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.