#like in bug busters where Raph gets mad at Leo for not getting captured with them

[turtleblogatlast]

Something I’ve been thinking about lately is that small moment in “Air Turtle” where immediately after the Daves lose yet another game, Leo says how sorry he is and how he’s doing his best as the mascot. This moment is so short but it’s honestly jam-packed with a whole heap of characterization.

His need to apologize for things clearly not his fault - especially when it feels like he messes up the job he was given despite doing the best he can (the phrase “it’s not about you” takes a new meaning when this is one of the lessons to be learned from that - that he is not always solely responsible for things going wrong), his need to save face and make a connection with an older adult man in his life (something he consistently does throughout the series - he’s got a few daddy issues, always collecting potential father figures, it’s no wonder he jumps at the bit to keep rapport), and the way he sounds and looks and the words he chooses really pushes how he is just a kid (“Mr. the Dunk, I’m so sorry”).

Like I know it’s a one off moment that doesn’t truly mean much, but when put against the rest of the series it works really well with the rest of Leo’s established character and helps in solidifying later concepts as well.

[umbrastar]

ROTTMNT rewatch S1 episodes 6-10 notes

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Character notes and thoughts:

Leo:

Thinks he could beat a professional wrestler (Shell in a Cell)

Forces his brothers to enter a maze bc he wants to prove he’s a champion and tries to lead them  (Shell in a Cell)

Reluctant to make a portal to get them out of there bc he wants to be on the wall of champions (Minotaur Maze)

“Get behind me! My trusty cloud of noxious gas will save you!” as he wastes gas spraying it near the civilian. (Bug Busters)

Immediately suspicious of big mama  (Bug Busters)

As a result, didn’t get captured by her  (Bug Busters)

Is a poor winner (Bug Busters)

Gets thrown off a roof by Draxum (Bug Busters)

“With my last breath, I told you so!” (Bug Busters)

Believes there’s no such thing as ghosts and ends up being right, though he was scared for a bit. (The Gumbus)

“donnie this is amazing. And I know that everything I saw sounds sarcastic, but im being completely genuine…this time.” (Stuck on You)

Thoughts: Minotaur Maze is probably the most Leo centric episode so far, showing his desire to prove himself, which he admits later in the episode, showing his self-awareness. He is also prone to getting a big head as shown when he wins the wrestling match to the point that he intrudes on Raph interest. Leo is also suspicious of Big Mama despite her friendly facade, maybe because he’s a little insincere himself. It’s interesting how he seems to be joking as he’s falling off a roof, as well. He knows how to play the funny man even when things are really bad.

Donnie:

“dead eye Donnie shoots and touchdown! Or insert correct sports reference”  (Bug Busters)

“this will teach you to complement my work and give me my first positive enforcement from a parent aged adult ever” -d to big mama  (Bug Busters)

“Donnie blocker” (Hypno! Part Deux)

“I don’t know whats crazier, a talking puppet or raph actually being right about something” (Mrs. Cuddles)

Bootyyyshaker9000 (Stuck on You)

Denies creating albearto (Al be Back)

Thoughts: Probably the most notable thing here is how Donnie felt betrayed by Big Mama because she is the only adult that has complemented his work. That was also why he was likely so quick to trust her. He also installs antivirus software on April’s phone, thinking she would try to download malware (he’s correct). He shows his care for people by making things that would help them (or Donnie’s version of helping).

Raph:

Fan of wrestling and ghost bear.  (Shell in a Cell)

Gets so mad about leo defeating ghost bear and letting it get to his head that he faces leo in the ring  (Shell in a Cell)

Stops being a fan of ghost bear when he realizes that hes a cheater (Shell in a Cell)

“Okay remember the plan. Attract, smash. Zap, smash. Bash, smash!” (Bug Busters)

“She’s a nice lady leo, whats not to trust?”, “you would hurt a nice spider lady’s feelings, would you leo” about big mama (spoilers, she was not a nice lady) (Bug Busters)

 Afraid of mrs cuddles and also probably cats (Mrs. Cuddles)

Not afraid of bullies, though (Mrs. Cuddles)

Decides that tying his brothers together is a good team building exercise

Wrote a teambuilding speech on his hand (Stuck on You)

Thoughts: He definitely takes teambuilding and leadership seriously, although his plans could use some work and are often a little overly simplistic. Interestingly, both he and Leo had episodes where they correctly distrusted someone, and the others didn’t believe them. Raph seems to be afraid of things that seem harmless, but not afraid of bullies or spider mutants. Meanwhile Leo seems to distrust a smooth talker like Big Mama. Maybe because Raph himself is very sweet, but has a bit of a temper, while Leo is a smooth talker himself. I like how he likes wrestling like 03 Raph.

Mikey:

Stole donnies thunder and stuff the entire episode without realizing it (Shell in a Cell)

Believes in ghosts (The Gumbus)

is a fan of a content creator who gets like no likes aside from him.  (The Gumbus)

Thinks hes as much of an artists as michalangelo (The Gumbus)

Is good at stacking cans and has the memory to remember how to stack them (The Gumbus)

Screams loudly and clings to his bros when scared. (Mrs. Cuddles)

Thoughts: He seems to like niche forms of art like can stacking. Once again, his impressive visual memory is on display with how he is able to remember how the cans were stacked. He can be a little oblivious and/or self-centered, as shown when he unintentionally stole Donnie’s thunder all throughout Cell in a Shell. He also seemingly has an active imagination as he believed in ghosts compared to someone more realistic like Leo (in all fairness, weirder things have happened in this franchise). He also seems to rely on his brothers for protection, being the youngest.

April:

 Wants to be acknowledged by a popular girl at her school ( Hypno! Part Deux)

Ignored the Donnie blocker  (Hypno! Part Deux)

Some guy at her school as a crush on her that she doesn’t reciprocate  (Hypno! Part Deux)

Is excited to go to a haunted store (The Gumbus)

Enjoys jumping into action (The Gumbus)

Thoughts: She’s a bit of a fish out of water among her peers, though she does want to fit in, even trying to download something that is clearly malware. Despite that she does have an admirer. She is shown once again to be brave, even enjoying going to what Mikey says in a haunted store.

Splinter:

Wont let his kids watch skateboarding bc he wants to watch commercials (The Longest Fight)

“I will never marry any of them off” (Mrs. Cuddles)

Sings opera well (Al be Back)

Thoughts: Still shown as neglectful. He won’t move off the TV for one day to let his kids watch their skateboarding. If Donnie’s response to Big Mama is any indication, he doesn’t openly acknowledge his sons’ efforts and talents. Like 03 Splinter, he can sing well in an Operatic voice (and likes TV)