Splinter’s hallucination of Rat King in 2012 was quite dark and terrifying and now seeing where that story originated from makes it even more so, seeing Rat King’s skeletal remains is just flat out uncomfortable. Also the Mutant apocalypse arc in 2012 was also both dark and devastating, it really showed us what the turtles possible future would’ve of been if they had lost to the Kraang. Seeing Leo’s and Raph’s heart to heart is sort of a turn around from the normal dynamic with Raph usually being the hot headed one while Leo was the voice of reason and had to be there for him, that line Raph said to Leo at the end of the final battle was just heart wenching and watching them all together again after the apocalypse was just beautiful and a perfect way to end the series.
I remember reading that the apocalypse episodes were supposed to be the actual canon finale to the series so that Nickelodeon wouldn't continue the show having a definitive end, but later back tracked saying it was a different dimension of turtles I still consider it the ending though since it's the same Turtles from the 2012 series.
@@kn6361it’s really up to personal belief. I do agree that it’s the “true” finale of the show but in a way it was both a satisfying and upsetting send off, “Owari” at the end of the day was the proper finale in the sense that the main story was done while season 5 was just ending arcs off. So really you as the person decide which one was the end.
@@SC13_45, it’s really only the mutant apocalypse which is considered an alternate universe the rest is canon. Even though most of the arcs aren’t connected to the main story they’re still set in the same universe as the first four seasons.
I have two dark moments to share in the more recent TMNT shows (TMNT 2012, ROTTMNT) 1. Leo decapitates Shredder again. In the 2012 series, Leo decapitates Shredder like in previous versions. In one scene, we see Leo holding Shredder's helmet (which was merged with his head due to a previous mutation). I heard that the writers wanted to put blood on the helmet but decided it would be too traumatizing for children watching the show. 2. In the ROTTMNT Movie, near the end, Leo sacrifices himself to save the entire city. Casey is running to the key that would close the gate that lets the Kraang into their world. Leo tells him to close the gate, with him inside the prison dimension because he needs to lure the Kraang inside. Casey and Raph plead with him not to do this, and Leo says to Raph "Hero moves are totally your style", trying to make light of this situation. Casey sees no other way and closes the gate with Leo on the other side. Following this is a traumatic beatdown, showing blood. That was long, but make another using these dark moments!
One thing I find scary and sad for Donnie is for in Mutant Apocolypse he's a metalhead like robot, meaning when the others die, he'd be left alone. The thought of him being the last survivor adds a layer of darkness that I overlooked when I first watched it
IDW’s Saki origin makes me think about how his “last test of loyalty” to the Foot for Alopex was killing her old pre mutant animal family. People always saw it as pointlessly cruel and antagonizing, but it’s literally, “I killed my father too and you don’t see me whining about it!”
Mutant Apocalypse was so dark, but at the same time so incredible and I'm glad that Nickelodeon didn't try to censor it Ik it's not technically the finale of TMNT 2012, but to me it'll always feel like it truly is and really signifies the high note that it went out on.
Technically the Wanted: Bebop and Rocksteady/80’s turtle arc is the series finale though the episode order for the final season was slightly muddled with that arc from being episodes 11 to 13 to 18 to 20, I count the Mutant Apocalypse is the true finale anyway.
I once owned a comic where a psychologist was trying to convince his patient that there were no giant talking turtles, but when he saw Raphael, his mind broke and he went to the building’s roof and started shooting into the crowd. Pretty messed up, now that I’m looking back on it.
I’ve gotten back into TMNT lately after having watched (and loved) the first two seasons of the 2012 series as a kid. I’ve also recently watched all of Rise of the TMNT along with its movie, which I also really enjoyed as well! (I’ve rewatched the movie a few times already, I love it so much) But JESUS FUCK I had no idea how dark the comics got! And even to extent the 2012 show, since I never finished it. Honestly, seeing what happened to the turtles I loved when I was small in the Mutant Apocalypse makes me feel genuinely sad. I do appreciate that people were willing to take a concept as wild as the TMNT in such different directions, whether than be fun and goofy or brutal and tragic. The creativity on show is really interesting, but I might stay away from the darker stuff. I’m a big softie and my poor heart can’t take stuff like that, it makes me too sad. That being said, I know the Rise movie is pretty tame in comparison to (gestures at these videos) ALL THAT, but I feel it deserves a bit of a shout out. The main things being the bad future where everyone dies (with the exception of Casey), along with how the time travel works implying that the bad future isn’t some offshoot timeline, but the /original/ timeline that must exist for the good future to happen. That and also near the end of the movie where Leonardo sacrifices himself and essentially accepts his death at the hands of Krang. Granted, he gets saved, which is a lot tamer compared to these other stories that very much do not pull their punches. Although, it’s still say it’s a lot for such a light-hearted iteration.
I’m expecting Blind Sight Issue 1 to show up cause that shocked me real bad. Leo falls off of a radio tower, accidentally impaling himself on his swords and dying a horrific death. The stuff afterwards is just as dark.
The story of the Rat King visiting Splinter when he was injured taunting him to survive and eat rats was pretty much similar to the 2012 Nickelodeon TMNT series. Both of the story was a pretty dark scenario. Dang another dark story surrounding Donatello this dude can never catch a break.
You should have added that in the Mutant Apocalypse episodes of the 2012 turtles that also April AND Casey,AS WELL AS Karai(ESPECIALLY Karai,being Splinters daughter in this show) are nowhere to be seen in the apocalyptic future,and so are either dead or mutants themselves somewhere.
I dont remember much about the episodes but they are confirmed or implied to be dead. I think some of Karai and Aprils belongings are in the truck Raphael drives and Caseys skull was seen as the detonator for the truck when raph blows it up.
I never understood why they chose to end the 2012 series in The Mutant Apocalypse It ended superbly in season 4 the last episode where they finally defeated Schroeder and it ended all the brothers together including Karae, April and Casey in my opinion season 5 was redundant should have ended it as it ended they finally defeated Schroeder
Really the only reason season 5 (Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) ever existed was for all of the adventures that the turtles went on throughout the series all had satisfying endings so nothing felt unfinished. I do agree that season 4 was the true finale for that show though, that scene with the turtles, Karai, Casey and April sitting on the rooftop felt like the most satisfying finale to a season and the series as a whole. The Mutant apocalypse finale was really only an alternate ending in the sense if that if that event actually happened in 2012 than that’s how it would’ve truly ended though it isn’t the main conclusion.
A comic panel that I see on Pinterest sometimes is Leonardo transforming into one of those demon dragons from the 2012 Nickelodeon series, not sure if it’s from an official comic or a fan comic
I’m not very knowledgeable on the TMNT comics and deep lore but perhaps rat king appears for splinter so much bc he’s a rat and maybe rat king has some sort of spiritual connection to rats
I think I know where the timeline branched off from the Mutant Apocalypse and the main timeline. In the episode “The Gauntlet” features the Krang with a Mutagen bomb.
This was actually referenced in the 2012 series when he fell into the underground pit with the mutated shredder, hallucinating about the rat King after finding his dead body
The "Mutant Apocalypse" episode was originally meant to be the 2012 series finale, which would explain the family portrait at the end as well as the part afterwards that you didn't mention, Mirage Comics Leo holding a sign that reads "FOR KEVIN AND PETER". Between the dark and sad nature of the episode and the bitter sweet ending the Nickelodeon executives had decided to switch it with " Wanted: Bebop and Rocksteady" which then became the finale instead for want of giving the show a lighter note to end on. What I would like to know is how Raph and Mikey were able to grow hair. Last I checked, reptiles are unable to do that. Also, thanks for mentioning Splinter's ordeal from the original Mirage version of "City At War", which shows just how dark they were willing to go with that comic book (and which is why I love it so much).
And I think Nickelodeon made the right choice, as why do we want an ending where the Turtles are in a world where Splinter, April, Casey, and most of their other loved ones are dead?
I think you should relook at the 2012 dark moments. On rewatched I noticed something I hadn't on my first watch through that Ralph uses a bomb held by a skull in order to take down Leo's monster truck. The skull is clearly what's left of Kasey Jones. In a way its morbid but also fitting as I cannot imagine Kasey wanting to be laid to rest in any other way.
Raph’s Mutant apocalypse design looks like a mix of his 2007 and 2012 self, felt like the beard was a little strange but it looked better than him without it.
May not qualify as a video entry, but i always loved the comic book panels for issue #62 from the Archie run of TMNT Adventures. Its a part 1/5 futuristic story where the turtles have cyborg samurai suits. But it starts off with raph having a dream standing over the bodies of his enemies and then it starts raining acid. Which completely melts his skin and muscles. What's left is a laughing skeleton of raphael. Pretty dark imagery and a cool dream scenario.
You should have added that in the Mutant Apocalypse episodes of the 2012 turtles that also April AND Casey,AS WELL AS Karai(ESPECIALLY Karai,being Splinters daughter in this show) are nowhere to be seen in the apocalyptic future,and so are either dead or mutants themselves somewhere.
Realistically season 5 doesn’t really count that much as apart of the main story, most of them are just episodic stories that dive into different themes per an arc. The mutant apocalypse one is apparently set in an alternate universe where if the Kraang had won and humanity was gone as well as the world in ruins, it was just a fun Mad Max themed adventure. Though I still count it as a “true” finale to the series, though “Owari” was the proper one.
Here are other dark moments that I remember right now: 1) Stockmans dismemberment in TMNT 2003 and specially the episode where he builds a body for himself and this is slowly rottening. 2) The birrh of Mutagen Man in TMNT 2012 3) Agent Bishop using Slash kills his own father in TMNT IDW series 4) Also Agent Bishop using Slash to massacre his Mutanimal friends in TMNT IDW series 5) Metalhead gaining a consciens and erasing his feelings in TMNT IDW series 6) Krang taking control over Leatherhead in TMNT IDW series
1. Yeah that was dark for Splinter. 2. Fitting for Shredder. 3. That was a weird comic. 4. Never was a fan of Mutant Apocalypse. Mainly that it was intended to be the series finale before switching with Wanted: Bebop and Rocksteady. Like, Were they trying to traumatize kids saying, 'Protect the Earth. It dies. The End. Buy our products!' Sorry, i'd go on ranting about this. 5. Totally dark. Still shocked that Donatello almost died. Knew he'd survive, but.... Wow. Overall, good video.
its so gruesome that the comics makes you think of the ratking like a vilain who wants splinter to go mad but the plot reveals that he actually wanted splinter to do what he could'nt to survive, wich means eating a fellow rat.
If you can do maybe in the next video about what happened to April in the series in 2003/7 she wore an enchanted ring I do not remember so much what happened there I just remember it really scared me as a kid
Damn fam any fight that goes down 1v gang is bound to be messed up i literally shed tears for that man he just wanted to protect the earth but because shredder is shredder he just ordered a beat down savage
