#raphael would approve

[brightlotusmoon]

They're so good together. They're fire and air and different types of the same chaos.

[brightlotusmoon]

I'm so annoyed at TMNT favoritism in Leo and Raph like if it was the fandom that would be fine with me I like both characters I just dislike how the TMNT show runners only ever care about them and their big dumb fight they have every single movie or show like even rise did the fight thing and left Mikey and Donnie's character development behind like what is it with the show runners in doing this like we have already constantly seen Raph and Leo at each others throats in every movie it's getting stale and boring because it ends up being the plot it's why I'm excited for Mutant Mayhem series and loved the movie it was entertaining it didn't have the annoying fight scene either what are your thoughts on this

Keep in mind that Raph was Kevin's favorite, Don was Peter's favorite, Mike was based on Steve, and Leo was at first a generic leader soldier type so they needed big storylines for him to establish his character.

Now, I fully agree with you. Many long time fans do. The Leo And Raph Man Pain Cycle became very popular, and when the 2007 film came out, it hit a boiling point. The fandom let out a collective boiling gasp and things were never the same. And then we learned that the studios couldn't make the two sequels featuring Mikey joining the Foot and Donnie meeting the Triceratons. Boy were fanfics written.

It was easy to create and ride such an explosive relationship, a classic blue vs red cliche. Donnie was considered the gentle one and Mikey was too much of a goofball: in fact, 2003 had a whole clause where Mikey wasn't allowed too much angst, to preserve his class clown persona. The original script for Outbreak and Good Genes was to have Mikey double mutated. But it was argued that Donnie would easily cure him. So Donnie got stabbed by the mutant roach instead!

Leo's PTSD arc was one of the first instances of a cartoon character going through it like that. Raph had the right kind of intensity to help him through.

You're correct in that we never really got to see the weight of the drama hit Don or Mike in a similar way. They're the little brothers. Although, Kevin did admit that he always thought of Donnie as older than Raph despite it not even mattering.

Despite those weird anons and antis complaining at me for it, I make it a point to dig into Mikey's psychology, and by extension Donnie"s, and pull out the emotional, insecure, anxious, terrified teenager nightmares, aging the boys to at least twenty (which they are at the end of 2003) and reminding them that they all have PTSD and Mike is just as capable of Deep Thoughts.

[brightlotusmoon]

Hey, TMNT 2012, pls explain the thought process behind this gag, because I can make multiple observations

[brightlotusmoon]

Cute idea for autism Raphael: he is the one of the brothers most likely to go non-verbal when upset, hurting, or sick. When he is sick; he could sometimes go days without talking more than a ‘Mmph’ or an avoidant “Mmmnnn…”

YES THANK YOU.

[brightlotusmoon]

I found the tiniest 2007 Raphael. I can squeeze him when I'm anxious, frustrated, about to melt.

For reference, my wedding and engagement rings, on my ring finger, are size 4 US. My middle finger is 5. Most gloves are too big. My glasses frames are always from the kids section. My left wrist is 5.5 and the right is 5.75 - I'm smol.

Tiny Raphie.

[brightlotusmoon]

Watch "The Wombats - Lemon To A Knife Fight (Lyrics)" on YouTube

Husband introduced me to this song by calling it "a Raph and Mikey song" and he had a good point. He meant 2003 but it could be applied everywhere.

[brightlotusmoon]

Bay Raph: *is happily exercise equipment* I love being a big brother

Cassandra and Sunita: NO HE'S MY BEST FRIEND

@remmushound

[brightlotusmoon]

The thing that bothers me in most fics for 2003 and Bayverse TMNT is how Raphael doesn't really explore more of his hobbies and abstract knowledge. Sports and MMA. Arts and crafts. Psychology for the most part. Field Medicine! because he and Casey patch up each other and know how to administer advanced first aid, plus 2003 Donnie insisted he wasn't a doctor, but we made him one anyway so he became one...

@remmushound and I are RPing Bay and Rise Raph chatting to help Rise Raph relax and heal. I'm pulling a lot of Bay Raph's knowledge from my husband's knowledge bank, which is pulled from literally doing A Bunch Of Things over thirty years. What a mensch.