Mikey and Don series
 

Hey everyone! Sorry if someone already posted this topic elsewhere. I haven't been on the forums in a while, but anyway I wanted to sort of take a look at something.
Has anyone noticed that the Nick series as a whole, seems to focus on Mikey and Donatello a lot? I mean, it seemed the 2003 series focused on Leonardo, and this series is giving tons of attention to Mikey and Don. I always wanted more attention to the turtles that did not seem to receive a lot of care from the writers of the previous series. Anyway the focus on Mikey and Don further illustrates another reason why this show is great! :tsmile:

I think the show is more focused on Leo and Donnie. I hope Mikey and Raph become the main focus next season. It's not as bad as the 2k3 series though, that show is like Leonardo and friends.

lol. Almost every TMNT incarnation is Leonardo and friends. I am really disappointed that they don't use Raphael and Donatello for interesting, unique storylines.

I want a storyline were Raph is just a monster and he must accept the monstrosity within. I don't like the tamed anger/rage. With the storyline exploring the impulsive aggressiveness and inclination to kill would make the story a bit more epic and give some weight to Raph's berserker side.

Donatello is the most misused character though. With his engineering and science skills they could create the most awesome storylines that could influence more people to go into science. Science isn't boring. Science is interesting and they need Donatello episodes that explore his fascination for science. I really dislike how Donatello episodes only explore his crush instead of scientific pursuits.

Mm, no...this show tends to focus more on LEO and Don. Mike and Raph aren't focused on as much.

I agree, it is more Don and Leo ,but the way the storyline is going looks like we could get another Leo and Friends.

Raph probably gets the shortest end of the stick. Leo and Donnie are probably getting the most focus, with Mikey not too far behind.

it's more of a Donnie and Leo show lately......

Raph and Mikey need more love for sure.

You guys are seeing things. Every turtle gets equal focus.

Yeah I gotta go with Cubed on this one.

And that's just the problem. Mikey and Raph technically don't even HAVE ongoing storylines. I hope they each get one in Season 3.

About your science is depicted as boring. I have a friend who is a school science teacher, and it's funny, but she said she actually started to get an increase in classmates all the way back when CSI started. I'd love it if the Turtles befriends a cop and helps him with cases from time to time (I'm actually surprised that none of the series never tried that angle)


Damn, and there is so many venues they could go.

Mikey-while they don't have to get into the extremes, they could cover the story where he has to protect the Triceraton princess. Or, maybe they could showcase him getting the Cowabunga Carl job, and find some kids that need help. Maybe some of the kids turn to the Purple Dragons and instead of the usual Raph and Casey having their story arcs with the Purple Dragons, make it Mikey.

Raph-I would totally love it if they rip the story arc from 2k7 where he takes on the Nightwatcher for a season. He could be this series Turtle Titan, just more serious. And with his distrust of Karai, I'd love it if it was he that was right smack in the middle of the City at War storyline, instead of the usual Leo.

And if we do get Bebop and Rocksteady, I hope to see some really good story arcs here for Mikey and Raph.

I disagree. As far as significant episodes go (meaning those that move the plot along) it seems to be the Leo and Donnie show. Mikey and Raph could really use more focus.

Well, maybe something will come of it with Raph getting spit in the eye later on down the road. Mikey, I know he had his arc with Bradford, but that's pretty much been beat to death, no?

But yeah, I've been saying this for sometime, the focus on Leo and Donnie is very noticeable, those who don't see it, definitely got blinders on.

I forget where this was mentioned, but I remember something where Greg Cipes did mention something about Mikey getting his chance to prove himself as a leader in the upcoming season.

I certainly hope that is the case. I mean Mikey isn't really meant to be the leadership type. He's more of the childlike innocents of the group. The one that reminds everyone that light exists in even the darkest of moments. The person who tries to make everyone feel better when their down about whatever is going on in their life.

But we've never seen him being forced to handle the leadership role. Usually Donnie or Raph are the de facto leader candidates if Leo's out of the commission.

That would be great development for him. He truly deserves it and the potential is definitely there, imo. I don't think he's true leader material, but I would like for him to prove himself and to be taken seriously, which he's wanted since the beginning.

You know, I'd like to see Donnie lead too, as we haven't seen him really do so yet, but I think he temporarily will if we're getting the Leo one-shot story.

With our luck, it's probably going to be Karai to lead everyone out if Leo is out of commission.

Yeah, I agree, as much as I don't mind Leo getting lots of attention;) Mikey and Raph for sure need a more going for them in this. Some personally defining and developing stuff that will last a while.

Though I dunno about everyone up and taking over leadership, at least not long term... everyone has their role to play within the family, Leo's self identity is pretty much wrapped around Ninjitsu and improving his leadership. Donnie would prob be the best to take up the role for a time if it was needed though. And all of them could prob use some additional hobbies and stuff.

Though I don't look forward to anything that severe happening to Leo... :\

As much as I'd love to see Mike and Raph get more focus, I'm glad they Donnie is for now since they've never really done that in any incarnation before.

That is generally the case for Donnie to serve in the role of a reluctant leader while Leo is unable to. If it's generally Raph's destiny to lose an eye, then it's Donnie's destiny to serve as a Defacto Leader until Leo is ready to return to his post.

Mirage, he was looking after things and making sure everyone had electricity and running water while at the Northampton.

I believe he also leads at points in the Archie Comics, or he did when they had that future arc where Armagon shows up.

Donnie is implied to lead the group while Leo is training under the Ancient One. He also leads the group in the 2007 Movie while Leo is training in South America.

And in the IDW Donnie is leading the group while Leo is serving the foot and while trying to sort himself out after he is rescued.

This.

Each turtle gets an equal amount of focused stories: Donnie and Leo's just tend to be more serious and plot driven where as Mikey and Raph's are more comedy based and fillers.

But they're still focused on the same.

It's kind of similar to 2K3 in a way where they are giving the deeper storylines to Leo (i.e. "Follow the Leader", "Fungus Humungous"), making Mikey's stupidity as the focus of the humor (as shown in "Pizza Face" and "The Mutation Situation") and giving him a few redeeming episodes ("Parasitica" and "Mikey Gets Shellacne") to not make him be seen as a complete burden/annoyance, and giving Raph's short-temper (being annoyed at Mikey and Casey), and clashes against his cocky ego for humor sake too much attention (i.e. his fear of bugs).

Donnie was getting some character growth in focusing his concern toward Metalhead and Timothy, but that's been obscured and heavily overshadowed by the bothersome and directionless April crush.

There are episodes that seem to allude to a good direction of where the series could expand the Turtles' characters, but the series regresses back constantly from those possibilities. The unfortunate thing in this current situation is that, there are only two main storylines occurring in this show (the Kraang and Shredder), and since April and Karai are involved with them respectively, Donnie and Leo seem to be highlighted by "default" because of their crushes rather than something more substantial.

But again, that's the point. Raph and Mikey fans are tired of being the jokes of the show, they want to have story arcs that are serious and really showcase their strengths.

Let me put it this way. Why is Raph and Mikey even there when I think the way the stories are set up and the characters and all, Leo, Don and Splinter really don't need them. They bring nothing to the table that is going to help because Leo and Donnie are more than enough. Raph and Mikey are pretty unimportant in this show, and are more in the way than they help. I'd like episodes to showcase where they are just as important as Leo and Donnie, but I just don't see that happening anytime soon.

Probably cause not all of their lives are directly involved in the main plot.

Let's take Lord of the Rings for example. You have Legolas and Gimli, but they're not as heavily focused to the main plot as Gandalf and Frodo were (Gandalf and Frodo both have significant character development). Same goes to Raph/Mikey compared to Leo/Don.

So what if some of the characters get more focus? I don't care. They're still all fighting the same fight and that's all that matters. If ALL of them get their own focuses related to the main plot it would be highly unrealistic.

I like the raph idea. It's be something different that develops him.

As for Donnie, I disagree. Yes one of his plots is his April crush. But the rest aren't. The retro mutagen plot has nothing to do with his crush, just loyalty to Tim and causing Kirby's mutation. And he has his metal head plot, creating him, them losing him, which doesn't involve April.


I hate how people still say Donnie only revolves around April in this series. It's just a small part of his character.

what....that's not fair at all.....so Mikey and Raph get all the comedy and fillers...but no plot???

no fan would ever want that for their favorite turtle....

how would you Leo fans feel if he only had comedy episodes???

Yes, I wish people would stop saying his life revolves around only April when it doesn't.

I agree. For this incarnation I don't favor either Raph or Mikey. I'm really enjoying Leo and Donnie, but it's unfair that Raph and Mikey aren't getting the same...significance as Leo or Donnie. For those who favor them, it would be nice for them to have the same focus for those fans.

Bingo. I like Leo and Donnie too, but because I am a very heavy Raph fan, what with his lack of focus and good storylines, I'm starting to get bord with the show as a whole.

Switch the players a little and reminds me of...
Total Leo fan, but everyone deserves their moments to shine, not just be unofficial sidekicks to others' focus all the time.

same here....

and I'm never going to connect with Leo and Don like I do Mikey.

seeing Mike and Raph get shafted is very annoying.

In my case, I don't have a hardcore favorite. It depends on the actual medium. For example...

Mirage: Donny followed by Mikey

OT: Raph followed by Mikey (as a kid); Donny followed by Raph/Mikey (as an adult)

Archie: Donny followed by Raph

Original movie trilogy: Probably Raph

2k7: No favorite

TNM: No fav

2k3: Didn't watch it.

2k12: Back and forth between Leo and Donnie

So yeah, I don't have a hardcore favorite...

The good thing about this Leo though is he's more likeable than his previous incarnations. I just hope he will not go emo like in the 2k3 series, although the repercussions of Karai's mutation and the forthcoming adaptation of his mirage one shot has me really worried.

I agree, I hated 2k3 Leo but Nick Leo is very enjoyable. Nick did a good job making the characters likable.

I never saw how he was portrayed during this for the 2k3 series, but Leo having an "emo" or "down" moment given the most recent events for this incarnation is very understandable, especially if he has conflict with Splinter. To be honest, I'm almost expecting it at some point.

i definitley agree that raph and mikey havent received as serious of plots. however, i honestly believe this will even out. Raphs have already gotten better in season 2. he now has his interaction with casey, and the spike/slash plot. so the only one really lacking is mikey, and, as ciro has said that they mature, i imagine he'll get some better ones in season 3

I feel Raph fans pain, I say that about the live action film. Every single one of them is pretty much about him, I'd like for just one film to have Leo be the focus but :roll:

I feel more bad for Mikey fans with how the writers keep forgetting that he's not stupid and can be more funny have good moments like the others. Season two over all was pretty bad writing for him :ohwell:

I kinda disagree on that...as I feel it was...

Movie 1: Raph
Movie 2: Donny
Movie 3: Mikey
2k7: Raph and Leo (to an extent)I feel that Mikey was better handled in season 2. Wormquake was nice for him, imo as well as the Shellacne ep, Wrath of Tigerclaw, and Vengeance is Mine, for example. I dunno, either I've grown used to Mikey, or they really have calmed down on the "stupidity" factor and is maturing him, and I feel it's the latter.

I have disagree. Mikey's been fine in this season so far.

I say that all the turtles get some time in the spotlight in this show. The most balanced incarnation so far.

For the most part I really like the series, however as a Raph fan he definitely gets the short end of the stick. They've made him pretty one dimesional as just the a-hole of the group. The same goes for Mikey, who has been made into the one dimensional idiot of the group.

It is good to see Donnie, who I think in the past has often been under used, finally get his due. However I'd like to see Raph and Mike really fleshed out and expanded upon in the near future.

While it's interesting to have Slash originate from Spike, it's kinda sad that it was at the cost of losing depictions of Raph's otherwise much guarded softhearted side that would come out with his pet... :\