Is it a bad sign that we keep assuming human characters will mutate?

[neatoman]

So I'm a little worried that we keep assuming that human will mutate and probably into previously established characters.

Now it's not like the show doesn't typically live up to that expectation, several human characters get less than five episodes of being human before they become a mutant. Sometimes they may not mutate but are still revealed not to really be human. I'm pretty sure the only somewhat relevant human characters at this point are Casey Jones, Shredder, the Purple Dragons and Kirby who has spent most of his episodes as one of two types of mutants.

It makes me worried when I keep seeing threads like "Will Hun become Tokka?" or people arguing about what mutant that fat mob boss will turn into, because it just doesn't seem unlikely given the show's track record. It's kind of sad to think that this show doesn't seem to care about having it's characters just stand on their character traits without turning into random monsters for no good reason.

Let's be honest here, Xever didn't need to become Fishface to be an interesting character, he already was. The same goes for Karai, Bradford, Baxter, Zeck and Steranko, none of them needed to become mutants to be interesting characters.

And if this show feels so damned compelled to have as few normal human characters as possible they should at least be more creative than "Let's pour some ooze on them and they'll turn into animals". Make them cyborgs or aliens or demons or something.

Sorry, that was a bit of a rant...

[miru]

Karai's mutation is a significant plot dealio and not a permanent new form like the Shredder crew. Same with Mutagen Man.

[Cure]

Not to me. Humans are boring. I see them everyday.

[Luckyday]

Originally Posted by neatoman

So I'm a little worried that we keep assuming that human will mutate and probably into previously established characters.

Now it's not like the show doesn't typically live up to that expectation, several human characters get less than five episodes of being human before they become a mutant. Sometimes they may not mutate but are still revealed not to really be human. I'm pretty sure the only somewhat relevant human characters at this point are Casey Jones, Shredder, the Purple Dragons and Kirby who has spent most of his episodes as one of two types of mutants.

It makes me worried when I keep seeing threads like "Will Hun become Tokka?" or people arguing about what mutant that fat mob boss will turn into, because it just doesn't seem unlikely given the show's track record. It's kind of sad to think that this show doesn't seem to care about having it's characters just stand on their character traits without turning into random monsters for no good reason.

Let's be honest here, Xever didn't need to become Fishface to be an interesting character, he already was. The same goes for Karai, Bradford, Baxter, Zeck and Steranko, none of them needed to become mutants to be interesting characters.

And if this show feels so damned compelled to have as few normal human characters as possible they should at least be more creative than "Let's pour some ooze on them and they'll turn into animals". Make them cyborgs or aliens or demons or something.

Sorry, that was a bit of a rant...

Much of what you're saying is exactly how I feel about many characters. Mutating most characters often have a short interest appeal and a last ditch effort to do something with a character. With that being said, there are some positive examples where mutating some characters can have some meaning and feel well thought out.

As crazy as this sounds, Karai mutating into a snake is one of the good examples. Her mutation has meaning into the story. It wasn't swept under the rug like mutagen man and unlike dog pound changing into Razhar it actually changes the character and how we feel about the character.

It's only when changing certain characters without a change in context of them will make the mutation feel random or not well thought out.

[Coola Yagami]

Honestly, Steranko and Zeck were interesting on their own and didn't need to be mutated except for the whole 'they were destined to be Bebop and Rocksteady' thing. I mean, just give Zeck a different hairstyle that doesn't scream Bebop and noone would have expected him to be mutated.

The originals were only seen in an episode or two and were generic thugs before mutation, and as the show dumbed down, their trademark stupidity was more showcased after they were already mutants. In the Nick show Steranko and Zeck showed enough character traits to be their own thing without having to be mutated into 80's throwback characters.

[Luckyday]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

Honestly, Steranko and Zeck were interesting on their own and didn't need to be mutated except for the whole 'they were destined to be Bebop and Rocksteady' thing. I mean, just give Zeck a different hairstyle that doesn't scream Bebop and noone would have expected him to be mutated.

The originals were only seen in an episode or two and were generic thugs before mutation, and as the show dumbed down, their trademark stupidity was more showcased after they were already mutants. In the Nick show Steranko and Zeck showed enough character traits to be their own thing without having to be mutated into 80's throwback characters.

Yeah somehow people wouldn't have stop whining until they got their bebop and rocksteady. Still I feel we should give credit to the person who created the new personas of this version of tmnt. If it wasn't for his creativity, I would've been so annoyed with yet another repetitive david wise's tmnt reference but instead they did something really different in this version that would make this show unique in comparison to IDW's.

And if you read IDW's, you know that's saying a lot.

[Garfield]

This cartoon has trained people to think that way. So I understand why. I don't really like it though.

[Huzzah]

Originally Posted by Luckyday

Yeah somehow people wouldn't have stop whining until they got their bebop and rocksteady. Still I feel we should give credit to the person who created the new personas of this version of tmnt. If it wasn't for his creativity, I would've been so annoyed with yet another repetitive david wise's tmnt reference but instead they did something really different in this version that would make this show unique in comparison to IDW's.

And if you read IDW's, you know that's saying a lot.

I'm actually holding out that we'll see Zeck and Steranko break away from Shredder. They don't seem to possess the blind loyalty of Rahzar. I mean Steranko was quite successful as a human, and I don't see him staying as a lap dog.

Honestly, I don't think it'll ever happen, but there's always a chance. Unrelated note, one of my favorite things about Steranko is that he is the only Shredder Mutant that embraces his nickname.

[Luckyday]

Originally Posted by Huzzah

I'm actually holding out that we'll see Zeck and Steranko break away from Shredder. They don't seem to possess the blind loyalty of Rahzar. I mean Steranko was quite successful as a human, and I don't see him staying as a lap dog.

Honestly, I don't think it'll ever happen, but there's always a chance. Unrelated note, one of my favorite things about Steranko is that he is the only Shredder Mutant that embraces his nickname.

God, I really hope they do something like with those characters. They really need something interesting to do or have somebody act out their nefarious plans ,because right now with the exception of Baxter fly, who I guess is the team's mad scientist and maybe TigerClaw, a hire gun, everybody is just a mutant henchman that's just there.

I actually would love if they break away from shredder and became the chaotic neutral of the show. Sometimes they'll help the turtles but only if it's a matter that it will benefiting themselves of conveniency and if not they will turn on the turtles on a dime.

[Mutant Ninja Anole]

People or animals getting mutated into weird things has been part of the appeal for me since I was 7 and watching the first cartoon show. It's like the wolf man. Yeah there may be larger underlying character themes about a man fighting his dark side going on but at some level we're here to see a guy turn into a wolf monster! In turtles, I always waited for the new character to explain his origin and see how he or she became some weird creature.

[Metalwolf]

Originally Posted by Mutant Ninja Anole

People or animals getting mutated into weird things has been part of the appeal for me since I was 7 and watching the first cartoon show. It's like the wolf man. Yeah there may be larger underlying character themes about a man fighting his dark side going on but at some level we're here to see a guy turn into a wolf monster! In turtles, I always waited for the new character to explain his origin and see how he or she became some weird creature.

I don't think it's people not wanting to see mutants, it's that it's getting a bit over-done here because there are not many humans left to offer a contrast. It's like the mutants are becoming the new 'normal.'

[MrTrikey]

Originally Posted by Metalwolf

I don't think it's people not wanting to see mutants, it's that it's getting a bit over-done here because there are not many humans left to offer a contrast. It's like the mutants are becoming the new 'normal.'

...Yeah. And that's one of the things that has detracted from my enjoyment of the show in the last year and some change. If the only consistent "human" characters on the show are going to be April*, Casey, Kirby and Shredder, then you really don't leave a lot of room to have a variety of character relationships develop. It's one of the things a number of other TMNT media has done relatively well that I would consider being continuously excised from this one.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Metalwolf

I don't think it's people not wanting to see mutants, it's that it's getting a bit over-done here because there are not many humans left to offer a contrast. It's like the mutants are becoming the new 'normal.'

According to my sources, Henry Gyrick and Senator Robert Kelly, it's all a conspiracy by the pro-mutant agenda and the biased media!

[Luckyday]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

According to my sources, Henry Gyrick and Senator Robert Kelly, it's all a conspiracy by the pro-mutant agenda and the biased media!

I suppose he also claims that the retro mutagen formula is hidden away on Genosha?

[ABrown]

Is it a bad sign that we assume the human characters will mutate? Nope, it just means we've been watching the show the last three years.

[LS Animation]

I'd like to see more human characters, sometimes the mutants overflow the show :/ of course they do it for the sake of toy sales and etc but mutants coming out of nowhere does tend to get repetitive.