The Official Venting/Whining/Criticism Thread!

[Xav]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Anyone notice all the Season 1 mutants haven't been seen in a while? Snakeweed, Spiderbitez, Cockroach Terminator, Mutagen Man, etc?

The only one that re-appeared is Rockwell/Pete since they're part of the Mutanimals now. Also been a while since we've seen Rat King too.

Well we have seen Fishface recently.

[CyberCubed]

I'm not counting mutants who work for Shredder, obviously.

[Amaranthus]

Shredder shifted from wanting to kill the turtles and Splinter to wanting to take over New York City and I don't understand why.
I just don't get what drives him and the mutants who work for him.

[Powder]

Originally Posted by Amaranthus

I just don't get what drives him and the mutants who work for him.

Toy sales, brah.

[CyberCubed]

I wonder if Man Ray will ever show up. Him and I guess Wingnut/Screwloose are two of the last notable "good" mutants/aliens that haven't shown up yet.

[Jephael]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I wonder if Man Ray will ever show up. Him and I guess Wingnut/Screwloose are two of the last notable "good" mutants/aliens that haven't shown up yet.

I'm still holding out hope for Jagwar and Dreadmon.

[CyberCubed]

I'm expecting them to meet Wingnut/Screwloose while in Dimension X.

[victory_angel]

Originally Posted by Amaranthus

Shredder shifted from wanting to kill the turtles and Splinter to wanting to take over New York City and I don't understand why.
I just don't get what drives him and the mutants who work for him.

Because the turtles protect the city. And every version of the Shredder wants to take over the world in some form. The kraang taking over the city drove the turtles out before. If the city belongs to the foot there would be no where the turtles could hide in the city and if they are driven out they would only delay the inevitable

[GoldMutant]

A major problem I have with the show is an episode being self-contained or something that has potential that ultimately becomes lost. In this case, it's the Karai-Splinter-Shredder triangle conflict that's angered me. Other stories that are coming to mind are the lack of follow up with Mutagen Man and the failure to capitalize on the feuds Raphael has had. However, with how the mind-control story is going down, I want to address this storyline.

Originally, it had potential with the set up having Zorro written all over it. The story would have an emotional impact on Splinter and Leonardo, but it's never followed up in a good way. Most of Karai's stories have become pretentious and one dimensional, with very little reward. By that, whenever something is built up in the episode, it usually leads to disappointment in the end. Not only is Karai a plot driver, her story just has nothing going for it.

When she mutated in the climax of Vengeance is Mine, it seemed something would be going down. However, it is not built on at all due to the Northampton arc and the primary focus on the Kraang. She has taken a major backseat and rarely gets any development as a character. All it's doing is waiting until the inevitable where she is still with Shredder.

As nothing more than a plot than an actual character at times, it's problematic for fans of the character and those who saw this story with potential. She's going to suffer more just to beat a dead horse. It's extremely frustrating and downright disappointing for a character that has promise.

[Xav]

Originally Posted by Ramboraph4life aka Matt

The family got beat the living hell out of them by Slash, by the next 'Full' showing of Slash, he was pretty much turned back into a 'Decent Guy' and the family didn't have the ill will of folks that got almost beat to death by this person/thing.

Well Leonardo was unwilling to trust Slash in Clash of the Mutanimals.

[Karai Samurai]

Originally Posted by GoldMutant

A major problem I have with the show is an episode being self-contained or something that has potential that ultimately becomes lost. In this case, it's the Karai-Splinter-Shredder triangle conflict that's angered me. Other stories that are coming to mind are the lack of follow up with Mutagen Man and the failure to capitalize on the feuds Raphael has had. However, with how the mind-control story is going down, I want to address this storyline.

As nothing more than a plot than an actual character at times, it's problematic for fans of the character and those who saw this story with potential. She's going to suffer more just to beat a dead horse. It's extremely frustrating and downright disappointing for a character that has promise.

I could have written this myself. I've found myself less and less invested in the show. I went from waiting at the tv five minutes early to watch episodes air, to dvr-ing them and watching it later at night, to totally forgetting when episodes air and catching them whenever. It's definitely been downhill for me since Vengeance is Mine. Karai's mutation was a useless plot device that, as you said, they keep beating a dead horse as they drag on her mutant storyline. Why didn't they just have her go rouge? I keep hoping that they will finally end it so we can see badass Karai again. Maybe next episode.

And ugh, don't even get me started on Mutagen Man. Only the animators know he exists; the writers totally forgot. Honestly, Mutagen Man Unleashed made zero sense to me. Why did start drinking mutagen? Why did he want April? It was obvious that episode that MM was mere nostalgia fodder and the writer's had no intention of doing anything with him after a few toys sold.

They keep creating new characters while destroying the potential their older characters had.

[darthwahl56]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I wonder if Man Ray will ever show up. Him and I guess Wingnut/Screwloose are two of the last notable "good" mutants/aliens that haven't shown up yet.

On the original cartoon series they weren't good guys. Besides Kirby bat was the Wingnut character in this series, based on Mikey naming system then was deemed inappropriate by Donnie because it was April's father

[victory_angel]

Originally Posted by Karai Samurai

And ugh, don't even get me stared on Mutagen Man. Only the animators know he exists; the writers totally forgot. Honestly, Mutagen Man Unleashed made zero sense to me. Why did start drinking mutagen? Why did he want April? It was obvious that episode that MM was mere nostalgia fodder and the writer's had no intention of doing anything with him after a few toys sold.

They keep creating new characters while destroying the potential their older characters had.

From what I've gathered it started when Donnie had been talking to Mutagen Man about April leaving them because they accidentally mutated her father. Mutagen man is already upset about his mutation. Because he isn't what he thought he would be and in his mind Donnie has the best of everything, he has a good mutation, a cute girl in his life, and training as a ninja. While he's just blob of organs and goop in a jar. And Donnie is the only one who is being relatively nice to him. So when Donnie starts telling them that April is upset with them and doesn't want to be their friend any more. Mutagen man probably thought to himself "The Turtles hurt this April girl and they didn't tell me I'd become this. So maybe she wants to be my friend and I can have the cute girl." Only his mind can only think simplistically so if April doesn't want anything to do with mutants he would take it as she doesn't want anything to do with him.

I agree that maybe more should have been done with the mutagen drinking. I surmise that Timothy thought that if he drank mutagen he would become a better mutant. After all he's essentially a prisoner in the lair and as much as Donnie wants to cure him, there are lots of things pushing it to the back burner. Such as the Kraang, the Shredder, and the rest of the mutations that they are responsible for. So maybe since Donnie is bringing home all this mutagen he maybe starts to wonder if more mutagen can make him into a better mutant. Particularly since Donnie probably told him that Dogpound underwent a second mutation and became Rahzar. Though it would have been good to have moments where Donnie is discovering that some mutagen is going missing and wonder whats causing it. After all he does leave it out in the open at times so it would make sense for him to have full vial and then turning his back for five seconds before finding the vile empty.

As for Timothy being for forgotten, I don't think he's been forgotten. There is probably something planned for timothy, however I don't think the intent would be for him to be cured. If his story was to end with him cured, they would have done it already.

Character wise it's more a sense of priority. Meaning when they have an opportunity and means to cure him there is something that needs the retromutagen so Donnie and the others would just essentially say: He's not going anywhere...so I'll just cure him with the next batch.


Splinter was offered the cure because the Turtles would have more then likely heard or witnessed Splinter mourning his lost humanity. And it would be like Donnie to promise that if he ever did find a way to reverse mutations, then he'd restore Splinter's humanity.

As there wasn't a means to do so he never made good on that promise, until they discovered mutagen. When Timothy was mutated Donnie promises he would restore him to human one day. So in other words he'd find a way to restore him but anything with the Kraang and the Foot has higher priority.

Then April's dad is mutated so making the need for retromutagen all the more urgent. And learning the mutagen was organically based certainly helped in that regard. So the first batch was only two doses so naturally one was meant to make good on the child's promise Donnie had made long ago, and one was to restore Kirby. If Splinter had declined the retromutagen, then Timothy would have gotten it by default.

And then the whole city was mutated by the Kraang making the retromutagen all the more a value commodity. With the kraang gone the Mutagen isn't as plentiful as it once had been so that makes any further mutations reversed all the more important.

And with Karai, and the Mind Control Serum being an issue not, that pushes Timothy onto a back burner once again. Typically when a character is in a situation like this, it means that character is going to get a bad ending. Which is likely that Donnie is going to end up killing Mutagen Man.

For example it was strongly emphasized that by training him Donnie is responsible for whatever happens to him as a result.

Mutagen Man is a reoccurring villain, but we have only small occurrence as a villain. And he is supposed to be influential. Maybe he has already done something influential but we don't register it because we expect the it to have a huge impact and the impact itself hasn't pronounced itself just yet.

The next episode is going to have Karai under the Mind Control Serum and hunting and attacking the Turtles.

The Turtles and Co are going to have to evacuate the lair if not the city, because we have four more episodes involving the farm house and Karai knows where the lair is. So all they would need is for her to lead Rocksteady, Bebop, Tiger Claw and the other Foot Mutants down there if not the Shredder himself.

And the Foot could find a use for Timothy.

[neatoman]

So am I really the only one here who found Mondo to be annoying? Sure it's cool they got Robbie Rist to voice him, but this version of the character is so annoying.

He's introduced giving an empty threat, constantly brags about himself, yells a lot, does disgusting things as if he's proud of them, tries to steal money and he would have Casey die with no remorse. The only reason he became a good guy in the end was that he didn't want Mikey and Casey to die, that's about his only redeeming quality and it's contradictory to an earlier scene. About the most enjoyable thing about him was seeing him get his ass kicked by Hun.

In the Archie and IDW series' he is at least helpful and kind towards others, here I just want to see him die getting vivisected in a lab... Without any anesthesia.

[RandomtasticFantasy]

As of now:

-The Shredder and his motivations throughtout the show. Could just be the questionable writing, but his motives tend to change abruptly with no insight as to why or the reasoning save for speculation. Wanting to save Kairi and fix her mutation then suddenly deciding to brainwash her and keep her a mutant instead come to mind instantly.

-Conventiant status quo for certain situations and characters even after more then one episode addresses the issue, to drive the episodes plot. (Mikey's insight being ignored, Raph's anger.)

-The character development is lacking. Dropping plot points or entire characters or the seeming refusal to flesh out situations that could have proven to be interesting or at least given the characters more development through said situation.

- The handling of April period. Kairi is getting there with them possibly dragging out her being brainwashed and prolonging her working for Shredder in the laziest way possible. Kinda confused on this as well, as I thought she was loosing herself/mind to the mutation. So brainwashing her just cures that? How exactly?

Admittedly, the 2003 show and IDW comic's may be spoiling me/souring me to the show's writing and perceived flaws as it is a children's show but I dunno.

[Sabacooza]

Originally Posted by RandomtasticFantasy

Admittedly, the 2003 show and IDW comic's may be spoiling me/souring me to the show's writing and perceived flaws as it is a children's show but I dunno.

I don't think you're being spoiled at all. There isn't any reason why the show can't improve on all the points you made and more. If IDW and 2003 can do it, so can they.

I think throwing out the phrase it's a kid's show is just an excuse for lazy story writing and lack of development. Just write a good solid story and it can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Besides, I don't think kids are as stupid as these execs think.

[Ninturtle]

Originally Posted by Sabacooza

I don't think you're being spoiled at all. There isn't any reason why the show can't improve on all the points you made and more. If IDW and 2003 can do it, so can they.

I think throwing out the phrase it's a kid's show is just an excuse for lazy story writing and lack of development. Just write a good solid story and it can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Besides, I don't think kids are as stupid as these execs think.

Kids really don't care about story telling, I didn't and I've never met a kid who has.

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Ninturtle

Kids really don't care about story telling, I didn't and I've never met a kid who has.

Maybe..but kids do know what shows have an impact on them.

When I was a kid I didn't judge shows like I do now....but I could tell the difference between brainless nonsense and a good meaningful show.

I remember I was so invested in Avatar and the story and I was only 12.
and I KNOW I tuned into that more than any show out there at the time. XD

[Warhorse]

Eh, I do think kids know about storytelling. Case in point, it seems to me that the Donnie/April thing is very popular amongst the girl fans, and that in itself is a story being told. It might be dragget out, but, it's still being told.

[Foombamaroom]

Originally Posted by victory_angel

The Turtles and Co are going to have to evacuate the lair if not the city, because we have four more episodes involving the farm house and Karai knows where the lair is. So all they would need is for her to lead Rocksteady, Bebop, Tiger Claw and the other Foot Mutants down there if not the Shredder himself.

I think they're going to go to the farmhouse to cure Karai, to be honest. Or, if they do cure Karai, they'll bring her to the farmhouse so that way Splinter can snap her back to her old self or something.

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Eh, I do think kids know about storytelling. Case in point, it seems to me that the Donnie/April thing is very popular amongst the girl fans, and that in itself is a story being told. It might be dragget out, but, it's still being told.

I loved storytelling, I think it's that kids usually don't sit down week by week to watch a new episode, they just watch re-runs.

Also, I couldn't agree more with what everyone's saying. The writers are introducing so many new characters that they forget about the potential that the older characters have. Mondo Gecko really didn't need to appear this season. And with filler episodes following story episodes, it makes the show less enjoyable.

However, the only thing I disagree on is Shredder. I think his motives are fine, to be honest. I don't think he's necessarily switched from hating the Turtles to wanting the city, I think he's just smart. I mean, Shredder DID say to Baxter in season 1 that he likes to grab opportunities like that or something. Well, think about it: if you're one of the most powerful men in the criminal underbelly of New York City, and an alien invasion hits, and when all the other powerful bosses come back, they're trying to adjust to the city, while you've been in it the whole time, wouldn't you take the shot to take control over them? It fits his character; Shredder's always been about control.

However, the one thing that really bothers me about Shredder is that HE KNOWS he can take all four Turtles down, so why doesn't he go after them? He knows that his minions win every 10th battle, and he freaks out at them when they can't beat them. Remember in season 1 when Shredder gave them 2 chances, and then he's like, "Nope, I'll take 'em down myself." Where's that more active Shredder? Why doesn't he go on missions that he knows the Turtles will be at? Honestly, that's been the best part of the season so far: We've seen the Turtles fight him twice, three times if you count the Leo vs. Shredder in Casey Jones vs. the Underworld.