User blog comment:Kintobor/2003 series is great/@comment-27710776-20180629214158/@comment-36587160-20181226065443

@ Gilgameshkun: Peter's frustration towards the franchise is fairly reasonable. I know how infuriating it is to hear a reboot of TMNT to be compared to the TMNT 1987 series as "ruined" or "not my childhood". The fanbase is completely out of control, and I do notice that with Rise of the TMNT (I don't think you really care for that show, but it's just a popular example). Certain franchises are constantly going through changes, and we as fans should embrace it more. However, they have their flaws.

The 1987 series was more lighthearted compared to the rest of the franchise. The last two (spin-off) seasons of the 2003 series were panned by fans. The 2012 series had a lot of plot changes as the show went on in later seasons/episodes, and not a lot of people were too happy (including yourself), but I can understand the frustration on some parts. The 2018 series is also going through some ridiculous backlash for all the changes in characters, including April O'Neil herself design-wise. (News flash, 80s toons fans, April wasn't white in the original 1984 comics.) But that history provided proves a valid point.

The 1987 series was created to appeal younger audiences who might not find the grittier and darker comics suitable for their age group, so that cartoon was created. However, it's so popular, it's treated as the original TMNT franchise and not the comics (I didn't know TMNT was originally a comic series when I a few years younger, but I was first properly introduced to it as a 13-year old back in 2012 when that series premiered). This reasoning of the overwhelming and painful popularity of the 80s series is a reason why I don't like it that much. It's classic, yes, but is it original? No. The 2003 series wasn't entirely original either, as I noticed that some episodes in earlier seasons were loosely based upon the Mirage comics. But enough of that. What TMNT fans of all kind should really do is be more embracive to what version of said franchise is best to others. The frustrating backlash of other series, and immediately comparing it to the 1987 series is not a good sign of a good fanbase. What people should do overall is to look at those 1984 comics and they'd probably understand. This bullshit of lack of credit to the comics and the almost constant overrating of the 1987 series needed to stop. What's really happening in the fanbase is that everyone is ruining certain versions of TMNT to others who do enjoy it.

I personally don't like The Next Mutation because it was so cringe-enducing and an overall difficult watch, but that's my opinion. I know there are people who like that show for its campiness/corny execution, and that's okay. What I do appreciate from that show is that they had some good ideas, but to me, I don't feel like they were executed well. I will also say that April in the 2012 series did get kinda "overpowered" at the near end of Season 4, but in my defense, it's a part of her growth as a character. Fast Forward and Back to the Sewer were not the perfect or best seasons of the 2003 series, and even had concepts, both shelved and executed, that showed potential to be appealing for someone (including myself with the Dark Turtles. I wish I knew what happened to them after Dark Leo's stay with the Turtles). Many fans have an overall mixed feeling about this, but Leo not being leader in Rise of the TMNT puts that weight off his shoulders. However, he does show that potential and maybe at some point, become the leader. All the ingredients to a likeable TMNT franchise for everyone is there, and a lot of fans are just too stubborn to see it all.

But this, overall, is my personal statement to the TMNT fan crisis.