10 years ago, I told myself and the universe that I could not leave this Earth without watching every episode of the original series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
And that day has finally come.
When I was 8 years old, the show first aired on NZ television. It instantly became a hit with myself and my friends - including four of us taking the names and playing 'ninja turtles' at lunch times. I taped as many episodes off the television that I could and watched them over and over again. It really was THE show that defined my childhood more than any other; more than WWF Superstars of Wrestling, more than The A-Team, and more than Parker Lewis Can't Lose (though that more likely defines 12-year old LOGMAN). I'm pretty sure it stopped airing on NZ television around 1992 or 1993, so there were many episodes I had never seen. Getting the chance to watch them all was a genuine goal of mine. As sad as that seems to sound to many, I don't care. This was my show.
So how did it feel to watch every episode some 25 years later?
To be honest, a mixed bag.
The episodes I loved as a kid were still awesome. Seasons 5, 6 & 7 certainly had their high points as well. But things like someone other than 'Uncle Phil' James Avery doing the voice of The Shredder often halted my enjoyment of an episode. The European Vacation side-season was all-round awful. So much awful. But the good out-weighed the bad more often than not.
Except for season 9. The introduction of Carter, the human boy/young man that mutated with metal and saved the TMNT on average of 1.8 times per episode just drove me nuts. Getting rid of the mighty Shredder is one thing, but then making the TMNT mutate into weird super mutants and still need a human to save them twice an episode just defeats the purpose of the entire show.
David Wise, I love you. But that was seriously the stupidest nonsense you have ever written. Even Kremzeek was better.
The other sad part to the last 3 seasons was the supreme lack of pizza. Not once did they partake in pizza with me. That made me sad.
Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will still remain my favourite cartoon series. But I have to admit now that The A-Team has surpassed it in terms of being my favourite TV show. However, I am glad to have finally watched every episode and will no doubt do it again, so long as the universe doesn't take me up on my offer from 10 years ago.
Next up on the viewing list is the mighty Gundam serials; I have just started on the original Japanese classic, Mobile Suit Gundam and plan to watch every episode of every different series (but have no set timeline for this). The year of Transformers is also coming, but I'll save that for another post...
And that day has finally come.
When I was 8 years old, the show first aired on NZ television. It instantly became a hit with myself and my friends - including four of us taking the names and playing 'ninja turtles' at lunch times. I taped as many episodes off the television that I could and watched them over and over again. It really was THE show that defined my childhood more than any other; more than WWF Superstars of Wrestling, more than The A-Team, and more than Parker Lewis Can't Lose (though that more likely defines 12-year old LOGMAN). I'm pretty sure it stopped airing on NZ television around 1992 or 1993, so there were many episodes I had never seen. Getting the chance to watch them all was a genuine goal of mine. As sad as that seems to sound to many, I don't care. This was my show.
So how did it feel to watch every episode some 25 years later?
To be honest, a mixed bag.
The episodes I loved as a kid were still awesome. Seasons 5, 6 & 7 certainly had their high points as well. But things like someone other than 'Uncle Phil' James Avery doing the voice of The Shredder often halted my enjoyment of an episode. The European Vacation side-season was all-round awful. So much awful. But the good out-weighed the bad more often than not.
Except for season 9. The introduction of Carter, the human boy/young man that mutated with metal and saved the TMNT on average of 1.8 times per episode just drove me nuts. Getting rid of the mighty Shredder is one thing, but then making the TMNT mutate into weird super mutants and still need a human to save them twice an episode just defeats the purpose of the entire show.
David Wise, I love you. But that was seriously the stupidest nonsense you have ever written. Even Kremzeek was better.
The other sad part to the last 3 seasons was the supreme lack of pizza. Not once did they partake in pizza with me. That made me sad.
Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will still remain my favourite cartoon series. But I have to admit now that The A-Team has surpassed it in terms of being my favourite TV show. However, I am glad to have finally watched every episode and will no doubt do it again, so long as the universe doesn't take me up on my offer from 10 years ago.
Next up on the viewing list is the mighty Gundam serials; I have just started on the original Japanese classic, Mobile Suit Gundam and plan to watch every episode of every different series (but have no set timeline for this). The year of Transformers is also coming, but I'll save that for another post...
