All the World in Two Shows
23 June 2013 Leave a comment
” SPOOOOOOOON!!!”— Raphael
Written by: Marty Isenberg
Original Air Date: November 22, 2003
Recap Narrator: Professor Honeycutt & Michelangelo
Characters and Concepts Introduced: Prime Leader Zanramon
Gargoyles episode I could make a forced comparison to: N/A
16 June 2013 4 Comments
If TMNT can be said to have a theme, it is that of fathers and the effects they have on their children. In contrast with the original animated series, Splinter’s parentage is made into a major part of the series, and several other characters gain additional storytelling weight by serving as mirrors to that relationship. This, more than anything else, is why I really like the idea of Karai as the Shredder’s daughter, as problematic as her demotion can be.
Most of these, I should note, are cases of adoptive fatherhood, which brings up the secondary theme of the series, which is that family is not inherently biological. The Hamato line, in particular, is, as far a we know, continues only via adoption, and will continue to do so, given the biological realities of the turtles.
In any case, the list. If I’ve missed one, or you simply have something to say, feel free to bring them up in the comments.
* Although the “children” in both cases see these people as their fathers, it is unclear that they would describe the relationship in that manner.
16 June 2013 Leave a comment
Because it’s the middle of the night, I’m awake, and tomorrow is fathers’ day, I decided to make a list of characters from both Gargoyles and TMNT who are canonically fathers.
While compiling the list, one thing stood out, and that’s that there are more characters who are fathers than most people might initially think about. Part of it is because several of them–specifically the historical ones–play only small roles within the Gargoyles saga, but another is because fatherhood is only part of their identities. It’s part of who they are, but they are not fully defined by it.
One of the more interesting things about gargoyle culture is the way it deemphasizes biological parentage in favor of collective upbringings. One of the major consequences of this is that the people who most stand out as fathers tend to be the humans, and that in an almost subversive reversion, it is the Goliath’s opposite number Xanatos who is, of the two, the one more defined by fatherhood. This is partly because Xanatos’ relationship with Alex began during the latter’s birth, while Goliath’s began while Angela was already an adult, but it also makes historical sense. We know that Xanatos’ own father, Petros, shaped and continues to shape Xanatos, while we know very little of just what effect Goliath’s bio-dad had on him. And, as the series itself would claim, that’s neither good nor bad. In the end, parenthood is what one makes of it, and there are no rules.
In any case, here’s the list, more or less in the order in which the characters were introduced. Should anyone have any corrections or additions to make, please include them in the comments.
Edit: Thanks to Acara for noting these few I missed.
24. Leo* (to Lunette)
25. Zafiro*****
26. Jade*****
27. “Second” ******
Acara also noted that both Tom and the Magus could be considered fathers to the Avalon clan, as they along with Princess Katherine played the role of surrogate parents. While a case can certainly be made for them, I would personally place them in that same gray area TMNT‘s Serling occupies regarding Cody Jones: while their importance in their upbriging cannot be overstated, it is unknown if members of the Avalon clan would consider them their fathers, or if either man would consider them their children.
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* While secondary canon confirms that they are the genetic parents of those mentioned, this has not been confirmed within primary canon, and gargoyle culture hints that they do not feel this way regarding their children.
** Father-to-be, as per “The Rock”.
*** Although as of yet unconfirmed within the primary or secondary canon, his fatherhood of Mordred is a vital part of the Arthurian legend.
**** Secondary canon states that although he considers himself caretaker of all his “children”, the relationship is not biological in most cases. However, secondary canon also hints that he is the biological father to a fraction of them, although whether he considers the relationship to be of importance is unknown.
***** Fathers to be, according to secondary canon.
****** “Second” is the production name given for a gargoyle extra that appears as part of the Wyvern and Avalon clans. In order to explain the apparent contradiction, Greg Weisman established in the secondary canon that one in Castle Wyvern (and later seen as part of Demona’s Clan) is the father of the one in the Avalon clan.
11 June 2013 3 Comments
“Well, whaddya know: the kid turned out to be a real chip off the old block. ” — David Xanatos
Written by: Cary Bates
Original Air Date: November 6, 1995
Introduces: Thailog, That mercenary group that steals Thailog.
Timeline placement: November 15, 1994 (Flashback); November 28, 1995 – November 29, 1995
TMNT episode I could make a forced comparison to: “Bad Blood”
Monsters of New York 