Ask me about my AUs! Sideblog for tmnt stuff. 24, but this page will generally be sfw. You won’t find tcest here but idc what you’re into so long as you’re not a bigot ✌🏻
The fact dvd set doesn't come with any sort of guide showing what the episodes are on each disk really bugs me (I mean, does anyone have the episode names and numbers memorized?) so I made my own and figured I'd share! It's not set up for printing, but if you do it should already be sized to fit into the box.
If you find any mistakes or have any suggestions to make it better lmk! The little foot symbol marks the first episode of each season.
Ergo it is your responsibility to communicate your needs and boundaries
If you lie to someone about something being okay when it isn't, that is on you
Something being a trauma response doesn't exempt it from harming your relationships and the other people in them
Enabling your trauma responses will not make them go away, and it is your responsibility to work on yourself for your own wellbeing as well as the people around you
Being A Victim cannot be a pillar of your identity forever, and being victimized does not make you incapable of harming other people (see above)
You are not a mouse in a jean jacket you are an eel with a gun / adult human being who can use your words even if it's Scary
Having a personality disorder doesn't make you evil but you have got to get off of Personality Disorder Tumblr (see above, re: enabling)
I think Splinter sent Leo away to become a better ninja. A better fighter, not a better leader. Leo interpreted it as needing to be a better leader because he had concerns about how the stress of whatever was going on with the Triceratons had affected them as a team, and whether he was handling it correctly. Splinter didn't.
When the Ancient One mocked and insulted Leo, he was referring to his fighting skills (which is a really ineffective way to teach, I've always hated the 03 Ninja Tribunal, 07 lives up to the legacy), which certainly devastated Leo, but even more than that, he heard 'you will never be good enough for your brothers, how dare you think you're above them when you don't even deserve them.' But the Ancient One doesn't care about Leo's brothers and only referred to them because it would be a way to manipulate him, because it was apparent how much he thinks about them.
Splinter failed Leo so spectacularly and the really sad thing is, Leo doesn't see it. When he comes home, Master Splinter is the one who greets him warmly and holds no bitterness over the extra ENTIRE YEAR that he was gone without permission. Donnie and Mikey are happy to see him, too, but no one is as ready and willing to just let him fit right back where he used to as if nothing's changed. Of course, because at this point Splinter had to recognize that if the family was damaged by the experience, it was his bad call that got them there, and I don't think he's ready to face that.
So Leo won't see Splinter as being in the wrong, because he's the one making things comfortable and safe for him, after so long of being lost and alone.
Like when Splinter sent him on the pilgrimage (that's what he calls it), he was absolutely trying to make the others jealous. Like he would use that to motivate them. 'you alone are ready' with a disapproving look at the others. Come on, Splints. You have experience with Shredder, you should know that jealousy is at best unstable as a motivator, and with four teenagers you should've realized by now that it's more often demotivating.
And it works on Raph! He leaves and doesn't even go to the airport to say goodbye to Leo because he doesn't want to deal with the side comments implying that he'll never be as good as his brother. Of course he wanted to go off on his own! Of course he wanted it to be a secret from his family, they (Splinter) would just compare him to Leo.
And when Raph outright says that Leo is the better son, Splinter finally addresses it and reassures him, but I honestly hate that scene. You can't purposely pit your kids against each other, sit back and watch as it escalates (he literally sent Leo out to go get Raph, Raph returns without Leo, he isn't even asking where Leo is or having someone call to let him know Raph came home?) only to turn around and say 'ah but I love each of you.' Also, 'not being my favorite student doesn't mean you're my least favorite son'? Even in a moment where he's comforting Raph (who has badly needed this conversation for literal plural years!), he's still careful to leave the door open to the idea that he does have favored students and even favored sons.
I do think he genuinely loves them. That doesn't erase the damage he did and is doing and won't own up to.
Also, I think Splinter knew about the Nightwatcher, which makes it even more careless for him to send Leo after Raph when he knows they're mad at each other, without bothering to mention it. He's holding Leo responsible for his brothers' actions without even filling him in on where they're at emotionally and what they've been up to? Like he actually believes himself that being a stronger fighter makes Leo perfect and no other leadership skills are necessary to take care of his brothers. Which makes sense considering how much they were left to take care of each other while Leo was gone, with minimal help from him. Splinter has no idea what it takes to look after his own kids, he thinks a sweet little moment of reassurance here and there after a disaster is enough emotional labor to get them through years of trauma.
Like he barely understands Mikey's job that brings him to the surface every day? And just lets Donnie handle it? He punishes them strictly if they get in trouble but he's not involved to actually help them be safe. He's surprised and confused to find Donnie home when Mikey isn't. He doesn't even now where Raph is (Donnie and Mikey do). Once he understands that what Donnie is building would help their family be more safe, he's a lot more supportive than he was initially, but it's still like? Donnie is obsessively trying to find a way to keep track of where his brothers are because he's worried about Leo. He had to save up to get the parts by working for his little brother, who is providing for the family at that point while Splinter reads and meditates I guess. And when he hears about it Splinter's like 'ah good idea!' Like it's nice he's excited but it's clear he doesn't have the same level of concern and anxiety for Leo and Raph's safety that Donnie's been dealing with. And when Don gets batnapped and Splinter springs into action, it does sort of feel like it's been a while, you know? Like a little wake up call
okay so about that scene with raph. it's because like. i'm still bashing so here's a cut
Leo, as discussed, does not recognize that the hurt comes from Splinter.
Raph has always been quicker to question authority. In many iterations, an important role he fills is recognizing Splinter's mistakes, and trying to protect Leo from them (sometimes making things worse, it depends). And in 07 it reads like that at a glance. He's out on his own even though Sensei said no. He's taking the lead when Leo is captured without waiting to be told (even though it was heavily implied that responsibility should fall to Donnie). And yet.
Raph is out there searching for the reasons why Splinter was right. He was right to send Leo away because we're adults and being out there fighting is what we should be doing. He was right not to send me because I'm too reckless (watch) and too vengeful (I can play the part). He's right that my anger makes me dangerous (I can play the part I can play the part I can play the part).
And he is dealing with some cognitive dissonance trying to believe what he's been taught about himself, his brothers, and the world. Especially the world! The point of the Nightwatcher is that he wants to help humans, while Splinter and Leo think he shouldn't get involved. If you get too close to humans you'll hurt our family. He's quietly proving them wrong for a while, but then--the rooftop fight.
And so Splinter was right about everything. "I understand why he's the better son." The moment of reassurance from Splinter is meaningful and tender. It's also part of a longer game. Raph is more open than he's been in years. It's the perfect opportunity for Splinter to solidify himself as an all-knowing authority. He really does have Raph's best interests at heart, but he also has control in mind. do you see it do you get like the duality. Most people aren't purposely abusers but some people can't conceptualize that their own actions can be harmful and abusive. Multiple things happening: affectionate father sees that his child needs comfort (finally), and authority figure asserts his word as law.
It's just like, it crumbles in that moment, you know? Here's where Raph lets go of the harmful patterns he's observed, the questions he had. Family is more important than all of that--which is touching and has truth but family should be allowed to have a part in making decisions that affect them. Family being so important is exactly why a parent should behave better.
And to be clear! Splinter has no idea how a parent should behave. His knowledge of humans needs and behavior seems to come from Shredder and soap operas (which explains why he doesn't want his turtles getting involved with humans.....) He's doing the best he can and that's what's so gut wrenching about it.
And also, Donnie and Mikey? They're in a better position to observe, you know? Especially since they've spent more time with Splinter since Leo left. I think they see it but they won't say it because well. He's all they have. And they're going to stay where their brothers are. It's like. To get away from a bad situation you actually need a new situation to go to--not even necessarily better across the board! But new. And the turtles got nothing. And also they love Splinter, they know what it's like to feel so heavy and not live up to familial roles, they know what it's like to be a mutant and have no place in society.
Raph and Leo won't leave because they trust Splinter, can't not trust him because he's been responsible for keeping the family safe (which they both see themselves as taking on) (they need his advice). Don and Mikey won't because they love him, even after he's broken their trust (that's what they've always done for family) (broken trust is like spilt milk in their experience) (which would explain why Mikey could be willing to trust Karai in spite of everything)
anyways i think sometimes about an alternate universe where one or more of them has a moment of courage/clarity/something. Leo after he gets back. Donnie after Leo leaves. Mikey when Raph gets hurt. I don't know exactly what it would be. An opportunity comes up and someone takes it, and the rest of them have to choose Splinter or their brother, and that's almost a hike because they were always going to choose their brother. I always end up writing in a universe where they stay, though, where no one ever quite looks the situation in the eye and they keep on living however they can.
Like bishop will be one as kinda an enemies turned allies, idk about Hun he seems like kinda smallfry, and then Uhhhhh that eldrich horror nightmare being maybe.
guys i’m so sorry to say this but exercising and indulging in hobbies rather than scrolling on your phone for 200 hours actually does improve your mood and overall mental health, this has deeply upset me more than anyone
Hi! I'm its-a-reptile-thing (sending asks from the main). Would love to hear your other ideas on "what if Shredder was an okay dad?" And as a followup, how does this change Karai's dynamics with other characters?
(I'm more comfortable with asks and reblogs. Hope that's alright!)
Yeah! I’d said DMs before cause I wasn’t sure if I wanted to put it all out there yet, considering it has been forever since I saw 2012 so my recollection is vague. And sure Good Dad Shredder could be done for really any iteration with Shredder and Karai but this is particularly for 12. So uh. Apologies in advance for anything I misremember but hey it’s an au anyways lol. Under a cut cause it’s long.
- Most important bit of this to me is that Shredder really doesn’t lie to Karai a whole lot. He makes it clear he hates her father but had no real ill will towards her mother and since Yoshi hadn’t come for her after the fire he took on raising her as her Uncle. (Will probably need to change a bit of what happened with all that but oh well) Hell, legally her name is still Hamato Miwa and she goes by Miwa at school. Karai is just what Saki calls her as a nickname cause she’s stubborn as hell.
- Despite being fully trained and able, she’s not allowed to join in any revenge plots and she Will be grounded if he finds out she’s been fighting the Turtles instead of doing homework.
- Speaking of the Turtles, Saki has no real issue with them and would rather not fight children. In fact it’s another point on his list of reasons he hates Splinter cause why are Teens out there doing vigilante shit. This is also an issue he has with his henchmen cause he keeps telling them to leave the kids alone but they all have individual beef with the turtles and keep trying to fight them.
- Saki has like. Normal Guy hobbies and activities outside of revenge. He teaches beginner martial arts classes at the local rec center on Thursdays.
- The big reveal is not that Karai is Miwa but that when confronted with that information she’s like ‘Uh yeah of course I am’ and is just fully embracing the revenge plots. Or, trying to without being grounded.
- The Kraang are a major issue though so Karai and the Turtles are able to strongarm Saki and Splinter into a truce but Karai still sees Saki as her dad despite him never letting her call him that, and Splinter has to deal with letting her go.
Bonus: Karai and April actually go to the same school but were never in any of the same classes until one semester they are and are assigned to do a project together and April has a bizarrely normal time at their house.
So you’re making your own TMNT iteration. Here’s how to get started:
1. Choose who will be the comic books guy
1. This is usually Mikey but variance is allowed!
2. Comic books guy should have other unrelated nerdy intetests, ie Anime, horror films, unicorn onesies
3. Keep in mind at least one of the other bros should find this lame and obnoxious. Bonus points if they are a hypocrite
2. Place your Baxter Stockman on the “snobby wet cat” to “serious threat” scale. This will severely impact the way your plot develops.
3. The following characters, if included, are either friend-shaped or out for blood:
1. Leatherhead
2. Bishop
3. Utrom
4. Frogs
4. Customize your April! Choose her age, appearance, and backstory!
Backstory 1: turtles saved her life when she was running through the sewers to escape a serious threat, probably mousers
Backstory 2: she feels like a loser in school so she just made friends with these sewer creatures
5. Set the emotional intelligence meters on your Raph and Mikey
1. One of them has to be completely tactless
2. They both can be
3. One of them should be extremely empathetic to the point where it causes plot
4. They both can be
6. Customize your Splinter! Choose his species (original), connection to Hamato Yoshi, and parenting style
Parenting style 1: his life revolves around his kids, if he made mistakes he did it with love
Parenting style 2: his life revolves around his past with Shredder and his children are weapons for his battles
Parenting style 3: his soaps are on
7. Place your Shredder on the “babygirl” to “force of nature” scale. This will have minimal impact on your plot.
Congrats! You’ve completed stage 1! Take a breather, explore your style, daydream about what kinds of pizza toppings your boys like. In stage 2 we’ll be getting into the nitty gritty details, like Karai’s relation to Shredder, how Splinter actually learned ninjitsu, and yes, the unavoidable question, did any of the boys ever have a crush on April and if so how did that pan out. Relax while you can.
At this point some of you are wondering, shouldn’t I have decided on a tone? Is my iteration going to be silly or serious? Well, don’t worry! We’ll cover that in stage 4, right after we figure out how you plan to incorporate time travel.
