Fast Forward and 2003 Cartoon

*Scandia* · 07-14-2007, 05:12 AM

My thoughts on this:

Leonardo has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the defeat. This is also known as shell shock- hence the shell injury is not just literal, but also metaphoric. His personality makes him be very idealistic and hard on himself. He is now disintegrating and going into his shadow due to the turmoil. He becomes obsessed with protecting his family- part of this is due to his being the leader. He feels he could have done more- even though he did his best.

It is not something that goes away on its own. It is not something that goes away magically by helping and serving others. Even Usagi talking to him would not magically solve it. He had to go away and be able to get the treatment and healing. Hence Splinter got him to spar to show him how his anger and obsession was being counterproductive. And when Leo lost control of his katanas and injured Splinter accidentally (yes, I read the episode thread about this and could tell there was consensus), he was able to see that he was hurting others more than helping. Splinter could have easily beaten the shell out of Leo, but he wanted it to allow it to happen so that Leo could realize it firsthand how much it was hurting him (not to mention others).

It was not just angst. It was not just anger. It was not just being hard on himself- though all those things were present. It was a serious psychiatric injury that he cannot just "snap out of".

They DID drag it out a bit too much. It would have been better to have just "Cousin Sid", perhaps two more episodes, then "Samurai Tourist" and then "The Ancient One". It would have still been effective. But a healed Leo would have worked better for some of the other episodes.

I wish everyone would stop being so hard on Leo.

I am glad Leo returned to being the leader in the Ninja Tribunal season. That he was not demoted- much less kicked out of the family. Donatello did a good job in being leader when Leonardo was not available, but Donatello's greatest strength is not in leadership. That his father and brothers do not love him any less than before. That he will still be included, still will be taught new things, and will still be a member of the family and team.

07-14-2007, 05:12 AM	#11
Scandia Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,265	My thoughts on this: Leonardo has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the defeat. This is also known as shell shock- hence the shell injury is not just literal, but also metaphoric. His personality makes him be very idealistic and hard on himself. He is now disintegrating and going into his shadow due to the turmoil. He becomes obsessed with protecting his family- part of this is due to his being the leader. He feels he could have done more- even though he did his best. It is not something that goes away on its own. It is not something that goes away magically by helping and serving others. Even Usagi talking to him would not magically solve it. He had to go away and be able to get the treatment and healing. Hence Splinter got him to spar to show him how his anger and obsession was being counterproductive. And when Leo lost control of his katanas and injured Splinter accidentally (yes, I read the episode thread about this and could tell there was consensus), he was able to see that he was hurting others more than helping. Splinter could have easily beaten the shell out of Leo, but he wanted it to allow it to happen so that Leo could realize it firsthand how much it was hurting him (not to mention others). It was not just angst. It was not just anger. It was not just being hard on himself- though all those things were present. It was a serious psychiatric injury that he cannot just "snap out of". They DID drag it out a bit too much. It would have been better to have just "Cousin Sid", perhaps two more episodes, then "Samurai Tourist" and then "The Ancient One". It would have still been effective. But a healed Leo would have worked better for some of the other episodes. I wish everyone would stop being so hard on Leo. I am glad Leo returned to being the leader in the Ninja Tribunal season. That he was not demoted- much less kicked out of the family. Donatello did a good job in being leader when Leonardo was not available, but Donatello's greatest strength is not in leadership. That his father and brothers do not love him any less than before. That he will still be included, still will be taught new things, and will still be a member of the family and team. __________________ Turtles fight with honor!!!