History YMMV / TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987

** Mona Lisa only appeared in one episode, but she has a '''huge''' fan base as a result.

** A good chunk of Season 4 (and some of Five) is considered this by some fans (though following seasons improved), due to {{Flanderization}} and VillainDecay, extremely goofy/borderline nonsensical plots, [[OffModel bad/inconsistent animation]], weak one-shot bad guys, and lack of action scenes. Proof that up to eleven isn't always a good thing.

** Several episodes would introduce memorable new villains and then push them into the background as a third henchman to Shredder and Krang. As iconic and disturbing as Baxter's fly transformation is, "Enter: The Fly" is more focussed on the villains poisoning April with a rare flower, with Baxter falling into the trap intended for the turtles at the end.

** Many people believe that this version of the Shredder is a [[AdaptationalWimp downgrade]] from a more fearsome counterpart in the comics. In fact, it's the other way around: this Shredder, though certainly a source of comedy, is [[AdaptationalBadass a far greater threat]] than his comics counterpart. While the Shredder from the original comics ended up getting [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] and killed by the Turtles in his first appearance, this Shredder is a BadassNormal ninja master who can hold his own against the Turtles despite being only human, possesses combat skills only rivaled by [[OldMaster Master Splinter]], and quite a few of his schemes are [[BewareTheSillyOnes potentially deadly]].

* CriticalResearchFailure: In earlier seasons the Turtles are occasionally called amphibians. Turtles are reptiles. While some of these instances could be taken as an intentional insult, the Turtles call themselves amphibians on at least one occasion.

** Krang isn't an Utrom. It's true his appearance was ''inspired'' by the Utroms, but he is himself a disembodied brain from {{another dimension}}. The Utroms are brain-like creatures from another planet. That being said, this was retconned in [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 the ''2012'' series]] crossover.

** A good chunk of Season 4 (and some of Five) is considered this by some fans (though following seasons improved), due to {{Flanderization}} and VillainDecay, [[IdiotPlot extremely goofy/borderline nonsensical plots]], [[OffModel bad/inconsistent animation]], weak one-shot bad guys, and lack of action scenes. Proof that up to eleven isn't always a good thing.

* LesYay: Some fans see this with April and Irma, some even like to insist that Irma wants more than just friendship from April; and Irma always clinging to, or sometimes being protective of April kind of eggs this on.

* IdiotPlot:
** The episode "Zach And The Alien Invaders" is ''easily'' the biggest offender of this in the entire series, considering that the whole premise is about Zach convincing the Turtles that he's seen aliens, and robots, and other dangerous things that ended up being harmless, and getting in trouble for it. [[SarcasmMode Because it's not like the Turtles have ever fought aliens or robots ''before''.]] Later on, Zach does see aliens that are trying to take over the world, and helps the Turtles stop them, but the episode basically sends the message that "it's OK not to listen to kids". To be fair the episode was trying to go for a "Boy Who Cried Wolf" type of Aesop, but didn't pull it off very well.
** The episode "Leonardo Is Missing" also falls under this, which is lampshaded by Splinter at the end, but unlike the first example, ''this'' episode is actually still fun to watch.
--> '''Splinter''': [[spoiler: Next time you leave, Leonardo, make sure to leave a note.]]
** Any time Shredder and Krang rely on Bebop and Rocksteady for a plan but special mention goes to "Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop" when a plan to mind control New York failed because Bebop and Rocksteady's first attempt to install the machine damaged it causing it to malfunction. When Krang notices it's not working right his response, is to send them up to fix, rather than go himself or send Foot Soldiers, or anything else not effected by the machine. After he asks them how many more times they intend to fail, they state they will do so lots more.

* NeutralEvil: Leatherhead, who generally acts in his own interests and isn't part of the Foot Clan, yet isn't above collaborating with them on occasion. On the other hand, he couldn't stand Rat King the first time he met him, at least before their brief EnemyMine.

** A good chunk of Season 4 (and some of Five) is considered this by some fans (though following seasons improved), due to {{Flanderization}} and VillainDecay, [[IdiotPlot extremely goofy/borderline nonsensical plots]], [[OffModel bad/inconsistent animation]], weak one-shot bad guys, and lack of action scenes. Proof that UpToEleven isn't always a good thing.

* FairForItsDay: In "[[Recap/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987S01E02EnterTheShredder Enter the Shredder]]", an imprisoned Rocksteady calls April a "little bimbo." Even if a BookDumb villain said this, there's no way they could get away with this today.

** Season 7, the last "normal" season, is considered to be the best of all, due to some surprisingly well-written and enjoyable episodes. "Night of The Dark Turtle" and "Legend of Koji" are believed to be ''the best episodes in the entire series''.

** Many fans will tell you that the Turtles hate [[StockYuck/{{Anchovies}} anchovies]] on their pizza. While several storybooks based on the cartoon have brought this up and Michelangelo did specifically say he wanted no anchovies in [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles the first film]] when he phoned a delivery, the cartoon itself never said they hated them. Quite the opposite in fact; several episodes have mentioned that they did eat pizzas with anchovies.

* UncannyValley: Some episodes had a [[OffModel very rubbery, constantly-changing art style]] which more often than not resulted in some ''really'' creepy faces and expressions.
** [[BrainInAJar Krang]] himself, if you think about how he would look in real life.
*** His first appearance in "Enter The Shredder", where he's slimy and pulsating.
** Some of the Red Sky-era villains/mutants. One of the most memorable is Doomquest, a giant-like conqueror of worlds with very small eyes.
** The Turtles' mutant forms in Season 9.
** The rubber face-masks the Turtles use for some of their disguises.

** Although the show remains the most iconic version of the Turtles, the show tends to be divisive amongst the fanbase due to its LighterAndSofter tone. Especially amongst fans who prefer the comics and/or the later adaptations instead. Some (especially those who grew up with it) enjoy the show for what it is (a fun, lighthearted Saturday morning cartoon from the 1980s) and finds it to be a enjoyable watch even today in spite of, or even [[NarmCharm because of how fun and cheesy it is]], while others dislike it for how overly lighthearted and goofy it is compared to the darker original comics and later adaptations (which tend to be TruerToTheText). Even the original co-creators have differing opinions on the cartoon, as Peter Laird notoriously [[DisownedAdaptation dislikes it]], while Kevin Eastman has expressed [[ApprovalOfGod more fondness towards the show]] by contrast.

** Although the show remains the most iconic version of the Turtles, the show tends to be divisive amongst the fanbase. Especially amongst fans who prefer the comics and/or the later adaptations instead. Some enjoy the show for what it is (a fun Saturday morning cartoon from the 1980s) and finds it to be a enjoyable watch even today in spite of or even [[NarmCharm because]] of how cheesy it can get, while others dislike it for how overly immature and goofy it is compared to the original comics and later adaptations (which tend to be TruerToTheText). Even the original co-creators have widely differing opinions on the cartoon, with Peter Laird notoriously [[DisownedAdaptation disliking it]], and Kevin Eastman expressing [[ApprovalOfGod more fondness towards it]] by contrast.

** Irma. Cute as a button, and it also helps that the rest of her Channel 6 co-workers (save for April) are annoying [[TheScrappy Scrappies]].

* FirstInstallmentWins: As far as adaptations go anyway. Numerous adaptations based off the ''TMNT'' have come and gone over the years and although some of the later adaptations are regarded as being superior quality wise, the original 87 cartoon remains the most iconic and popular adaptation of the Turtles overall, as well as the most influential besides the original comics.

* FirstInstallmentWins: As far as adaptations go anyway. Numerous adaptations based off the ''TMNT'' have come and gone over the years and although some of the later adaptations are regarded as being superior quality wise, the original 87 cartoon remains the most iconic and popular adaptation of the Turtles overall.

** Season 3, arguably, when compared to the somewhat lackluster Season 2. It wasn't ''consistently'' good, but contains the most fan favorites.

** Although the show remains the most iconic version of the Turtles, the show's LighterAndSofter tone tends to make it quite divisive amongst fans. Especially amongst fans who have no nostalgia for the show and have more familiarity with the comics or the later adaptations instead. Some enjoy the show for what it is (a fun Saturday morning cartoon from the 80s) and finds it to be a enjoyable watch, if only because of how [[NarmCharm fun and goofy it is]], while others dislike it for how overly immature and goofy it is compared to the original comics and later adaptations (which tend to be TruerToTheText). Even the original co-creators have widely differing opinions on the cartoon, with Peter Laird notoriously [[DisownedAdaptation disliking it]], while Kevin Eastman has expressed more fondness towards the show.

** Although the show remains the most iconic version of the Turtles, the show's LighterAndSofter tone tends to make it quite divisive amongst fans. Especially amongst fans who have no nostalgia for the show and have more familiarity with the comics or the later adaptations instead. Some enjoy the show for what it is (a fun Saturday morning cartoon from the 80s) and finds it to be a enjoyable watch, if only because of how [[NarmCharm fun and goofy they are]], while others dislike it for how overly immature and goofy it is compared to the original comics and later adaptations (which tend to be TruerToTheText). Even the original co-creators have widely differing opinions on the cartoon, with Peter Laird notoriously [[DisownedAdaptation disliking it]], while Kevin Eastman has expressed more fondness towards the show.

** There are many mixed feelings about the altered theme during the "Red Sky" seasons.
** Were the "Red Sky seasons" themselves (8, 9, and 10) any good? Season 8 especially, as even most detractors of the Red Sky seasons can’t seem to agree on whether or not it began the SeasonalRot.
** Similar issues come up with the "Vacation in Europe" StoryArc.
** Season 4 was either the funniest season or full of pointless {{Filler}}.
** Fans of later adaptations find the series' immaturity as a whole rather grating.

* AdaptationDisplacement: Several are surprised to learn that this isn't how the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' franchise actually started, with the series being loosely based on a comic book of the same name.

* AudienceColoringAdaptation: This series is far more influential to what the TMNT franchise would become than the original Creator/FrankMiller pastiche that inspired it. The popular image of the Turtles having different colored bandanas began with this series and their well-known love of pizza started here as well. Additionally, supporting villains like Krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady would go on to become well-recognized and popular character who are considered very iconic and/or essential to the franchise.

%%** The Rat King.