Red sky series - surprisingly cool

[jenna]

Because I've apparently nothing better to do, I've been 'discovering You Tube' (yes, yes, I am technically retarted and only just discovered it!!) and have been watching the Red Sky Series. All I had seen of this before is the 4 episodes on vol 1 and I have to say I am really enjoying it. I'm interested to know what you guys all think.

I was especially interested to see Raphael challenge Leonardo's leadership in the episode Turtle Trek and threaten to fight it out with him, which until now I thought was a topic fiercely avoided by the OT. I've only just finished that episode and am working through the available ones in order.

Until this point I had kind of dismissed it, mostly because I didn't know enough about it to judge. But I really like the design of the turtles and the slightly altered characterisation.

So.... what's everyone else's opinion on this series?

[Revan]

I enjoy the episodes animation and storylines as a whole. I'm all for having a new villian but it was a bit too late for the OT. The old toon used shredder for 9 years (maybe 8, not sure) and then made a switch to Dregg. After 8-9 years of shredder, it's difficult to transition to a new baddie that is believable.

2k3 used shredder considerably less so it made the trasition to new villians easier.

The red sky eps were interesting and I liked watching the new animation and slightly darker tones. I find the intro annoying though.:ohwell:

[Rooish]

Oh man, me too. That song is so ... horrendous. Especially the "Turtle power!" line.

But anyway. The episodes--the ones I remember--are darker but not necessarily more interesting. But I like the character designs much better.

[Jester]

I kinda like the intro...and atempt to spice up the intro as well as the series. My biggest problem was the "super-a mutations" to quote the Anime. The TMNT growing into big hulking brutes was a little weird to me when I caught it as a 12 yr old.

[Spawn Guy]

The intro was badass. The Red Sky era is what the old toon could have been. I'd have enjoyed the series a lot more as a whole now if it had been at that level of animation, music and story telling.

The guy who replaced Paulson sucked however.

[Jester]

Indeed, just pay the man a little more, for goodness sake. Pay them all a little more, they deserve it.

[Spawn Guy]

Or don't fire him when he goes to something that can only help promote the series.

I don't think Paulson was a good choice for the way they were playing Raph at that point. But really, I'm sure he could have...deepened his voice or somthing. Same for the guy who took over, but even then...totally flat.

[wyze2099]

I like the Red Sky theme song better than the OT theme song, to be honest. It's a bit more serious, in keeping with the tone of that season. Heck, it wouldn't be terribly out of place as the theme for the 3K3 series (unlike the 2K3 theme ... which was vastly out of place with the tone of the series).

[Revan]

Or don't fire him when he goes to something that can only help promote the series.

I don't think Paulson was a good choice for the way they were playing Raph at that point. But really, I'm sure he could have...deepened his voice or somthing. Same for the guy who took over, but even then...totally flat.

Perhaps they tried to transition OT raph to movie 1 raph since the movie was such a smash hit. Yeah, the OT was already huge but maybe they felt pressure to make raph more like the movie version

[jenna]

OK - just finished watching a few more episodes.

My revised verdict, triggered by some of your comments:

I don't like the theme music, but I do like the sequence although splicing in shots from the film is a bit cheesey. The music is annoyingly catchy. I can't stop singing it.

I was loving the narratives until they started mutating. I hate this. I like my mutant turtles to be... well, mutant turtles. Not mutant mutant monsters. That's why I hate Mirage vol 4, and 2k3 series 4 and this section of Red Sky.

I don't think Michael Gough was that bad. I think his approach was just a more sardonic Raph - a less hyperactive, less panicky Raph which contrasted quite a lot with Rob Paulson. I loved Rob Paulson's Raph, but he did have a tendency to be a bit hysterical. On the other hand when he delivered lines completely calmly and threateningly like in A Thing about Rats: "Or else I'm gonna get... sarcastic..." - that to me is classic Raph and pure genius on Paulson's part.

Yes, I agree that they started to shift Raphael's character to a more angsty, hostile character on par with the movies and comics. Didn't quite make it though, but I liked what they were doing.

All in all, I am surprised at how much I enjoyed what few episodes there were. I'd like to see the rest.

Sorry about my shocking grammar. I'm am so tired that I'm seeing purple dots on the monitor - and it's only 9.45pm here!!

Good night everybody. Enjoy your forum chats. I will read them in the morning with interest...

[Rooish]

I like how they made Raph a bit gruffer in the Red Sky episodes, but he wasn't as hostile as in the comics.

I think Don's voice should be slowed down and lowered a bit. Man, it got geekier and geekier as the series went on!

Now that I've been watching more OT/Red Sky episodes, I'm actually pretty impressed with Michelangelo. He was a very useful/compassionate member of the team, and wasn't as cowardly and braggy as NT Mike. No wonder he became my favourite.

[ajistheman]

i love the first episode of season 8 (and all of season 8), i wish shredder, krang, bebop, rocksteady would have stayed instead of dregg
i love the more action-packed continuing story with the characters I grew up on, too bad they only lasted a season as the villains for this new direction

[SassyGal]

I always hated the red season, until I watched them again on youtube. I hate the theme song, hate the new Raph voice, but love the direction they took Raph's character. I was so used to seeing Shredder, I had a hard time dealing with the lack of him so late in the series. However, as I watched more red sky eps with Shredder, the guy who replaced James Avery had a voice that made me want to scratch my ear drums out with a Q-tip! I think if Dregg had been phased in a little more subtly, he would have been more interesting. I really want to see the ep where Dregg drains the power from Shredder and Krang. Anyone find it on youtube yet??

[Spawn Guy]

Heh. I actually loved Dregg because he was that diffrent.

[Kendamu]

I like Red Sky. It's not as good as Season 1 (nothing is) but it's definitely a huge leap away from the corny studd they were doing in a few of the previous seasons.

I remember loving the revised theme and Movie 1 scenes in the intro when I was a kid. Still pretty cool but nowadays nothing beats the first intro with the classic theme.

[Vegita-San]

I always hated the red season, until I watched them again on youtube. I hate the theme song, hate the new Raph voice, but love the direction they took Raph's character. I was so used to seeing Shredder, I had a hard time dealing with the lack of him so late in the series. However, as I watched more red sky eps with Shredder, the guy who replaced James Avery had a voice that made me want to scratch my ear drums out with a Q-tip! I think if Dregg had been phased in a little more subtly, he would have been more interesting. I really want to see the ep where Dregg drains the power from Shredder and Krang. Anyone find it on youtube yet??

No offense to Townsend Coleman, but I felt that way about his Shredder voice. This new guy, I just wish they would have let him play it more than one way, angry.....But I liked it a whole lot more. Not as much fun as Jim Cummings Shredder, however..

As far as Dregg, I hated him in his first season. Weaker animation, weaker stories, and VERY weak Power Ranger esque villain. This guy can't possibly be a threat.

Then the Final Red Sky season began and Dregg became a whole lot more enjoyable as a character. Much more of a threat than even Shredder was. I just wish Shredder and Krang where allowed to DO more than be just a plot moving device in their final three parter..

[jenna]

I like Red Sky. It's not as good as Season 1 (nothing is) but it's definitely a huge leap away from the corny studd they were doing in a few of the previous seasons.



I couldn't agree more! My favourite season is definitely the first. It's such a shame the programme suffered such heavy censorship and kiddying up. Season 1 was great for kids but also had some darker qualities.

And yeah, I agree that Dregg was much more threatening than Shredder. In season 1, Shredder was quite scary, but they quikcly turned him into an incompetent idiot, who never learns from his mistakes (I mean come on, how many times did he leave the turtles to die only to find out later that they escaped at the last moment? when if he had just stayed to watch he would have ot the job done!!)

[Revan]

I couldn't agree more! My favourite season is definitely the first. It's such a shame the programme suffered such heavy censorship and kiddying up. Season 1 was great for kids but also had some darker qualities.

Season one was so good because they had to grab attention quickly so they packed as much awesome action and deep storylines into those eps as they could. From there, they just let the fact that our heroes were mutants and ninjas carry the show. And let's not forget, there were many great eps that came after season one as well. And no complaints here. the 87 series is definately one of the greatest shows of all time IMO.

And yeah, I agree that Dregg was much more threatening than Shredder. In season 1, Shredder was quite scary, but they quikcly turned him into an incompetent idiot, who never learns from his mistakes (I mean come on, how many times did he leave the turtles to die only to find out later that they escaped at the last moment? when if he had just stayed to watch he would have ot the job done!!)

And you can't forget that shredder was often used strictly for comic relief. I have a chuckle watching when shredder has the boys on the ropes... then he just leaves. haha. The 87 version of shredder was the perfect villian for a comedy series.

[jenna]

Season one was so good because they had to grab attention quickly so they packed as much awesome action and deep storylines into those eps as they could. From there, they just let the fact that our heroes were mutants and ninjas carry the show. And let's not forget, there were many great eps that came after season one as well. And no complaints here. the 87 series is definately one of the greatest shows of all time IMO.



Yeah - I agree - my favourite episodes are actually from season 3, but as a whole, 1 is my favourite series as whilst there were some truly awesome episodes in series 3 there were some horrendous bummers as well.


And you can't forget that shredder was often used strictly for comic relief. I have a chuckle watching when shredder has the boys on the ropes... then he just leaves. haha. The 87 version of shredder was the perfect villian for a comedy series

Hehe - yeah: "Actually I always wanted to be a writer - being a ruthless villain was my second choice", and (to Rocksteady) "That's the last time I let you sit on my lap and steer!!" to name but two moments...

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[jenna]

Nearly 4 months later and I'm bumping this thread - more because I have a question about Red Sky:

Has anyone discerned a pattern yet to the OT dvd releases? And if so, when can we expect seasons 8-10 aka: Red Sky (yippppppeeeeeee):D

I know there's already a Red Sky thread currently, but the topic didn't seem right for my question so please don't yell at me. ;)

[gobo]

Has anyone discerned a pattern yet to the OT dvd releases? And if so, when can we expect seasons 8-10 aka: Red Sky (yippppppeeeeeee):D
Fall 2008, I'd imagine. I'll see to it they release all three Red Sky seasons in the same set. They'd probably lose money otherwise.

[fastforwarddregg]

Nearly 4 months later and I'm bumping this thread - more because I have a question about Red Sky:

Has anyone discerned a pattern yet to the OT dvd releases? And if so, when can we expect seasons 8-10 aka: Red Sky (yippppppeeeeeee):D

I know there's already a Red Sky thread currently, but the topic didn't seem right for my question so please don't yell at me. ;)

I am sure it will be summer 2008. I bet season 6 will be released around Christmas. Season 7 will be released like March 2008.

I bet the red sky will just have all the red sky eps and red sky on the dvd cover.

[kerfootw]

The Red Sky seasons really are pretty cool. Don't know why people don't like them--except for all the lame complaints people usually give about both it and the new series being so different from this one.

[The Shelf]

I didn't like them mutating a second time over and over again. I didn't like that human dude who hung out with them (can't remember his name). And I didn't like their cybernetic suits (can't even remember what that story was about or how they got the suits). Other than that, I liked it. Nice tone and setting. Cool characters for the most part. Just didn't like those little things above. I've gotten over most of these things by now. I didn't like them at first, though.

Oh, does anyone remember what that human dude kept mutating into? What was the story behind that?

[Spitfire]

Yeah I don't get all the Red Sky bashing. It's like reverse FF.

They make a show that's darker and more serious and everyone whines about it. Honestly I don't think anyone knows what they want anymore. I think they could make anything and it seems most of the fans will bitch about.

Red Sky had...villains! Oh my god! Up to that point all the villains who weren't Shredder and Krang were far and few apart and other then the mutants they were mad scientists or just normal people.

Red Sky actually had other villains and not just Dregg either. And when they assaulted the Technodrome in Red Sky it was actually exciting unlike the 50 times they did it in the previous seasons.

I could go on but I see no point since people are fickle and I know their #1 whine is Shredder isn't in every episode. Worse then the people who don't like the new movie because Shredder isn't in it.

Let me tell you something, Shredder is nothing in TMNT. I know it's heartbreaking that he's in like 3 issues of the comic and not a major character. The Foot itself is the threat in the comics not Shredder.

His name was Carter, and it was the Cyber Samurai armor which those episodes were totally made to sell toys and the comics to but the comics freaking ruled.