Thoughts on Splinter dying
 

I know I took a liking to TMNT at a very young age and enjoyed the toys, video games and a few episodes of the cartoon. But the first time I remember it having a profound impact on me was when I saw the 1990 movie. Even though Splinter doesn’t die in that film, or any sequel, the idea of his impending death and the turtles’ need to prepare for that day is at the forefront of that story from his first scene until the end.

Coupled with great animatronics and a brilliant puppeteer/voice performance, that aspect remains my favorite part of that movie, even if they didn’t go all the way with it. I think it’s interesting that no writer ever killed him off until Peter Laird did in 2003. I know Mirage actually encouraged Image to kick off Vol. 3 with his death, and technically Murph had him die in the future timeline of TMNTA, but no one actually did it until part way through Vol. 4 (and it wouldn’t happen again for nearly another 15 years).

I’ll follow up with my thoughts on each different take later. Which version do you think handled it best?

2012 did it was so well done it made me tear up when I watched it. When Mikey said Daddy in that sad voice I lost it

thanks for the spoilers :trolleye:

You had 14 years to get caught up with the 2012 series

To be fair, “Requiem” only aired about 9.5 years ago lol. Maybe I should have waited for the 10 year anniversary.

It’s been long enough. Also it’s SDP can’t be to sure if its trolling or not

The first one because it was just...normal, and very much like how any of us will go.

Yes, I certainly appreciate Laird’s approach of keeping it lowkey and more realistic. And the funeral in #11 was really well done.

I just couldn’t vote for Mirage because the whole things was undercut and has been shrouded in mystery ever since the Battle Nexus reveal, followed by Donnie’s revelation after testing the hair sample he took.

Him dying in the 2012 show honestly felt kinda cheap, he had already died before the time travel and there was at least one other time when the other characters thought he was dead. Had the show continued, I kinda suspect he would have been reincarnated as a lab rat that gets mutated and he'd basically just be back anyway or something like that.

Yes, I do agree they probably pump faked his death too many times. Season 2 finale, season 3 finale, then The Super Shredder/Darkest Plight. I feel like none of the characters made that big of a deal out of it until it was real. I guess there was always some reasonable amount of hope that he’d survive, until it was undeniable in Requiem.

But on the other hand, I like that they showed Shredder wasn’t pulling his punches and was never going to stop until he got his revenge.

As far as the show bringing him back? I highly doubt that. I’m sure his presence would have remained via flashbacks, the astral plane or maybe like an Obi-Wan style Force ghost.

When I originally posted it was a shtpost but when the thread reloaded I saw Rise was an option on the poll which was indeed a spoiler for me so now the comment is real :tlol:

It wasn’t in the show, but Suriano did an 8 page comic called “Farewell” that was a part of the 40th Anniversary celebration comic. You should definitely pick it up. Many good shorts in there.

I was always good with Splinter dying in Vol. 4 and staying dead, personally. All the "when I'm gone" stuff in Vol. 1, the teasing/flash-forward of his death in the beginning of Vol. 2, teasing it again with the Bat-Splinter stuff in Vol. 3, I was ready to move past Splinter by Vol. 4, for sure.

I like the quietness and the mundanity of Mirage, but yeah, it's very much undercut by the revelation that the real Splinter most likely never died and he's just been chilling in the Battle Nexus, a plot point that remains unresolved to this day.

2012 wins for me because not only were they only the second iteration to actually kill off Splinter, they are now the only one where he actually stayed dead. For me, the "fakeouts" never bothered me, really because there was only one true fakeout, and even that one didn't really "count." The Season 2 finale is an example of dramatic irony, as we are shown in the same episode that he survived, while the turtles believe him dead. The only actual "fakeout" is the season 3 finale, but because that one is immediately followed by the whole world getting destroyed, it was pretty clear it was a "worst outcome" situation to be undone with time travel, which of course is exactly what happened. I don't think we were ever supposed to believe that one was permanent.

But season 4? Falling in battle to the Shredder, that funeral scene, and then the turtles living up to their name and avenging him, AND it sticks? Yeah, that one's pretty great.

I think that'll get resolved in the foreseeable future, one way or another.

What I really hope is the intent there by Laird was not to "chicken out" of killing Splinter, or trying to do some kind of an undo there.

Yeah, there’s some good Splinter stuff throughout the years, especially City at War and the Image run. But for the most part Mirage Splinter is kind of a pointless character even as early as #10.

That would have actually been a good issue for him to die in, honestly. RTNY would have hit even harder.

I remember people here legitimately thought the space arc was going to end with them stopping the black hole generator, but Shredder would still kill him lol

But yeah, I agree that it worked well to establish the stakes before following through with it in the end. And I ****ing loved “Lone Rat and Cubs”. It hits so hard and we watch it every Father’s Day lol

Yeah, I know. I always wondered how much Peter clued Lawson in to his overall plans. Mainly because of that single page Vol. 4 “ending” he put out for fun, which had Splinter back with the family. We can only speculate how much Laird influenced that or it was purely him taking a shot in the dark.

But yeah, there’s still wiggle room with FAKE Splinter. Don says it’s not the Solinter who raised them, but when did he take his last DNA sample in relation to when they switched? How many times and how frequently did they switch?

I doubt PL brought Splinter back to life in issue 32 but who knows, maybe he just went senile. We know the Turtles split up in the future Mirage timeline and Splinter is gone then too so I don't know why he'd bring him back if he dies again shortly after.

I'm glad Splinter never died in the original cartoon (lol, that would never happen anyway), or the 2k3 series. I do think Archie TMNT could have killed off Splinter eventually if Murphy inclined, especially if it went on longer than it did. In terms of the 90's movie trilogy, Splinter already looked like he was on his last legs by TMNT III. :lol:

I didn’t mind it in the 2012. I was a little surprised they did it, but it makes for a good storyline. Similar to when they killed splinter off in the comics. With comics and superheroes as you know, it’s only a matter of time till they bring them back. I didn’t mind them killing off splinter, and seeing the turtles go on their own way, and find their own way without the guidance of splinter. I also kind of like the current storyline how splinter and. Teng Shen are back. I doubt it will be for a long time, but it makes for a cool storyline. I’m curious to see where they go with it.

I don't know, are you sure? I mean... If they were willing to fake-kill him before, what makes you think they weren't willing to bring him back? Granted, that last time had the funeral and all that but they couldn't even let Rahzar remain dead, you know, a character that some people... Me included, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit... didn't even realise died before they just "killed" him off again. I can't take anything about that show seriously, even when it was meant to be taken seriously.

I thought you were just making a joke about how irreverent that show was towards Splinter.

Hey hey, keep that kind of talk up and I'll have no choice but to write another 10 page essay about why it's awesome! :P