TMNT: Fast Forward so far: Thoughts and Speculation (Possible Spoilers) [Archive]

Ian

11-18-2006, 12:54 PM

No new episode this week, and since we're nearly halfway throught the season, I thought this would keep us occupied.

Ever since Fast Forward was announced as a "lighter, funnier" series, most people dreaded its coming, fearing it would not match up to the previous series. Now we've seen what it has to offer, and whether those fears were justified. So, what does everybody think of the series now? Is it everything you feared? Do you find it (gasp!) a worthy season six? Anything you'd like to see from it? Suggestions?

Also, given that we're already seeing some of the season's arc take place, what do you think the writers have in store for us?

creativerealms

11-18-2006, 03:01 PM

It's had it's ups and downs but the later episodes like "Bishop to Knight" "Night of Sho'Konabu" "Fly Me To the Moon" and "Invasion of the Body Jacker" Show that Fast Forward has not lost what made TMNT 2k3 a great show to begin with, even if this is the weakest season.

Simpler Simon

11-18-2006, 06:00 PM

You know, it's won me over. And I say that as someone who didn't like the initial premise, didn't like them changing the 2k3 series, and didn't like the episodes previewed during summer.

The writing's really put the emphasis on fun, and the new tone actually discards one of the problems I had with the old series: raised expectations. 2K3 was something that you desperately wanted to feel like Batman:TAS in terms of storytelling and depth, but ended up falling short because the writing wasn't up to par or there were censorship restrictions. Fast Forward isn't attempting to be edgy or serious, and it's fun for once to sit back and not think "that could've been a real gun but was censored!" or "he really should've said 'kill' there instead of 'destroy' there."

Overall FF is still the more disposable series and 2K3 should be the one that's remembered, but as long as Cody doesn't hog the spotlight and "it's ninja time!" is kept to a minimum, saturday mornings will still be fun.

AND...what are these rumours popping up on the technodrome forums? One is that FF has been split into 2 13-episode seasons, and the other is that the Ninja Tribual arc has been cut from 13 to 12 episodes?

Knightmare

11-18-2006, 06:49 PM

AND...what are these rumours popping up on the technodrome forums? One is that FF has been split into 2 13-episode seasons, and the other is that the Ninja Tribual arc has been cut from 13 to 12 episodes?

By my count it's 14 episodes, 13 brand new one, plus the "Ninja Tribunal" whic was the last episode of last season. Has anyone heard when this supposed to come out anyway?

As for Fast Forward, I've greatly enjoyed it and I think that it's slowly improving. To me, it feels like a combination of the action and story telling of TMNT 2K3 and the humour of the 80's series.

CyberCubed

11-19-2006, 12:56 AM

Andrew T. Hingson

11-19-2006, 01:20 AM

It's still the best action show on Saturday mornings IMO but it doesn't hold a candle to TMNT 2K3. It basically feels like lots of futuristic filler from 2K3 but the animation change also bugs me. I really feel like its wasted potential so far but some of the exclusive plot is interesting. Still... it feels a lot more like 4kids usual than TMNT 2K3 did and that's an awful shame. What's even more of a shame that the ratings so far are weaker than even season 4's ratings of TMNT2K3. Looks like this chapter of the TMNT will close soon and it's just as well. I can't see them going back to things as normal if FF does any better.

creativerealms

11-19-2006, 09:01 AM

Actually with the surprisingly strong season four of the Batman it's actually the second strongest Action cartoon on Saturday mornings. Makes me happy they are not on at the same time. This would be the first time in three years that i would watch The Batman over the Turtles if given the choice.

Ian

11-19-2006, 09:42 AM

I like Fast Foward, as well as the fact that all the recent episodes have been better than the start, but I feel they could have done a little bit more with it.

Why not take elements from the Volume 4 comics? Why not show us an Utrom facility on Earth? Why didn't the writers even touch up upon the Turtles seeing the Utroms?

Heck, Mortu is still alive, right? And how about Fugitoid? Shouldn't they still be alive? Imagine the Turtles seeing them on Earth in the future? How could would that be?! Heh, the thought of Fugitoid, Biggles, and Serling all playing cards with one another has just popped into my mind for some reason. :sweat:

That being said, I'm fine with the series, despite the fact they could have brought some storylines from the comics over to this.I think the relative lack of characters and storylines from the previous series are an attempt to let the new characters and situations be established without being overshadowed, as well as an attempt to make the series stand out on its own. The new characters have been given a tough time by viewers and are already competing for screen-time; imagine how much harder it'd be for them if they'd had to compete with fan favorites. If Fast Forward lasts longer than one season, I could see the writers returning to old ground.

Has anybody taken to comparing this show with Legion of Super-Heroes, based on the shared "character(s) from the past...in the Future!" concept?
When they start using similar concepts (Monster movies in the future! Galactic Presidents...in white!), it becomes especially hard not to do. I like them both, thought.

One of the things I've noticed about this series, unlike LSH, is that the action has been taking a backseat to pure exposition. Almost every episode has spent some time introducing one or two new concepts, something the previous series didn't need to do as much, unless they set the story outside of NYC--then they used multi-parters to balance the stories out.
While it helps establish scenery (so far, I find the 22th century far more interesting that the 31st), it's made for relatively action-less show so far.
Hopefully, once exposition doesn't become as necessary, we'll be able to see some good fight scenes.

Lutochris

11-19-2006, 05:20 PM

Watched about the first 7 episodes, then gave up on it. The only thing that it does for me is remind me of how good the old TMNT 2k3 was. Everything about it screams "contrived in a boardroom". The "future" is barely futuristic at all, looks like they basically took a few ideas from Futurama, threw in some "techno" weapons for the Turtles, and figured that would look enough like the future to please the kiddies. The stories so far have garnered zero interest for me. The new characters are dull. And don't get me started on "it's ninja time." So why should I waste valuable space on my tape for this show full of perpetual afterthoughts? There's way too much stuff on every weekend that's more worthy of the 8 hours I can fit on it. I sure as hell ain't gonna start waking up at 6:00AM for it (when it's on by me).

CyborgRex

11-19-2006, 06:31 PM

By my count it's 14 episodes, 13 brand new one, plus the "Ninja Tribunal" whic was the last episode of last season. Has anyone heard when this supposed to come out anyway?

Boy I hate to be the bringer of bad bad news but the DVD release in America of the Lost season is currently no longer on the 4kids release schedule. It is being released in Australia and New Zealand. Also one of the episodes was not finished and has been pulled. The one with the Garbageman. I found this out on the Technodrome forums where Steve Murphy from Mirage comics has been answering questions. When we will get the DVD in America remains unknown.

Before I forget Murphy also said that Fast Foward has been changed from one 26 episode season. to two 13 episode seasons. That means only three more episodes this seasons.

CyberCubed

11-19-2006, 07:02 PM

I still find it hard to believe 4kids is going to delay the last 13 episodes till September.

They're airing episodes 11-13 over the next three Saturdays, so this "season" will be over before Christmas. Does that mean we have 8 months of repeats after that? WTF?

I don't think they'll do that, it's pretty dumb, especially with the new movie coming out in March.

CyborgRex

11-19-2006, 08:55 PM

I think their in reruns again so it 'll be several weeks to we get the last three.

CyberCubed

11-19-2006, 09:07 PM

I think their in reruns again so it 'll be several weeks to we get the last three.

Actually we have a new ep this Saturday if I'm not mistaken, and the next two right after that the following Saturdays.

Simpler Simon

11-19-2006, 10:08 PM

I still find it hard to believe 4kids is going to delay the last 13 episodes till September.

Yeah...although considering 4Kids skipped Insane in the Membrane and deliberately ended season 4 on that Ninja Tribual cliffhanger, I wouldn't be too surprised in the long run.

The Lost season will get a dvd release eventually...you dont pour that kinda money in and not get something out of it. But I thought Nightmares Recycled was too far along in the production to get canned? I mean with four of the episodes airing on comcast already, I though the whole season was basically ready to go.

CyberCubed

11-19-2006, 10:40 PM

Yeah...although considering 4Kids skipped Insane in the Membrane and deliberately ended season 4 on that Ninja Tribual cliffhanger, I wouldn't be too surprised in the long run.

Well the former is because Fox refused to air it if I remember correctly, nothing really to do with 4kids. (which is why it was on the DVDs)

The latter because they were desperate for toy sales/ratings to improve I guess. But 4kids thinking people will sit through 8 months of repeats to wait for the last 13 eps of FF in September '07 is really insane. That long gap would kill interest in the show completely, and most people wouldn't bother watching by then.

It's why I don't believe they're doing that, and if there is a rerun break, I imagine they'd start new eps around the time the movie debuts in theaters since 4kids is getting revenue from the movie as well.

Shredder565

11-21-2006, 12:32 AM

Theoretically, Turtles dosn't even need a break. This franchise has enough history and potential to go on for as long as Superman and Batman. Too bad there's such a thing as money in this world that controls wether a series lives or dies, and not wether or not it's a good series or bad one :evil:.

I absolutley hated the first three episodes. As someone said, they just borrowed a bunch of stuff from Futurama. It's a Fox show, so I guess they own some of those ideas....gave them new weapons, and boom. Future. That'll keep the kiddies eyes glued long enough to buy the all important toys, that suck anyway because Playmates has lost any creativity it may once have had. Can you tell I'm bitter? :evil:

That being said, I did enjoy the wrestling episode. Serling has become a rather fun character with an interesting twist.....Biggles could be interesting if they don't just make him a one worded character. Starlee is cool, but not on enough to judge. Maybe the reasoning is that young male viewers don't want to see cute female characters and just want to see guys fighting? This is executive thinking here, people :).

This series does have the potential to get better, but they need to get rid of a few things, and change others. Get rid of 'It's Ninja Time'. Turtles of this erra have evolved beyond the need of a catch phrase. Give Splinter something to do or kill him off like they did in the comics. I hate how they have him around, yet he almost does nothing....Yoda is old, and he's usefull!

Focus on Don and Mike more....Raph and Leo have been given there time. Heh, I find it odd that the two least likley to be friends, Don and Mike, where usually paired off in the old cartoon, continue that tradition in the new and play off that relationship a bit : ). The turtles are already teenagers. Get rid of Cody in the opening title splash.

Other than that, it could really be good and last more than one season :).

Andrew T. Hingson

11-21-2006, 01:24 AM

Well I did some poking around the Technodrome forum as well and now I've got a few things to say.

Splitting up Fast Forward in to two batches a "season" apart is a terrible idea given how much its struggling already. Unless this means they're just going to can it they'd be better off pushing forward (hmm, I made a funny) and ending the 26 episode run of FF and going back to "the usual" back in the Turtle's time. Breaking it into two seasons seems like a feable attempt to stretch out Fast Forward to try to get some kind of success out of it (which even if the movie does well probably wouldn't help things).

I'm dissapointed they're stopping production of an episode as that one sounded really interesting but eh... nothing can be done besides hope they put up the script somewhere. I'm really ticked that 4kids is delaying the Lost Season release and have taken it off the VOD listings. Where do they get the gull to do that when Peter Laird paid for these episodes. I considered 4kids to be good for nothing ****** bags before but when it comes to TMNT's treatment this is the last straw.

Dark Fact

11-21-2006, 10:50 AM

It is moves like this that make me question whether Peter Laird has any more executive control over the franchise anymore.

TMNT: Fast Forward started off pretty weak for me but gradually got better when they introduced Bishop and Torbin Zixx and from there concentrated on Sho'Ka'Nabo's plot. The show can be pretty good if it sticks with its character development and plot buildup rather than going with the future cliche of the day. I'll give the show this much: at least they're not flying aircars in the future. I consider aircars the ultimate future cliche.

Lutochris

11-21-2006, 12:28 PM

When they say splitting up into two 13 episode "seasons", I'm guessing they probably mean that they're showing the first 13 episodes in the fall, and the remaining 13 episodes in the spring. That would make more sense, as that's what most shows seem to do to make the episodes stretch out over the course of the year. Also they probably want to have new episodes coming out when the movie comes out.

CyberCubed

11-21-2006, 04:00 PM

Simpler Simon

11-21-2006, 08:52 PM

Focus on Don and Mike more....Raph and Leo have been given there time. Heh, I find it odd that the two least likley to be friends, Don and Mike, where usually paired off in the old cartoon, continue that tradition in the new and play off that relationship a bit : ). The turtles are already teenagers. Get rid of Cody in the opening title splash.

Mikey's been getting a ton of focus, with the video game ep, horror movie ep, turtle titan ep, and theres an upcoming one i forget.

CyberCubed

11-21-2006, 08:57 PM

Aside from the Turtles, SPLINTER needs some focus.

He has barely done anything in Fast Foward so far, and makes me wonder what the point of bringing him along was. I really hope we get a Splinter-focused episode eventually, but I'm not sure how likely that'll be.

Hades

11-22-2006, 01:03 AM

YOu know, I gave up on this series way back at episode 2. So has it gotten any better? No matter what though, I'm not watching this series ever again until after the Ninja Tribunal arc hits DVD next year.

creativerealms

11-22-2006, 09:33 AM

Mikey's been getting a ton of focus, with the video game ep, horror movie ep, turtle titan ep, and theres an upcoming one i forget.

If anything this is a Mikey/Don season. What with 75% of the back story and Cody's motavation revolving around Cody and Mikey has gotten a lot of focus too.

Oh the uppcoming one is Mikey get's implaned with one of Sho'Konabu's Gene-eggs.

CyberCubed

11-24-2006, 12:50 PM

I don't mind the less Leo focus, he had most of Season 4 dedicated to him as well as a good chunk of the whole Karai/Foot struggle on him too. Not to mention the Usagi eps.

Mike always seems to get a ton of focus in every season, but this time it's moreso than usual. Raph should get a bit more, all he had was the wrestling episode. Don should have more as well, considering this is the future and all it should be his prime season.

Dark Fact

11-24-2006, 12:51 PM

Speaking of Usagi, I would like to see him make an appearance in Fast Forward. Heh, feudal samurai rabbit trying to get used to future life. :p

NightwingAngelo

11-27-2006, 06:06 PM

I find this new TMNT, "Fast forward", to be inferior to the original 2K3 series. It is no where near the quality of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that I once found myself praising repeatedly, both graphically and story-wise. As much as it will be considered the same series, I won't be able to see it as such.

The new series (as I see it) just tarnishes the reputation the previous show built for itself, and I'm not able to see it as such since it would only drag down my overall feeling of Seasons 1-4 (or 5) which I found to be nothing but superb.

I haven't even been visiting this place as much because I don't even bother with the show.

As much as I hate to say it, the new Ninja Turtles has lost its EDGE!!!

Simpler Simon

11-28-2006, 05:35 AM

As much as I hate to say it, the new Ninja Turtles has lost its EDGE!!!

"Edge" is relative. You can only be edgy if you have the talent to back it up, which 2K3 was a little short on. You can't be edgy if your voice talent treats the show like kiddie fare, and the writing is hit-and-miss with no clear vision on how to work through network censors and corporate mandates. BTAS and Gargoyles were edgy, TMNT wasnt in their league. The show walked a very uncomfortable line, and even if the move to FF makes the show too "out there," at least it has no problem finding an identity now.

NightwingAngelo

11-28-2006, 10:36 PM

"Edge" is relative. You can only be edgy if you have the talent to back it up, which 2K3 was a little short on. You can't be edgy if your voice talent treats the show like kiddie fare, and the writing is hit-and-miss with no clear vision on how to work through network censors and corporate mandates. BTAS and Gargoyles were edgy, TMNT wasnt in their league. The show walked a very uncomfortable line, and even if the move to FF makes the show too "out there," at least it has no problem finding an identity now.

You claim it to be "little short" on it. You'll have to clarify on what you mean there.

"Little" in a sarcastic tone as in they were way off, or "little" as in they were close.

Anyway: TMNT was short of voice talent? Sure. What that would have to do with mostly matured and well-thouyght out storylines is zero. I doubt it's the VA's that treat it like "kiddie fare". They do what they do, and voice the characters they have to voice.

Some were good, even great. Some were not. What that would have to do with the overall tone of the show is very little, as overall, they did their parts quite decently IMO.

As for not being in the league of BTAS and Gargolyes... maybe not. However, they got dang close close many times, and they knew how to write good stories. As for "hit-and-miss", there were a heck of a lot more good to great episodes than below average/mediocre ones.

When balancing the two sides, the good to great would unhing the scale.

What will be remembered more from Season 1? The "Turtle Titan" episode, or Leonardo supposedly beheading Shredder (which I doubt anyone who watched didn't believe it so)?

What will be remembered more from Seaons 2? The "Justice Force" episode, or the Turtle's origins along with the death of Zog and the Battle Nexus?

What will be remembered more from Season 3? Mikey traveling to that superhero dimension, or the menace that twisted menace that was Agent Bishop and one of the best fights ever in a cartoon in "Hun on the Run"?

What will be remembered more from Season 4? The Hamato Yoshi focussed episode along with Donatello turning into that thing and the Foot Mystics storyline that has been laid out, or whatever comes to mind for you that you didn't like in there?

I'm not going to say that they went through their stretches of "meh" episodes, they did, but they were very short and few in between. When they were ables to get things together again, like they did time and time again to tie the story which began from the 1st episode of season 1 (of course with some inconsistencies, which every show has) they always came through in the end with an absolute SHELL-RAISER that got well-derserved hype. Maybe not from many people as the audience for the show was comparably small, but all in all, but on a whole, the show's best shown more than its below average counterpart did, and I hope you're just one of the few that don't see it that way, because I see this "lighter and funnier version" as just that.

Why? Because it is what it is.

As for the show at least having "no problem finding an identity now", I find it quite sad that this is what fans of the show of the past will want to resort to now to give it unearned respect.

Fortunately, I won't be a part of this.

Simpler Simon

11-30-2006, 09:04 PM

You claim it to be "little short" on it. You'll have to clarify on what you mean there.

You made some good points there, and certainly there were a lot of moments throughout the 4 seasons that were worthy of "SHELL YEAH!!" But I have to keep reminding myself that there were also several moments in the series that seemed to have so much potential, yet the writers just couldnt (for whatever reason) follow through on it. And more often than not, at the end of an episode/arc I'd sit back and say "That's it?"

Is FF the better series of the two? Of course not. Within its own universe though, its a more consistent series. We won't get anything like "Tale of Master Yoshi," but that also saves us from bizzare situations where we get one emotionally charged episode, then wonder why something like "Insane in the Membrane" or "Nightmares Recycled" was taken away. Pure inconsistency.

And yes, for those who havent checked the official site, Nightmares Recycled has been officially scrapped (bad pun). Appearantly the storyline scared 4Kids, which featured

Hun finding out he and Garbageman were conjoined twins surgically seperated at birth

ClockStomper

12-02-2006, 12:49 AM

What's your source for that spoiler?

Anyhoo, the worst part of Fast Forward is that there's no going back to the way things were. We'll never get back the old art style, nor the tone of the previous seasons.

The "Turtles in the Future" senario is not what's wrong with the show. It's just that the show has been turned into a copy of every other lame network cartoon.

There are no stakes, no danger, and the status quo will never change. It's so generic that any other four characters could be inserted in place of the TMNT and the show would be the same. It's just not "Ninja Turtles"

And really, the decision to push off the Lost Season will kill the show. After the two 13 episode Fast Forward seasons, why would any network exec vote to renew the show if they know they can air the 12 "Lost Episodes" at no aditional cost? It buys them another 6 to 12 months, and then they can end it for good.

Dark Fact

12-02-2006, 10:23 AM

I saw a preview for next week's episode of Fast Forward this morning and it involved the turtles planning to read through a history book of what happened in the last 100 years involving the founding of O'Neil tech and some additional adventures. I have a feeling that should the show get cancelled, all we have to reflect on what could've happened afterwards are the details chronicled in that history book. So if people ask "What happened to the turtles? We wanna know what happens next!" The other people will respond "Watch episode 13 of Fast Forward. 'Nuff said." The end.

That would majorly suck though as Laird has a TON of story material that he can incorporate into the new toon. :sad:

Simpler Simon

12-02-2006, 10:27 AM

What's your source for that spoiler?

The official site, under the Nightmares Recycled synopsis. I wonder if they'll keep that synopsis on there considering the episode will never be seen.

CyberCubed

12-02-2006, 10:39 AM

There may or may not be a way for the show to turn back into what it was after FF is over, but it really depends on what the movie does for the series. Playmates will want to keep the series going is their toys still sell, so I suppose they're a major indicator as to what 4kids will do.

I like Fast Foward so I can't complain much, but my only regret is we may never see any of the other Mirage comics adapted into episodes. Would have loved to see Volume 4 and some of the other Tales comics in episode form, that's my only regret.

Dark Fact

12-02-2006, 10:51 AM

Nightmares Recycled? Creepy? More like stupid. I'm actually glad that idea got scrapped (no pun intended). Any episode with the Garbageman stinks (no pun intended) anyway.

Shredder565

12-02-2006, 11:40 AM

The "Turtles in the Future" senario is not what's wrong with the show. It's just that the show has been turned into a copy of every other lame network cartoon.

There are no stakes, no danger, and the status quo will never change. It's so generic that any other four characters could be inserted in place of the TMNT and the show would be the same. It's just not "Ninja Turtles"

Which is exactly the problem. It's just a gimmick. There's no danger, no character will ever get killed, maimed, or hurt. Splinter would probably never get fried by an electric wire and keep his fur singed for two or more eps in this version. Singed Fur? Try this new futuristic fur rebuilder...

Everyone will escape at the end and the adventures forgotten soon after. So, what's the point in watching once you get past the age of 7?

If 4Kids wants this show to last, they need to do epic episodes, and episodes that can appeal to the average 5 year old to keep both people happy.

Although, considering the history of 4Kids, and how they've handeld this show, I will say once again that I wouldn't mind if they go belly up :).

Anarky

12-02-2006, 11:45 AM

another subpar ep this morning

Andrew T. Hingson

12-02-2006, 01:12 PM

Nah, I've been waiting for the dark turtles. I think they delivered that concept pretty well. They even live in the sewer.

Also according to Zap2it.com there's a new Fast Forward airing for the next two weeks. That means episode 14 is airing. So the idea of splitting up the season of 26 into two 13 episode ones might have been axed.

Meanwhile it looks like the first volume of Fast Forward will be the first 13 episodes in a 2 disc set. I guess the season 4 set sold better than the 5-6 episode volumes.

CyberCubed

12-02-2006, 01:46 PM

Where is Ian? He's late this week with the talkback.

sdp

12-02-2006, 02:36 PM

I only caught the first few episodes, haven't been awake for the last few so my thought so far are slight dissapointment, i had a lot of hope for FF, and thought the idea was awesome and a good way to get a lighter tone after S4, i think i may like the episodes i haven't seen more judging from what i've read though.

i guess you can go ahead and make a talkback on todays episode CC.

Knightmare

12-02-2006, 04:34 PM

TVShowsonDVD has just announced that "Season 1" of TMNT:Fast Forward is going to be released on Febuary 6th and will contain 13 episodes on two discs. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6671

I'm wondering if they are goig to plan on releasing the "Ninja Tribunal" season when the new movie comes out or will they wait until it's on DVD instead.

Dark Fact

12-02-2006, 05:40 PM

Where is Ian? He's late this week with the talkback.
Where's Ian? Don't you know? He's too busy fighting judo ducks in rainbow land to put up a talkback right now. Make one for us, cubie.

TVShowsonDVD has just announced that "Season 1" of TMNT:Fast Forward is going to be released on Febuary 6th and will contain 13 episodes on two discs. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6671

I'm wondering if they are goig to plan on releasing the "Ninja Tribunal" season when the new movie comes out or will they wait until it's on DVD instead.
Why did I just picture the whole TMNT franchise blowing up in 4Kids' faces after I read that?

Hades

12-04-2006, 07:56 AM

I thought Season 1 was 26 episodes? Are the only doing half seasons now?

landscape

12-12-2006, 06:24 AM

thanx

Mad Monkey 7

12-12-2006, 05:24 PM

I have only seen a few episodes, and I have a questin. Are the evil Turtles going to appear on this series? I heard from Toyfare, that an evil version of the Turtles will be appear like Slash.

CyberCubed

02-07-2007, 01:09 PM

Its funny how nobody here really hates FF as much as these guys do:

http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=18323

Yes, its the weakest season of the series and a step down from the previous 4 (er...5 with the Lost Season), but its still enjoyable.

Dark Fact

02-08-2007, 03:14 PM

thanx
Um, what exactly did you want to say regarding TMNT: Fast Forward? I don't get what you're trying to say here. :confused:

Ian

02-10-2007, 03:44 AM

So now that this thread has been bumped, a question: how do you think the series would have turned out if it had simply been "TMNT Season 6", instead of a "brand new series"? Would it have been better?

CyberCubed

02-10-2007, 11:11 AM

You mean if they had stayed in the present for Season 6?

I assume it would have been better, there are still plenty of comic stories they could have adapted if they were at a loss for new material. Would have definitely made another Rat King episode I assume, he really needed one.

Makes you wonder who the main villain would be, since there isn't much else you could do with Bishop/Baxter and the whole Shredder stuff gets handled in Season 5.

Hm, I assume the Dark Turtles may have still existed though. I seem to remember them saying they always had this idea floating around, so perhaps Bishop would have cloned them instead of Shoko'nobo?

Ian

02-10-2007, 09:12 PM

No, I mean what would have happened if they'd gone to the future, as was always planned, but had mantained the previous seasons' tone and animation style. Would characters such as Cody, Serling, and Constable Biggles still exist? Would more characters and plotlines from the previous seasons been brought in? What would have remained the same? That sort of stuff.

Personally, I think that the trip to the future was always the way to go with the turtles after the Lost Season. With the series' main ongoing storyline finished, I really don't see where else the series could go, at least arc-wise, in the present. Hun has more value as a recurring character than as "Big Bad" (where he'd eventually have to be defeated, and, unlike Saki, there's nowhere to go with him once that happens), and turning Bishop into one is too unnatural a shift for his character--and they've already played the "accidental catastrophe" card twice with him. The Ultimate Ninja is still a kid, and the Triceraton storyline is pretty much over. Basically, they'd have to resort to stand-alones and/or mini-arcs, which really doesn't play to the series' strenghts.

Ian

05-05-2007, 07:35 AM

Seeing as how we have no new episodes for the forseeable future, a bump and a question: with Season 1 winding down, what do y'all think the writers have in store for Season 2? I mean, aside from several appearances by
SPAAAAAAAACE USAGI!
Will the characters explore what has happened to all the characters left behind, like The Foot, the Utrom, the Ninja Tribunal, etc.? Will they continue to focus on the current cast or will they create an entirely new one?

Things I'd like to see next season:

More Bishop, Torbin Zixx, and Boss Zukko. Underused and intriguing=need more.
No Sh'Okanabo or Viral. Given how event-specific the whole Day of Awakening thing seems, I just don't see much value in having him stick around once it inevitably fails at the end of the season--unless, of course, they pull a Princess Azula (Avatar) and have him actually succeed in the season finale and force the cast out of Earth. That'd be awesome.
More insight on the whole Cody's parents/Darius Dun relationship.
Insight on what happened to the turtles themselves, since they should still be alive by 2105.
More off-planet adventures.
The Inuwashi Gunjin's story.

TheFZAtUGSOnline

05-05-2007, 08:03 AM

As one of the TMNT fans out there who watch 4KidsTV, i can't wait for this weeks episode, however to ensure yalls memory is okay, here's the new eppy lineup:
8:00 - Winx | NO NEW EPISODE, BEST OF SPECIAL THIS MONTH!
8.5am - Viva Pinata (No New Episode)
9am - TMNT Retro (No Lost Episodes)
9.5 - Viva Pinata (New Episode)
10am - TMNT:FF (No New Episode?)
10.5am - Chaotic (New Episode)
11am -Sonic X (Returning To 4KidsTV)
11.5 - Yu-Gi-Oh! (No Lost Episodes)
Now I GTG, My S1 Fav Or Winx Is On... (And Its The First To Play On This Months Best Of Special)
Be Back For The TMNT:FF Discussion.
+Runs To The TV Set, And Switches On 4KidsTV+

CyberCubed

05-05-2007, 11:57 AM

The very first episode of FF aired today, and my god, this show has come a long way. Is it just me, or is the animation in this first episode much worse than the later FF eps? Does anyone else think FF's animation got better as it went on?

I truthfully think that aside from the initial 5 episodes, FF started to pick up once they introduced Bishop/Torbin Zixx.

I always thought the first episode was jarring, the second episode was good, the Viral ep had its problems, the Raph wrestling episode was god awful, and the Jammerhead/mall episode was just mediocre.

However once we got past the initial 5 eps, it seems like the writers started to get more familiar with the concept after the initial stumbling. I did find the two Shokonobo episodes rather mehish, (the first one in the theater and the one where he plants dark seeds in the Turtles and Splinter), but I've enjoyed pretty much every other FF episode.

I'm just glad it improved after the initial rocky start.

veemonjosh

05-05-2007, 03:30 PM

Is it just me, or is the animation in this first episode much worse than the later FF eps?

IIRC, the first few FF episodes were rushed, because 4Kids didn't decide to push FF a year ahead of schedule until the last minute.

Leonardo2

05-05-2007, 04:10 PM

Man it's back on repects again.

collector_cliff

05-05-2007, 07:46 PM

TheFZAtUGSOnline

05-05-2007, 10:20 PM

Anarky

05-05-2007, 11:30 PM

i still watch the show however i'm still displeased w/ the new direction of the franchise. i can accept if this were a single-season event as long as the series ultimately returned to the present.

some would say that the past has resolved. i've not seen the lost season yet so perhaps some of the plot points I'm about to raise may already have closure:

1. Hun and the Purple Dragons. I wanted to see the Turtles break this gang for good w/ Hun ending up in prison for 20+ yrs.

2. The Green Menace story arc. At the end of "Aliens Among Us" we were teased by a potential plotline about the Turtles being outted and hunted by the public for their role in the President's abduction. That never came to fruition.

3. The Rat King's return.
4. Slash. Instead of the lame Dark Turtles, I'd have preferred to have seen a 2K3 update of this character.

5. more Usagi

6. I'd have love to have seen a trio of Mikey, Nobody, and Silver Sentry

and I'm certain there's plenty of material from the comics, much of which i'm unfamiliar with.

here's hoping FF only lasts 2 seasons and brings the boys home.

collector_cliff

05-06-2007, 12:01 AM

Everything Is In Reruns/Best-Of (If Counting "Most Magical Moments" To The List) Mode Except Viva Pinata And Chaotic... Once The New Eps Are Run Out, You Can Just Call The Block ReRunTV until June. (Thats When The New Eppys Show Up Again... On Some Shows)
I Think Next Time, TZ Should Start Posting 4KidsTV Schedules Again On Their Schedules Page... Or If I Would Just Announce On The Boards The Schedule...
Anyways, I Knew There Was No New TMNT:FF This Week, Seires Restarted This Week...

Viva Pinata and Chaotic were both re-runs this week. They have aired the first 14 episodes of Chaotic and are re-airing them starting with ep. 5 this week (Crash Course), ep. 6 airs next week. The Viva Pinata episodes were re-runs also.

TheFZAtUGSOnline

05-06-2007, 02:40 AM

Viva Pinata and Chaotic were both re-runs this week. They have aired the first 14 episodes of Chaotic and are re-airing them starting with ep. 5 this week (Crash Course), ep. 6 airs next week. The Viva Pinata episodes were re-runs also.
O. Thanks for the 411, Next Week On 4KidsTV: More ReRunTV

The Overlord

05-06-2007, 10:22 PM

I'm sorry, but compared to other cartoons set in the future, like Phantom 2040 or Batman Beyond TMNT: FF sucks.

Mandi-chan

05-08-2007, 07:01 PM

As was VERY disappointed with TMNT: FF. And I was one of the few who was hellbent to defend it before it came on the air.

I sat through the first painful episode, and dumped it. I haven't looked back.

NightwingAngelo

05-08-2007, 07:45 PM

I was once fully behind this show when it was great (anytime before Fast Forward).

Even with Justice League on, this edged it out as my favourite show on television.

This topic now has me wondering how things are going with the series. I heard there was hiatus mid-way through the season to try and bring the TMNT2K3 series back to respectability. The writers were trying to once again grasp the feel that the first 5 seasons had, but I'm not sure how it went since I just didn't want to follow the show anymore.

I'm also wondering about the fanbase for the show, which wasn't the biggest to begin with, but was at least beginning to grow on this site (we were starting to get 70+ posts in discussions about new episodes). That seems to have tailed off.

I'm also wondering about the fan base in general. Many must have felt abandoned after flicking on the TV and seeing the lack of detail in the animation, the lightness in the tone of the series, and the storylines becoming... well... too simplified (does anyone know what I mean there). Many potential storylines that TMNT was leading up to were thrown out the window.

Is there a chance the series will ever revert back to how it used to be, or is the series stuck 99 years in the future?

CyberCubed

05-08-2007, 07:47 PM

We don't know. We do know that FF isn't finished yet.

NightwingAngelo

05-08-2007, 07:53 PM

Wow. That was fast. :)

You know, I'm wondering if cases like this happen often. Shows trying to take on a lighter tone, especially ones that already went on for over 100 episodes.

Simpler Simon

05-08-2007, 10:03 PM

Is there a chance the series will ever revert back to how it used to be, or is the series stuck 99 years in the future?

There's rumblings that FF hasnt garnered the ratings and toy sales that originally forced the change in tone, so the powers that be are deciding what to do with any future seasons. Dan Berger did say it was highly unlikely that the show would ever return to its 2K3 art style.

I say if the show brings the boys back home at the end of FF season 2, let the 2k3 saga end there. It's had a good run, and even though there's some stray plot threads left for potential follow-up, can u really go bigger than traveling to the future?

CyberCubed

05-08-2007, 10:11 PM

The TMNT have traveled to outer space in the beginning of Season 2 and came back home to do normal routine on Earth, it wouldn't be any different than this.

I'd like at least one full 26 episode season in the present after FF ends. Just give me one more season in the present to end the show with, and I'll be content. The show already has nearly 150 episodes (with FF included) by the end of this season, so hell, it did go on for quite a long time.

Playmates has apparently made a crapload of money with the movie toys and Ubisoft has been bringing in the cash with the games based on the movie, so I very much doubt they want the TMNT license to disappear just yet.

4kids also doesn't have much to anchor their 4kidsTV block if they cancel TMNT, so even though it isn't the money grabber they wanted it to be, it certainly isn't bombing like their other shows. I don't think the 2k3 era of TMNT is over just yet.

Storm Eagle

07-15-2007, 08:35 PM

I saw someone say at another board that "The Day of Awakening" could be the true finale, even though it's numbered before "Zixxth Sense". The reason for that being, is...

..."The Day of Awakening" is where the Turtles finally defeat Sh'okonabo, since he apparently was the main villain of Fast Forward.

Now that I've seen the final six episodes, I don't have to watch them in the fall anymore, even though I plan to get the second DVD, whenever that comes out.

Moderator Note: This post has been edited.

Knightmare

07-20-2007, 01:56 PM

TvshowsonDVD.com just announced that 4Kids is moving up their release of Vol. 2 of TMNT:Fast Forward to come out on August 7th, the same day as then new movie and season 5 of the original series. This release will contain the 13 remaining episodes as well as the 6 that have not aired yet.

All I can say is that if they do plan on ending Fast Forward, I hope they show how the guys get back to the present.

MacGyver

07-20-2007, 02:12 PM

All I can say is that if they do plan on ending Fast Forward, I hope they show how the guys get back to the present.

If you don't want to wait, the final episodes are up on Comcast's On Demand video service.

I won't give any spoilers though.

veemonjosh

07-20-2007, 02:15 PM

The final six episodes have been put up on YouTube.

The only things I see are random episodes of the original TMNT and random Japanese game show stuff.

Edit: Wait, nevermind, I found it.

Also, since that link has full episodes, you probably should remove it, as it's clearly against the Toon Zone rules.

Storm Eagle

07-20-2007, 06:18 PM

If you don't want to wait, the final episodes are up on Comcast's On Demand video service.

When did they go up? Do you know the exact date?

Dark Fact

07-20-2007, 06:22 PM

Speaking of Fast Forward, is there a new episode tomorrow?

Storm Eagle

07-20-2007, 06:26 PM

Speaking of Fast Forward, is there a new episode tomorrow?

Why would there be? They won't start showing the final six episodes until the fall. That, and the DVD set containing the second half of Fast Forward will be out next month, WITH those unseen episodes.

Keep in mind that they're unseen episodes unless you have Comcast.

MacGyver

07-20-2007, 06:39 PM

When did they go up? Do you know the exact date?

"Race For Glory!" and "Head of State" went up sometime around Father's Day (there were ads for "My Dad's a Rat" or some event with a name like that in honor of Father's Day). Those two are down as of Tuesday I believe.

The last four ("DNA is Thicker Than Water"; "The Cosmic Completist"; "The Day of Awakening"; and "The Zixxth Sense") went up Monday and should be avialable until sometime next month I think. My cable is down and I can't check now.

My personal opinion: "Head of State" is the best one by far. Probably the best episode of Fast Forward period. Though I was fond of a few others.

Simpler Simon

07-20-2007, 06:40 PM

I saw the last six episodes. Some general comments below in spoiler boxes, though nothing too specific for those who want to wait for the dvd release/network airings:

Overall, more of the same. It's clear the creative team thought they would go on for another season, as there's no hint that the Turtles are going home anytime soon. The "Day of Awakening" finale was crammed into 1 episode, and it got the job done though it felt very rushed. The Zixx episode was a bit ho-hum compared to 'Milk Run,' and the return of the Dark turtles saw some character development in a very cliche and played-out package.

By far I was most disappointed with Head of State, the Bishop episode. You get a lot of good back story in this one, but the emotions get very sappy, melodramatic and ham-fisted. The lack of subtlety kills a great story.

I personally think we've seen the best of this season with episodes like Milk Run and Timing is Everything. The last six don't top those.

Storm Eagle

07-20-2007, 08:21 PM

"Race For Glory!" and "Head of State" went up sometime around Father's Day (there were ads for "My Dad's a Rat" or some event with a name like that in honor of Father's Day). Those two are down as of Tuesday I believe.

The last four ("DNA is Thicker Than Water"; "The Cosmic Completist"; "The Day of Awakening"; and "The Zixxth Sense") went up Monday and should be avialable until sometime next month I think. My cable is down and I can't check now.

My personal opinion: "Head of State" is the best one by far. Probably the best episode of Fast Forward period. Though I was fond of a few others.

There was no episode called "My Dad's a Rat".