What took them so long to make some one like Karai and why add her now of all times?
 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a major fan of her character and her rivalry with Leo. Why do you guy's think they decided to add her though? From what every ones saying she wasn't even made in the 80s, why add her now than? I'm just curious. What do you guy's think about this?

Thank you :D

She was a Mirage character, 4kids character, TMNT 2007 character, etc. She's a mainstay. That's really all there is to it.

If you wanna dig deeper, I guess certain staff behind these projects felt they needed more female characters.

Kind of a weird thread.

I've seen stranger threads on these forums :(
Did she become really popular as the shows keep coming in or some thing?

She has been a TMNT regular for a long time. I would say that her move to a slightly more prominent role is definitely to get some of the gender diversity into the series/ line. I can only hope that she has a figure in the works.

She debuted around 1992 in the Mirage comics. So she's been around almost 22 years. Not quite the '80s, but close enough.

Just throwing my 2 cents out there as well: I was a little confused as to why they brought her into the series so early on. From a writing standpoint I would have waited for if/when the ratings drop as a concept tease. Here's hoping that they actually have a plan for her.

As okay as I am with the Romeo/Juliet story line between her and Leo, I have a feeling that might have been their first - and hopefully not only - reason for bringing her on board: to give Leo an obvious weakness.

The ratings can't be near what they hope
 

They are just throwing as much characters onto the show as possible with the hopes to gain viewership. But that's just the nick series. Talking about her in general she's a very competent and important component to the franchise, she adds another female presence and makes for a more in depth franchise. She brings the element of unpredictability, and shes not like some hideous monster either, she is a fairly attractive character in general. (Not saying I find her attractive don't twist my words) meaning she represents that pretty girls can kick ass too. She brings that attachment that girls can latch on and be like wow I wanna do that, I wanna be like her. There's always been a plan for her when she appeared in the comics and 2k3.

Karai wasn't added that early, but I'm kind of confused by this thread.

I believe Lotus is actually Karai in OT. Seems like it.

In essence yes
 

Lotus doesn't get much love. She was very underrated. They do kind of look alike. She had the frenimy thing going on with Leo.

I totally get that. I was talking as far as only her appearance in the Nick variant.

Personally, I can't stand her. I mean, I can put up with her more than I can April, who is 99% of the time just an oxygen sucker and that's about it. I was too much of a tomboy to really care if there were any actual girl roles in the TMNT world. ;-)

From what I'm guessing, it was probably to give the TMNT franchise a prominent female villain because there were already male villains and female allies.

As for Lotus, it does make one wonder if the OT featured her in more episodes as a villain, if she would have become a bigger staple in the franchise since she was created before Karai. Hmm....

LOL, so you're one of those female fans who hates every single female character in a show for rather lame reasons?

Hey she has valid reasons
 

The way they are portrayed isn't well so she doesn't like it, so what? She didn't say she hated every female character just cause. Sure she might not care if there are females it doesn't mean she hates and dissaproves of every female character in the franchise.

Thank you, turtlefanforever! You're right on.

Yeah no problem
 

I'm all for putting someone in their place but only for good reason.

I'm pretty sure Lotus appeared on the screen before Karai was introduced in the comics.

She said every incarnation for April. Not just the Nick show.

Actually, what I said was:

"Personally, I can't stand her. I mean, I can put up with her more than I can April, who is 99% of the time just an oxygen sucker and that's about it. I was too much of a tomboy to really care if there were any actual girl roles in the TMNT world."

Where does that say I feel this about EVERY April variant? (For what it's worth, the only April that I've ever felt a connection for is the one from TMNT I.) I was much more drawn to the guys, specifically Raphael and Donatello due to the issues I faced during my childhood.

She did indeed.

I'm also pretty sure most fans only conflate them because they're both female ninjas, which is kind of ... yeah.