Did it start back in season 1?
 

I dont know but to me, some of the the problems people claim to have with season 2 or 3, seemed to be already up in season 1, like Mikey at times being too stupid, Donnie's crush being creepy.

Maybe its just me, but when a show is in its 1st season it seems that you can be more forgiving of its flaws than with the later ones. Thats probably part of why season 1 is held in high regard by some

Lets not forget Raph being totally kicked to the curb as one of the complaints but that didn't start to happen until after season one.

As for Donnie and Mikey, I think it was tolerated because it was new but as it went on they started to play on it more and more to the point where it was really in your face and less tolerable.

On top of being new, the Turtles were also emotionally younger and more amateurish in the first season and pretty forgivable for it.

Maybe it's not so much that some of that stuff was ever bad, but just grown old; and at this point need to take another leap, at least a small one, in character development/progression/maturity.

Mikey does seem to be less of a prankster now, but it would be nice if he got his act together some and was a little less dimwitted. Donnie... move it forward or close that chapter. Raph's a bit in limbo. I appreciate Leo's progression, though I miss his cheesy lines. :) You can't win though, I'm sure if he never dropped that people would probably be sick of it. lol

It seems to me that, to most people, the good points in season one, and even season two, outweighed the character traits and plot points that they found most annoying. Therefore, they were more able to ignore them. Season three, however, started with Northampton and has jumped all over the place since. As there generally seems to be fewer good points to focus on in the eyes of many people, the less-than-positive points receive more focus.

I think people look past season 1 because of it being the first time we meet these incarnations of many of our favorite characters with some introduced over time.

Season 1 seems to have more connections with story and plot as everyone felt at least equal in terms of development. The humor might be a pain in the butt sometimes from Michelangelo, but for the most part it does work.

As the season continue, our expectations grow larger and larger as we can tell the series was going a little more serious only to fall flat on it's face.

To put it blunt and short, it was forgivable in season 1 for the new introduction but gradually got worse despite me enjoying season 2 more at times.

I believe that it did start in Season 1, but it was bearable due to the fact that the show had so much potential back then. Nowadays we're just hyping ourselves over the next plot point and hoping that something actually sticks for character development.

No. If it did start back in season one, the villains would have always had a comical portrayal, and Raph would be getting shafted more frequently.

LOL, what? The villains have always been portrayed as serious. The comical aspects are brief and minor.

Raph got a lot of screentime in Season 1? He got the Spiderbitez episode and the Cockroach terminator episode, and a few Leo team-up eps and I think that's it.

Those aren't problems, those are nitpicks!

I couldn't care less about Donnie's crush being creepy if the show was at least half as well written as the first season...

Look Purple Kraken, while you do have legitimate criticisms, its when you say things like "this is fatshaming" that you end up losing me.

Also TMNT2012, I was just listing down a few things I have seen be complained about

I love how you always say "LOL, what?" when someone says something you don't agree with.

Because its a baffling comment. The villains aren't portrayed as serious anymore? There's always been a mix of humor and seriousness to the villains.

I just want some character development....(it isn't season 1 anymore afterall)

1)Mikey getting smarter (while still remaining a prankster)
2) Donnie getting over his crush (or at least closing that romance plot)
3) Raph getting some story arc or....something
4) Leo is developing...only turtle who is XD per the norm.

we want characters to progress not remain static right?

It's getting annoying like..."didn't they just learn that 2 episodes" annoying.

Since they left Northampton Donnie has gotten over his crush. It hasn't been menational since Vision Quest. I don't see why people keep complaining about the crush when it hasn't been mentioned in over 10 episodes.

The crush is still there, it's just been toned down. I think it's more that he's grown to accept that things will be what they will be and no matter who April chooses she will always have a special place in his heart.

The fact it hasn't been mentioned in over 10 episodes is why people are complaining about it. They want resolution.

It may not be a resolution but it is some character development. He has accepted that April may not like him and is giving her space. To me it was like what was happening with Leo's leg. We saw his leg getting better bit by bit and after Vision Quest he was better. At the end of 'A Foot too Big' it seems like Donnie is starting to accept that she doesn't have feelings for him. In Vision Quest Leo tells him that he needs to leave his worries and fears behind when Donnie's concerned about leaving April and Casey alone. After Vision Quest we see Donnie not being concerned about April the whole time and gives her space to make up her own mind. Yes the crush was subtly there in Meet Mondo Gecko but he didn't say anything to Jason or April.

Anyway what I don't understand is the fact that everyone was complaining about Donnie being obsessive and the whole romance plot but now that it's subtly in the background and he isn't being obsessive, people are still complaining.

Since season 1 Raph is a lot calmer and in control of emotions. Yes he seemed to be suddenly angry for no reason in Clash of the Mutanimals but anger is in his character. He has learned to control it better but he can still lose control sometimes. Someone with anger issues can't always remain calm. He was probably frustrated by the lack of progress.

We've seen Mikey be able to be in command and take control. He also isn't been shown to be an idiot but instead tends to have more disgusting jokes. His brothers don't seem to look down on him anymore and take him seriously.

people just really hate love triangles, not that I can blame them

Let's also not forget the way Donnie seems to have an elated look when Leo puts him and April together to check out the cleaners. And Bebop does call April "Your ex-girl friend" when he's talking to Donnie.

Bebop actually said " Imma drop you like an ex girlfriend " and he wasn't referencing April.