So who was really leader in the Northampton arc

[victory_angel]

So in the end of the invasion episode, Donnie steps into the role of leader. However when we get to Northampton at that beginning of this season we find Raph is from all appearances in the leadership position. So what do people surmise may have happened?

So far I've come up with the following scenarios.

1. Since the show was taking from the movie with having Raph watch over Leo, and Leo having to be put in the bath to keep him hydrated.

However in the movie it is Leo who tells Raph to his face that he wasn't needed and after Raph is nearly killed Leo keeps vigil out of guilt. But in the invasion it's Donnie who tells Leo that he's leading the team to disaster.
So perhaps Donnie had been watching over Leo in the beginning and then Raph takes over because Donnie was making himself sick because of it (i.e. Barely eating, hardly sleeping) After all making medicine from mutagen doesn't sound like someone who isn't entirely in the best mind frame.

2: When they reached Northampton a leader wasn't really needed, so Raph and Donnie serve the leadership role together. Mostly Raph keeping vigil over Leo and ensuring the others keep their training in. While Donnie assists around the house such assisting with finances. Maybe issuing a set time line of how long they are going to wait for Leo to wake up. We do see Leo hunting so obviously they had gotten some food through fishing and hunting just like they got eggs from the chickens they had (and maybe a few chicken dinners).

3: Donnie feels he doesn't deserve the role of leader and hands the reigns to Raph as soon as possible.

4: Raph gets confronts Donnie about his role in what happened to Leo and takes the role of leadership from him.

[senpai]

Does it matter who the leader is? It seems like everyone was just working together to survive. Donnie knew most about the Kraang so it makes sense that he takes the reins for a while, and then when they all get to Northampton it's all teamwork from their. Everyone's spirits are down. It's a time of recovery for everyone.

[IndigoErth]

Maybe just taking leadership in their own ways in what they can contribute. If Donnie got busy working on things, I can understand Raph picking up the lead, esp since he took the lead with the training. (Which I have to respect that he took the approach in wanting to do it the way Leo would want, when he very well could have stepped in and said "now we do it my way," but he didn't and that says a lot for him.)

Maybe issuing a set time line of how long they are going to wait for Leo to wake up.
:teek: And then what...

[GoldMutant]

I honestly don't feel anyone was leader like Senpai said, but there are a few scenarios I saw for leadership. I primarily judged based on focus based episodes. It's an idiotic decision on my part, but it's how I view it.

1. April- Her home essentially and she had two episodes dedicated to her:
Buried Secrets and sharing the spotlight with Leo in Eyes of the Chimera

2. Leo- Even though he was injured most of the time, Leo still gets decent screentime and still is focused on greatly with the episodes Within the Woods sharing with April in Eyes of the Chimera and Vision Quest. Although it's him recovering, he does somewhat fight on.

3. Donnie- Does help out with Leo by giving him the medicine and taking center stage with Casey in Race with the Demon and caring for Bigfoot in that particular episode. I can wager Donnie was the primary leader of the Turtles outside Leo's story with recovery. Then again, I'm just rambling like a buffoon at this point.

As for Raphael, Michelangelo, and Casey, they all got very little time. Raph does help in Within the Woods with training the team and Eyes of the Chimera with the others captured alongside him. Mikey and Casey I find did little here, especially the former. It's really whoever you choose that was in control.

In total of centered episodes (not counting Vision Quest, Return to New York or In Dreams):
Leo: 2 (Within the Woods and Eyes of the Chimera)
Raph: 0 (I might be wrong here, but besides a few moments in the episodes, Raph didn't get an episode for himself in this arc)
Donnie: 2 (that episode and Race with the Demon)
Mikey: 1 (The Croaking)
April: 2 (Buried Secrets and Eyes of the Chimera)
Casey: 1 (Race with the Demon)

The Northampton arc was a little fun, but I still find it extremely disappointing with it being more of movie tributes instead of story based. I personally wished each of the characters got a strong, individual focused episode before either Eyes of the Chimera or Vision Quest which leads to the return to New York.

[Warhorse]

I think the real question is, who is second in command behind Leo. Probably at home, Donnie, but on the battlefield, Raph.

[victory_angel]

Back during the first season Ciro had said that Leo, Donnie, and Raph would be be like Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.

[Warhorse]

Back during the first season Ciro had said that Leo, Donnie, and Raph would be be like Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.

Sounds like it's true then, the leader, the smart one and then mr obvious. Still doesn't change the fact that when on the battlefield, Raph is pretty much second in command. It makes sense, since he is right there with Leo as one of the top two fighters. They even had an episode how Leo and Raph were the A team and Donnie and Mikey were the B team. Regardless of the outcome of that episode, it still was pretty clear that Leo and Raph are the top two commanding officers of the unit.