Classic Ep Talkback: Raphael Meets His Match

[oldmanwinters]

Episode #83 "Raphael Meets His Match"

This episode was, to my memory, either the first or second episode I watched when the series premiered on CBS Saturday mornings. The first two weeks of TMNT's run on CBS featured Raph-centric episodes, and since he was my favorite turtle I was hopeful that the show would emphasize Raph's character the most.

As far as the episode's plot, this was the first and only appearance of Mona Lisa, a character that has gained quite a fan following over the years and even got an action figure by Playmates. I sure was disappointed she never showed up again and nothing was ever said about her relationship with Raph. It really was a missed opportunity for the show to develop its continuity and deepen its characterization. Mikey had his crush on Kala the Neutrino and Leo had his crush on Lotus Blossom, but Mona Lisa was probably the most interesting (and least annoying, IMO) of all those female supporting characters.

Does anyone else think it would have benefited the show to play up the TMNT's "romantic" leanings or would it have just become unbearably sappy for a kid's show?

Also, who voiced Mona? Was it Renae Jacobs?

[CyberCubed]

Mona Lisa worked well because she actually had a personality, and wasn't just there for Raph to swoon over, or vice versa, her being a Raph fangirl or something.

Looking back she was extremely well written for a potential love interest, it never felt forced and neither Raph nor Mona Lisa instantly started falling for each other. Yeah I did wish she got at least one more appearance.

The villain of the ep was pretty lame though, even if I liked his purple monsters or whatever the hell those things were.

[Kendamu]

If the relationship had been kept light and flirty (sort of like the episode she was in) then it wouldn't have weighed the show down at all. In fact, it might've given writers more opportunity for new types of humor.

[cryan]

Not to be perveted but what's not to like about her?I do agree thay Filtch was a bit lame as a villian.I would have loved to have seen Mona Lisa take on the foot clan.Boy,would that have been hysterical.It seems like back in 1990(when the episode aired)there wasn't much in way of romantic stuff.I think by 1993 that pretty much changed.I still thing CBS thought that mona Lisa was a little inappropiate for Saturday morning at the time.I like the fact that she was the only female mutant character in the series to date.To the original poster,according to the cast list on thetechnodrome.com the voice actress for Mona was Pat Musick.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by cryan

To the original poster,according to the cast list on thetechnodrome.com the voice actress for Mona was Pat Musick.

Thanks! Looks like IMDb and TV.com confirm. Seems like her career has consisted more of bit parts with the most notable roles being Mona and Tony Toponi from An American Tale, Janine (Extreme Ghostbusters), and some characters on Duckman. I really do like her voice for Mona though (again, not annoying like the Neutrinos).

[cryan]

No doubt.Mona Lisa is one of those characters you cannot forget.It's funny,for 20 years she was locked in the back of my mind.

[Fugitoid Jones]

I can remember watching the rest of the series and hoping that Mona would make another appearance cause I too liked her character and I wanted her and Raph to hook up cause Raph was my fav and I wanted to see him get a piece!

[cryan]

I agree,it was criminal that she was never shown again.back when Playmates made the figure of her,I hoped it drove Peter Laird nuts.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Didn't this episode get some cult status.

[cryan]

I won't mind Mona Lisa being updated.I know it will never happen.Same personality but a little more sarcastic and update her hair style.In terms of her background.Still keep her previous for as human but this time she's a biology major and is an intern at a research lab and she has a facination with reptiles and amphibians.Just an idea.

[Coola Yagami]

Was a decent episode. I just hated the way Mona and Raph avoided doing any actual fighting. They'd always run, and it didn't seem those anenome(sp?) monsters could really do anything to a ninja turtle.

That's one gripe about the later TMNT episodes. There would be times where they would be surrounded by Foot Soldiers or robots or whatever, and instead of actually.... I dunno... trying to fight their way out, they'd automatically gulp, lower their weapons and start making 'give up/it's all over now' wisecracks. And then something would either give them a way out or shut down all the robots before they even had time to land a single attack.

[BentonGrey]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

That's one gripe about the later TMNT episodes. There would be times where they would be surrounded by Foot Soldiers or robots or whatever, and instead of actually.... I dunno... trying to fight their way out, they'd automatically gulp, lower their weapons and start making 'give up/it's all over now' wisecracks. And then something would either give them a way out or shut down all the robots before they even had time to land a single attack.

Yeah, the super violence sensitivity of the time really hurt the show as it went on.

I agree with Winters, though. I always liked the episodes when new mutants were introduced. I loved the idea of a universe full of these types of characters. That's one of the reasons I loved the Archie comics so much, but the show really didn't take nearly enough advantage of it. I for one would have loved to see the Punk Frogs, Mona Lisa, and all their ilk become recurring characters.

[tomservo95]

i dug this ep alot as a kid.

[cryan]

you do have a point.when CBS pick the series up in 1990.it did suffer from "lack of action".I remember rocksteady firing a laser machine gun in the syndicated episodes.I mean come on its a laser weapon.I mean I grew up with Star Wars.Even a 5 year old can tell the difference between a real gun and a fantisy weapon.AS I said in another post.I don't think America was ready for Mona Lisa myself.Again,great character but lousey timing.Who ever created her was a bit ahead of thier time.

[JakeSully]

Originally Posted by cryan

Not to be perveted but what's not to like about her?I do agree thay Filtch was a bit lame as a villian.I would have loved to have seen Mona Lisa take on the foot clan.Boy,would that have been hysterical.It seems like back in 1990(when the episode aired)there wasn't much in way of romantic stuff.I think by 1993 that pretty much changed.I still thing CBS thought that mona Lisa was a little inappropiate for Saturday morning at the time.I like the fact that she was the only female mutant character in the series to date.To the original poster,according to the cast list on thetechnodrome.com the voice actress for Mona was Pat Musick.

I agree about the fitch part and this is one of my fave episodes ever, oh man when i was 9 years old i had a major crush on Mona Lisa, she was one hot as hell mutant lizard i tell you.

[Toby Barrett]

[CyberCubed]

I get the feeling Mona Lisa only has a fanbase because she's a female.

[JakeSully]

That's cool she was Toni's voice on American Tail, i never knew it was her and i thought it was a boy who played the role as him but it turns out it's a gal, lol. June Foray had played alot of voices as boys. Her voice was very nice as Mona.

Yes she has a following cause she's female and that some guys adore her cause she was very pretty and she walked around naked,

Who thinks she looks like Sailor Jupiter as a mutant lizard chick?

I tell you man, it's funny how back in the 80s and 90s they got away with making cartoon animal ladies hot. I mean you had Mona, Minerva Mink, Julie Bruin on Tiny Toons, Bimbette the pink skunkette from the Tiny Toon summer movie, Cleo on Heathcliff, M'ress on the Star Trek toon, Cheetara and Pumraya on Thundercats, Goldie Pheasant on Rock-a-Doodle, Sally Acorn and Lupe on Sonic The Hedgehog, Margot Mallard on Tiny Toons, the Swat Kat girls, some of the Talespin ladies, Aishia Clan Clan on Outlaw Star, Mirage on Aladdin, Fifi Fox from Elm Chanted Forest, Kit Mambo with Brenda and Tatayna on Animalympics, Jenny on Bucky O'Hare, the She-Panther on that Pink Panther valentine special "Pink at First Sight" (Remember that?), Ninjara, Gadget Hackwrench, Lola Bunny, Fawn on Bonkers, Miss Kitty Mouse the stripper from Great Mouse Detective, Felicia from Darkstalkers, Omaha The Cat Dancer from those comics and even mutated Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) in that Batman TAS episode where she got turned into a literal cat-woman (Remember that?) were all hot

[Powder]

You sir, are a furry.

[Jester]

I can see him getting really hot and bothered watching Catwoman from Channel 6....gah! Curse mental images!