Mind Control: Good, Bad, or Disappointing?
 

I've been thinking about this for a while with the mind control arc from season 3 and reading some of the comments on the episode threads, seems the arc didn't result too well especially now that we entered the realm of space.

Beginning in Casey Jones vs the Underworld, the arc certainly possessed excellent potential for drama and root the show to a serious nature; in addition, the IDW comics did City Fall involving Leonardo falling to mind control. Tons of opportunities were present, especially because two of the three mentions by Donatello in that episode happened; Karai suffered for a prolonged and almost annoying arc and the infamous control over Raphael happened, but never the control over the city...? (Seriously, this would have been great for Shredder!)

For me, I honestly felt the entire plot was ridiculed with serious deus ex resolves and overall didn't do well. The only one of actual substance was Fourfold Trap somewhat; by then, the arc ended for Karai. Karai's brief stint didn't last too long because of the time travel scenario and very little time to address her at all, especially with her mutation. Raph is similar, we know someone said the control over a turtle was set to occur, yet no results yield. I hate being a Negative Nancy, but for being the driving force barring Triceraton invasion and stopping the Kraang, the plot did feel poorly constructed.

I honestly am curious on everyone's thoughts: was the mind control an actual good plot or was it merely wasted potential that hindered other characters? Ignoring possible situations in the future, taking in what season 3 did only for the time being. Also, if you could see how the arc might have better benefited in the series.

Mind Control has been a common theme in a lot of the Nick turtles eps - but presuming you mean specifically the mind worms....

Hard to say. So far it certainly hasn't lived up to its full potential - it was billed as being a major threat to the city/world as a whole but that never came to fruition. As it stands, it made for a few interesting plot hooks, but never went anywhere (Dark Raph Grrrrr). Definitely poorly executed but a good idea on paper (though I'm not sure why they needed the worms at all when injecting the serum would have been a lot simpler)

Guess they needed something to expel from the host to show the mind control had ceased, but it could have just as easily have been done a different way....


Anyway! The point I wanted to make especially on this is that technically the arc hasn't finished.

Once the Triceratons are defeated (presuming they are), Shredder and his mind worms will still be there waiting for the turtles. It may be that it is this unresolved arc that makes up the dramatic tension for the 2nd half of Season 4.

If Dregg also shows up on Earth in the latter half of the season, he may even find a way of taking control of the mind worms from Shredder - which might actually make the worms a lot more interesting (but that's all theorising).

Underused, it really could have had further implications and part of a wider scheme. Granted, Shredder simply grabbed the chance to get Splinter when the opportunity presented itself; mind control prob matters not when his ultimate goal was in his hands. Once Earth and everyone is back and he instead fails to kill Splinter, he could very well run off and continue his plans for that. (Edit: Hmm... With something possibly somehow linking it with the ending of the Half Shell special.)

I was also wondering if they might somehow link it to half shell's ending ;)

I never like this stuff in TMNT because it's a cheap way to get inter-character conflict when they could instead have a real disagreement. It also seems dumb that a bunch of ninjas are so easily mind slaved when self control and meditation and all that is supposed to be a part of their training.

Think instead about how IDW Donatello will very clearly be contrary to other turtles if he thinks otherwise. Think about how it would have more impact if a turtle just decided to leave or even fight against the rest because of their own decision.

regarding on y the serum was used through the worms in the 1st place, I think its cause of the brain-blood barrier but still, they could've used nanites or some chemical that could bypass the barrier

agree on how the arc would still be around in the later half of the season

I don't think the Mind Control arc is completely over, it's just put aside for the current arc. It still may be part of the humans vs. Mutants arc