Why couldn't the whole show be like Season 1?

[Prowler]

Season 1 is undoubtly the best 1987 series season, the Turtles actually used their weapons, it was a bit more dark and violent and it had continuation, it wasn't like the rest of the series that was way too episodic, save for Red Sky, that alien fragments arc in Season 2 which ended up being pointless, the last 3 episodes of season 3 and maybe Planet of the Turtleloids.

I have no problems at the OT being an Action Comedy series but as the series advanced it became more of a bad comedy series than an action one.

After the 3rd Season ended the show really jumped the shark.

Also, why did the animation deteriorate? From my memory the seasons which most or all episodes had pretty good animation were 1, 5, 7 and 8.

I have a feeling that after the success that the first episodes and the original arcade game were they really got lazy and just kept milking the cashcow, until they tried gaining back fans by giving more action to the show and letting the Turtles use their weapons again in Season 7.

Red Sky was definitely a desperate attempt to gain back fans, especially when they replaced Shredder and Krang with Dregg. On a curious note, why does the theme song for season 9 lyrics still say "When the evil Shredder attacks"? One of the many things that didn't make any sense in the OT, I guess.

Thoughts?

[Shred87]

Im not an expert on the why's but I must say i agree with everything you state here.. The first season is head and shoulders above the rest of the series... a little edgier with the same comedic aspects... the thing that always irked me about the whole series is 1. when a turtle would speak in the wrong voice (i mean really, how the heck could that happen?) and 2. when a turtles weapon is destroyed in plain sight and then in the blink of an eye the weapons reappear..i hated that lol..

To me its not so much the tone or even the animation that takes away from the rewatching of the series now its the overall repetitiveness of the plots. Every episode is the same story with a different mutant. I can't help but root for the Shredder every episode because I feel bad for the poor schmuck. And every time April talks about something being a great story it sounds like nails on a chalkboard....

[TheCanadiandrome]

call me crazy but i love the showas it was. so to do alot of others

yeah if it would've stayed like season 1 all the way through that would've been cool. but then again maybe it would've gotten old fast

like all series' of the 80s and early 90s it evolved to try and stay fresh and original

and don't be hating on Planet of the Turtleloids foo!

also i disagree that as the series advanced it became more of a bad comedy series than an action one. it still retained much of the action. sure the comedy became over the top but it stayed true to the action


On a curious note, why does the theme song for season 9 lyrics still say "When the evil Shredder attacks"? One of the many things that didn't make any sense in the OT, I guess.


i'm guesing they didn't feel like changing the theme sone lyrics

[Herald7]

When I watch the very early episodes of the series again, what I think is interesting is how the turtles react to April and humans in general. Very snarky and dismissive, like they'd rather not have anything to do with them if they could help it.

Which makes sense, all their lives they've lived in a freakin gold fish bowl (thanks to human beings) and now when they've finally gotten the ability to escape by being mutated, they're not allowed to leave the sewers because humans would reject them as freaks. I think that's how a lot of animals would react in real life if suddenly given the ability to speak. ; ) So I do like how cynical the turtles appear in these early episodes. And it's nice to see them eventually become more comfortable with April.

But I do also want to say, I love the comedy in the later seasons too. Humor is not an easy thing to write or perform and I think the creators of the series really delivered every time. : )

[Shred87]

call me crazy but i love the showas it was. so to do alot of others

yeah if it would've stayed like season 1 all the way through that would've been cool. but then again maybe it would've gotten old fast

like all series' of the 80s and early 90s it evolved to try and stay fresh and original

and don't be hating on Planet of the Turtleloids foo!

also i disagree that as the series advanced it became more of a bad comedy series than an action one. it still retained much of the action. sure the comedy became over the top but it stayed true to the action



i'm guesing they didn't feel like changing the theme sone lyrics

Don't get me wrong I do like the show...it was my first intro to the turtles so it carries the nostaligc childhood connection for me.

In regards to moving towards a bad comedy series i feel that as the show moved along you see the show break the 4th wall more and more. You hear quotes like "why does so and so want to get the crystal..couldnt the writers think of anything else" or "how many times can they use this plot for an episode?" So in that regards I think i agree that the show was more comedy than action at certain points.. It obvious that the show didnt take itself seriously... was that the gameplan when they put together the first season? i really have no idea..

[Herald7]

In regards to moving towards a bad comedy series i feel that as the show moved along you see the show break the 4th wall more and more. You hear quotes like "why does so and so want to get the crystal..couldnt the writers think of anything else" or "how many times can they use this plot for an episode?" So in that regards I think i agree that the show was more comedy than action at certain points.. It obvious that the show didnt take itself seriously... was that the gameplan when they put together the first season? i really have no idea..

I guess that just depends on what you are looking for; a straight foward action cartoon or something more tongue in cheek. I personally enjoyed the fourth wall stuff and I remember the kids in my class liking it as much as the action. But I can understand that some fans were more into some actual serious action scenes. Again, it's largely a matter of your own personal taste.

[sdp]

I don't understand people who hold S1 in such high regard, not that I hate it or think its bad but people speak like its an entirely different show. Sure the show changed a bit but its not like S1 was so much more superior to the rest of the show theres still plenty of stuff to criticize.

[CyberCubed]

I don't understand people who hold S1 in such high regard, not that I hate it or think its bad but people speak like its an entirely different show. Sure the show changed a bit but its not like S1 was so much more superior to the rest of the show theres still plenty of stuff to criticize.

Its the same with Pokemon fans. Season 1 is always considered better than anything that came after.

So for TMNT, same deal.

[Herald7]

Its the same with Pokemon fans. Season 1 is always considered better than anything that came after.

So for TMNT, same deal.

I think of a lot of shows that have that reputation. Certainly the original Star Trek, many fans feel the first season had the deep and serious episodes (Space Seed and City on the Edge of Forever). But then the second season started getting a bit silly (can we say tribbles?) and then the third season just fell apart. Personally I agree, hehe, but I still love all three seasons. I don't think the show every truly jumped the shark.

Season 1 of Ninja Turtles was probably the highest quality, but I still enjoy the later seasons fine. (Well except for that very last season, it just went too out of character for me. I know a lot of people feel that way.)

[Eiko]

I didn't really have a problem with how the OT was sure the action died after season one. But hey that's cartoons for you.

[Herald7]

Also I'm honestly not always a big fan of continuation episodes. The individual characters don't really get focused on, it all becomes very generalized. It's like the characters end up taking a back seat to the overall plot and that's not what I personally enjoy.

Though I'll admit I have a special place in my memory for the whole "Incredible Shrinking Turtles" story arc, lol.

[Prowler]

call me crazy but i love the showas it was. so to do alot of others

I like the OT as well, even episodes from seasons 4 to 6.

and don't be hating on Planet of the Turtleloids foo!

I wasn't hating on it. In fact, I liked that two part episode alot, one of my favorites from the OT.

I guess I'm getting more critical since I'm getting older or something. It just bothers me that the OT really had no plot after a few episodes and just got episodic and repetitive, it got to the point where one would forget for what reason the Turtles would be fighting Shredder and Krang.

Also, most fights were just splapstick and the Turtles never used their weapons but if you play the video games adaptation they use their weapons, they didn't even remove Mikey's Nunchakus from the games, odd.

[TheCanadiandrome]

it's like Eiko said, that's cartoons for ya.

[BentonGrey]

You know, it's funny how much this type of progression was the norm for most of the great 80's (and early 90's) cartoons. TMNT was a great show, but the first couple of episodes are really a cut above. However, the same is true of so many of those old classics. The first season of Thundercats is much better animated, and a good deal better written, than what followed. G.I. JOE, while never as good as the comic series, was a good deal more sensible and serious in the first season. The only show that I can think of that really flouts that tradition is, perhaps, the Real Ghostbusters. That one stayed fairly consistent for a few seasons. Still, despite their foibles, these shows are still loved by many. It is a shame, though, that the often loftier beginnings weren't carried all the way through.

[Redeemer]

The first season is the best! (Exception maybe Red Sky) I think 1st season still might be better just bc of shredder!

[TMNT_2010]

Personally I prefer season 3 out of all of them.

-The voice actors finally got into their roles
-Krang got more air time instead of being the dictator who just sat in dimension X
-Turtles on trial is the episode with the best animation in the whole series I find
-No new characters every other episode since they didn't need to sell more toys yet (I'm looking at you season 4)
-Michelangelo still used his nunchucks

Basically its the season where the show fell into its paces and the episodes were very entertaining. Season 1 is good and all, but I like the show when its a bit more goofy than serious.

[hudemx]

-Turtles on trial is the episode with the best animation in the whole series I find

Really? I always though that Leonardo lightens up, Leonardo VS Tempestra (espeacily the final battle against Temepestras Creatures and herself) and Planet of the Turtleoids had the best animation...

But yeah we all got different opinions:D

[Shred87]

Season 1 is probably my favorite... I agree with TMNT 2010 in the sense that after season 3 the show seemed to drop a little in quality. I dont know if I'd say season 3 was my favorite though

[TheUltimateShredhead]

I love all the seasons of the series. Ofcourse many of them had error's, but still.

[TheCanadiandrome]

I love all the seasons of the series. Ofcourse many of them had error's, but still.
exactly right

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Personally I prefer season 3 out of all of them.

-The voice actors finally got into their roles
-Krang got more air time instead of being the dictator who just sat in dimension X
-Turtles on trial is the episode with the best animation in the whole series I find
-No new characters every other episode since they didn't need to sell more toys yet (I'm looking at you season 4)
-Michelangelo still used his nunchucks

Basically its the season where the show fell into its paces and the episodes were very entertaining. Season 1 is good and all, but I like the show when its a bit more goofy than serious.

Season 3 has the best mix. Some episodes are silly, other rock.