#raph analysis

Raph time!

This version of raph, is interesting! While I’m not the biggest fan of this version of him. There is some pretty neat characterization of him.

Raph, in this version, isn’t the leader. From the first episode we see Raph is a hothead, and violent. He also has anger issues.

The anger issues aren’t there without a reason. He has them as a way to express his emotions. In one of the episode, 3, splinter yells at Raph for getting angry at a human. We can see that Raph trys to explain himself then go quiet. During splinter’s speech we can see Raph getting angry at Mikey. I think Raphael use his anger as an outlet for his emotions. From the way splinter treats him, to the way his family see him. The only person Raph sees to have soft spot for is his pet turtle.

But Raph is also protective. He said that he has no problem risking his own life but not his brothers. In the episode 13 Raph try’s to be the leader. But when fighting a villain he gets overwhelmed and freezes up when Mikey gets hurt. It’s very interesting to see that. Raph thought he could be leader and was proven wrong, and apologized to Leo.

So if Raph isn’t the leader? Who exactly is his in the group’s dynamics? He’s the the powerhouse! Like he literally climb up done and rip off a laser in episode 18. This kid is strong.

Time for the best red boy, Raph.

I really think Raph got the most characterization out of the turtle boys this season.

In season 2 I hoped Raph will let Leo lead more, As well as learning to stop holding back, as well as stop babying his brothers and parenting them.

Did that happen? Yes and No. for the No, He didn’t stop parenting his brothers. Literally episode 4, Pizza Puffs, is him having to force his brothers to do a mission, to stop them from being irresponsible and to become more reliable. But I did think he learn to ask for help and let Leo lead more.

In the final episode part 3. Raph literally falls out of a high tree, just so his brothers can save him and active their Ninpo. While that was crazy dangerous and borderline self harm/self-destructive, I can see why Raph did that. It was his way to trust his family. For so long Raph has been the oldest, the one to take care of the family. That can wear someone down, especially a teenage. He literally start to cry at one point due to stress and fear.

Raph is kind, protective, comes with lot of the box plans, (seen in episode 8 and 11). And can be a bit hothead when it come to things he likes gets made fun of, (episode 5 and 8 in season 1) or when he’s family Is goofing off.

Leo dreamt that his leg was healed, not feeling pain, and that he could fly

Donnie dreamt that he was being chase, hiding, and someone wanted to eat him, salt.

Mikey dreamt of candy and cute stuff while having someone to play with

Raph dreamt of blue fire, rock music, and white snakes.

The symbolism:

Depending on the dream, white snakes actually can mean a lot of difference things! From wealth and prosperity, to growth, or making the wrong decisions. Here in Raph’s dream he was wrap up by the snakes while the biggest snake ate his brothers.

Dreaming of a big snake means that you are afraid of someone, or that you might have depression. Dreaming of being wrapped up by a snake means that you want freedom. Dreaming of (almost in this case) being bite means that something new will happen, a surprise.

Now snakes symbolize different things; in some cultures they represent fertility. It also respersents the Rod/Staff of Asclepius. It’s base off the God Asclepius who was the god of healing and medicine. Snakes also symbolize different religions. In Japan snakes represent a god, a messenger of god. White snake moults mean rebirth.

Blue fire in dreams can mean dangerous person, encountering challenges, honest or healing. Spiritual blue flames can mean passion, a desire to transform, or a desire to heal. blue flame is also associated with anger

Dreaming of rock music means that their a lot of energy inside you. But don’t have the right direction. It represents that you are a person, who wants to achieve everything within a short span of time. But do remember, everything in life needs persistence and hard work.

DREAM of being chased and hiding. It’s cause by stress and anxiety. Dreaming about running and hiding may reflect your desire to re-evaluate your life. Maybe things are changing too fast in your life. When you try to hide from danger, this dream is a sign of depression. Bad experiences make you too careful, and you don’t trust others. You might also experience a great misfortune and grief, due to losing someone dear. This dream can also indicate getting involved in an accident in the near future.

I find it really interesting that the dream beaver keep calling Donnie salty. I know it’s because the beaver want to eat Donnie and scare him. But salt in dreams actually have different meanings! If you dream about salt in your mouth it can mean emotional outbursts. Salty oceans can mean heartache, smelling salt and not like it means loss and destruction. While the opposite means wealth. Salt symbolize purity, taste, fidelity/faithfulness, bad thoughts, death.

As for breaking about being eaten, it mean lake of self-confidence, Dreaming about a hungry monster trying to eat you it means that something is consuming you, like an addiction or a bad habit. It also means you dislike something about yourself.

DREAM of candy means good luck, joy, and positive. It’s can also mean your pleasures that could end up harming your health, perhaps some kind of a toxic relationship that will drain positivity from your life after a certain period of time. dreaming of candy represents your wish to be rewarded for your efforts.

As for dreaming about playing games with someone signifies your attitude and confidence. You are ready to move on from the past. You have a positive outlook in life and are not limited by anything. The dream represents self-exploration and your connection with a higher power. Grace, agility, regeneration and growth.

The man! The leader! Raph!

There a lot to say about him.

For starters, in this series Raphael is the leader! But it makes sense here; since Raph is the eldest and most physically tallest and strongest.

But that doesn’t mean that Raph is a good leader, he’s not the best at making plans. He’s more of a second in command guy. More of a heavy hitter.

There a reason why i think Raph might not be good at plans. 1 he’s anxious, 2 it’s Leo job.

See, growing up, Raph most likely had to help take care of his brothers. And judging how many times Raph babies his brothers, I say this has been going on for a while. I think Raph and Donnie are the two who act like the parents the most. (Will definitely talk about that later!)

But because of raph taking care of his siblings. It seems like he developed anxiety. Especially separating anxiety. Ep 21 talk about that. So I think the reason why Raph is bad at plans is because he’s so focus of protecting his family it gets in the way of the mission. To him, if he just smash the problem, it’s over.

That’s were Leo comes in.

The two are like a tag team! They complement each other. Leo makes the plans and Raph is the main force. Though that can cause the two to fight. More that once the two argue about plan making. And if Donnie and Mikey have idea? It gets shut down.

But besides his anxiety. There also a sweet kid. Who loves animals, his friends and family. But there also anger. That we actually don’t see that until episode 6. That happen when Leo don’t take Raph interest in wrestling seriously. An odd thing to be serious angry about. But the way Raph handles his anger is wonderful. He takes breath and leaves the room. Yeah the two to end up fighting in the ring, and it works out. But the angry was still there.

I think the reason why Raph is the leader is because he use his anger to channel it into protecting (with might be his downfall because he also gets anxiety when he isn’t protecting his brothers)

In the episode 18, Raph literally makes a paper clone just to spar with. I think that because Raph is so worried about hurting his brothers that he holds back. So to make it up, he build Fraken-Foot. That way Raph can go full force, go full angry, go full powerhouse and letting his fear hold him back.

Also? Raph was the second one to activate his mystic powers. When Leo was falling down the building, Raph literally jumps after him and that protector instinct activated his magic.

Raph, like Leo, I think is the second most characterization. His character arch is him controlling his anger. He’s the second oldest. He’s also is overshadowed by Leo and he picks on Mikey. During the first 2 seasons, Raph temper gets the best of him. While his temper is still there in the later seasons, it’s noticeable less explosive, except when the writers have him be angry.

Raph also as has inferiority complex. Symptoms of this complex include:

Being highly competitive

Being a perfectionist

sensitive to criticism

Finding faults in others

Seeking attention

Having trouble admitting to mistakes

Feeling insecure, incomplete, or unworthy

Withdrawal from everyday activities and social situations

Comparing yourself with others

Feelings of hostility, frustration, nervousness, or aggression

Insomnia

Inability to complete tasks

Signs of depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders

I think Raph’s anger and inferiority complex is a direct cause of Splinter’s teaches. In season 1, episode 3, (Turtle Temper) Splinter is actively criticizing Raph. When Raph try’s to explains himself he’s told to be quite, eventually Raph just listens. And when Mikey is joking around, Raph snaps at him. This is shows that, (like how Leo does to Donnie) Raph takes his bottle up emotions and project them onto Mikey and toward Leo. This can be a form of sibling abuse. Examples of sibling emotional abuse include name-calling, belittling, teasing, insulting, threatening, destroying property, relational aggression, intimidation and asserting power or control.

Does this make Raph a bad person? Some-what. Personally I think showing growth at controlling his anger is him getting better. That’s not say he’s 100% innocent, but the household he lives in turns his rage into another form of abuse.

>Splinter is harsh on Raph

> Raph, not having a lot of healthy coping mechanism, is abusive toward all his siblings

> the siblings fight with one another and can’t express their emotions in a healthy way

> the fighting leads to them getting into trouble/ not working as a team

> splinter gets upset/disappointed

>repeat

The Turing point of Raph’s character comes in the episodes “Slash and Destroy” and “The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones” and the first half of season 3. In the episodes Slash and Destroy, Raph is seen to use his pet turtle as a way to vent his frustrations. When the turtle gets mutated he becomes Slash and has the ability to speak and to walk. Slash using his new ability, try’s to murder Raph’s brothers. In Slash’s mind, he only knows or remembers Raph’s brothers in a negative way. Raph finds out what’s happening and puts a stop to it. Slash and Raph separate and Raph is alone. In the episode Raph seems how unintentional or not, he is hurting his family. From his action to his words.

In the episode “The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones”, Raph no lingers had Slash. He not longer has a coping mechanism (besides training, art, or drums). It makes Raph frustrating and restless. He ends up meeting Casey and the two fight from a miscommunication. At the end of the episode the two became friends and Raph now has a new coping mechanism of being a vigilant with Casey. While this new mechanism isn’t the most healthiest, it does let Raph let go of that anger and energy by physical exertion.

In season 3, the farm arch, Splinter isn’t around. And Leo is in a coma, who steps up and take care of the brothers, Raph. While Raph isn’t the best strategist, and freezes up when he try to be temporarily leader, he does do his best at trying to get his brothers to train and motivated. Raph gets Mikey and Donnie to do exercise and training. When Splinter isn’t around, Raph smiles more, makes jokes, and is more happy.

As for the later seasons, Raph’s anger issues are a wave. One episode it’s there, and Raph is going to far in training and purpose beating up Leo (season 4 episode 18) or the next it’s not there. Like, why do the writers keep bringing this issue up it it was resolved?

While Raph’s anger is a big part of him. He’s also protective of his family. Many time in the later seasons, when Mikey gets hurt, Raph is the first one there. (I think it’s because of that one episode in season 1 episode, 14, we’re Mikey gets hurt on Raphs watch is what makes Raph a bit overprotective of Mikey). He is a animal guy, has a cute relationship with Mona Lisa/Y'Gythgba, and he can paint/graffiti and play drums. It’s just all of these traits of his get underdeveloped and faded because of his anger issues. Like, I completely forgot that he can play drums or that he’s a artist because it’s only mentioned a few times. I wish Raph was more explored with his personality besides his anger like in Rise.

Raph relationship with his brothers very from brothers to brother. With Leo, the two fight when training, both trying to appease their father. Both Raph and Leo put themselves in harms way to protect their family, both are cocky and believing that their better then the others. With Mikey, Raph verbally and physically abuses Mikey. Later in the series, he stop being so physically abusive (tho he did attempt to murder Mikey in season 4) he is still more or less verbal abusive. But Raph does care about his brother, he’s protecting of him and the two are seen hanging out. With Donnie? There actually wasn’t that many moments were the two had one on one time with each other. But it seems like the two lightly pick on one another. With Splinter? The two didn’t interact much. While Splinter tries to teach Raph how to control his anger, it didn’t work. But Splinter did teach him a way to help with his anxiety by repeating a chant. Splinter also seems to pit Leo and Raph together and doesn’t really steps in to break up the fights unless it goes to far.

As for mentally and physically? All of the turtles died. For Raph, he was “killed” (can’t 100% remember if he does die or is just possessed) by The Creep and turn into a flower/plant monster. As for mentally, because of his phobia of cockroaches, having to fight a bug lord on a plant of bugs, seeing Mona betray and later diying in his arms, AND seeing Splinter die twice, (one was directly in front of him)…..Raph has hallucinations. Both visually and tactile ones. (Season 4 Episode 17). He also seems to have minor anxiety (and maybe a personality disorder?).

I think season 4 Raph shows how much of Splinter negative/teaching was effecting Raph. Here in this season, and the last, when Raph is away from Splinter he’s more calmer. Raph also is open more and talks more about his emotions, even thought it makes him uncomfortable. In the first half of the season, episode 4 Raph stay behind while the bad guy ship is being blown up, waiting and looking out for Leo who’s running toward the ship.

One major thing I noticed this season, episode 13, and episode 17. In episode 13 the gang goes to a planet of bugs, witch Raph has a phobia of. He also is trying to save Mona Lisa’s caption. But it was a trap and Raph, Casey, and his brothers almost got eaten alive, then Raph had to watch Mona almost die in his arms. In episode 17, Baxter creates bug mutants, and when Raph sees them. He starts to hallucinate and panic. He gets scared and actively thinks the bugs and Lord Dregg is there.

You can actually have hallucinations form PTSD. Common cause of ptsd are;

Physical danger

Injuries

Near death experience

Combat

Sexual or physical assault

Abuse

Illness

Nature disaster

Death of a love one

Crime

Violent

Most of these, (combat, death of a love one, injuries, and violence) are what the boys experienced from a day to day basis. There only 17, that level of danger can emotionally, physically, and mentally mess them up. Also, before this season, Raph has to watch Splinter die, too. So to see another person he cares about almost diying, surrounded by his phobia? That can definitely cause hallucinations and trauma.

I think the only character in this season that had any positive character growth was raph. And that only sometimes. During the 3 season, raph has anger issues. He’s been called out on it a lot. The writers keep trying to address it but it seems like, to me, it’s a back and forth thing. One episode raph is happy and calm, the next, a very and yelling at someone. Yes, it much less intense as the pass 2 season, but it’s still jarring to see the character go from one emotion to the next so fast.

During the first half of the season, the farmhouse; is temporarily leader. He has Donnie and Mikey train, he keep watch on Leo for the pass 3 months, and he seems to be much happier and calmer in nature. In the Vision Quest splinter says that Raph need to learn to focus his anger into attacks. He does this by going to the spiritual plane and fighting fiseface (Xever). The way he wins is by calming down and using his flamethrower and claws to attack Xever.

I think this season is the one we’re Raph has a big character growth. From episode 7 and onwards Raph is seen to apologizing and thank his brothers more. I think the reason why is because his coping mechanism change.

In episode 7, Raph is seen venting to Spike. He rants about his family and how they treat him. Raph say that he wants to be alone. When spike gets mutanted and becomes Slash, splash try to kills Raph’s brother so that he and raph can be a fighting duo. I think that incident change Raph. He cares ablit his brothers and don’t want them hurt. Even if they annoys him.

But once Slash was gone, Raph’s cophing mechanism was gone too. Raph got more angry and antsy. He meet Casey and the 2 fight. It seems like physical extortion help him. And in the end he and Casey became friends and help patrol the city.