I'm a bit hesitant to voice what I thought of today's cartoon episode.
I respect your views (looking at Kazari and WolfofMibu.)
I agree about the Gen pronounciations. The "suke" should get that u 'skipped over'. (But a character like Casey I could understand botching it up.)
And there's the long been the big debate about bushido, and I agree it's been overused by Hollywood and media in general without really understanding it. But when Karai chose to stay with the Shredder and fight the Turtles, she was following bushido, such as it would apply to a ninja clan, anyway.
There's that old classic thing of was it better to show one's true following of bushido to serve a good lord, or a bad lord? One of the more stringent applications of bushido was the code enforced by Kondo Isami of the Shinsengumi. That must have been a truly fearsome man. But ninja codes were not exactly samurai codes, anyway, so I am sometimes puzzled by why all the focus on bushido for the Foot Clan.
That said, when it comes down to it, it's a cartoon.
And I appreciate how much depth and maturity they are trying to bring to something on Saturday morning. I am more often amazed at how well they do, than over what they mess up.
(Although I reallllly would like to see Splinter's robe fixed so it's left over right, not right over left like he's dead.
)
I liked today's episode a lot. I really enjoyed it.
I loved Usagi in shades. Laughed at the in-jokes to the old cartoon with Gen. Enjoyed the sparring sessions and the talks, and find the direction they have Leo going in very interesting. (It reminds me of some things I had kind of explored in "ancient" fan fics.) But I also keep hoping someday there would be a Usagi cartoon. And in the meantime, I enjoy that he gets to be on TMNT and be treated so much better than the Usagi in the old cartoon was handled.
Why are you hesitate!! You have awesome opinions!!
I completely agree about Karai and her honor and staying with the Shredder.... thats why I cited the Rouge in the House episode, because it was pre Karai leaving Saki and also were Leo most blantly misued the word Bushido in my opinion... See to me the issue is the fact they use the word Bushido... honestly they could just use the word honor and completely cover there butts because there are SO many different opinions on just what honor is... Bushido has too clear cut of a defination and they box themselves in.
Do I have to complain..... no... I mean your completely right it is just a cartoon and they do, do remarkable things on it for a childrens show... Its just probably the only aspect of this entire show that bothers me... because sometimes they use bushido so cleary and perfectly and other times its very muddled and confused. I blame this on different writers. And once again honestly its not a huge deal. Its just my one little nit picky thing!! *laughs*
I don't think they really focus on Bushido in terms of the Foot with the exception of Splinter continuously throwing into Saki's face that he has no honor. They focus on it more with the Turtles and most honestly the most with Leo... I think they use Bushido as a platform with which to define his character, he truely is the bridge between Samurai and Ninja, he uses "Ninja Tricks" yet he follows the code of the Samurai, which I reason is why Splinter often calls his sons warriors versus Ninja- Ninja honor code is very different from Samurai and Ninja are often looked down upon by Samurai as Gen personifiies very clearly...
Yet these "kame ninja" are respected because they aren't excatly ninja.... I would be very interested to know more about Yoshi... I think being a Guardian and serving his Masters he became sort of a hybrid between Ninja and Samurai which has been passed down to the rest of his family.
Just have to mention I LOVE the fact you mentioned Kondo! I am SUCH a Shinsegumi nut as you can probably tell from my screenname and it made me squee with glee to see him brought up!!
It may seem as if my expectations are high... but that is mostly because of how much I do love and respect the show... If I didn't think so much of it... I honestly wouldn;t care.... and like I stated above... this isn't going to tarnish my veiw of Ninja Turtles... this is simply my own personal demon that I felt like sharing and a topic that has been irking me sense season 2...
As for not standing by Leo?? I have never questioned my devotion to his character. Prehaps I am just looking at it from a different view then others... Prehaps I have just watched too many Samurai movies with the harsh, yet caring sensei....
*laughs*
Anyway that is enough rambling from me!
*smiles*
