I'm loving this more and more.
 

As of a week ago, I hadn't really watched this new series all the way through. I would catch an episode here and there and although I would enjoy them a good deal, I wouldn't have said it was better than or equal to the 2K3 series or the original.

I finally decided to sit down and watch it all the way through and I shocked when I felt that it was edging the original series into third place. That's not to say I still don't love the original, I always will but this new series is just more rewarding on a story and character level.

Right off the bat you can tell there is confidence behind this show. It feels like everyone involved knew absolutely, 100% what they wanted and went for it. It's such a sure footed and confident show from episode one, where as I feel 2k3 had to wait a handful of episodes before it found it's voice. There are so many things this new series gets right. For one, the characterizations are great. These are as distinct as the turtles have been from one another on screen so far. Although I'm still struggling with how dumb they are making Mikey, but just when I get annoyed at how OTT he is, he says something that makes me laugh. I'm having a love/hate relationship with this Mikey so far. Each turtle has more quirks and character traits that make them feel more like real characters, even more so than the 2K3 series.

The ninja training and teachings of Splinter are also more emphasized and important to the growth of the Turtles than they ever have been before. Which ties into them feeling like actual teenagers for the first time as well.

And while the story arc this first season had a few hick-ups it was still a very well told arc and much more detailed than I would have assumed from a new TMNT cartoon.

The animation is also glorious. It is vibrant and energetic. The action is well choreographed and genuinely engaging and it's all around a well produced show.

And last but not least, it strikes that balance between seriousness and humor that fits the franchise JUST right.

If the second season is as good as the first, this may make it's way up to number one which is scary because I never thought I would love a TMNT toon as much as the 2k3 series.

The only things I can really whine about are Mikey being too idiotic and the use of chibi animation. It's not a total hindrance, but the show doesn't need it and just feels like they are trying to appeal to a crowd that may not watch the show to begin with.

Methinks you know not what chibi means.

Reference photo:
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/20...62-d565yiz.png

That's the most frightening thing I've ever seen.

if you think that's scary I wouldn't recommend watching Ultimate Spiderman, cause that happens every single episode XD and more than once.

also I too have a little problem with Mikey and his smarts....but he's so adorable and funny...I end up forgetting the stupid thing he did XDDD

That is truly one of the worst shows on TV, along with Avengers Assemble. To the original poster, glad you enjoy the show. It's already knocked 87 show down to 2nd place for me.

Scarred for life.....

I just wish the Nick show would cut down on the, "mutant of the week" stories and do more with other types of villains.

Neither the original cartoon, 4kids cartoon, or the comics had, "mutant of the week" every single episode, I'm not sure why this show doesn't do the same.

yeah, this show is getting a little mutant crazy, but hopefully it starts to tone down a little. i think its just making the mutagen a bigger part of this series. where as something like 2k3 only brought it in a few times, and dealt with more of the alien or mystic side

Yeah and the OT was more Sci-fi and Paraody. If it tones dwon the Mutant of the week the writing can be very good in this show. right now they all just fall in the "meh" pile because there's so many of them.

unfortunately, from what we know about season 2, it seems like mutant of the week will be staying for season 2.

oh well. i just try to enjoy those episodes for what they are, and it makes the non mutant of the week episodes seem even better

It's for the toys, guys. They get money from that.

So, no, the mutant of the week thing will never leave. The least they can do is make them interesting.

Mutant of the week is better than Shredder of the week...for damn near 10 seasons.

Shredder did different things every week.

Most of these new mutants don't even speak or have any personality. I would rather Nick bring back some more old characters like Groundchuck/Dirtbag over some of these generic monsters they've been introducing.

It is a little bit overdone. It's one of the things I hated right away about "Smallville", the first season was some dumb "Kryptonite Monster of the Week", and while they got rid of that quickly, it soon devolved into another formula, that of "Comic Book Character in Name Only of the Week". That predictable formula was extremely annoying after a while.

It could get annoying on this show if it never strays far from the formula, or most of the mutants become one-offs *just* to sell toys. I agree that they could do worse than just re-introduce some of the "classic" mutants, if they absolutely *have* to run with the New Mutant gimmick.

In the 1987 show, Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady tried to break into power stations and repower the Technodrome in most episodes. It was "Power Station break-in of the Week."

But yeah, please tone down mutant of the week in the 2012 cartoon. The only one I like in this one is Leatherhead.

As much as I loved Smallville, I understand how you feel. Sometimes, that is why I avoid all the Meteor Freak episodes because that just gets too much. But hey, I like this TMNT series, and if there are going to be new mutants most of the time, bring it. Just as long they are cool mutants and nothing lame.:twink:

Forgive me if I ask this, but are people actually afraid about the next season's direction, or is anyone worried about the show getting worse?:tconfuse:

He has ADHD in this show...so he's not being "idiotic".

Thank you! Someone who has been paying attention!:tgrin: I've been mentioning the same thing, and still not everyone gets that.

Thankfully, this show is not as dumbed down as the 87 series. There were rumors on this show being like the OT which bugged me because I didn't want the turtles to be seen as a joke again and it would confuse kids of the 03 generation to no end.

I'm not XD I like the mutants :) In fact I enjoy the Mutant episodes more than the Kraang episodes....

I guess it's like Mutant-->foot clan-->Kraang for me

(but I enjoy the kraang also~ just not as much as the others)

Who diagnosed Mikey? :lol: I'm not saying it's not a real thing, I know people who legit have it, but I know *more* who were either misdiagnosed or "self-diagnosed". Some of those types just get too much sugar and caffeine. Which I could totally see being Mikey's case.

At least in the incarnations where they knew what "food" was, which apparently they didn't on this show. :lol:

For one, ADHD is is a controversial thing. Many professionals don't even consider it a real disorder. And who said he had this? The creators, or are fans diagnosing him? He's portrayed as dumb. Simple as that. His brothers don't take him seriously and neither does Shredder. He has a good heart and can be funny but half of the time his idiocy is a bit much. Why do people insist on coming to his defense and saying he's not dumb when a good majority of the fans think he is? How can you at least not see it? Disagree all you want, that's fine. But trying to say someone is wrong because they see a character in a way you don't isn't the way to go. I disagree with the opinion that the 2K3 Mikey is some ego maniac a-hole, but I don't try to convince people otherwise.

Mikey says he has ADHD or something in one of the episodes. I forgot which one, but he mentions it.

One of the old nick bios for mikey said he had ADHD

Yes, but he mentioned it in an episode, too.

A good amount lack any toy. But then again a few major characters are left out too.

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/20...on-d57e7mx.png

ADD definitions

1) a disorder, particularly of children, characterized by excessive activity and inability to concentrate on one task for any length of time Abbreviation ADD

2) A syndrome, usually diagnosed in childhood, characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness, a short attention span, and often hyperactivity, and interfering especially with academic, occupational, and social performance

3) a condition, usu. in children, marked by inattentiveness, dreaminess, and passivity.

this totally describes Mikey...

http://24.media.tumblr.com/41925c0ed...so1_r1_500.gif

:3 just answering the part where you asked where his ADD came from XD

They said ADHD, not ADD. And his complete lack of intelligence has nothing to do with him potentially having ADD. He never understands what's being said by Splinter or his fellow brothers, even when he is paying attention.

ADD and ADHD......they are the same I believe.

and aren't you exaggerating a little? Mikey isn't completely stupid.....he's only had a handful maybe less of true "dumb" moments

most of the time Mikey is seriously just not paying attention or he's just being silly.

and yes his ADD does make him lose focus, which could be seen as being dumb, but he isn't

"New Friend, Old Enemy" Might serve as a good argument for him being a total idiot. In that episode, he trusts a guy who's identity as the villain is PAINFULLY obvious, and he exposes himself to a random human, for the sake of returning his Cat no less.

awww come on, Mikey has always tired to make friends with people and thinks if they get to know him then it won't matter what he looks like

.....Mikey might have been dumb to do it...but at least he's trying....and if that makes him an idiot then I like him as an idiot.

Ok, maybe i'm being slightly harsh, but can you honestly blame me? Just LOOK at this guy:

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...s_Bradford.jpg

Does this man look remotely friendly or decent to you?

Yeah, and I would agree with this. It's painfully obvious that even at his most focused, he's STILL far from being as intelligent as the others. How many times have they face-palmed at something he says which is pure idiotic drivel(no matter how funny WE might think it is)? And then there are instances where he has to be TOLD something that the other three already KNEW? That bit about what is in the sewer they LIVE in comes to mind... How could he spend FIFTEEN YEARS in a sewer and NOT KNOW what's in there??!! And there are other examples as well. ADD/ADHA has NOTHING to do with what you KNOW or what you are capable of understanding. All it does is cause difficulty in paying attention to specific situations. It does NOT affect one's mental capacity. He may suffer from ADHD, but let's face it- Mikey in this series is ALSO kinda dumb.

Yeaaaaah, there's no denying it. If there's one constant in TMNT, It's that Mikey has the IQ of a french fry.

not really.....XD But Leatherhead didn't look friendly either lol

Leatherhead never took advantage of Mikey's Ignorance.

I thought we were going by looks :lol:
but Leatherhead did try and tear him apart when they first met too.

anyway...I'm not gonna try and be some crazy Mikey fan and say he's perfect....I know he can be dumb sometimes

but I think I'm gonna go through all the episodes and do a count of how many times he's been truly stupid

not silly or not paying attention
but really dumb!

Well, if a group of aliens went all Rodney King on your ass, wouldn't you be grouchy? :lol: I Understand where you're coming from, I like Greg Cipes as Michelangelo, but no character is perfect.

yea I know and I still love Mikey :)but there are times that I've gone "really Mikey.....really?"

but not enough for me too think he's just plain stupid. XD

it's something Mikey needs to improve on as a character and I'm sure he will