Why was Rise Donatello so popular?

[Turtlette]

Rise of the TMNT’s portrayal of Donatello has been claimed by many fans to be the best depiction of the character despite being the version that deviated the most from Donatello’s typical traits in most versions of TMNT.

I don’t see this just from Gen-Z, I’ve seen a lot of older fans claim Rise Donnie to be the best Donnie too so I turn to you, why do you think this is? Is he deserving of that title?

Feel free to share your thoughts on Rise Donnie as whole too.

[IndigoErth]

I don't get it personally, but I guess many people find it appealing when characters are jerks? But why. A false sense of strength? It's a rather artificial form of confidence. Never been the type I've been drawn to and it makes me sad to see most other versions of Donnie dismissed like that. He's so often a hardworking, ass-kicking sweetheart of a character, but the "best" is when he turns selfish and some of his behavior is rather toxic to others, including to his own brothers? Yeah, I'm stumped.

Originally, I thought he was going to be the best character of the series, back when I first believed him to be the witty, possibly 4th wall breaking one. But, unfortunately, that wore off after a short time when it became clear that he wasn't witty, he was just a jerk.

edit: Maybe it's some of the same type of segment that likes Raph's jerky behavior, but that form of Raph wasn't present for those fans.

[Cowabung-Gal]

I think it’s mainly fangirls who want to get the unattainable and unimpressed jerk to fall in love with them or at least their OC’s in their little fantasy world

I know because again, I’m on DeviantArt and I used to write fanfiction

[Drose18]

Josh Brener is hilarious. Loved him as Big Head in Silicon Valley.

[MikeandRaph87]

Donatello is the least popular of the four Turtles and my personal least favorite. No hate though. This is why
Nickelodeon wanted to inject Rob Paulsen into Donatello and the crush on April to attrmpt fan interest.

Interestingly, I have yet to meet anyone who actually liked Rise so I find it interesting. Younger fans I know find the reoccurring goggles on his head unnecessary and associate it with Digimon Adventure.

[matteso586]

Because he reminds fans of the DuckTales 2017 series of its depiction of Gyro? They both build robots that tend to turn evil.

[TheLabRat]

I actually like that Donnie become a strict, ambitious and aggressive person. Take every task seriously. Villain's worst enemy. Leo vs Donnie or Raph vs Donnie would be more interesting than Leo vs Raph. I wouldn't mind him replace Leo as leader one day. But Rise Donnie is just a incapable comedian.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Are you sure it's not a small vocal minority who say that because I highly doubt any "older fans" would agree to that. Especially when most of them haven't even watched the show.

Personally, I think he's funnier than Rise Leo but he was just a jerk. I don't mind Donnie being aggressive when he has to be but this version is just a narcissist.

[The Great Saiyaman]

I for sure never liked him, but then again, I HATE entitled characters, I knew too many of them over the years.

And I also didn't like how at times he was a sheer bully. I mean those "Gifts" he gave the others to cure them of their personalities? Come on!

[TMNachoT]

I like this Donatello, and it´s funny because I also like his personallity on the 2K3 show and both Dons are different.

[Donnie]

I don't need to see Rise to know that he definitely it's the best version of Donatello.

That honor belongs to 1990 film Donatello. Any other answer is simply invalid.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by Donnie

I don't need to see Rise to know that he definitely it's the best version of Donatello.

That honor belongs to 1990 film Donatello. Any other answer is simply invalid.

What about 2003 Donatello?

[KROW]

Originally Posted by Donnie

That honor belongs to 1990 film Donatello. Any other answer is simply invalid.

The one that brought marshmallows to Leo's seance, tossed alphabetical insults with Casey, and did the Curly to Shredder when they first met?

I agree.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by KROW

The one that brought marshmallows to Leo's seance

Never thought of it like that...

I'll take marshmallow seance Donnie over douchebag Donnie any day.

[Powder]

Too many Rise haters out there for that to be a popular or common opinion. I definitely liked him a lot, he was hilarious. I'm sure that's what the majority of his admirers most appreciate. I wouldn't call him the best by any stretch, though. Rise rules, I'm definitely the biggest fan of the series on this forum, but even I can admit they took liberties with most characters' portrayals, making them hard to be seen as the 'definitive' take. If any of the four deserve credit for standing out, it would probably be Raph, who for once isn't just a one-note grump.

[IndigoErth]

I'd add Mikey, I did like that they didn't continue the trend of making him dumb. One of the few thumbs up I give that show. It's just unfortunate that the changes to the others, esp Leo, kind of stole much of the spotlight that could have gone to him.

Although...I didn't like that he was occasionally also a bit mean. Such as his treatment of Todd. Want future versions to keep Rises's shift away from stupid, but leave the meaness behind.

[MikeyLover_14123]

I loved Rise, but I missed seeing Raph's tough attitude. In the Rise season, he was given a attitude like his brothers.
Frankly, the differences between the brothers is really hard to find in Rise .

[Vivi]

Donatello in Rise would be the only reason I'd watch it. But I probably still won't.