Worst Version of Bebop and Rocksteady

[GoldMutant]

Originally Posted by ssjup81

They were in the beginning. They were super strong and stuff. They also weren't as dumb in the beginning.

I do agree and don't forget the Red Sky seasons brought a bit more intelligence and intimidation of the characters.

Something tells me as the show got sillier, Bebop and Rocksteady lost intelligence and became the cliched muscle bound soldiers without brains. The beginning and the end made them set up as dangerous threats, but my issue is that they really became lackluster throughout. That's what I dislike the most of the OT for them.

At the very least, the other versions show they are major threats. The OT only does that a few times, a personal gripe mind you.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Archie (at the time they were written out)

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

All of the above?
They never really did much for me, regardless of iteration. I've low patience for incompetent characters.

Is that because you don't like seeing unintelligent characters on TV glorified for being stupid comic relief? Bebop and Rocksteady might be autistic for all we know, especially in the original cartoon.

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

Funny, everyone talk about how incompetent and useless, yet the only version that was actually incompetent is the OT. All other versions are pretty competent.

For me, the OT is the worst version, the others are all really dangerous so far. B&R have appeared in so many incarnations that, despite not being Mirage characters, they've become a cemented part of TMNT lore that almost everyone (excepting Mirage Purists) love to see.

[shuriken]

Not a huge fan of the Nick versions. OT is alright but my faves by far are IDW. Indestructible powerhouses that are not to be messed with.

[PangolinFeets]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Is that because you don't like seeing unintelligent characters on TV glorified for being stupid comic relief? Bebop and Rocksteady might be autistic for all we know, especially in the original cartoon.

Just quickly clearing this up, Autism is a social disorder and has nothing to do with intelligence.

I never really thought of them as having a disability. They're street thugs who just want to be cool, but they're terrible at it. The IDW version captures this best, but even in the OT all they want to do is please Shredder. They're just really incompetent. Incompetence is a trait that can be possessed by anyone.

[CyberCubed]

In the original cartoon they behaved like children though. It felt like they were 10 year olds in the bodies of adults. They were probably born with some mental disability, it wasn't just that they were dumb street punks like in IDW.

[PangolinFeets]

Originally Posted by Panda_Kahn_fan

Funny, everyone talk about how incompetent and useless, yet the only version that was actually incompetent is the OT. All other versions are pretty competent.

Like in the IDW micro when their only job is to sit and look tough at Karai's secret meeting with the Ghost Boys, but they unintentionally start a gang war Karai's plans? Or when they fail their only other 'assignment'?*cough*issue45*cough* IDW's version has yet to successfully accomplish anything they've been ordered to do.

I think maybe the Nick version is the most competent so far (honestly, I haven't seen enough of them to truly comment on it).

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by PangolinFeets

Just quickly clearing this up, Autism is a social disorder and has nothing to do with intelligence.

I never really thought of them as having a disability. They're street thugs who just want to be cool, but they're terrible at it. The IDW version captures this best, but even in the OT all they want to do is please Shredder. They're just really incompetent. Incompetence is a trait that can be possessed by anyone.

Plus, was autism even labeled/diagnosed back in the '80s?

[Metalwolf]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Plus, was autism even labeled/diagnosed back in the '80s?

You might be thinking 'Asperger's.' Autism was diagnosed in the 80's, but it had much tighter criteria back then, so it was often for the more rarer 'classic' cases. The Asperger's category wasn't created until the 90's and it was mainly to explain the children who still showed most of the signs of autism, but never had the speech delay or being non-verbal.

[PangolinFeets]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Plus, was autism even labeled/diagnosed back in the '80s?

Autism has had diagnostic criteria since the 40s. There's been a tight group of researchers working on treatments since the 50s. Iwata and crew are still alive and well and at it.

Originally Posted by Metalwolf

You might be thinking 'Asperger's.' Autism was diagnosed in the 80's, but it had much tighter criteria back then, so it was often for the more rarer 'classic' cases. The Asperger's category wasn't created until the 90's and it was mainly to explain the children who still showed most of the signs of autism, but never had the speech delay or being non-verbal.

This. The DSM V really changed the criteria for diagnosis. Autism is now a spectrum disorder and Asperger's isn't a thing anymore.

ANYWAY...

Bebop and Rocksteady are still awesome.

[jenna]

Whichever universe, Bebop and Rocksteady just seem to be parodies. They are either unbelievably strong or unbelievably arrogant or unbelievably stupid. Not once have I seen either of them written with any depth. I pretty much hate them in every incarnation. Sorry B & R fans. *ducks and runs for cover*

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by jenna

Whichever universe, Bebop and Rocksteady just seem to be parodies. They are either unbelievably strong or unbelievably arrogant or unbelievably stupid. Not once have I seen either of them written with any depth. I pretty much hate them in every incarnation. Sorry B & R fans. *ducks and runs for cover*

You have made me very sad.

[PangolinFeets]

Originally Posted by jenna

Whichever universe, Bebop and Rocksteady just seem to be parodies. They are either unbelievably strong or unbelievably arrogant or unbelievably stupid. Not once have I seen either of them written with any depth. I pretty much hate them in every incarnation. Sorry B & R fans. *ducks and runs for cover*

Spoiler:

I disagree, but to each his/her own.

I don't think there's any reason to run. Most people are on your side. lol

[jenna]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

You have made me very sad.

Sorry to make you sad. It makes me sad to make someone with such an awesome username sad.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by jenna

Sorry to make you sad. It makes me sad to make someone with such an awesome username sad.

Took me forever to come up with it... thanks!

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Is that because you don't like seeing unintelligent characters on TV glorified for being stupid comic relief? Bebop and Rocksteady might be autistic for all we know, especially in the original cartoon.

I consider incompetent comic relief to be a sign of weak storytelling on the part of the writer. Not only does it make the heroes unnecessary, but it totally undermines the effectiveness of the villains.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I consider incompetent comic relief to be a sign of weak storytelling on the part of the writer. Not only does it make the heroes unnecessary, but it totally undermines the effectiveness of the villains.

This IS the OT TMNT we're talking about, so... yeah. Right on the money.

[Ninturtle]

I'm suprised Nicks version is getting so many votes. I find them way more entertaining than the brain dead OT versions. Perhaps nostalgia is why people like the OT over Nicks version.

[Splinter the boss]

I meant to vote the OT versions. For some reason I thought the question was "what's your favorite versions of Bebop and Rocksteady ?".
The reason is what some people have said in this thread. They are not dimwitted as the others were.