Official Ep Discussion: S3 Ep17: "Meet Mondo Gecko"

[senpai]

I've had geckos and having one drop their tail on me was my worst fear. Luckily it never happened. Geckos typically drop their tails in a life or death situation. It serves as a chunky, wiggly decoy for their predators to pounce on instead of them.

Edit: Oh, and I looked at pix of the Mediterranean gecko and their tails are quite thin. Mondo probably comes from the Eublepharidae family. Those have the chunky tails and movable eyelids.

[Darth Knuckles]

Yeah it sure looks like they mixed a Leopard Gecko and a Mediterranean Gecko into one to have all of the attributes of Nick's version of Mondo Gecko. Weird not to just go with one animal and stick with it but that's fine I guess. At least we have a distinct new version of Mondo Gecko that we didn't have before.

[Powder]

Considering I'm not a big fan of his design, it's frustrating to read this stuff. They based him on such a specific species of gecko but have him behaving contrary to it. I know it's just aesthetics but c'mon... If you want him to have all these funky traits that this species apparently lacks, then just make him a generic neon green one as he always had been, I say.

[Darth Knuckles]

Originally Posted by Powder

Considering I'm not a big fan of his design, it's frustrating to read this stuff. They based him on such a specific species of gecko but have him behaving contrary to it. I know it's just aesthetics but c'mon... If you want him to have all these funky traits that this species apparently lacks, then just make him a generic neon green one as he always had been, I say.

Yeah it is a tad confusing when you get down to it. I would think you entirely base the design on the one specific species of animal you inspire it from or you just base the design on his classic look that has continued for the entire series until now.

[DevilSpooky]

Originally Posted by senpai

Great episode! I loved it.

-As everyone else has previously mentioned, Robbie Rist was excellent as Mondo Gecko.
-Loved Mondo's design; he is so cute! Love that psychotic laugh--what a spaz!
-Sorry, but Raphael is past the age of playing with toys. That felt out of character to me. I think it was supposed to be adorable or something but it was off.
-I believe Mondo said he turned into a gecko about a year ago... That means the turtles are about 16--again, Raph should not be playing with toys like he's 10. (I have a feeling someone's gonna fight me on this lol like: "Hey! I'm 16 and I LOVE my action figures!"-I also want to point out that Mondo is a leopard gecko which means that he shouldn't have sticky pads on his toes. And there is also no need for him to always lick his eyes as leos have eyelids and are the only geckos able to blink. Nerdy animal side showing right now--I'm just saying...They also don't use their tails to curl and grip nor do their tongues extend. u.u
-Done critiquing, I think. FUN EPISODE!

And I'm gonna be the one to do it, but with a twist: "Hey! I'm 31 and I LOVE my action figures!" Seriously, I do, I play with them all the time and I love it, and everyone should too, nothing wrong with being a kid in an adult body

[Karai Samurai]

No one is going to mention Casey's "I'm out like your mom in a beauty pageant?"
Mondo is adorable. I'm happy that we are FINALLY getting some good mutants this season. It's also nice to see Xever be at least somewhat useful again.

[senpai]

Originally Posted by DevilSpooky

And I'm gonna be the one to do it, but with a twist: "Hey! I'm 31 and I LOVE my action figures!" Seriously, I do, I play with them all the time and I love it, and everyone should too, nothing wrong with being a kid in an adult body

That's fair. Of course there's nothing wrong being young at heart. I was just saying, to me, it was out of character. We've never seen Raph play with toys before. And when you're 16, usually that's not something you typically do anymore.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Powder

Considering I'm not a big fan of his design, it's frustrating to read this stuff. They based him on such a specific species of gecko but have him behaving contrary to it. I know it's just aesthetics but c'mon... If you want him to have all these funky traits that this species apparently lacks, then just make him a generic neon green one as he always had been, I say.

Actually, I think they based the past Mondo's off the day gecko--which are really cool looking. Even IDW nails it. He even has the blue eyelids. It would've been cool to see how Nick would've done that. I like Mondo's day gecko design better honestly. :3

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

[Powder]

Originally Posted by Karai Samurai

No one is going to mention Casey's "I'm out like your mom in a beauty pageant?"
Mondo is adorable. I'm happy that we are FINALLY getting some good mutants this season. It's also nice to see Xever be at least somewhat useful again.

I had said in my previous comments that Casey was hilariously written & that I loved his personality in this one, the slang & the jokes. That particular line was pure gold. If he were this clever & bro-like all the time, I'd be so happy.

Originally Posted by senpai

Actually, I think they based the past Mondo's off the day gecko--which are really cool looking. Even IDW nails it. He even has the blue eyelids. It would've been cool to see how Nick would've done that. I like Mondo's day gecko design better honestly. :3

Spoiler:

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/...20141001182522

Spoiler:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._laticauda.jpg

!!!!!

Had no idea! My God, that is one adorable lizard.

[oldmanwinters]

"I've always wanted to lick my own eyeballs!"

Apparently, such things aren't a physical impossibility for some humans, but I don't really know about anthropomorphic turtles.

[Karai Samurai]

Originally Posted by senpai

That's fair. Of course there's nothing wrong being young at heart. I was just saying, to me, it was out of character. We've never seen Raph play with toys before. And when you're 16, usually that's not something you typically do anymore.

It was out of character. I feel like they just put that moment in there to see what they can get pass the censors. Come on, it totally looked like he was playing...with his other toys. That was completely intentional.

[B-Man]

This episode was kinda bittersweet in that I loved it but Robbie Rists's voice, man... he is Michelangelo to me. There's been many great Mikey's since (I can't think of a bad one) but this was a reminder that 'There's Only One Elvis'. I'm sad that he'll likely never be Mikey again, unless its for a videogame or something.
Having said that, I still hope they reach out to Josh Pais & Brian Tochi for guest voices in the near future.

[Ramboraph4life aka Matt]

Originally Posted by Karai Samurai

It was out of character. I feel like they just put that moment in there to see what they can get pass the censors. Come on, it totally looked like he was playing...with his other toys. That was completely intentional.

So instead of...I don't know...having Raphael show ANY king of lasting effects of being mind controlled and attacking his own family...which just happened in the Previous Episode...let's get a 'jerking the chain' joke in there for him instead and then 'oh, he's just Playing with toys'.

Fantastic.

Hey, here's an idea...

Raph is depressed and down in the dumps...understandable when you were forced to attack your own family. Now, who are the two that Raph is supposed to be closest too? Mikey and Casey.

You could have had both Mikey AND Casey bring Raph out with them (have it be Mikey's idea) so that the three of them can hang out together. To get out of the lair and try to make Raph 'lighten up/have fun/smile' after what had happened to him in the previous episode (and both Mikey & Casey would be the two perfect guys to do that for Raph). Take Raph's mind off of being forced to attack his family. But hey...I guess that'd be Too Good of an idea to do...It would give some continuity to the show, give some possible Raph/Mikey/Casey emotional moments, and more.

[Zatoichi]

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

I agree, Xever has that soothing, smooth quality to his voice. It's like he's trying to hit on people when he's talking.

Which is why Xever should try to only date blind people. Hard on the eyes, easy on the ears.

[Ninturtle]

Originally Posted by Ramboraph4life aka Matt

So instead of...I don't know...having Raphael show ANY king of lasting effects of being mind controlled and attacking his own family...which just happened in the Previous Episode...let's get a 'jerking the chain' joke in there for him instead and then 'oh, he's just Playing with toys'.

Fantastic.

Hey, here's an idea...

Raph is depressed and down in the dumps...understandable when you were forced to attack your own family. Now, who are the two that Raph is supposed to be closest too? Mikey and Casey.

You could have had both Mikey AND Casey bring Raph out with them (have it be Mikey's idea) so that the three of them can hang out together. To get out of the lair and try to make Raph 'lighten up/have fun/smile' after what had happened to him in the previous episode (and both Mikey & Casey would be the two perfect guys to do that for Raph). Take Raph's mind off of being forced to attack his family. But hey...I guess that'd be Too Good of an idea to do...It would give some continuity to the show, give some possible Raph/Mikey/Casey emotional moments, and more.

I mean it makes sense why he wouldn't be sad because he didn't hurt anyone and is no longer mind controlled.

[BubblyShell22]

If you want to see more emotional depth about all of that, your best bet is to read fan fiction or create one of your own, RamboRaph. That isn't how Nick rolls, and you're just going to have to get used to that. I like that they don't do that because it gives fans the freedom to create their own scenarios of what could have happened after that.

[TheBlueTurtle1]

Originally Posted by Powder

Considering I'm not a big fan of his design, it's frustrating to read this stuff. They based him on such a specific species of gecko but have him behaving contrary to it. I know it's just aesthetics but c'mon... If you want him to have all these funky traits that this species apparently lacks, then just make him a generic neon green one as he always had been, I say.

Come on man! Lets see some of your delicious artwork on your take of Mondo. You havn't done any in a while.


I liked the episode. thought it was great fun. I would love to see Mondo become like Casey Jones, a regular ally.

[Luckyday]

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

If you want to see more emotional depth about all of that, your best bet is to read fan fiction or create one of your own, RamboRaph. That isn't how Nick rolls, and you're just going to have to get used to that. I like that they don't do that because it gives fans the freedom to create their own scenarios of what could have happened after that.

But this like the only animated show in which you need to do just that while others do plenty of emotional depth and them some.

[Ninturtle]

Originally Posted by Luckyday

But this like the only animated show in which you need to do just that while others do plenty of emotional depth and them some.

No it's not , there's a ton of animated shows that have a lot of emotional momemts Like "Sanjay and Craig". This shows focuses more on action and comedy so I don't mind the lack of emotional moments but that's just me you're free to be upset about it

[BubblyShell22]

Originally Posted by Luckyday

But this like the only animated show in which you need to do just that while others do plenty of emotional depth and them some.

So? That's the beauty of it. If you're not happy with how an episode turned out or you wondered what may have happened after that, then you're free to write about it and envision it in your own head. I love that aspect of the show. Not everything has to have emotional depth all of the time. I'd rather not see Raph being depressed about what happened in the last episode. I'd rather he get over it and realize that it wasn't his fault and move on, which he did.

[Ramboraph4life aka Matt]

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

If you're not happy with how an episode turned out or you wondered what may have happened after that, then you're free to write about it and envision it in your own head. I love that aspect of the show. Not everything has to have emotional depth all of the time. I'd rather not see Raph being depressed about what happened in the last episode. I'd rather he get over it and realize that it wasn't his fault and move on, which he did.

I'm not asking for All The Time. I'm not asking for Days of Our Lives, or As The World Turns. How about One scene/one moment of Raph being down in the dumps and Mikey cheering him up? That would have been perfectly fine.

And I'm sorry, I don't buy into that reasoning. That's pretty much going 'oh who cares about this gap, and that gap, and this hole, and that hole, and those 20 gaps over there...just fill it out yourselves'. I'm sorry, but usually that IS the writers' jobs to do so. Otherwise, let's just not have a show at all and we'll just make the whole thing up in our minds.

To Ninturtle: So if you tried to kill your family while you were controlled, you'd be fine and dandy by the next time? To each their own. I wouldn't be.

Just because it's a 'cartoon' doesn't meant it can't do a little bit more with consistency, or it can't try to 'raise the bar' a bit. Which I'm sorry but No, this show hasn't...especially the 3rd season. It just relies on nostalgia. Nostalgia with older voice actors (even when first casting Rob Paulsen, or having Corey Feldman, or now with Robbie Rist), the old cartoon, older horror movie references (which was pretty much the first third of this season), etc.