Official Episode Discussion S4 Ep 19: Bat in the Belfry

[snake]

Originally Posted by PApagreg

Okay lets compare it to one thats not on ATLA level, Teen Titans had episodes that focused on other characters and TMNT 2k3 had a lot of episode focusing on the supporting characters or the villians of the series

Teen Titans was a comic book show. Justice League, BTBATB, all those shows had episodes like that because the writing was competent. A turtles episode without the turtles is not happening with this incarnation.

[pannoni1]

Well if April is a main character so is Mary Jane, and despite her ambitions at being darker, she did save the day in this "comic book virtually comes to life" episode. It was a pretty standard episode though nonethless.

Show Grade: 7/10

[NikitaZhukov]

I can't be the only one who was extremely happy to hear S1 music there (scene with Raph vs Screwloose on the cathedral).

[The Happy One]

Even with its flaws, this episode had me laughing pretty good

It was meant to be taken lightly- all while moving a plotline ahead. I think they executed that pretty well.

If anything bugged me...it was the, once again, overused 'Mikey being undermined/his seventh sense being undermined trope'. I don't care that he has that seventh sense, but his brothers excuse it so many times I would think that they'd get the lesson now.

It feels a tad worn out. Especially when Raph says "we should listen to Mikey more often!" like they haven't said that a million times.

Other than that- pretty solid 7/10.

[PApagreg]

Originally Posted by Vicky82

Actually she's not, she's a minor character, it's the same with Casey too. If April was a main character, then she would be in every single episode.

You don't have to be in every episode to be a main character, the Crystal Gems from Steven Universe aren't in every episodes but they are main characters. As for April she is integral to the plot and appears in like 85% of the episodes thats pretty much main characterish

Originally Posted by snake

Teen Titans was a comic book show. Justice League, BTBATB, all those shows had episodes like that because the writing was competent. A turtles episode without the turtles is not happening with this incarnation.

TMNT is a comic book show to and just because the writing is incompetent we should't criticize it.

[GoldMutant]

Originally Posted by Haalix

I take it back, he's had several in previous season... just not this season, and that's the problem. it's a shame, Mikey has huge potential. But then again, so do the others and that isn't fully explored either.

It certainly varies with who writes what episode. To go off topic briefly, let's use Michelangelo as an example, comparing It Came from the Depths to The Croaking.

In the former, nearly everyone is against Leatherhead for his breakdowns, which cues "by the face" () and Splinter sending him off after Leatherhead beats down his sons. What does Mikey do? While his brothers search for the power crystal, Mikey befriends LH through his caring attitude; even after the attack in the lair, Mikey still goes to find Leatherhead. It's a childish act for certain, but written in a way that you feel bad for LH and Mikey being sympathetic. The bond between the two was well done, but it's taken a major backseat; whether by the arcs of season 3 and 4 or something else, I do want to see them go on an adventure together. I'd think it'd be fun for just one Turtle to team with the Mutanimals, lots of untapped potential there.

However, then you have The Croaking two seasons later. It still remains my least favorite episode of the show, but man, I didn't like Mikey there. Forced reasoning (couldn't be an accidental mistake?), Mikey getting rewarded for no reason, just a bore for me personally.

Alright, I'm getting wayyy off topic, but you get the gist. The good, bad, and average for Mikey varies a lot in quality for his character. As I said, you write him good and he's not only entertaining, but a good character too; writing him bad resorts in him being comic relief a lot, when many comics and other episodes throughout the franchise show him as more than that.

(breathes in) I rest my case, Your Honor. I'll be back with a cross-examination of this episode later on.

[Vicky82]

Originally Posted by The Happy One

Even with its flaws, this episode had me laughing pretty good

It was meant to be taken lightly- all while moving a plotline ahead. I think they executed that pretty well.

If anything bugged me...it was the, once again, overused 'Mikey being undermined/his seventh sense being undermined trope'. I don't care that he has that seventh sense, but his brothers excuse it so many times I would think that they'd get the lesson now.

It feels a tad worn out. Especially when Raph says "we should listen to Mikey more often!" like they haven't said that a million times.

Other than that- pretty solid 7/10.

I can understand why they didn't believe him though because it was pretty crazy to them but Casey did believe him for a moment. It wasn't like the other times when they should have believed him/took him more seriously.

And it wasn't about believing his seventh sense because they all know that the Crystal is making April crazy, it more about where the eye ball creature came from.

[Haalix]

Originally Posted by GoldMutant

It certainly varies with who writes what episode. To go off topic briefly, let's use Michelangelo as an example, comparing It Came from the Depths to The Croaking.

In the former, nearly everyone is against Leatherhead for his breakdowns, which cues "by the face" () and Splinter sending him off after Leatherhead beats down his sons. What does Mikey do? While his brothers search for the power crystal, Mikey befriends LH through his caring attitude; even after the attack in the lair, Mikey still goes to find Leatherhead. It's a childish act for certain, but written in a way that you feel bad for LH and Mikey being sympathetic. The bond between the two was well done, but it's taken a major backseat; whether by the arcs of season 3 and 4 or something else, I do want to see them go on an adventure together. I'd think it'd be fun for just one Turtle to team with the Mutanimals, lots of untapped potential there.

However, then you have The Croaking two seasons later. It still remains my least favorite episode of the show, but man, I didn't like Mikey there. Forced reasoning (couldn't be an accidental mistake?), Mikey getting rewarded for no reason, just a bore for me personally.

Alright, I'm getting wayyy off topic, but you get the gist. The good, bad, and average for Mikey varies a lot in quality for his character. As I said, you write him good and he's not only entertaining, but a good character too; writing him bad resorts in him being comic relief a lot, when many comics and other episodes throughout the franchise show him as more than that.

(breathes in) I rest my case, Your Honor. I'll be back with a cross-examination of this episode later on.

This should be seen by the writers what i do wonder is if little kids actually think its funny, Mikey goofing off like that (and who the bigger audience is, teens or little kids)
for example, I used to love avatar as a little kid just because it was so serious, and yet still funny. wouldn't that be the case with kids today? or was I an exception?

[PApagreg]

Originally Posted by Haalix

This should be seen by the writers what i do wonder is if little kids actually think its funny, Mikey goofing off like that (and who the bigger audience is, teens or little kids)
for example, I used to love avatar as a little kid just because it was so serious, and yet still funny. wouldn't that be the case with kids today? or was I an exception?

Considering how SU and Star Wars Rebel is popular I say yes to the first one hell the Amazing world of gumball had better series episodes than this show.

[Vicky82]

There are 6/7 episodes left and I expect they will get more serious with Super Shredder coming and Dark April. So even if there isn't any serious Mikey centric episodes, there will be serious episodes with Mikey in them.

[PApagreg]

Originally Posted by Vicky82

There are 6/7 episodes left and I expect they will get more serious with Super Shredder coming and Dark April. So even if there isn't any serious Mikey centric episodes, there will be serious episodes with Mikey in them.

Oh goody two of the best aspects of this show, Shredder hard on for mantling Splinter's head on his living room wall and mutants those are the two things that make this show new and exciting. As for the dark April if it is anything like this episode I doubt its going to be above average

[GoldMutant]

Originally Posted by Haalix

This should be seen by the writers what i do wonder is if little kids actually think its funny, Mikey goofing off like that (and who the bigger audience is, teens or little kids)
for example, I used to love avatar as a little kid just because it was so serious, and yet still funny. wouldn't that be the case with kids today? or was I an exception?

Or you know, promote one of us to a job writing for the show?

I dunno, it's pretty subjective. I know I got a kick out of the humor in season 1 by Mikey, then I was only 12 to 13. Probably boils down to how you write a show; some will laugh, some will groan. It's comedy 101, you're bound to get booed at first, but then they'll laugh with you or at you!

[Haalix]

Originally Posted by Vicky82

There are 6/7 episodes left and I expect they will get more serious with Super Shredder coming and Dark April. So even if there isn't any serious Mikey centric episodes, there will be serious episodes with Mikey in them.

I'm down for that, all-turtle centric and seriousness with a bunch of humour and lots of fighting scenes

[snake]

This hiatus is gonna suck big time. I predict we won't get anything until november

[Vicky82]

Originally Posted by snake

This hiatus is gonna suck big time. I predict we won't get anything until november

I'm predicting 9th or 16th October because they got fit all that in and start season 5 before the Christmas break.

[NinjaPug]

Doubt we get any of S5 before 2017.

[BubblyShell22]

Pretty fun episode. Loved all the Batman parody references and thought Wingnut and Screwloose were pretty entertaining throughout this episode. April is definitely going crazy with this crystal and it seems to me that something is definitely going to happen before she gets this hold on her off for good. I have a feeling it may result in something happening to her friends or maybe her dad. Overall, a fun little episode. Normally, I would mind a break, but in light of what's going to be happening in my life tomorrow, I welcome it for a little bit.

[TigerClaw]

Cool episode, I was right about the Batman puns, there was plenty of it.

[GoldMutant]

Well, finally watched it.

As usual, action was stellar (yay, season 1 music!) and animation was on point. Really nothing else to comment on in terms of the same stuff that often excels.

The one thing I'll say is Daran Norris and Jeff Bennett (confirm if it's him please, I knew it was Norris though) are an entertaining duo together, anyone else know of a show or game where they are on screen together? Bennett was great imitating Robin here, though he came off more as Scott Menville's Robin in Teen Titans than Burt Ward's Robin to me. Unfortunately, this is where the episode's biggest downfall comes into play.

When the show does parodies, they're often subtle or only utilize obvious stuff so it doesn't bother me too much. However, there was way too much 60's Batman material that it felt like I was watching a rejected episode or comic of Batman himself. I do like 60's Batman for what it was, but it got grating. The giant colorful letters when fighting? Check. "Holy X, Batman/Wingnut!"? Check. Teaching kids good morals? Check. God, all that was needed was a "Same Nutty Time, Same Nutty Channel!" aspect. Good God, don't force references like that for a full episode. It's grating in my opinion and doesn't make you clever, just trying too hard to get a laugh or say, "Hey, you remember this? We're using it here! Aren't we awesome?"

(breathes in) I'll admit in spite of all that referencing, it does have some nice throwbacks to old Marvel (and Batman) comic covers in the beginning with Leo, Raph, and Mikey in a cute moment. The comics include:

• Arachnid-Man: Amazing Spider-Man #300 (the full onscreen debut of Venom)
• The Indelible Bulge: The Incredible Hulk #1 (debut of Hulk himself)
• Wingnut & Screwloose- The running pose of Batman and Robin in the 60's show and Batman Forever (also Batman and Robin. Correct me if there's a comic with this pose)
• Fantastic Four Food Groups- Fantastic Four #1

One last thing to address, "Dark April." Besides some people here believing it can be like X-Men with Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Gray/Phoenix, what exactly is the end game here? Apriltello confirmed? The death of April?

The reason I ask is because if it's the second option, I'll be glad for it because April was awful this episode. Regardless of turning obsessed with the crystal ala Golem, it got very old, as old as Casey being "this is metal/wicked/awesome!". As old as Mikey being a dunderhead. As old as the brothers doubting Mikey even though he's been right before with his senses! Monoculus going down so easily by April was another tip of the iceberg of her turning into a Mary Sue for me; we knew nothing of Monoculus itself besides Mikey's stories with Ice Cream Kitty, and April makes him a joke?

Why couldn't it be about the crystal going berserk, forcing the team to call on Wingnut and Screwloose? Or focus on Monoculus at first and then go into the dangers of superheroes being dangerous? There was a lot of potential, but ultimately it's just a Batman parody that does explicit foreshadowing, little else. Massive filler episode outside April's descent. I guarantee you April is going dark in the season finale, where someone dies and/or her, and then the spirit journey is reviving her to life or anyone else she kills.

There's not much to redeem this episode. Although it has the basic stuff down with animation, action, and voice acting (more Daran and Jeff in any show, please!), the rest is infuriating. It's a fun episode overall, but leaves a whole lot to be desired. 4 out of 10 this episode.

[lonewarrior20]

i enjoyed it. i really expected aprils irises change to slits or something at the still shot.