Mako & His Development

Thoughts on S4 so Far? + Mine

I have this weird relationship with S4. The writing has improved and I’m glad that the original characters are getting attention, but this season still feels somewhat off to me.

I guess I’m still apprehensive about how the show is handling the characters. More of them are being added like M’gann’s sister and Onyxx when we already have so many more characters that were added on the previous two seasons. The show still feels congested.

Another thing that might be bothering me is Greg Weissman saying that there can be 3 more seasons for the show and that the characters’ stories never end. I really like Young Justice but I don’t think it needs 3 more seasons. The story, plot twists, and characters will get bland at some point like the ‘find the traitor’ plot point. I’m glad the writers didn’t keep this idea going on for the whole season but the trope is kind of stale right now since it’s been used so many times.

Maybe I’m nervous to love this season because of the underlying issues still being around.

Feel free to mention your thoughts.

Jason Grace Deserved Better

*This is just my opinion. I don’t care if you like TOA

Like most fans, I at first didn’t like Jason too much. Compared to most of the main characters, Jason seemed pretty bland. However, after rereading the books and analyzing Jason’s character, I realized how interesting he is. All his life, Jason has always been the “golden boy” leader type without really exploring himself. After the HOO series though, Jason started exploring more of himself beyond people’s expectations. When I learned about him appearing in the TOA series, I was expecting more exploration and growth for Jason, but it was ignored and he was killed off. This made me very upset.

Jason had a mission to commemorate every god (Greek or Roman) and live his own life. It would’ve been great representation for people who have trouble with their identity. If Rick wanted to add something tragic to Jason’s story then he could’ve done something else. Or he could’ve prolonged his death after doing at least a bit of Jason’s development.

With his relationship with Piper, I didn’t care much for the romance in HOO but felt it was getting better when they both agreed to restart their relationship in BOO. When I read that they broke up, I was upset because the reasoning contradicted what happened in BOO, and Rick didn’t show us (the readers) why it didn’t work out during that time skip. And Piper moving on so fast after Jason’s death left a bad taste in my mouth. It was shown before Jason’s death that the two still had feelings for each other after the breakup. The timeline from Jason’s death to the end of the TOA series was around 2-3 months, which seems a bit short for someone to move on after their first love died. Maybe Piper’s girlfriend is a rebound but I’m still meh with Piper moving on at that time. Also note that I’m not upset about Piper having a girlfriend. I’m a part of the community and am all in for representation.

Jason not reuniting with Leo was so bad. He deserved to see him again as much as Piper. Coach Hedge assuming Jason broke up with Piper and being mad at him was so disrespectful. A big part of Hedge is him caring about the Lost Hero trio and it was disregarded because of drama. I consider TOA worse than HOO and non-canon. Honestly, the series made me not care about the new releases for the series. I’m only interested in the Nico story because he’s at least well-written and justice for Bob.

I’m thinking of writing an essay on how I would rewrite Jason’s character and development but it would take a while and I don’t have the time.

From Most to Least Favorite, How Would You Rank Each TMNT 2003 Seasons?

1. Season 4

Really enjoyed Leo’s arc. I love focusing on the effects the traumatic situation had on a character’s mental health. This season improved Leo greatly.

My only gripe is I wished Bishop was a major villain.

9/10

2. Season 3

I liked a lot of the episodes and it had my favorite final stories like Ultimate Draco and Exodus.

Same As It Never Was was probably my favorite episode, though I wished there was more payoff with it afterwards.

8/10

3. Season 2

S2 has my second favorite finale with the Battle Nexus, and it was an improvement of S1.

It was the season that really got me into the show.

Usagi was a great addition. He’s one of my favorite characters.

7/10

4. Season 1

I didn’t get into this season until the Shredder was a major part of it. I mostly found the introductory episodes meh but it was probably because I wasn’t used to the new iteration yet.

It’s higher since the next seasons are not as great.

6.5/10

5. Season 5

I liked the concept but the execution was not as great.

The plot felt rushed and the villain was meh because it was another Shredder. I would’ve enjoyed the story more if it was a new villain.

The other 4 acolytes didn’t serve a purpose other than the writers trying to digress how special the turtles are, which didn’t work since the turtles became the dragons like their mystical instructors.

6/10

6. Season 6

The new setting and concept barely keeps this season from last place.

It was a new fresh take, but the more childish tone ruined it for me. Total tone shift distract me most of the time.

The Dark Turtles, Cody, and Sterling were cool editions tho.

5.5/10

7. Season 7

The last season was… disappointing.

I would’ve preferred this season being about the Turtles learning how to relax after all that happened to them. Like, a moment when everything is peaceful and they are not needed to protect the city. Exploring how to move on from their sense of purpose would’ve been fun to see. It would’ve coincided well with April x Casey’s wedding since they are also move towards a different path.

4.5/10

Comment your thoughts

Rise Turtles' Taste in Music Headcanon

This is based on their style and interest in music from the episode “Al Be Back.” The episode is basically about them fighting Albeartos with the power of music.

Raphael: Adele, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, and John Legend.

Donatello: Calvin Harris, Zedd, Galantis, Lady Gaga, Alesso, Daft Punk, Disclosure, Broadway Musicals.

Leonardo: Queen, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Journey, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin

Michelangelo: Missy Elliot, NF, Drake, Macklemore, Logic, Twenty One Pilot, Post Malone.

What do you guys think? Comment what you think their favorite artists or songs would be. 😊❤️

Anyone else really disappointed on with the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” Oscar performance. I only watched the performance and I didn’t like it. Nothing against Megan Thee Stallion, Luis Fonsi, and Becky G(I think they are talented in their own right) but I really wanted the whole cast to be the center of the attention and see the whole song. Having celebrities sing when they don't have a connection to “Encanto” felt really cheap.

Having Shakira, Maluma, and Carlos Vives singing the song would’ve been an okay substitute if the entire cast couldn’t come since they are singers from Colombian and “Encanto” takes place there.

Gwendolyn Kent: SB & MM Kid

Gwen is pretty shy and kind to others, especially her family and close friends. Her dream is to be an actress who inspires people to be themselves and treat others with kindness. Another reason why she enjoys acting is because she has fun playing different characters.

When Gwen takes on her alter ego, she changes her skin color to green since she prefers the world not to know her true appearance. Gwen’s skin is very pale, nearly white.

Even though she dreams to be an actress and is a part-time hero, Gwen wants to live as normal of a life as she can. Her fellow classmates don’t see her as famous since she changes her appearance and name.

Like her father, she is a dog lover. She was able to convince her parents to adopt two dogs named Carla and Gino.

Gwen wishes to be accepted by others, but is not willing to change who she is for others. She rarely gets angry, but when she does, her super strength uncontrollably flares up.

Even though they are opposites, Gwen and Astrid are best friends. They can always count on each other and have each other’s back. When they are in battle, their team ups are consistent and strong.

Thank you for reading! 😊❤️

Incorrect Rise of TMNT Quotes

Leo is filming Splinter for a video.

Leo: Since you said you support the LGBT community. I want you to tell me what it stands for. L.

Splinter: Lesbian

Leo: G

Splinter: You [points to Leo]

Leo: B

Splinter: Bisexual

Leo: T

Splinter: Transgender

Leo: There’s a Q right.

Splinter: Yes, Queen!

Leo: No, it’s queer.

—————————

Donnie comes back from buying groceries and starts putting them away. Splinter and Leo come in and the former notices something.

Splinter: Why did you buy that?!?

Donnie: [points at sauce] This one?

Splinter: Yeah, the Chick-fil-a!

Donnie: For dipping.

Splinter: You know that your brother’s gay. Huh? Huh?

Leo: [laughs] That’s right! That’s right! Supporting homophobia dang.

Donnie starts beating the sauce with a baguette. Leo and Splinter laugh.

———————————————

Leo, April, and Splinter are watching tv.

Splinter: I have a revelation!

Leo: What?

Splinter: My L [points to April] and G [points to Leo] are here! Lesbian and gay!

April and Leo start laughing.

Splinter: LGBTQ!!!

—————————-

Splinter walks into Leo’s room and sees Leo sitting on his bed with Casey.

Splinter: OMG! Oh sh*t! I thought you were gay.

Leo: I am. We’re just playing Pokémon.

——————————

Donnie catches Splinter eating ice cream late at night.

Donnie: What are you doing?

Splinter drops his spoon and hastily covers the ice cream tub.

Splinter: What?!? What’s your problem?!?

Donnie: What is that?

Splinter: [tries hiding it] What?!? It’s nothing!

Donnie: That’s chocolate. What are you eating?

Splinter: [grabs a lemon] I’m looking at the lemons to see if they’re ripe so I can use it tomorrow.

Donnie: [laughing] That’s not what you were-

Splinter: Get away! Get out!

——————————

@sidecharactersdomatter challenged me and I finally found time to respond.

pumpkin or apple // cocoa or cider // Halloween or Thanksgiving // leaf piles or apple picking // hay ride or corn maze // wooly sweater or furry slippers // pumpkin carving or knitting // squash or sweet potato// black cat or bat // skeletons or witches // fake blood or fake spiders // mashed potatoes or stuffing // orange or black // apple pie or maple donuts // marshmallows or candy corn // vampire or werewolf // fireplace or cozy nook // spiced wine or craft beer // candied apples or s'mores // big scarf or oversized hoodie

Although I’m really enjoying Castlevania so far(I’m currently finished with the 2nd season), I wish Dracula’s defeat was extended to Season 3 instead of done in Season 2. Everything felt so rushed and plot heavy to make it to that point. For me, Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard’s bond didn’t feel as strong as fans made it out to be. They felt like friends by the end but not close enough for me to believe Alucard will miss them a lot. I think two or three more episodes of the trio bonding would’ve made it better. This feeling kind of follows with Trevor x Sypha. I love their moments but I need more of them before they become a couple.

Also, I wish there was more limitations and power scaling done for the characters, mostly for Sypha. I wish there was more development of her strength rather than her being so great with magic without repercussions. For example, when Sypha used the spell to move Dracula’s castle, which is said and shown to be difficult, she didn’t look tired at all and continued to use her magic without difficulty. I like that she is so capable but seeing limitations makes her more realistic and gives her room to grow. I will say her difficulty fighting Dracula helped slightly alleviate that opinion, yet I want to see Sypha struggle and grow. I hope the next two seasons will give me that. 

Thank you for adding your thoughts to my post. One of my favorite things to do in fandoms is to discuss with other fans about the story, characters, etc.

I see your point about Liu Kang and his abilities but I think Liu Kang had a hand at Smoke being orphaned. In one of his intros with Liu Kang, Smoke asks him if he intended for his family to die. Here’s a link to the video: https://youtu.be/z-r4UecW7PM?si=sHMb4gmKGddNA9oY&t=485 (The intro is at 8:05). Liu Kang’s reply was a bit cryptic and can be interpreted in different ways but I believe it alludes to Liu having to make a hard decision to make sure the timeline went accordingly, such as Smoke joining the Lin-Kuei and befriending the brothers. Also, Liu made plans for Shang Tsung and Quan-Chi to live meaningless lives. I don’t think he would’ve risked letting them live freely without careful planning to make sure the plan kept its course, so I believe Liu Kang is capable of planning people’s lives but in varying degrees. Unfortunately, the game wasn't very clear on Liu Kang’s capabilities and restrictions so most fans have different interpretations of Liu Kang's involvement in how the new timeline turned out the way it is. I do give Liu Kang some slack since he gave up his powers decades (most likely centuries) before Hanzo was born.

Anyways, I should’ve been clear when I said Hanzo’s life seems bleak. I meant before being taken in by Smoke. I don’t think Hanzo not being the leader of the Shirai-Ryu is a bad life. My critique was about how Liu Kang made sure Shao Kahn didn’t have extensive capabilities to become emperor and have Mileena, who was his enemy in the old timeline, be Kitana’s blood sister- a change he must have done before relinquishing his powers- while Hanzo’s life before the Shirai-Ryu was hard. I had that expectation that Liu Kang would give Hanzo what he truly desired- his family- since he did that for Mileena- her MK11 ending hinted at her wanting to be a part of a family. I’m fine with Kuai having the Scorpion mantle because it gives the Scorpion/Sub-Zero a bit more depth and new intrigue. Right now, I’m neutral with MK1 Hanzo. There isn’t anything to go by about his character so I’ll be waiting until future installments to give my full thoughts. I do have some faith that NRS will write MK1 Hanzo well. All I hope is they don’t kill off Kuai Liang only to make Hanzo Scorpion again. It would make the change kind of pointless.

I wanted to be clearer on why I don't like Harumi and Kuai together so far. It's not because I see Harumi as only Hanzo's life. I've grown to like Kuai being Scorpion since it gives the Sub-Zero/Scorpion rivalry more depth, and he still feels like Kuai Liang but with a different title. Going as far as to have Harumi and Kuai get married feels like a tamper to that balance. With that decision, he feels like Hanzo but with a different name right now. I'm still open to changing my mind once new story content is released.

Sort of a side note, but I don't think is a young adult (I searched online and a young adult is usually a range between 18 and 25 years old). Based on his height and appearance, I think he is 14-15 years old (adolescent/early teens range). It is possible for 18-year-olds and above to be short but, in MK1, most male characters are around the same height. If NRS wanted Hanzo to be in the same age range, they would've made him closer to Kuai and Tomas' heights. However, I could be wrong since I'm basing this on the tower ending's art style instead of the game's 3D modeling.

Thank you for reblogging my post and adding your opinion. My favorite part about fandoms is to see fans’ different perspectives on story elements. I enjoyed reading your post. Btw, your art is really good! Your Scorpion Harumi’s design is my favorite.

My Thoughts on MK1 Hanzo

(Spoiler Warning: Smoke’s Tower Ending is discussed)

I saw Smoke’s tower ending and was surprised to see Hanzo in the new timeline, let alone as a child. Although I’m open to how the writers will handle his character, I’m kind of disappointed that they went this route. When I learned that Kuai Liang would be Scorpion in the new timeline, I expected Hanzo to either not even exist or live a nice life with Harumi and their son. Instead, Kuai Liang is married to Harumi and Hanzo is much younger than them, which is so weird. I really hoped Hanzo would have a happy life and only be involved in the games through mentions at least.  Also, this decision paints Liu Kang in a bad light. It’s no secret Liu Kang made sure his allies had a good life while making some of his enemies’ lives (Shang Tsung and Quan Chi) insignificant to prevent them from turning into their past counterparts. So, it makes me wonder why Liu Kang didn’t think to give Hanzo a good life or at least watch over him. It’s shown that Hanzo is a starving orphan forced to steal for essentials. I have no doubt Liu Kang knows about Hanzo’s past since he met the older and kinder Scorpion in MK11 and Raiden has disclosed Hanzo’s past in MK 9. Plus when Liu Kang fused with the Hourglass, he most likely became aware of what happened in MK9 and MKX. He gave Shao Kahn the chance to be a better man by being the Kingdom’s general- a risk that didn’t pay off, yet didn’t give Hanzo what he always desired- his wife, son, and the Shirai-Ryu. It feels so out of character for Liu Kang to not make sure Hanzo had a good chance at life. 

If I had the opportunity to write Hanzo’s character, it would’ve been very different. I would’ve made him a former Lin Kuei member(he would be 5 or more years older than Bi-Han) who held the Scorpion title until he retired to Japan- where met Harumi and had their son. Hanzo would’ve also been the one to train Kuai Liang in his fire powers in the latter’s childhood. In his honor, Kuai would take the Scorpion mantle after Hanzo retires. Hanzo could also help Kuai and Smoke form the Shirai-Ryu but Harumi helps in recruiting and training while he takes care of their young son. 

Though, I still hold some faith that NRS will write the new Hanzo well. I guess I’m just disappointed because I wanted Hanzo to finally live a happy life where his family stays alive. He was one of my favorites in the MK9-MK11 era so I can’t help but feel a connection towards him.