2012 raphael did not sleep for several days after meeting his mutant mayhem counterpart, and by extension, scumbug.
inspired by this post by @halfnekoslair which was one of the only posts i saw before seeing MM on friday! i went into this movie knowing splinter dated a cockroach and that’s it
Seriously, can I take up 33 seconds of your time to share how in love I am with this? Slash was influenced by Raph's constant frustrations with Leo back then, and his mutagen fueled mind was so satisfied when he sent the kid flying across the roof of the building. He wasn't just telling Raph to join him because he was his long time companion and confidant, but because he also used to believe a lot of the things Raph said about his brothers, one of which being that Leo did a terrible job of leading.
By the next season though, he amazingly pulls a complete 180.
I know he technically redeemed himself in Newtralized!, but it wasn't until Battle for New York that he finally tried to make things right with the entire team, and of course Leo isn't so willing to put any faith in him or his abilities (he's such a hypocrite btw, he tried to argue with Slash over Pete being used as bait like Mikey isn't right there lol, tbf Mikey's hardly sent in as bait by this point of the series anymore, but still). They expectedly go back and forth quite a bit for a majority of the first part, wherein Leo is repeatedly doubtful of Slash's leadership and causes the snapper to become frustrated with the treatment he receives. Raph even steps in on one occasion to defuse the situation.
Leo's mind eventually changed near the end of the episode though when he watched Slash defend Pete from a laser blast, and he realizes Slash doesn't truly view Pete as the meat shield of the team. He expresses how impressed he was by the result of Slash's leadership skills, and Slash brightens up over the compliment before proudly responding that he's changed from the turtle that bruised up him and his brothers nearly a year ago (this hits even harder when remembering that he starts to believe Leo's words of doubt for a minute after the Kraang captures them later on).
And the cherry on top of all of this? When both teams reunite after bringing all of the humans back to New York, Leo comes around to rightfully apologize for the way he's been treating Slash, even going so far to refute his earlier words by saying he deserved a second chance after all. And Slash tells him to his face that he was his role model, this is peak cinema fr-
I love how Leo likes people, unless they have proven themselves as a (real) danger to his family. Then the only reason immediate murder is not forthcoming is because it may scar his impressionable brothers.
And this protective streak heightens an insane amount once he becomes the father/Sensei. He takes his role SERIOUSLY.
Miyamoto Usagi leads his brothers off a cliff? A CLIFF?
Nu-uh, no way, instant red flag. NOT TODAY!
Who cares if he's their only hope of getting home? Not Leo!
Dude killed his bros?
Welp, time to fight him to the death. There's no other option here, it seems. Leo will fight him and he will win- but, heck, if the leader fails and dies, he joins his brothers so there's really no losing here.
Dracula is my absolute fav Sensei moment.
There were little implications that they were going to do anything more than simply trying to talk to the Vampire until Raph got separated and knocked down. Now he's realizing the potential of all of them getting hurt or worse. Suddenly, Leo craves violence.
He's never even made eye contact with the guy, but Leo will stake Dracula through the heart with zero hesitations if it means that the current dangers posed to his brothers will end sooner than later.
Donnie loves his brother and he understands where he's coming from, but he feels like a family intervention may be needed someday.