Character Analysis: 2012 Season 5: Raph
Raph, like Leo, I think is the second most characterization. His character arch is him controlling his anger. He’s the second oldest. He’s also is overshadowed by Leo and he picks on Mikey. During the first 2 seasons, Raph temper gets the best of him. While his temper is still there in the later seasons, it’s noticeable less explosive, except when the writers have him be angry.
Raph also as has inferiority complex. Symptoms of this complex include:
Having trouble admitting to mistakes
Feeling insecure, incomplete, or unworthy
Withdrawal from everyday activities and social situations
Comparing yourself with others
Feelings of hostility, frustration, nervousness, or aggression
Inability to complete tasks
Signs of depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders
I think Raph’s anger and inferiority complex is a direct cause of Splinter’s teaches. In season 1, episode 3, (Turtle Temper) Splinter is actively criticizing Raph. When Raph try’s to explains himself he’s told to be quite, eventually Raph just listens. And when Mikey is joking around, Raph snaps at him. This is shows that, (like how Leo does to Donnie) Raph takes his bottle up emotions and project them onto Mikey and toward Leo. This can be a form of sibling abuse. Examples of sibling emotional abuse include name-calling, belittling, teasing, insulting, threatening, destroying property, relational aggression, intimidation and asserting power or control.
Does this make Raph a bad person? Some-what. Personally I think showing growth at controlling his anger is him getting better. That’s not say he’s 100% innocent, but the household he lives in turns his rage into another form of abuse.
>Splinter is harsh on Raph
> Raph, not having a lot of healthy coping mechanism, is abusive toward all his siblings
> the siblings fight with one another and can’t express their emotions in a healthy way
> the fighting leads to them getting into trouble/ not working as a team
> splinter gets upset/disappointed
The Turing point of Raph’s character comes in the episodes “Slash and Destroy” and “The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones” and the first half of season 3. In the episodes Slash and Destroy, Raph is seen to use his pet turtle as a way to vent his frustrations. When the turtle gets mutated he becomes Slash and has the ability to speak and to walk. Slash using his new ability, try’s to murder Raph’s brothers. In Slash’s mind, he only knows or remembers Raph’s brothers in a negative way. Raph finds out what’s happening and puts a stop to it. Slash and Raph separate and Raph is alone. In the episode Raph seems how unintentional or not, he is hurting his family. From his action to his words.
In the episode “The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones”, Raph no lingers had Slash. He not longer has a coping mechanism (besides training, art, or drums). It makes Raph frustrating and restless. He ends up meeting Casey and the two fight from a miscommunication. At the end of the episode the two became friends and Raph now has a new coping mechanism of being a vigilant with Casey. While this new mechanism isn’t the most healthiest, it does let Raph let go of that anger and energy by physical exertion.
In season 3, the farm arch, Splinter isn’t around. And Leo is in a coma, who steps up and take care of the brothers, Raph. While Raph isn’t the best strategist, and freezes up when he try to be temporarily leader, he does do his best at trying to get his brothers to train and motivated. Raph gets Mikey and Donnie to do exercise and training. When Splinter isn’t around, Raph smiles more, makes jokes, and is more happy.
As for the later seasons, Raph’s anger issues are a wave. One episode it’s there, and Raph is going to far in training and purpose beating up Leo (season 4 episode 18) or the next it’s not there. Like, why do the writers keep bringing this issue up it it was resolved?
While Raph’s anger is a big part of him. He’s also protective of his family. Many time in the later seasons, when Mikey gets hurt, Raph is the first one there. (I think it’s because of that one episode in season 1 episode, 14, we’re Mikey gets hurt on Raphs watch is what makes Raph a bit overprotective of Mikey). He is a animal guy, has a cute relationship with Mona Lisa/Y'Gythgba, and he can paint/graffiti and play drums. It’s just all of these traits of his get underdeveloped and faded because of his anger issues. Like, I completely forgot that he can play drums or that he’s a artist because it’s only mentioned a few times. I wish Raph was more explored with his personality besides his anger like in Rise.
Raph relationship with his brothers very from brothers to brother. With Leo, the two fight when training, both trying to appease their father. Both Raph and Leo put themselves in harms way to protect their family, both are cocky and believing that their better then the others. With Mikey, Raph verbally and physically abuses Mikey. Later in the series, he stop being so physically abusive (tho he did attempt to murder Mikey in season 4) he is still more or less verbal abusive. But Raph does care about his brother, he’s protecting of him and the two are seen hanging out. With Donnie? There actually wasn’t that many moments were the two had one on one time with each other. But it seems like the two lightly pick on one another. With Splinter? The two didn’t interact much. While Splinter tries to teach Raph how to control his anger, it didn’t work. But Splinter did teach him a way to help with his anxiety by repeating a chant. Splinter also seems to pit Leo and Raph together and doesn’t really steps in to break up the fights unless it goes to far.
As for mentally and physically? All of the turtles died. For Raph, he was “killed” (can’t 100% remember if he does die or is just possessed) by The Creep and turn into a flower/plant monster. As for mentally, because of his phobia of cockroaches, having to fight a bug lord on a plant of bugs, seeing Mona betray and later diying in his arms, AND seeing Splinter die twice, (one was directly in front of him)…..Raph has hallucinations. Both visually and tactile ones. (Season 4 Episode 17). He also seems to have minor anxiety (and maybe a personality disorder?).
While I’m not a big fan of this version of Raph, and I believe that he was abused by Splinter and in turn abusive toward his brothers. I don’t hate him. I just wished his character wasn’t all about his anger.
