Mikey's relationships

[Sage Ninja]

I've watched this show with a friend. She likes it alot and she and I have had a few conversations about the relationships the turtles have with each other and with the other characters on the show, and we had gotten around to talking about Mikey and his relationships. And she pointed out that Mikey is in desperate need of a friend who isn't his three brothers. And I agree. Almost all characters that come across him thinks he is annoying or show some signs of exesperation with him. It's like no one sees him as anything but a nusance that has to be put up with except for a few people, and even those few people act like they are some what just humouring him than anything else. I guess what bugs me is that Mikey doesn't really have any equal relationships with any one on the show; he is eighther annoying pest of a brother, hyper active aquantence, or star struck admirier.

 I think Mikey needs to meet some who isn't a disiplined warrior, or science guy or tough guy, I don't think Mikey really indentifies with these types ( and i don't hink these types "get" him), and unfortunately thats all the turtles ever seem to come across. I think Mikey would benefit with some one to indentify with on a equal basis who has the same interests and personality as him. Some one who isn't a warrior but a normal teenager who likes comics and video games and super hereos and shares some of his quirky characteristics. And I know most people would say that he has this with Silver Sentry but I really see his relationship with Silver Sentry like hero worship and admiration of a person he looks up to and wants to be like than a friendship, also even though Silver Sentry seems to respect Mikey sometimes I get the impression that he is amused by him or is just humouring him.

[Jephael]

This is exactly why I wish they'd bring back Mondo Gecko! I know he's in the same category as all the other old toon/Archie comics characters who will never see the light of day again, but I still say he and Mikey made a great pair!!!

[Michaelangelo]

I don't feel the same here about Mike, I think he's got more friends than people seem to realize.

In "Garbageman" : The professor even though a good friend of Don, cares about Mike enough to save him a comic book.  People who just humor others wouldn't go out of their way to save things they know the people like.

Now with the Silver Sentry, in  "The unconvincing Turtle Titan" he did look down at Michelangelo and humor him at the beginning.  Though by the end of the episode Mike did earn his respect.  So much so that he came for their Christmas Dinner (when I'm sure such a big hero could of had many other invites he could of went to instead.  Than in "Clash of the Turtle Titans" we learn just how much Silver Sentry cared for and looked up to Mike, by his grandson taking on the Turtle Titan name.   That shows that there was just more than humor or just being amused.   I do feel that Mikey did touch Silver Sentry and earned real respect.

Of course there's always "Return of the Justice Force" where Mike seems like a fan boy at first but does end up saving the day and once again earning respect, enough respect to be put into a comic book.

And how can we forget Nobody, sure he doesn't seem like he is a close friend but in "Still Nobody" it wasn't Leonardo that Nobody called when he needed help, it was Michelangelo.  That's saying something right there.  

True there's not a lot of people in the Turtle's life would respect him from the minute they meet him, though Mike does earn friendships and respect down the road with most anyone who meets him.  Not just humor and being looked down upon.  There's a lot more examples through out the series of people that Michelangelo has touched.  Like Cody, they play video games together and get excited over stuff together.  April and Casey both have shown they like Mike in more than just the annoyance way... like April helping him with his costume.  True it's easy to over look it that Mike has friends, though he does.  And really if he had someone just like him in the crowd it'd drive him nuts because they'd be clashing for attention.  

A good example of that goes back to the original series with the episode "Cowabunga ShredHead".

[Sage Ninja]

I don't know I just think that Mikey might need something more from family and friends. Mikey comes across to me as being kind of emotional (not agnsty) do his life style. He   acts the most like a teenager out of the rest of the turtles and I think emotinally Mikey needs some one who can relate to and who doesn't think he is the most annoying thing that ever lived. Half of the things he does, are things that, reasonably are anything a teenager would say or do but yet it's met with such aggravation (at least when he's not trying to be so activily). I think the reason he acts out the wayt he he does that some of his emotional needs aren't being met. He's a social being who wants to share his zest for life with every one. Closest thing Mikey has to some one to relate to him is Raph. And I don't know, I know they both love each other but some times I detect this unspoken tension of anger and dislike between Raph and Mikey mixed up with their affection for each other    which I think get in the way sometimes. I mean Leo and Don are much nicer to Mikey but they are just too...serious and up-tight for to relate too and their personalities just don't mesh on the level that Mikey emotinally needs. Raph for all his snarling and temperment problems is the only turtle that has the most charisma and desire for fun and relaxion like him. Problem is thats only when Raph is in the mood for it. Other times he is just agnsting his head off and Leo and Don are generally to wrapped up in their own thing to give the time of day. Like I said, I think what Mikey is lacking the most is some one to relate too out side his family that shares his interests and ideals. Which he saddly lacks. All the turtles but him have a friend out side their family to whom they can relate too but Mikey. Leo has Usagi and Splinter, Don has April and Leatherhead, and Raphael has Casey. Who does Mikey have? Klunk his pet cat? Another thing to consider, Mikey really seems to stick out like a sore thumb in most situations because of his life style he and the turtles usually meet people who are skilled warriors like Leo, baddies like Raph, or brilliant scientist types like Don. How often do they encounter (or ever will) energetic innocent life loving people like Mikey? No wonder Mikey tries emulating super heros and tries to be like his idol Silver Sentry. He is the closest thing socially that Mikey can relate too that fits his own ideals.

And you make some good examples of the people that Mikey gets along with, however I see them more as aquantinces than actual close friends, with Nobody and the justice force seem more like comrades or allies. And the thing with Nobody, he acted a bit WTF like toward Mikey as well. There is no doubt that Mikey is friendly and gets along genearally with others  I just don't see any one that he can really relate to on a personal level like Don, Raph, and Leo have. And personaly if he had a friend like this I think he would love it and there wouldn't be any petty competing for attention with each other...like how he was in Clash of the turtle titans.

[Moo]

I don't feel the same here about Mike, I think he's got more friends than people seem to realize.

He also got the Super Turtles, while they're from an alternate dimension... he definitely left his mark... so much that they made a statue of him.

Leo has Usagi and Splinter, Don has April and Leatherhead, and Raphael has Casey.

Though, I think I can see what you mean. He needs more close friends, someone he can just hang out with, not necessarily simply respect him for being a hero...

[Sage Ninja]

I just think that it would be nice that Mikey has someone who is in the same age group as him who he can relate to and kick back with and likes him as an equal. Yes the Super turtles ultimitly ended up respecting him but they still had that incial reaction to him that every character on this show has of "WTF  " when they meet Mikey. This is why I liked Mondo Gecko from the old toon because they had so much in common and genuanly enjoyed each others company, I would like to see new toon Mikey have a buddy like that (not necessarily Mondo Gecko) that he can realate to and just hang out with. Some one who isn't a warrior, because I think that is where Mikey's competiveness shows up and he becomes abrasive and cocky. I just think it's funny that Leo, Raph, and Don all have some one who they can share the same interests with on an equal level except him.

[Calypso]

Man and I thought I was the only one who noticed it.

Yes, while Mikey does get respect in the end, Sage Ninja does point out a few things that are pretty much truths.

Mikey doesn't seem to have that someone to be level with like the other boys do.  Yes, he has Klunk, but he needs someone who is able to relate to him as much as Casey does with Raph and so forth.  I agree that it doesn't necessarily need to be Mondo Gecko, but someone.

[Sage Ninja]

Mikey doesn't seem to have that someone to be level with like the other boys do.  Yes, he has Klunk, but he needs someone who is able to relate to him as much as Casey does with Raph and so forth. 

 I think not having any one to interact with out his family is at root for most of Mikey's character. I think Mikey's biggest problems is that he is a person who is very extraverted and socialble but lacks the social conditioning one gains from interacting with people other than your family. People act accordingly to the people you are exposed with. Michaelangelo really needs to have interaction with others to get him to grow socially and mentally. They all do. But where the others compensated for this by aquiring niches and imporatant position in the team and coming across those with similar intersts to them, Mikey is left to go off in several directions with out anything to anchor him enough to pour his eneregy in, which in turn makes him overly entusicstic and excitable about things. it is probably why he has so much pent up energy and he appears to have ADHD and why he tends to act out and try to annoy every one due to his restlessness.

[Mindy]

I think Mikey's biggest problems is that he is a person who is very extraverted and socialble but lacks the social conditioning one gains from interacting with people other than your family.


That's some mighty fine typing-menship, Sage! Could not have explained it better myself

If there's one thing about Mikey, he's definitely a terrific friend who could spice up a boring Saturday night and then will also be the person you could pick up a phone to talk to when you're feeling down at 3 in the morning (providing he has not fallen asleep on the sofa after a monster movie marathon )

[Jelly bean]

hmm, talk about food for thought. You certainly bring up some pretty good points that I never really noticed before, but now that you mention it it's pretty obvious. Which is weird you would think that the turtle who is the most out going would have a best buddy to hang out with and share his intersts with. The turtles never do encounter people with Mikey's personality type that he can relate too, but they are constantly coming across people that the others can identify with. But I guess that is understandable since the situations the turtles find them selves in are not ones where jokey, goofy, rambuctious teenager types like Mikey are ushaually found. Most of the people they come across are genreally serious or world weary and probably don't appriciate or understand people who act like Mikey. Heck, sometimes I feel like the guys really don't get Mikey at all and they look down on him for it. It's kind of sad really.  To some degree I think the guys kind of take Mikey and his personality for granted.

And I don't know, I know they both love each other but some times I detect this unspoken tension of anger and dislike between Raph and Mikey mixed up with their affection for each other

 

you know I sort of noticed this too between Mikey and Raph. They are really alot alike but they don't really get along with each other.  Raph really seems like he can't stand Mikey sometimes, I mean in the earlier part of the show I thought he hated him because he gets this scowl on his face when Mikey so much as opens his mouth. There must be alot of tension built up if just the sound of Mikey's voice can rub Raph the wrong the way like that. If it wheren't for the few time Raph gets worried about Mikey's safety I would think he dispises him. But it true that Mikey seems closer in personality to Raph than the other two. And they hardly get along. If all Mikey has in his family to relate too is Raph, and a cat, and two serious brothers no wonder he acts the way he does.  I agree he really does need a friend who isn't his three brothers.

[Sage Ninja]

you know I sort of noticed this too between Mikey and Raph. They are really alot alike but they don't really get along with each other.   Raph really seems like he can't stand Mikey sometimes, I mean in the earlier part of the show I thought he hated him because he gets this scowl on his face when Mikey so much as opens his mouth. There must be alot of tension built up if just the sound of Mikey's voice can rub Raph the wrong the way like that. If it wheren't for the few time Raph gets worried about Mikey's safety I would think he dispises him

the thing with Raph and Mikey is that there issues seem like something that has developed over time. That blow out in Meet Casey Jones where Raph became so angry he nearly smashes Mikey's head in after he loses to a sparring match is a big indication to how strained and volital their relationship can be. What floored me was how Mikey, after the incial blow out sened to just shrug it off like nothing happened  . I think on some level they both resent the other for being what they are. Raph resents Mikey for his natural talent and happy-go-lucky attitude while he is bothered and agonises over his situation and fragile control over his temper. Mikey resents Raph for his strength and his tough attitude and maybe for Raph's raw abilty to let loose his temper, while Mikey has always had to use passive aggresive ways to express his negative emotions. So they like each other but I think they both see things in the other that they resent and makes them feel insecure. I think this is why Raph is constantly physcally bullying Mikey and Mikey can't help but rub anything accomplishment he has in Raph's face which only makes the tension worse between them. This was made even worse after Mikey's battle nexus win and he made it a point to rub how he defeated Raph in his face, after that i really noticed a distancing between him and Raph.