Mikey and Don series

[Refractive Reflections]

It's kind of similar to 2K3 in a way where they are giving the deeper storylines to Leo (i.e. "Follow the Leader", "Fungus Humungous"), making Mikey's stupidity as the focus of the humor (as shown in "Pizza Face" and "The Mutation Situation") and giving him a few redeeming episodes ("Parasitica" and "Mikey Gets Shellacne") to not make him be seen as a complete burden/annoyance, and giving Raph's short-temper (being annoyed at Mikey and Casey), and clashes against his cocky ego for humor sake too much attention (i.e. his fear of bugs).

Donnie was getting some character growth in focusing his concern toward Metalhead and Timothy, but that's been obscured and heavily overshadowed by the bothersome and directionless April crush.

There are episodes that seem to allude to a good direction of where the series could expand the Turtles' characters, but the series regresses back constantly from those possibilities. The unfortunate thing in this current situation is that, there are only two main storylines occurring in this show (the Kraang and Shredder), and since April and Karai are involved with them respectively, Donnie and Leo seem to be highlighted by "default" because of their crushes rather than something more substantial.

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by jth

This.

Each turtle gets an equal amount of focused stories: Donnie and Leo's just tend to be more serious and plot driven where as Mikey and Raph's are more comedy based and fillers.

But they're still focused on the same.

But again, that's the point. Raph and Mikey fans are tired of being the jokes of the show, they want to have story arcs that are serious and really showcase their strengths.

Let me put it this way. Why is Raph and Mikey even there when I think the way the stories are set up and the characters and all, Leo, Don and Splinter really don't need them. They bring nothing to the table that is going to help because Leo and Donnie are more than enough. Raph and Mikey are pretty unimportant in this show, and are more in the way than they help. I'd like episodes to showcase where they are just as important as Leo and Donnie, but I just don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Shark_Blade]

Probably cause not all of their lives are directly involved in the main plot.

Let's take Lord of the Rings for example. You have Legolas and Gimli, but they're not as heavily focused to the main plot as Gandalf and Frodo were (Gandalf and Frodo both have significant character development). Same goes to Raph/Mikey compared to Leo/Don.

So what if some of the characters get more focus? I don't care. They're still all fighting the same fight and that's all that matters. If ALL of them get their own focuses related to the main plot it would be highly unrealistic.

[Electric]

Originally Posted by Werecat

lol. Almost every TMNT incarnation is Leonardo and friends. I am really disappointed that they don't use Raphael and Donatello for interesting, unique storylines.

I want a storyline were Raph is just a monster and he must accept the monstrosity within. I don't like the tamed anger/rage. With the storyline exploring the impulsive aggressiveness and inclination to kill would make the story a bit more epic and give some weight to Raph's berserker side.

Donatello is the most misused character though. With his engineering and science skills they could create the most awesome storylines that could influence more people to go into science. Science isn't boring. Science is interesting and they need Donatello episodes that explore his fascination for science. I really dislike how Donatello episodes only explore his crush instead of scientific pursuits.

I like the raph idea. It's be something different that develops him.

As for Donnie, I disagree. Yes one of his plots is his April crush. But the rest aren't. The retro mutagen plot has nothing to do with his crush, just loyalty to Tim and causing Kirby's mutation. And he has his metal head plot, creating him, them losing him, which doesn't involve April.


I hate how people still say Donnie only revolves around April in this series. It's just a small part of his character.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by jth

This.

Each turtle gets an equal amount of focused stories: Donnie and Leo's just tend to be more serious and plot driven where as Mikey and Raph's are more comedy based and fillers.

But they're still focused on the same.

what....that's not fair at all.....so Mikey and Raph get all the comedy and fillers...but no plot???

no fan would ever want that for their favorite turtle....

how would you Leo fans feel if he only had comedy episodes???

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by ElectricN

I like the raph idea. It's be something different that develops him.

As for Donnie, I disagree. Yes one of his plots is his April crush. But the rest aren't. The retro mutagen plot has nothing to do with his crush, just loyalty to Tim and causing Kirby's mutation. And he has his metal head plot, creating him, them losing him, which doesn't involve April.


I hate how people still say Donnie only revolves around April in this series. It's just a small part of his character.

Yes, I wish people would stop saying his life revolves around only April when it doesn't.

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

what....that's not fair at all.....so Mikey and Raph get all the comedy and fillers...but no plot???

no fan would ever want that for their favorite turtle....

how would you Leo fans feel if he only had comedy episodes???

I agree. For this incarnation I don't favor either Raph or Mikey. I'm really enjoying Leo and Donnie, but it's unfair that Raph and Mikey aren't getting the same...significance as Leo or Donnie. For those who favor them, it would be nice for them to have the same focus for those fans.

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by ssjup81

Yes, I wish people would stop saying his life revolves around only April when it doesn't.

I agree. For this incarnation I don't favor either Raph or Mikey. I'm really enjoying Leo and Donnie, but it's unfair that Raph and Mikey aren't getting the same...significance as Leo or Donnie. For those who favor them, it would be nice for them to have the same focus for those fans.

Bingo. I like Leo and Donnie too, but because I am a very heavy Raph fan, what with his lack of focus and good storylines, I'm starting to get bord with the show as a whole.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

Probably cause not all of their lives are directly involved in the main plot.

Let's take Lord of the Rings for example. You have Legolas and Gimli, but they're not as heavily focused to the main plot as Gandalf and Frodo were (Gandalf and Frodo both have significant character development). Same goes to Raph/Mikey compared to Leo/Don.

Switch the players a little and reminds me of...

Leonardo: Humm... Very important. We shouldn't compare ourselves. It's like apples and oranges.
Raphael: (Muttering) Yes, if apples are way better, which they are.
Donatello: So, the truth comes out.
Michelangelo: You guys think of us as some kind of ... B Team!"

Total Leo fan, but everyone deserves their moments to shine, not just be unofficial sidekicks to others' focus all the time.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Bingo. I like Leo and Donnie too, but because I am a very heavy Raph fan, what with his lack of focus and good storylines, I'm starting to get bord with the show as a whole.

same here....

and I'm never going to connect with Leo and Don like I do Mikey.

seeing Mike and Raph get shafted is very annoying.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Bingo. I like Leo and Donnie too, but because I am a very heavy Raph fan, what with his lack of focus and good storylines, I'm starting to get bord with the show as a whole.

In my case, I don't have a hardcore favorite. It depends on the actual medium. For example...

Mirage: Donny followed by Mikey

OT: Raph followed by Mikey (as a kid); Donny followed by Raph/Mikey (as an adult)

Archie: Donny followed by Raph

Original movie trilogy: Probably Raph

2k7: No favorite

TNM: No fav

2k3: Didn't watch it.

2k12: Back and forth between Leo and Donnie

So yeah, I don't have a hardcore favorite...

[terrorblade]

The good thing about this Leo though is he's more likeable than his previous incarnations. I just hope he will not go emo like in the 2k3 series, although the repercussions of Karai's mutation and the forthcoming adaptation of his mirage one shot has me really worried.

[Werecat]

Originally Posted by terrorblade

The good thing about this Leo though is he's more likeable than his previous incarnations. I just hope he will not go emo like in the 2k3 series, although the repercussions of Karai's mutation and the forthcoming adaptation of his mirage one shot has me really worried.

I agree, I hated 2k3 Leo but Nick Leo is very enjoyable. Nick did a good job making the characters likable.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by terrorblade

The good thing about this Leo though is he's more likeable than his previous incarnations. I just hope he will not go emo like in the 2k3 series, although the repercussions of Karai's mutation and the forthcoming adaptation of his mirage one shot has me really worried.

I never saw how he was portrayed during this for the 2k3 series, but Leo having an "emo" or "down" moment given the most recent events for this incarnation is very understandable, especially if he has conflict with Splinter. To be honest, I'm almost expecting it at some point.

[Electric]

i definitley agree that raph and mikey havent received as serious of plots. however, i honestly believe this will even out. Raphs have already gotten better in season 2. he now has his interaction with casey, and the spike/slash plot. so the only one really lacking is mikey, and, as ciro has said that they mature, i imagine he'll get some better ones in season 3

[Leofan26]

I feel Raph fans pain, I say that about the live action film. Every single one of them is pretty much about him, I'd like for just one film to have Leo be the focus but

I feel more bad for Mikey fans with how the writers keep forgetting that he's not stupid and can be more funny have good moments like the others. Season two over all was pretty bad writing for him

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Leofan26

I feel Raph fans pain, I say that about the live action film. Every single one of them is pretty much about him, I'd like for just one film to have Leo be the focus but

I kinda disagree on that...as I feel it was...

Movie 1: Raph
Movie 2: Donny
Movie 3: Mikey
2k7: Raph and Leo (to an extent)

I feel more bad for Mikey fans with how the writers keep forgetting that he's not stupid and can be more funny have good moments like the others. Season two over all was pretty bad writing for him

I feel that Mikey was better handled in season 2. Wormquake was nice for him, imo as well as the Shellacne ep, Wrath of Tigerclaw, and Vengeance is Mine, for example. I dunno, either I've grown used to Mikey, or they really have calmed down on the "stupidity" factor and is maturing him, and I feel it's the latter.

[TurtleTitan97]

Originally Posted by Leofan26

I feel more bad for Mikey fans with how the writers keep forgetting that he's not stupid and can be more funny have good moments like the others. Season two over all was pretty bad writing for him

I have disagree. Mikey's been fine in this season so far.

[snake]

I say that all the turtles get some time in the spotlight in this show. The most balanced incarnation so far.

[Metropoliskid41]

For the most part I really like the series, however as a Raph fan he definitely gets the short end of the stick. They've made him pretty one dimesional as just the a-hole of the group. The same goes for Mikey, who has been made into the one dimensional idiot of the group.

It is good to see Donnie, who I think in the past has often been under used, finally get his due. However I'd like to see Raph and Mike really fleshed out and expanded upon in the near future.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Metropoliskid41

For the most part I really like the series, however as a Raph fan he definitely gets the short end of the stick. They've made him pretty one dimesional as just the a-hole of the group.

While it's interesting to have Slash originate from Spike, it's kinda sad that it was at the cost of losing depictions of Raph's otherwise much guarded softhearted side that would come out with his pet... :\