TV Series

With the first season in the books, and the show already set for two more, it’s time to look ahead to what the next chunk of episodes will bring to the newest incarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  The second season is set to air later this month, and the show should be trying to outdo itself in action, adventure, and comedy.  So what can the audience expect moving forward?

Of all the information that was revealed before season one even ended was the exciting news that Casey Jones would finally make his debut.  Casey is about the same age as the turtles and April (perhaps a bit older), and dresses like a vigilante ready to dish out punishment.  He’s got more weapons and a mean new look that strikes fear in the hearts of evil.  How he’s used in the series remains to be seen, although given his hate for mutants he’s likely to be an enemy to the turtles for a while.  (If there’s one thing this series has been good at, it’s dragging out plot points, so expect any Casey/TMNT conflict to last a while.)

The only concern about Casey is his voice actor.  Anyone familiar with Nickelodeon knows Josh Peck.  He got all his big breaks working for Nick over the years, and now he’s back as Casey.  The reason that this is a concern is that he is not known for serious/dark characters like Casey.  This latest series has been excellent with the voice actors chosen for the main cast.  So will a comedian fit with a character like Casey Jones?  Preview clips haven’t revealed too much about actual dialogue, so that remains to be seen.

Another thing to expect out of season two (or, not expect really) is no resolution to the Karai/Splinter/Shredder story.  Now that Master Splinter knows that Karai is Miwa, there will likely be a few developments interspersed through the episodes, but probably nothing solid – and certainly no resolution – until at least the season finale next year.  It’s a little sad that that will be the case, too, because the show needs to avoid getting stale by rehashing the same plots for three plus years.  The 1987 and 2003 series both had that problem, and the story lines got significantly weirder as each show progressed.  Those behind the 2012 series should be thinking of ways to introduce characters, ideas, and subplots in this upcoming season that can be fully developed later.  If they happen to be only tangentially related to Shredder or the Kraang, then all the better.  (For instance, if Leatherhead stays in Dimension X, then there could be an entire season or episode arc dedicated to adventures on the other side of the portal to rescue their friend.)

New mutants and old characters have also been revealed for the upcoming season.  Mutagen Man will get his suit and become something again.  Slash, Krang’s warrior from Dimension X in the 1987 series, is also set to make an appearance in some form.  Other artwork for mutants resembling old characters from the 1987 series have shown up on the Internet.  So the number of standalone episodes may increase significantly this season, drawing attention away from major story points.

What would fans like to see added to the show in season two?  For most, it’s probably some particular character that he or she loved.  But the show can’t be built completely on nostalgia.  It has to stand on its own, too.  The general consensus from critics, fans, and the public was that the first season of the new incarnation was a huge success.  While the writers can’t just repeat the same pattern again and expect another smash, they can remember what made the show so good.  It was bold, unique, and mixed the action and comedy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles perfectly.  If that remains, and the stories are fresh, then the second season will have plenty to offer, and probably keep the show going strong for a long time to come.