How come I hear people at Amazon.com and here reffere to Season 3 as the last good one?
What happens after this? I know they went to a bigger syndication or something of that nature... but why did it hurt the episodes? Are they too comical? Too serious? Bad stories?
From what I recall I liked the show the whole time it was one except for the last 2 Seasons or so.... but that goes for any show...

What's wrong with Season 4-7 for example?

[sdp]

those reviews are only their opinion, in reality many only like season 1, others think season 2 is the last good season, while others still like season 3 because it introduces a lot of fan favorite characters, others don't like the red sky episodes because they were more serious, others don't like when the show turned to CBS syndication,

the thing is before the red sky episodes we see just filler plots over and over, so if you've enjoyed the filler episodes in the past volumes you know what to expect, there are still plenty of 'gems' left in the seasons, that i just love.

[Weird Pizza]

What's Red Sky Episodes?

[Zack Dogg]

What's Red Sky Episodes?

As far as I know, they're episodes from season eight through ten.

[Weird Pizza]

Is Red Sky a company? Or a storyline?

[lilonardo]

Here is an article about seasons 8-10 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

http://www.retrojunk.com/details_articles/413/

Sorry about the missing pictures.

[Weird Pizza]

Wow that's VERY interesting and informative! Thank you very much! I guess I really didn't watch those episodes... I probably stopped sometime in 1993.... I never witnessed there dimise... I'm glad too! Now I know when to stop buying these Season DVD's! :D

Thanks again!

So what about 4-7? Those are still good right?

[Duke]

Although, I really missed Krang & Shredder the Red Sky episodes were enjoyable. It added a darker tone and brought back some continuity which had been lacking for along time.

As for season 4-7, like someone said it really is a matter of opinion, but so are most things in life. Seasons 1&2 are what I considered the greatest old school TMNT, my major problem with the following seasons is having substitute voice actors for some episodes. Other than that I really enjoyed TMNT from seasons 1-10.

[DrSpengler]

Personally, I think 3 stopped being the last decent season, at least until the Red Sky seasons started (they were darker, I liked em).

Season 3, despite having a few very childish episodes, did maintain cotninuity throughout a number of the episodes and introduced a number of Mirage characters into the series and was, for the most part, pretty good.

The seasons after that, at least until Red Sky, were pretty much completely self-contained episodes with little continuity of story arcs. And the humor seemed to get more childish more quickly.

Season 3 is where I'm gonna stop with the DVDs, at least until/if they get to the Red Sky episodes.

[Sage Ninja]

Season 3 is where I'm gonna stop with the DVDs, at least until/if they get to the Red Sky episodes.

you know I hope not every one has this attitude, because if sales go down, then there aren't going to be any more releases for the later seasons, and that will be a crying shame, and I will go ape sh*t over it, if it does.

I really want all the seasons and i enjoyed seasons after three, and I would really like to see these episodes again. I'm really looking forward to season seven the most.

I just hope fans with a biased slant against the seasons after season three don't ruin it for the rest us that want all the seasons out on dvd. Hopefully the ones that liked the seaspons after season three and enjoyed seaspns 4-7 out number the ones that don't, so we can get all the classic TMNT out on dvd.

p.s DrSpengler, my last comment wasn't aimed at you so don't get offended please.

[ZariusTwo]

Season Three was the last, from a mainstream perspective "good" season, and it had every right to conclude the show on a high note, the last three episodes effectivly conclude the series, but the franchise was still popular, so they continued to peddle it.

I guess it's the same thing with people calling Teen Titans season four and Power Rangers In Space as the last "good seasons" of their respective shows before the one bad apple comes in and spoils the bunch permantley, no matter how good the show may still be after it's popularity is gone, they don't care. Transformers' third season is one of the best TF seasons in writing quality, but since Optimus Prime was dead for the majority of it, noone seems to remember that

I've been rewatching the fourth season recently and am starting to like that, and season seven was a throwback to the old school seasons, by that point I think the show needed to boost itself and too many episodes per season were killing it in synidcation, so they backtracked, then Power Rangers came on board, warranting the approach to darker storytelling once again.

[Utrom]

In 1989, the TMNT were at the peak of their popularity. This year was characterized by a new live action movie, millions upon millions of merchandize of all shapes and sizes, and 47 episodes to occupy the third season of the then most popular children’s property. In 1990, there was another tall order of episodes, 39, and, at this point, there was a noticeable drop in quality. Or, if you prefer, there was a "stylistic" change in that the episodes began to target the younger viewers more strongly.

In my opinion, season four was a "bridging" season between season 3 and seasons 5 & 6. Season four still had some dignity, but there were only a few episodes that had any redeemable characteristics during seasons five and six (most notably, the prime-time special "Planet of the Turtleoids.")

Finally, in season 7 (1993), the episodes took a drastic change for the better when David Wise began penning the majority of the episodes. These episodes were reminiscent of the episodes of those earlier seasons (1-3), and was a tremendous leap in the right direction.

Yet, the rising strength of the Power Rangers could be felt in all directions, and the turtles didn't look like they were going to last. This led to the introduction of the "Red Sky" years, which took advantage of a darker tone and a more "serial" type of storytelling. Ultimately, this would lead to Shredder and Krang being defeated in season 8, and the introduction of the alien Dregg in season 9.

Overall, I personally enjoyed all of the seasons, as even the worst of the worst had the comedy elements to save them from being total failures. Seasons 1-3 and season seven will always be my favorites, followed closely behind by the Red Sky episodes with Shredder and Krang. The absence of James Avery (who was replaced by the worst voice anyone could have possibly conceived as an appropriate substitute for this wonderful actor) in those episodes, however, detracted from their quality.

So, I would not say that season three was the last of the "good" seasons, and I would definitely not say that there were no longer any good episodes after this season. Although many fans will label subsequent seasons as being completely atrocious, and will refuse to buy the DVDs after season 3, this turtle fan will not be among them.

[Weird Pizza]

Power Rangers came on board, warranting the approach to darker storytelling once again.
How could that be? Power Rangers was the gayest thing in life to become popular! I never thought of them as dark once in my life...

[ZariusTwo]

[B]How could that be? Power Rangers was the gayest thing in life to become popular!/B]

Nice wording. VERY mature.:roll:

I don't understand why every time PR is brought up, arguably the most underrated live action series ever, it's hit with this unbeleivably harsh stigma because it crushed the animation genre in the 90's, noone's bothered to watch the series beyond Zeo or MMPR, so they don't know better in regards to what the show's covered since then, namely suicide, racism, death, and philisophical debates on destiny and mutant rights. People always go into "Itz queerz" and make themselves look like idiots.

[Utrom]

Regardless if you feel that the original Power Rangers was a good series or not, do not even try to say that it was not popular. Thousands of series bit the dust due to the incredible impact that this series had on America's youth. At the point in which the Power Rangers made their emergence the turtle's popularity had been waning. The Power Rangers were simply the next big thing, like the turtles before them.

[Weird Pizza]

Nice wording. VERY mature.:roll:
People always go into "Itz queerz" and make themselves look like idiots.
Sorry ******.. your Hogan Ultimate Warrior link in your sig isnt very mature either.... grow up and take it out and maybe I wont make fun of ******s...
Regardless if you feel that the original Power Rangers was a good series or not, do not even try to say that it was not popular.
I do not deny that, it's just amazing to me.

[Sewer Bull]

Weird Pizza, please cut that out.


I really want all the seasons and i enjoyed seasons after three, and I would really like to see these episodes again. I'm really looking forward to season seven the most.


Don't sweat it, a DVD containing "Raphael meets his match" episode is going to sell like hot buns, as it is one of the most memorable episodes ever. Everyone remembers it because of Mona Lisa, a might-have-been crush object of Raphael.
And what was so special in season seven? Their trip to Europe or something else?

[ZariusTwo]

And what was so special in season seven? Their trip to Europe or something else?

European Vacation arc aside, the seventh season was a return to the dark comedy roots of the first three seasons, episodes like "Night of the Dark Turtle" unleashed the repressed aggresion within Donatello, he almost killed Shredder. The episode also brought in The Triceratons.

Then you have episodes like "Night of the Rouges" pariing up the TMNT's greatest villains under Shredder, "Combat Land", "Invasion of the Krangazoids" revealed what Krang's alien race looked like in terms of their bodies, and "Shredder Triumphant" just as a return to the kind of epic season finale that was last seen way back in the third season (I actually count "My Brother, The Bad Guy" as the season four finale due to the occurences in it). Shredder and Krang actually kicking the Turtle's asses again and getting their act together to conquer the entire city

[Utrom]

I completely agree with you, Zarius. In my previous post, I mentioned how David Wise penned the majority of the episodes of season seven. This was a reference to the episodes following the European episodes.

The european episodes fit in plot-wise (and animation-wise) in season four. I've read countless interviews of cast members on the subject, and they all seem to confirm that these episodes were intended to be only shown in Europe. Let alone, the fact that they fit in perfectly after the season four episode "Plan 6 From Outer Space."

So, with that logic, there were only fourteen episodes actually written during 1993. These episodes were a return to what had made the first three seasons so great, and the more childish plots of seasons five and six were no more.

Season seven is a fantastic season that I greatly hope finds its way to DVD, along with the rest of the series. Fans that plan on only buying the first three seasons are really missing out on a lot of great episodes, and should definately reconsider their plans. Every season has its own merits and, while some are better than others, you can at least give them all a chance considering how cheap these DVDs are.

[Sage Ninja]

damn straight!! to be comopletly honest I loved seasons 1-4, I still think four had all the elements that 1-3 had humour and plot wise, it was just a bit more self contained and stand alone than other seasons (and if the European arc hac been remained intact for season four, it would have had the conituity element as well). Five, was still rather good, in the terms that it had a "a-in-the-life" feel to it. I liked the episdoes where the turtles take care of the nutrino baby, and when the turtles get regressed into five year old versions of them selves, Where Michaelangelo gets shrunk along with Vernon and April on a boat. These episodes where fun and deserve to be appriaciated for their own merits.

[Weapon X]

Fans that plan on only buying the first three seasons are really missing out on a lot of great episodes, and should definately reconsider their plans. Every season has its own merits and, while some are better than others, you can at least give them all a chance considering how cheap these DVDs are.
Indeed, I plan on buying them all either way, I faked sick just so I could stay home and watch "Leonardo VS Tempestra" for god sakes, that you 1990.

[Ryona]

Sorry ******.. your Hogan Ultimate Warrior link in your sig isnt very mature either.... grow up and take it out and maybe I wont make fun of ******s...

You just got yourself into a whole lot of trouble with that comment.

expect a warning coming to you real soon.

[Jester]

I for one would love to have all close to 200 episodes. Heck, I would even buy all 26 episodes of Next Mutation, just outta my love for the TMNT. That's my bane as a fan boy...I'll even watch the crap, cause of my love for the fandom. I have the 1967 Spider-man for crying out loud...:P

All kidding aside, I love the classic TMNT DVDs cause they let me relive my childhood...and in fact some episodes I've forgoten so I'd gladly "shell out" the $10 to get my hands on 12-13 episodes. Keep them coming Lions Gate.

(Side note: I honestly can't tell ya where I fell out of the TMNT toon viewership as a kid, I think it was the network switch, since I thought it was off the air. In fact I came back with the Super-mutation arcs of Red Sky...a thing that at the time I thought was just wrong and tottaly against the old seasons...but looking back, it was an attempt at new life blood.)

EDIT: Zarius, could you post in the PR thread about when they touched on those issues or PM me...I'd like to hear more.

[Weapon X]

(Side note: I honestly can't tell ya where I fell out of the TMNT toon viewership as a kid, I think it was the network switch, since I thought it was off the air.
I fell out around '92/93, Fox Kids and Power Rangers helped with that.


In fact I came back with the Super-mutation arcs of Red Sky...
Yep, so did I.

[Jester]

That may be it...Rangers, X-men and Spidey...man I wish we'd get boxed sets of those last 2...:(

[Sewer Bull]

I fell out around '92/93, Fox Kids and Power Rangers helped with that.

Same here, 'tho it was "Rocko's Modern Life" in my case.

[Weird Pizza]

You just got yourself into a whole lot of trouble with that comment.

expect a warning coming to you real soon.
:lol: Oh no.. will Shredder himself kill me? I'll tell my parents to make arrangments :roll:

[Jester]

I wouldn't mess with her dude, she's a mod. If she says you're warned, you're warned. That little outburst might just be strike 2.

[ZariusTwo]

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/1/4/f/14f5653d654029fcce10e73b469e500b.gif

Bridge, we got a new problem, we're heading towards a flame war breach, there's nothing I can do

[Mandi-chan]

LOL, Zarius you rock!

Anyway, I'm one of those who plan on getting the first three seasons on dvd, then wait around for Red Sky to arrive on dvd too (assuming we get that far). I don't want to sit through season 4-6 because I already know I won't like them.

[ZariusTwo]

What about just downloading them for free in badly subtitled form for the sake of completion?

[GK Punk]

:lol: Oh no.. will Shredder himself kill me? I'll tell my parents to make arrangments :roll:

No, but you're one step closer to being banned. Hope that was worth it.

[Mandi-chan]

What about just downloading them for free in badly subtitled form for the sake of completion?

Nah.

Besides, my internet stinks. No downloading for me....

[VaughnMichael]

No, but you're one step closer to being banned. Hope that was worth it.
one step closer? his dumb ass should be banned for harassing people already...just get the obvious over with...and do us all a favor cause I'm sick of seeing his hate filled childish bull crap

[Ryzar]

Season 4 was really good too!

Season 3 definitly not the 'last good one'

Season 4 had Shredder's Mom! Raphael Knock's Em Dead! and even more great ones.

Season 8 and 9 and 10 come back with a cool, new look, still some good jokes and funny parts (not nearly as much as the first 4 seasons but still more than the New Series) and some cool actions scenes and characters. Carter (mutated) and Dregg are great for new good and evil parts.

[StealthNinjaScyther]

Wait, is Raphael Knocks em Dead considered to be a good episode? I watched that one not too long ago... Seriously, Barney Stockman? Laughing machine? The only really redeeming aspect was that the brothers realized that Raphael's comedy act sucked. Too much cheese for me I suppose.

[lilonardo]

Seasons 4-7 are good.
I have some episodes from that era on French DVD.
Seasons 8-10 are not bad, but not the best Turtles era either.

Wow that's VERY interesting and informative! Thank you very much! I guess I really didn't watch those episodes... I probably stopped sometime in 1993.... I never witnessed there dimise... I'm glad too! Now I know when to stop buying these Season DVD's! :D

Thanks again!

So what about 4-7? Those are still good right?

[lilonardo]

Bad idea.
Episode downloads are illegal.

What about just downloading them for free in badly subtitled form for the sake of completion?

[Ryzar]

Wait, is Raphael Knocks em Dead considered to be a good episode? I watched that one not too long ago... Seriously, Barney Stockman? Laughing machine? The only really redeeming aspect was that the brothers realized that Raphael's comedy act sucked. Too much cheese for me I suppose.

But it had to be done :p... Raphael the notorious joker of the 4 turtles just had to have an episode finally where he tries out his jokes on other people. I know they were cheesy but it's expected. Even the characters in the show were joking how silly a 'laughing machine' would be to try and take over the city.

Granted, it wasn't very good for fighting/ninja action... but it was a shameless fun episode I'd say. :)

[ZariusTwo]

Bad idea.
Episode downloads are illegal.

No DUH, do I give a rat's backside though?

Discussing links to episode downloads is a no-no here, but discussing episode downloading barring that is fine all the same, so spare me the lecture, it's falling on deaf ears. Some people are'nt exactly complaicent to waste their money on rip off DVDs with bare bones for extras when they need to save it.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

A lot of people say, including me, that the turtles were past their peak by Season 4. So despite, some episodes beyond 1989 can still stand up and be proud, most people relate to the first 3 as they had the most quality episodes but also, this was the years the TMNT could do no wrong.

Also i feel the finales of Seasons 4-10 were never as epic as the first free. Some seasons were an anti climax, if you follow the official episode list where, in the 1990 season's last episode, there was no Shredder and Krang in "Unidentified Flying Leonardo". Episodes in 1990 showed a new low in the series, like "Four Turtles and a Baby". But they still had some respectable episodes.

The Power Rangers were ok in parts, as they did my fav fight style, martial arts, but they were so damn repetitive, and i sort of resented them for replaing the turtles as the new idols for kid's, knowing all along that the TMNT were superior in quality. However, the Power Rangers Sega Genesis games were pretty cool.

[ZariusTwo]

A lot of people say, including me, that the turtles were past their peak by Season 4. So despite, some episodes beyond 1989 can still stand up and be proud, most people relate to the first 3 as they had the most quality episodes but also, this was the years the TMNT could do no wrong.

Also i feel the finales of Seasons 4-10 were never as epic as the first free. Some seasons were an anti climax, if you follow the official episode list where, in the 1990 season's last episode, there was no Shredder and Krang in "Unidentified Flying Leonardo". Episodes in 1990 showed a new low in the series, like "Four Turtles and a Baby". But they still had some respectable episodes.

The Power Rangers were ok in parts, as they did my fav fight style, martial arts, but they were so damn repetitive, and i sort of resented them for replaing the turtles as the new idols for kid's, knowing all along that the TMNT were superior in quality. However, the Power Rangers Sega Genesis games were pretty cool.

Meh, I'd say they were both equal, the Lord Zedd seasons that inspired Dregg began the improvment in mature storytelling that people overlook when it comes to remembering the popularity of the show.

Youre right about the lack of season finales, PROPER finales, even "Planet of the Turtloids" was anti-climatic and featured a very rushed battle with the MiniDrome. It's one of the better episodes of the series, but one of the weaker finales.

[cormano]

i have never watched more than a few of the red sky episodes. i have the whole old series downloaded and i was going through watching them all when they started releasing the dvd's i stopped watching them and decidede to just wait as they came out. i got up to about the middle of season four before that… now i really want to go watch all the red sky episodes, though. i might do that this weekend while i'm home for easter break.

anyway, i definitely like seasons one and two the best. they have the bigger storylines. after that, the episodes are kind of interchangable. i still enjoy them, but i'd say one and two are much better. i didn't notice a very big change from seasons three to four, though, honestly and it's been forever since i've watched any others.