April and her powers....

[GoldMutant]

One of the most decisive changes in all of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles history. April O'Neil, often the subject of being either the damsel in distress or big sister has remained a continuous force throughout the franchise lore. After toning her down in age like the other Turtles (whether good is subjective ), The Kraang Conspiracy introduced one of the strangest twists of the Nickverse, let alone the entire franchise: the psychic powers resulting from Kraang genetics.

Granted, the differing concept is unique and introduces further storyline conflict for the Kraang and the O'Neil family, but it's oddly ignored. A personal gripe though; despite this, the powers don't do much outside noteworthy examples of sensing an individual's soul or telekinesis. While it's demonstrated the senses of search throughout season 1 and 2, the powers have certain conflict.

Whether issue be taken from April's powers saving Splinter in Return to New York, rescuing Fugitoid from Overmind in The Outlaw Armaggon! or speculation resulting from episodes like Within the Woods or Annihilation: Earth. Issue though seems to be April saves the day with these powers on certain occasion from rather nifty concepts, especially Eyes of the Chimera, even if bland and rather forgettable. Well, now that I got that out of my system, I want to ask you guys a question:

Although I'm personally indifferent with issues on it and have seen the criticism occur on a few occasion, specifically in the criticism thread, I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on the powers. Although a deus ex at certain aspects in the writing department, the concept is an interesting take if somewhat flawed. Overall though, thoughts on the powers; if you dislike it, feel free to explain why or talk about how it could be better. At times it may be Mary Sue territory, but I do feel it had potential, share any thoughts.

(Also, telekinesis is still awesome!)

[CyberCubed]

They're fine. Most people complaining have probably spent too much time on TVtropes or reading headcanons from tumblr or deviantart.

[Aaronardo]

Like you, I see giving April telekinesis a rather interesting way to transform the character, and intrigued me at first (hell, I didn't even hate The Kraang Conspiracy like everyone else did at first). Sadly, like you've pointed out, her powers are hardly used, and when they are, they just feel lazily tacked on as a deus ex machina.

It really is too bad, I was excited to see April's character get taken into a new direction. I mean, I guess that's what I got, but like most of the other flaws of this show, it fails in execution.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

She don't need 'em.

[DarkLightDragon]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

They're fine. Most people complaining have probably spent too much time on TVtropes or reading headcanons from tumblr or deviantart.

Or maybe they just find her powers too convenient for almost every problem. That's possible too. Unless you're being your dense self as usual.

[plastroncafe]

I'm indifferent to them.

I personally feel that April is at her best when she's the Zeppo of the group, bit to reach their own.

Might as well make the Token a McGuffin as well, right?

[CyberCubed]

This April is a lot more active in the Turtles adventures than any April before her, so its natural to see her have a little special powers.

[plastroncafe]

What you mean is it's a crutch. And you're right.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

What you mean is it's a crutch. And you're right.

She doesn't always save the day and she's still left out of a lot of episodes, so they've handled her screentime balance well.

[plastroncafe]

... for you.

[Ravenshell]

I like that April has something that puts her near the level of the guys, but still has no idea what she's doing, and that makes for an interesting character trait. There are times when I feel like her abilities run too much of a gamut... April's powers do ALL THE THINGS, just like mutagen does ALL THE THINGS. They're ill-defined, and she doesn't do anything except mental connection with any consistency, so whenever she manages some new trick, I kind of feel like they're over-expanding her abilities tree. Seeing her go bonkers-Phoenix-mode should be entertaining, though.

[victory_angel]

I don't consider April's powers as Mary Sue.

This is a term people need to be careful with because more often as not a vailed statement given by people who say "I don't like how this character is written, but I don't really have any opinion beyond that."

The original Mary Sue was a joke character made for Star Trek. She was the youngest Star Fleet Captain ever having graduated from the academy at 15. Is top of her class in a verity of subjects from art-zoology and some how manages to get into the good graces of the big three if not all three at once.

So being a Mary Sue isn't simply being perfect....It's being perfect to the point of being unchallenged by the narrative.


April was revealed to be a Kraang/Human Hybrid in Kraang Conspiracy and from the look on her face at the end of the episode it is something that has rattled her to her very core.

Thus far the Turtles have been allowing her to have her space and come to terms with it on her own.

Even in Lonely Mutation when Casey asks April about her psychic powers, she just brushes it off as "I'm special." in a tone that clearly says "I don't want to discuss it."

From there Aprils powers have fluctuated between controllable and sudden burst.

April's latent powers are still a mystery to her so they mostly appear in when she is under duress or experiencing heavily emotional backlash (such as when Splinter Died). Donnie has helped her learn to control some of her powers by studying them and Fugatoid has been helping her control them as well. But the rest of the time April has only used her powers as far as sensing things...or restoring peoples minds. The other times she chooses not to use her powers (because she doesn't want to advertise that she has them to the enemy.) Or because she doesn't think they are warranted in a given situation.

[Utrommaniac]

It could be done a lot better, and it's at least some attempt at giving her a little more agency than prior versions. I'm sure with a little bit more of a push, there could be more definition to them, but for now, it's noodles that haven't fully cooked.

And, again, I say, it's no where near insulting as her Mirage counterpart being a drawing, and every single part that went into that revelation.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I'm indifferent to them.

I personally feel that April is at her best when she's the Zeppo of the group, bit to reach their own.

Might as well make the Token a McGuffin as well, right?

What do you mean, Zeppo? I am unfamiliar with this reference.

[Leo656]

I think she should just be a "normal" person trying to make sense of the extraordinary events going on around her. Making her too "unique" in that environment actually undermines why she's different from everyone else in the TMNT universe. They're all freaks, lunatics, and whackos, and she's not. She just happens to get thrust into all of that. I like that. That's why I don't like giving her super-powers, making her a Master Ninja (at least not in the amount of time it takes to make a sandwich), or giving her some magical backstory.

I'm also not a huge fan of telekinesis or "mind powers" in general. Always just seems like lazy writing, or something a little kid playing with his friends would pull to try and "win". "Well, I can do this impossible thing because I have MAGIC MIND POWERS! Nyah Nyah!" It's just a highly "convenient" special ability in that it can do whatever it needs to in service of the plot, so its always bugged me. Characters with that ability are never my favorites.

I know, I know, there really isn't much I DO like about this show. But, you asked, and opinions are free.

[GoldMutant]

Originally Posted by Leo656

I think she should just be a "normal" person trying to make sense of the extraordinary events going on around her. Making her too "unique" in that environment actually undermines why she's different from everyone else in the TMNT universe.

I'm also not a huge fan of telekinesis or "mind powers" in general. Always just seems like lazy writing, or something a little kid playing with his friends would pull to try and "win". "Well, I can do this impossible thing because I have MAGIC MIND POWERS! Nyah Nyah!" It's just a highly "convenient" special ability in that it can do whatever it needs to in service of the plot, so its always bugged me. Characters with that ability are never my favorites.

I know, I know, there really isn't much I DO like about this show. But, you asked, and opinions are free.

Not unless you copyright the opinion and want cash for it. I got no problems Leo, just wanting to hear any thoughts on it, I need to get something to make up for a rather lackluster week after all.

[The Happy One]

Eh...I think she really doesn’t need them- in that, if she were to suddenly not have 'em I'd be totally okay with it...but if they continue down this whole 'dark April' that they're foreshadowing? If they execute it right, that'd be awesome. I mean, I know everyone is hating this Space Arc but, hey, for me, I've been kinda liking April more than I ever did in this series and especially since Fugitoid has been consistently using her powers and developing them. Keep that up when they get back and we might just get her powers balanced out where they don't just pop up when they need them to.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

What do you mean, Zeppo? I am unfamiliar with this reference.

It's from the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Xander, who had no special skills or powers, referred to himself as the Zeppo after the one marxs brother who didn't have a schtick.

I think April works best when she's the normal person on the team. The Zeppo, the Sokka the Xander.

[drgon78]

I like it and can't wait to see were they take it.

[BabyTurtles]

I really don't think she needed them.

I feel like that's the only way to make her interesting....instead of actually trying to make her a good character on her own.