Fred Wolf Cartoon: Seasons 1-7 vs Seasons 8-10 (Red Sky)

[The-Shredder]

The only DVD I own of the Fred Wolf cartoon is the first one that came out in 2004. I've watched almost the entire series beforehand on a foreign T.V. channel, so I got a real kick out of watching the show in English (my native language) for the first time.

The thing is, I don't know if it's worth the investment to purchase the entire series on DVD. My memories of watching the show consisted of being bewildered at some of the plots ("Turtles at the Earth's Core" with the friendly looking dinosaurs), the caricature like designs and the annoying nature of the humans (Howie Hardy and Vernon Fenwick anyone?), and the overall kiddie design of the Turtles that resulted over time.

However, I did enjoy a couple episodes like "April's Fool" from the earlier seasons and a couple of episodes from the last seasons like "Mobster from Dimension X," which is one of my favorite episodes. Although this show was my first introduction to TMNT, when I discovered that 4Kids was making a show in 2003, I was instantly hooked and it became my favorite incarnation (I'm not a comic book person at all so I couldn't really get into the Mirage series). Thus, I simultaneously watched both shows, eventually getting to the "Red Sky" seasons, which I thought were "cooler" than the previous seasons with the more serious angle it was going for, even if the plot's weren't as fleshed out as the ones in the 4Kids series (good riddance Channel 6 and its joke of a news staff :P. Why they're even in the new movie is beyond me).

So, what do you all think? Is the entire show really worth owning on DVD or only a few select seasons?

[MikeandRaph87]

I think the whole series is. Sure there are some weaker season and stronger ones, but its worth it as a whole and you can see for yourself which ones stand out more to you personally. I love seasons 7 and 8 above all the others. Season 9 is easily the worst as its all about Dregg and Carter with an ongoing secondary mutation plot and no Shredder or Krang in sight! Season 8 may be edgier and feature the red sky but it has two great storylines in this all too brief of a direction. If you want to get select season for financial reasons I understand and recommend you look up the episode guide then journey over to Youtube and sample the ones that stick out to you for whatever reason.

[CyberCubed]

My rank of Seasons from best to worst:

- Season 1
- Season 7
- Season 3
- Season 8
- Season 4
- Season 6
- Season 2
- Season 5
- Season 10
- Season 9
- European Vacation

I liked all the seasons with the exception of most of the Euro episodes, so I enjoyed watching it overall.

[Refractive Reflections]

It all depends on what you enjoy most from the OT. Is it solely the action and fighting? Do you enjoy the comedy (not just slapstick, but sarcasm and wittiness also) and life in the lair scenes? Do you like the individual Turtle episodes? Are there any particular allies/villains you enjoy more than the other? Is continuity important to you?

For me, the equilibrium point for the series are seasons 1 and 7 because they balance all of these elements without going as extreme into the comedy in the seasons of 3 & 4 (the slapstick is more prevalent in those two seasons) while not going superfluous with the visual darkness in the forced red sky and angled Turtle faces and bodies (seasons 8-10), but they did genuinely have a more serious approach though.

Personally for me, I enjoy all of these elements because it shows a broader range with the characters and series as a whole, and would buy the series as a whole, but if money is tight for you and you're more focused on the serious tone of the OT show and not so much about the Turtles' "life in the lair", I would suggest seasons 1, 7, 8-10.

[chrisdude]

I'm not sure why Carter makes me want to peel my skin off, but other than that, I'm cool with pretty much all of it. Even Dregg. Of course, if I have to choose, I'd pick the pre-red sky days.

[Refractive Reflections]

I'm not sure why Carter makes me want to peel my skin off, but other than that, I'm cool with pretty much all of it. Even Dregg. Of course, if I have to choose, I'd pick the pre-red sky days.

:P Here's a question, what do you think about Zach? (Since some viewers find Zach just as annoying as Carter.) Maybe if you compare your opinions with these two allies you might discover the answer. :lol:

[neatoman]

My feelings on the Red Sky seasons...

... It was a step in the right direction to replace the unfunny comedy and repetative formula with some sense continuity and it was nice to see the characters a bit more fleshed out. The darker tone is a change I like but I don't really think it was necessary.

Unfortunatly, even though they did go in the right direction, they did not improve enough. Some of the bigger problems still stand (the sloppy writing, the unimpressive animation, the random elements thrown in for no other reason than to promote toys etc) and therefore I still can't quite say it's good.

Still, I still find them and the first season to be the best (or rather the least bad) seasons of the series.

[CyberCubed]

I think the only problem I had with Carter was he blatantly had Casey Jones role. The only unique thing about him was his mutation.

I wish Casey Jones became a main character for Seasons 9-10 in Carter's place. Carter could have still existed but only as a smaller recurring character.

[snake]

The whole show is enjoyable, so I own it all. Even the worst episodes have SOME things in them that are cool.

[pennydreadful]

:P Here's a question, what do you think about Zach? (Since some viewers find Zach just as annoying as Carter.) Maybe if you compare your opinions with these two allies you might discover the answer. :lol:

Hehe, I've gotta say I find Zach about a billion times more annoying than Carter. Zach is the most annoying character ever. Full stop. Exclamation point. Exclamation point. :P

[Aaronardo]

My rank of Seasons from best to worst:

- Season 1
- Season 7
- Season 3
- Season 8
- Season 4
- Season 6
- Season 2
- Season 5
- Season 10
- Season 9
- European Vacation

I liked all the seasons with the exception of most of the Euro episodes, so I enjoyed watching it overall.

Yeah, pretty much this...

[Metropoliskid41]

Season 7 and Season 10 are the only 2 seasons that I don't have on DVD (yet), are the European Vacation episodes included in the Season 7 set, or have they not been released?

[Refractive Reflections]

Season 7 and Season 10 are the only 2 seasons that I don't have on DVD (yet), are the European Vacation episodes included in the Season 7 set, or have they not been released?

The European Vacation episodes are included as part of the Season 7 set.

[Metropoliskid41]

Awesome thanks! I really need to track those 2 seasons I'm missing down. I'm hoping the week or two before the movie hits the theaters that Walmart will bring out a load of TMNT related dvds at cheap prices in a display like they typically do for the DC and Marvel movie franchises that have had past TV series associated with them.

[Raang]

My rank of Seasons from best to worst:

- Season 1
- Season 7
- Season 3
- Season 8
- Season 4
- Season 6
- Season 2
- Season 5
- Season 10
- Season 9
- European Vacation

I liked all the seasons with the exception of most of the Euro episodes, so I enjoyed watching it overall.
Season 2 worse than season 4? No way man. That's just flat out wrong. :teek:

[Prowler]

Red Sky came at a time where producers were desperate for ratings to prevent the FW series form being cancelled. Season 8 was pretty good, 9 and 10 not so much due to Dregg replacing Shredder and Krang. These two weren't the problem. Plus, Red SKy looked generic and didn't have a distinguished look and tone like the previous seasons did. A TMNT cartoon with a darker tone had loads of potential but they missed several opportunities.

I prefer the blue sky seasons. My favorite ones being season 1 and 7. Also liked several eps from seasons 3 and 6.

But overall, the show has more watchable eps than unwatchable ones.

[Metropoliskid41]

But overall, the show has more watchable eps than unwatchable ones.

I agree and that's the key! Some definite duds, but a lot of fun episodes that are still very enjoyable to revisit again today! :tgrin:

[ABrown]

The "red sky" seasons were exactly what I had wished that the original TMNT cartoon was when I was a child. That doesn't mean that the last three seasons were necessarily any better than the first season sevens, it's just what my personal preference is.

[billbot85]

The Red Sky seasons were a step in the right direction to help the show compete with other shows like Batman: The Animated Series. Unfortunately, I felt that it wasn't as refined as it could've been. Shredder and Krang not being given a proper ending, the constant mutations of the turtles, and Carter's bland character altogether caused me to not like the Red Sky seasons as much as I like Seasons 1-7. I agree that parts of Seasons 4 and 5 weren't any better, but for the most part I liked the 80's/early 90's comedic and goofy tone of the OT more than the serious tone that the Red Sky seasons tried to convey. I think that is what helped the OT keep its nostalgic charm, IMO.

[CyberCubed]

Season 2 worse than season 4? No way man. That's just flat out wrong. :teek:

Season 2 is only 13 episodes, while Season 4 is 39 episodes. Just going by numbers, there are far more great episodes in Season 4 simply due to the sheer mass of them.

I liked Season 2, but again...its only 13 episodes.

[ABrown]

Season 4 had a LOT of stinkers, especially if you include the European episodes, even if you don't include the Euro episodes.

[CyberCubed]

Season 4 had a LOT of stinkers, especially if you include the European episodes, even if you don't include the Euro episodes.

Even with those there are still a lot of great episodes in Season 4.

[Leo656]

I liked what they were going for with the Red Sky seasons, but for one thing, I felt going to a slightly darker tone was "too little, too late". The show had gone so deep into "goofy kids stuff" by then, it almost seemed forced, going back the other way. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable at times, but it would have played better if it was done sooner. The entire show in that style, still with a focus on the Turtles/April/Shredder from the earlier days, would have been great. As it was, while they still used April and the old villains from time to time, it didn't have the same impact, and the new villains and Carter were underwhelming.

I give 'em an A for effort and a B- for execution. It kept the show on the air a couple extra seasons past the point of the fad dying out, so it's always got that going for it.

[Cipher]

I agree with the earlier post singling out seasons one and seven as the highlight of the action-comedy blend. Those are the standouts for me, and the kind of tone I'd have liked the show to have maintained the whole way through.

The "Red Sky" episodes are more interesting in concept than in execution, but they're worth a watch. You can see the strings showing, in terms of a transparent attempt to rebrand the show, and it never quite lives up to its visuals, but it is what it is. I think I have more affinity for them as a longtime fan because a lot of what gives that universe its own particular narrative compared to other versions is the content of the final three seasons. I do like that it capped off in such a surprisingly dark place (April never does get out of the freelance job).

[CyberCubed]

I only wish Season 8 had been a full 13-26 episode season to fully flesh out Shredder/Krang at the Hall of Science and let us see other old villains like Leatherhead and Baxter one last time like they did with The Rat King.

I don't even get why they only ordered 8 episodes for each season. What the hell is an 8 episode order? It always confused me why the final seasons weren't 13 episodes each.

[Pterobat]

My favourite TMNT episodes are a mish-mash of things from all seven of the first seasons, and I really couldn't choose a season that I favour over the rest. That's also why I bought the Party Van set instead of restricting myself to one season or another.

The Red Sky seasons though...God, they were boring. The TMNT cartoon became like every other generic, forgettable action cartoon of the time, and not even the good ones. At the same time, a lot of the old flaws were still in the cartoon, making for a strange retooling that was both superficial and complete. Kind of like putting a big Band-Aid over the thing.

And Dregg was also boring, no offence to the wondrous Tony Jay.

The OT has a lot of faults, and it's difficult to do "wacky" stuff right--the OT often failed. But I liked the silliness when it was actually fun, so I wouldn't want everything to be like season one. And especially not like the snore-inducing Red Sky seasons.