One of the key successes with the latest Turtles cartoon is the storytelling, which excels in characterisation and development. The writers of the show actually treat the Turtles as if they're real teenagers, as they develop crushes, act immaturely, make mistakes and at one point, even suffer from a form of 'ooze' acne. It's a nice thing to see, as it's a welcome difference from how they've been portrayed in the past. The Turtles constantly mess up throughout, and they learn from their mistakes. Of course, these mistakes have grave consequences, but it makes for interesting viewing. It brings to the Turtles some much needed humanity and depth. The storytelling seems to find the right mixture of comedy and action, which in turn makes it easily accessible for all ages. There's some slapstick in there, some referential humour and some well-placed Michelangelo jokes. Along with many of the laugh out loud moments (Leonardo's tea party being one of them), there's some superb action sequences all throughout the show. Plots arch over many episodes, and there are a few surprising elements that are thrown into the mix. One of the major plot points which will hopefully explode soon is the twist involving Karai's true heritage. The twist occurs during the end of the first season, and if the writers handle this plot point carefully, it's sure to be one of the more memorable Turtle stories in recent history. The storytelling in the Turtles cartoon is fantastic, and it undoubtedly appeals to all ages. It's a relief that this 80s reboot doesn't end up having any cheesy clichés, and that it doesn't try too hard to be edgy. Every main character is developed extremely well, and it will be interesting to see where the series goes with all of these much-loved characters. If you haven't checked out Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles yet, then do so. You'll be in for a pleasant surprise. Sure, there aren't any 'Cowabungas', but that doesn't stop this cartoon from potentially being the best Turtles cartoon ever.
