Watching through the OT completely for the first time

[sdp]

Finished S7 today and I have mixed feelings about it even though I did like it, at first I was a bit disappointed since I had very high expectations and it wasn't delivering to it, since I heard so much praise towards this season through out the years and it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Some episodes just aren't as memorable even though they are all clearly much better written than previous seasons, but it does pick up.

One thing I noticed even since S6 they've made Shredder a threat again, what I liked in early seasons was no matter what Shredder was always a threat and better than the turtles in hand to hand combat, but in S4 and even in some of S3 but specially S4 is when he gets defeated by getting a Pizza thrown at him or throwing barrels etc. Though technically he wasn't defeated in hand to hand combat either it still cheapened him as a villain. I also liked that he had a lot of solo missions with no Krang or little Krang involvement. To be honest after all his defeats and whining it's still hard to take him 100% serious but they did a great job.

The episode with Dirk Savage was neat though what a goofy name he had, which in the OT would fit him perfectly but not so much with the more serious tone they were going for. It reminded me of the "Mutant Police" that appeared only in one episode in S2, I would've liked to have seen that mutant police being used again. So I liked how they retconned that now there's a bunch of mutants, which is neat, though instead of seeing generic mutants it would've been better to see some of the mutants we knew and love cameo in the cages instead of new generic ones, heck even ones that never appeared. I did like Tokka and Rahzar, they were handled well and could've made interesting antagonists. The triceratons were cool, and man did Rocksteady and Beebop really outsmarted Vernon? Wow! Speaking of Vernon, what a dick he is he isn't just a coward two face person but an actual dick. Also about Krangs body, it's never explicitly stated by him he was a reptile, it's just a theory by Donatello, which could be wrong since his clining just may have been altered by some variable, so the theory of Krang being only an alien brain can still hold as his references of having a body can still be interpreted as an android body. I just like the idea of imagining Krang really being an Utrom in the OT. Not to mention he calls the turtles reptiles in diminishing way which he wouldn't if he really was a reptile. I also really enjoyed seeing the turtles use guns, it was refreshing to see it.

One thing I noticed and kind of saddened me was the mood of S7, it seems they were trying to go for a darker route. However the two styles didn't mesh very well, you had the turtles acting a bit more serious with the still goofy dialog and/or plots, their reactions just seem off and the whole show seems to be having an identity crisis not sure of what exactly it wants to be. It was also sad to see how the turltes we loved were slowly not being them anymore, not the ones we knew and almost if they were trying too hard to fit with the cartoons at the time. Great season, but very different from S1 and I wouldn't compare it to it, just another evolution that the show went through. Glad there was a finale again and it was quite enjoyable, wait was it explained why Irma became such a badass that last episdoe? that was out of character but I don't think I saw anyone mention it or even make a comment about it.

I should finish the entire series by next friday.

[CyberCubed]

Different tastes I suppose. I loved Seasons 6, 7 and 8 almost equally for what we got out of them. I feel that's what Seasons 4-5 should have been, although those seasons have some good ones too.

And I very much agree on Shredder becoming a threat again, what they did with him during Season 4 was embarrassing for him.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by sdp

Glad there was a finale again and it was quite enjoyable, wait was it explained why Irma became such a badass that last episdoe? that was out of character but I don't think I saw anyone mention it or even make a comment about it.

I should finish the entire series by next friday.

Maybe just mad at them after all times they had kidnapped her.

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by sdp

The episode with Dirk Savage was neat though what a goofy name he had, which in the OT would fit him perfectly but not so much with the more serious tone they were going for. It reminded me of the "Mutant Police" that appeared only in one episode in S2, I would've liked to have seen that mutant police being used again. So I liked how they retconned that now there's a bunch of mutants, which is neat, though instead of seeing generic mutants it would've been better to see some of the mutants we knew and love cameo in the cages instead of new generic ones, heck even ones that never appeared. I did like Tokka and Rahzar, they were handled well and could've made interesting antagonists.

The Dirk Savage one was good, as he's the closest the series'd get to Snake Plisken. Besides, the episode was good for the final appearances of the Punk Frogs and Mondo Gecko, and its characterization of Rahzar. He really got to show off in that episode, didn't he?

Right, the anti-Turtle Task Force. As much as I could dump on "Invasion of the Punk Frogs," it still had a lot of good concepts. Not so great execution, of course. Oh, well. Would have loved Hoffman to return, but he couldn't. Drat.

I can understand how the mixing of tones could be rather jarring to a viewer, as going from years of light-hearted semi-snarky fun to now slightly more serious fare. The style had a few weak spots, mainly with Raph's Fourth Wall breaks, but it worked out better than I personally thought. And then, the Red Sky descended upon us, and that's quite the Mood Whiplash.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Killer Moth

characterization of Rahzar. He really got to show off in that episode, didn't he?

Agree. Rahzar and Tokka re far moe stupid in the second movie.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by Swedenfan 1982

Agree. Rahzar and Tokka re far moe stupid in the second movie.

I like the fact they are not evil but misunderstood. They would have wroked well in a future episode had the right plot come along.

[CyberCubed]

Yeah I also really liked how smart Rahzar and Tokka were in that episode. God how I wish they would appear again.

Hopefully Nick uses them in the new show.

[sdp]

What I liked about Rahzar is he was just misguided and then had a tragedy with the "loss" of his friend Tokka. That had potential for great stories.

Finished S8, overall very fun, I've waited for the "red sky" episodes for so long and I finally got to them. Overall I love the darker tone but it was still bitter sweet as this doesn't feel like the show I grew to love and hate anymore. I can definitely see why people hated the "red sky" seasons, it's no longer the same show and it shows and can easily be seen as a jump the shark moment if you don't come with an open mind, I embrace a darker take on the turtles so this was fun even if it was still sad. Some of the dialog especially Mikeys or when Raph breaks the fourth wall sound so awkward and like they shouldn't be there but I'm glad it was int here since it shows they didn't abandon it completely. Didn't really care for HAVOC and many of the villains are a bit generic but it's a nice change.

I love the new character designs, and overall the show feels like it was a new version of the original show like The New Adventures of He-Man or something, I use that as a vague example because I never really saw either He-Man show but definitely feels like a different show using the same characters. I definitely have mixed feelings on somethings like people hating the turtles and it just way too much "hey we're like X-Men/Spiderman/Batman too!" with the whole mutant hate. Characters also feel out of character at times. They definitely turned it up to 11 for the season and it totally reeks of the 90s and feels like a 90s cartoon, personally I love it but I can see people disliking it for that very reason. It was still sad realizing I was seeing the last episode with Irma/Rocksteady/Beebop and even the rocksoldiers who finally seemed like a threat again in this season.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Yeah I also really liked how smart Rahzar and Tokka were in that episode. God how I wish they would appear again.

Hopefully Nick uses them in the new show.

Maybe the writers listened to complainings over how they were depicted in the second movie.

[HotJuicyBurgers]

I've recently been doing the same thing as the OP actually. I'm at around season 3 though, not quite as far. I've volumes 1-6 of the dvd's, but im still missing the dvd's for season's 4-9. Is there a dvd for season 10?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by HotJuicyBurgers

I've recently been doing the same thing as the OP actually. I'm at around season 3 though, not quite as far. I've volumes 1-6 of the dvd's, but im still missing the dvd's for season's 4-9. Is there a dvd for season 10?

The first one in the USA has some season 10 episodes.

[sdp]

Finished S9 and most of my feelings from S8 continue but in a bad way. I was really looking forward to reaching these seasons, and S8 was very enjoyable even if it was sad to see my old friends go. I found Lord Dregg to be very boring, I was happy to see Shredder take a break however even with me wishing they'd use Shredder less in earlier seasons not when he's replaced with someone so generic, his plots were generic and there is really nothing to him that makes me find him interesting. You'd think with him replacing Shredder and Krang two iconic villains they would've tried better. Then again last season we also got Titanus who was another villain without much thought that I hated as well. I remember liking Carter but this season made me feel the opposite about him. I like his character design, but whatsup with his mutant form? How did they think that was cool or marketable? Also his ninja skills seem a bit forced, why not just have him be a fighter, I guess it'd be more difficult to integrate him to the team but it feels forced.

Most of the episodes aren't bad but they can get a bit boring, I liked the Krono's episode because it was something different even if he wasn't that great of a character, but even then they felt the need to force Dregg into the equation at the end, not even Shredder appeared in 8 episodes in a row in earlier seasons. I didn't totally hate Dregg but I was very disappointing and found him terribly generic most of the time. The last episode was defintiely interesting, I didn't like that a new villain came but overall I felt the last 7 episodes of Dregg were somewhat redeemed with the finale even if it was a somewhat weak way of getting rid of him, I also liked the ending that could've worked even if it left the mutations open ended.

Now as far as the mutations I didn't like them a lot, they also felt forced and they weren't great additions to plots for the most part, I'm not against the idea but they weren't implemented very well. I didn't feel April had that much of a smaller role, it was about the same even with Carter now in the mix. When exactly did she quit/get fired from Chanel 6? and What happened to it? Why is she now an independent reporter? It's never explained Channel 6 was still operating well after all the bad stuff that happened to them in the last season so it's sad to see them gone, especially when replaced by a generic new television station. Though the new "boss" did grow on me and I imagine him to be the one April has in the first movie.

The new animation is definitely a step down from last season as are the character designs but I still like them, I also really love April's design, she looks 90s and no longer so 80s with her new hair. While the jokes and mood of the earlier seasons is still severely lacking here, at least when they try to implement the humor from earlier seasons it seems to fit much better and it's done without it sounding out of place unlike many times last season and even in S7. Overall a step down from last season but it's still notable and enjoyable. Now onto the last season, which so far I'm already enjoying more.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by sdp

Finished S9 and most of my feelings from S8 continue but in a bad way. I was really looking forward to reaching these seasons, and S8 was very enjoyable even if it was sad to see my old friends go. I found Lord Dregg to be very boring, I was happy to see Shredder take a break however even with me wishing they'd use Shredder less in earlier seasons not when he's replaced with someone so generic, his plots were generic and there is really nothing to him that makes me find him interesting. You'd think with him replacing Shredder and Krang two iconic villains they would've tried better. Then again last season we also got Titanus who was another villain without much thought that I hated as well. I remember liking Carter but this season made me feel the opposite about him. I like his character design, but whatsup with his mutant form? How did they think that was cool or marketable? Also his ninja skills seem a bit forced, why not just have him be a fighter, I guess it'd be more difficult to integrate him to the team but it feels forced.

Most of the episodes aren't bad but they can get a bit boring, I liked the Krono's episode because it was something different even if he wasn't that great of a character, but even then they felt the need to force Dregg into the equation at the end, not even Shredder appeared in 8 episodes in a row in earlier seasons. I didn't totally hate Dregg but I was very disappointing and found him terribly generic most of the time. The last episode was defintiely interesting, I didn't like that a new villain came but overall I felt the last 7 episodes of Dregg were somewhat redeemed with the finale even if it was a somewhat weak way of getting rid of him, I also liked the ending that could've worked even if it left the mutations open ended.

Now as far as the mutations I didn't like them a lot, they also felt forced and they weren't great additions to plots for the most part, I'm not against the idea but they weren't implemented very well. I didn't feel April had that much of a smaller role, it was about the same even with Carter now in the mix. When exactly did she quit/get fired from Chanel 6? and What happened to it? Why is she now an independent reporter? It's never explained Channel 6 was still operating well after all the bad stuff that happened to them in the last season so it's sad to see them gone, especially when replaced by a generic new television station. Though the new "boss" did grow on me and I imagine him to be the one April has in the first movie.

The new animation is definitely a step down from last season as are the character designs but I still like them, I also really love April's design, she looks 90s and no longer so 80s with her new hair. While the jokes and mood of the earlier seasons is still severely lacking here, at least when they try to implement the humor from earlier seasons it seems to fit much better and it's done without it sounding out of place unlike many times last season and even in S7. Overall a step down from last season but it's still notable and enjoyable. Now onto the last season, which so far I'm already enjoying more.

I love Shredder acting really bad-ass blowing up Channel 6, and thte TMNt first thinking he killed off April and Irma.

[sdp]

Finally finished S10, and wow what a great season, it makes a huge difference the way episodes are written. Unlike last season I actually enjoyed every episode, I still think Dregg is a generic character but him being better written made him so much more interesting. All his appearances here were great, I also liked how you saw through out it that he felt like Shredder did by being beaten over and over again by the turtles and how he basically goes mad because of it. Same with Carter, I liked him so much more, he was much more interesting just by adding a little more layer to his character, too bad he is written out as soon as he starts becoming interesting though in hindsight it was good since he got some closure.

Watching I also realized how many of these episodes could've easily been 2k3 episodes, the mood of both shows were not that different anymore. Same with the turtles, it's funny how by the end of both shows run you can easily see either of the turtles interacting in the other universe without there being a lot of difference as say if 2k3 Leo showed up in S2. I especially loved Raph's sarcasm/angry side here and it's so far my favorite interpretation of him, he is still angry with attitude but not overboard like all other TMNT media makes him out to be. The only awkward one is Mikey since his dialog just doesn't fit and neither does his voice in the more serious tone, it just seems out of character when he is too serious too. I guess this is also why they went the opposite and made him totally goofy in 2k3, since this toning down Mikey in the red sky seasons didn't help him seem any more mature. Hopefully Mikey can find a nice balance in the future. Also this season while it continues the more mature take, it also is very reminiscent of the first seasons with the dialog and situations, this season just "gets it", and it feels like it's the exact same universe from earlier seasons while having a more mature take on it. I mean the Globfather seemed straight out of the first seasons and yet fit perfectly here.

I knew Shredder/Krang returned for this season, but I was surprised when I saw the episode didn't end and it was a two parter, and then a three parter. Shredder and Krang were so badass in this while not making Dregg seem any weaker either, totally redeemed both characters as actual threats. The only bad thing is they don't really get any real closure, they are just "sent back to Dimmension X" a bit lame but I guess they couldn't do much more if they wanted to be able to bring them back again. Still counting they were the main villains for 150+ episodes they deserved better. Now going back to the Technodrome for the last episode was awesome, seeing the destroyed Technodrome gave you chills and even some closure that it was indeed gone. Even if we never got a great final battle with it, which really the last one we got was in S3 sadly. In fact it was a missed opportunity when they went to get their past selves to show a different technodrome fight instead of the one of S8 since it really wasn't that epic to be the final fight in the technodrome and they had already established in this season that 2 years had passed since an event from S8 so easily another Technodrome fight with more conclussion could've happened. But yeah awesome seeing Shredder/Krang again for what basically was half the season.

I didn't mind April's smaller role last season because it wasn't that much different from her role in earlier seasons just giving bad news to the turtles, in fact I loved when Raph sarcastically mentions what basically comes down to "April is calling, oh great she has another problem we have to solve", hilarious but I really did like how she became an important character again once Carter left. The mutation saga in the beginning was handled so much better than in the last season. Now the season finale was a great way to end Dregg, even if we don't see exactly what happens to him I guess in case they got renewed they could bring him back easily but it still works, it's only Shredder that didn't get one. Splinter telling them they are his equal didn't feel as nice as I thought it would, it felt very rushed and you'd think he would have said that to him after a fight with the Shredder or heck a fight where they actually used their Ninja skills, which wasn't really the case in the final battle to an extent, I did love that it ended with some humor, while it could've been better I was happy with how it went they tried to wrap things up while leaving it open ended, which is what some past seasons did as well. Overall the season was great and a last great hoorah to the OT, not a bad way to go.

Random questions, I thought the Turtle Van was destroyed last season so they could introduce a new vehicle like in the Batman movies, wasted opportunity. So Donatello mentions Krang's android body can't be destroyed but it can indeed be destroyed, we saw that plenty of times in the OT, not to mention wasn't that the reason he used his walker for his last few appearances? Question from last season but why exactly did Kronos know where the turtles lived? A bit of a plot hole. Loved Leo's line "Well at least if we go down we went down saving the world" or something along those lines. Also shouldn't Carter going to the future create a the 24 hour problem as well even if he is an old man? So technically this is a different mutiverse as well right when they go to get their past selves since that didn't happen in S8 that means that was a different timeline.

[CyberCubed]

You can tell the writers kind of knew Season 10 would be the end, but even so left things open enough just in case it got a Season 11.

By 1996 Turtlemania was all but dead, and if the show had continued then Pokemon would have destroyed it by 1998 anyway.

[gobo]

Aren't you glad that's over?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

You can tell the writers kind of knew Season 10 would be the end, but even so left things open enough just in case it got a Season 11.

By 1996 Turtlemania was all but dead, and if the show had continued then Pokemon would have destroyed it by 1998 anyway.

I wish season 10 would be the last one.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

You can tell the writers kind of knew Season 10 would be the end, but even so left things open enough just in case it got a Season 11.

By 1996 Turtlemania was all but dead, and if the show had continued then Pokemon would have destroyed it by 1998 anyway.

I think it should have had one last season. Look at these show going on for TOO LONG. Power Rangers should have ended with Turbo, Pok'emon could have wrapped up with Johto if not Hoenn just after,Simpsons could have ended around 2000,South Park has run its course,Yugi-oh has run long enough, and a couple of others that I can't put a finger on at the moment. I don't think Po'kephenom would have made much difference. Ninja Turtles fiinshed its run when Power Rangers was in the middle of Turbo and was no longer a juggernaut so if it can outlast its popularity inching into the beginning of Pok'emon would not have been a problem. The problem was why only 8 episodes? The 11 season needed to happen to find some closure to various characters instead of the turtles suddenyl being declared equal and a joke about Donatello's cooking popcorn. It would have made more sense for Splinter to say that he has taught them each move of the Foot but now it is time for them to perfect it all.

[CyberCubed]

Well blame CBS. They originally canceled Turtles simply because they dropped all their Saturday morning cartoons for educational shows at the time.

If it had continued then next Mutation would have likely never existed.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Well blame CBS. They originally canceled Turtles simply because they dropped all their Saturday morning cartoons for educational shows at the time.

If it had continued then Next Mutation would have likely never existed and the world would have been better off.

Fixed it for you!

I just wish we could get a continuation of it in comic form! That is my greatest TMNT dream. I doubt it will happen but I can still hope.