What would a more adult aimed show look like?

[Metalwolf]

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

What about the presentation of April, Karai and Casey?

I think I'd keep them teenaged, there is a lot of other TMNT works that has them as grownups, but teenaged is a bit more unique. I think a lot of the fun is seeing them as naive teens at first, and then having their world-views changed as they grow up and see what the world is really like. Plus I'd have to have the characters move beyond the present setup of their mindsets (in Nick currently) with April growing an ego complex over her supposed Kraang abilities, Karai wanting to personally kill Shredder and take over the Foot herself, and Casey eventually becoming overwhelmed (and possibly alcoholic) once the teenage thrill of being with mutants wears off, and he inevitably starts seeing stuff he doesn't want to see (or can emotionally handle.)

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

I also think particularly if death was not going to be avoided in the show (including by the Turtles themselves) that adult April would react differently to a younger teenage April. I think it would be more interesting to see how the younger April reacted.

It would be interesting to see, especially as she wouldn't have the maturity or life experiences a more grown up April would have. It would either make her more pacifist eventually, or it would make her into a cold steely beeotch.

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

On the other note - if you were planning a series like this, would you adapt the ideas that the Nicktoon has presented? Would the Kraang stay largely like the Nicktoon version? Would they be crueler? Would Stockman and his mousers be more vicious and less jokey? Would the Kraang as presented even work?

The Kraang would be behaving differently, that's for sure. Their ships and facilities have a cold sterile quality to them, while they themselves would be cruel and indifferent hive minds that you'd never see 'crack jokes.'

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

Characters like Bishop and the EPF certainly would translate over well because they deal with more adult themes of prejudice and political manipulation. Old Hob would be in a similar line i think (and potentially Hun with more brutal depictions of gang warfare or intimidation). By comparison, are the Kraang too comical?

I think Old Hob could be interesting, since he appears to have an anti-human prejudice. However, I think he'd be good to use as a way to explore the different perspective a mutated animal feels as opposed to a mutated human, since I have yet to see anything that shows that. Maybe in my version he'd even go as far as hating mutated humans, since to him they act no different and still are 'human' in a way that no animal can ever be. He might even try and start a war between them, since to him animals are 'superior.'

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

For myself, I think it wouldn't take much nudging to bring the target demographic up from the Nickshow. Actually on screen deaths are certainly one way, but even just being more aware of surrounding issues of what they are showing would push the boundaries on the existing show. Stuff like Pulverizer's family, the consequences of the Kraang invasions, lasting injuries or psychological trauma on Karai, Leo and Raph... the list goes on.

That is the stuff that I'd love to see, since it doesn't explored enough, deaths or no. Everybody seems too unnaturally hunky-dory on whatever is going on, or the 'emotional trauma' lasts a very short time. Splinter going mad was realistic, April's dad being super paranoid and afraid is realistic, but April herself, the Turtles, and anything going on with Shredder's goons doesn't seem to be.

Originally Posted by Tarris Vaal

Good grief yes. 100% agreed. I think showing consistent, developing characters arcs is the most important part of any show aiming for an older demographic. Even if the arc itself isn't delving into much 'dark' territory. Babylon 5 was a good show for skimming dark subjects without going too deep (well... not too often anyway), whilst still offering good character arcs. And Daredevil and Arrow seem similar in that regard. I haven't seen Flash yet so couldn't comment (soon, soon)

Especially when certain events are shown to be 'important,' and then later only touched upon briefly. Plus they'd also have to make sure they guard against the arc dragging on too long before it's resolved, with which Karai's mutation is in heavy danger of becoming tedious, and the Kraang hanging around too much long after the Shredder and co. should have been brought back in. The kids might not give voice to such feelings, but adults certainly would. Enough so that the execs might speed things up a bit or risk a ratings drop.