History Heartwarming / TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012

* As... weird as the whole situation is, The Finger's horror at finding out that Big Foot is a woman, Big Foot comforting him and the two shacking up is kind of sweet.

!!! 3x20 ''[[Recap/TeenageMutantNinjaTurles2012S3E20TaleOfTheYokai Tale of the Yokai]]''

* There is another subtle, easy to miss moment in the first part, that took a third watching from this Troper to notice. After Raph beat Leo in the training session he says "Nice try." At first it seems like Raph is being a jerk, but then the camera pans up to his face and the look on his face is nothing but genuine brotherly affection. Again this lasts all of two seconds but it is a genuinely sweet moment as this version of Raph has trouble expressing himself to his family.
** To a lesser (and somewhat funny) extent, there's Raph smacking Donnie with his broken staff. If you have a sibling you'll most likely recognize this as simple rough housing. It's pretty clear Raph isn't actually trying to hurt Donnie, and he once again has a brief affectionate look on his face.

** This makes his transformation into Slash [[TearJerker all the more tragic]].

** Also, Raph shouting Mikey's CatchPhrase "Booyakasha!" as he delivers the final blow to Snakeweed, for the same reason. Doubles as a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.

* As...weird as the whole situation is, The Finger's horror at finding out that Big Foot is a woman, Big Foot comforting him and the two shacking up is kind of sweet.

* The planet the team's on gives everyone a short temper. The team learns of the fate of the Aeons , Casey simply says [[{{Understatement}} "That's a bummer.]]" Leo yells at Casey about his insensitivity. Raph calls Leo out on this, retorting about his position as leader and being "Splinter's favorite." When he lunges towards Leo, [[CoolDownHug guess how the Fearless Leader calms him down?]]

* Maximus Kong/Leo had entirely forgotten his past and now had his own little EvilEmpire thing going on, but as soon as he recognizes Raph, Donnie, and Mikey and remembers who he is, he just...walks away from it all to be with them just to ''search'' for an oasis.

--> '''Leonardo:''' You killed him! He was your brother, and you killed him!! He was your brother, Saki! Your best friend!! How could you do that!?

* Raph, who has memory problems in this arc and can't even remember Splinter (suggesting he can't remember most of his childhood) remembers his brothers. It only takes the phrases "mutant turtle" and "Holy Chalupa" to make him think of Mikey, and he immediately recognizes Leo as soon as he [[EyesNeverLie sees his eyes]]. They hadn't seen each other in decades and both had aged, but moreover Leo had a secondary mutation that made him all but unrecognizable, but it only takes ''seconds'' for Raph to know with certainty that Kong is Leo.

[[Recap/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012S3E23TheCreepingDoom The Creeping Doom]]

* There are several particularly cute moments with Mikey, who is the reason Donnie turned dumb in the first place. Mikey seems to particularly take on the task of helping/managing Donnie, tries to reassure him when Donnie can't understand what's happening and is visibly terrified, and goes so far as to attempt to create an antidote for Donnie himself (that actually works!). It's a cute role-reversal between the two of them, as their usual dynamic is Mikey [[Cloudcuckoolander being chaotic]] and Donnie [[Cloudcuckoolandersminder desperately trying]] to keep them both on-track.

* There are several particularly cute moments with Mikey, who is the reason Donnie turned dumb in the first place. Mikey seems to particularly take on the task of helping/managing Donnie, tries to reassure him when Donnie can't understand what's happening and is visibly terrified, and goes so far as to attempt to create an antidote for Donnie himself (that actually works!). It's a cute role-reversal between the two of them, as their usual dynamic is Mikey [[Cloudcouckoulander being chaotic]] and Donnie [[Cloudcouckoulandersminder desperately trying]] to keep them both on-track.

* Ice Cream Kitty. That thing is freaking adorable and he actually participated in the battle against the Rat King with Mikey, the one who mutated him in the first place.

** This makes his [[spoiler: transformation into Slash]] [[TearJerker all the more tragic]].

* After [[spoiler: Kirby]] decides to cover the turtles' escape from the Kraang's base, and, as a result, [[spoiler: gets left behind]] (which is [[TearJerker something of a moment]] in and of itself, since April's watching it all happen). Devastated, April hugs Donnie, who goes on to reiterate that they'll get her father back. It's still on the sad side of heartwarming, but says a lot.

-->'''Mikey''': Really? All right! Someone finally likes my cooking!
** When they are cornered by the Kraang, there only hope is to use the power source they have with Leatherhead, without hesitation, Leatherhead offers to stay behind to by the turtles time to escape, immediately trusting Mikey with the source, because he was willing to trust him.
-->'''Leatherhead''': I will buy you time! My friend, you have trusted me, now I am trusting you.

* Mikey and Don's concern for Raph when he [[spoiler: gets bitten by Xever/Fishface.]]

** [[spoiler: April hugging Donnie.]]

* Raph and Leo have clearly patched up their differences, with Raph rescuing him from falling, and even bemoaning [[spoiler: his DisneyDeath, saying he should have been nicer to him.]]

* A very bittersweet moment when Splinter discovers his supposedly dead daughter is alive [[spoiler:and working with his worst enemy.]]

* Karai looking at the picture of [[spoiler:her deceased mother, Tang Shen]]. This is probably the first time we see a girl like Karai with real happiness, instead of the arrogant, snarky kind she usually displays.

* April, near the episode's end, leads Casey Jones, someone she barely knows, [[spoiler:away from the fight with the Turtles and Mutagen Man]] to protect him without him knowing it.

-->'''Raph''': You did what you had to Donnie.

* [[spoiler: April rejoining the turtles after accepting their apology, realizing that it was beyond their control. She even gives Donnie a smooch on the cheek!]]

* Raph's intense brotherly instinct that comes out when [[spoiler: Slash resorts to beating the crap out of Mikey and Donnie.]]

** Also, when Raph is about to be defeated by [[spoiler: Slash, Donnie and Mikey try to restrain him by jumping on his arms even though they're in no shape to continue fighting.]]

-->'''Splinter''': Raphael, do you know what I do when I miss my loved ones from the past?
-->'''Raph''': No.
-->'''Splinter''': I focus on the friends I am surrounded by in the present.
-->'''Raph''': Thanks, Master Splinter. Hey, what's a guy got to do to get in your little competition?
-->'''Mikey''' Next game is all yours, dude.
-->'''Leo''': Sorry about Spike, Raphael.
-->'''Raph''': You guys aren't tooo bad to hang out with either.
* When Spike [[spoiler: turns into Slash after getting into the mutagen.]] Its clear that even after his transformation he still cares about Raph with all his heart and truly does want the best for him. Unfortunately this also doubles as a TearJerker later on.

* The first thing Mikey does when they find out [[spoiler: April is a mutant]] is joyfully say "Welcome to the family!"

-->'''Splinter''': Would you say you mastered your fear?
-->'''Leo''': No, I only faced it.
-->'''Splinter''': And that, Leonardo is why you are a great leader.

* Metalhead sacrificing himself to save Donatello, the other guys and other captured mutants from the Kraang by maintaining the portal to their prision until they all escaped.

-->'''Leo''': You were right Donnie, I should've trusted you.
-->'''Mikey''': Sorry about Metalhead Donnie.

-->'''Raph''': *referring to the portal* Come on you tin can, move your butt!

* [[spoiler: Kirby O'Neil being restored to his human form and April reuniting with him]].

* [[spoiler: Karai finally seeing the truth about Splinter being her real father]].

* After alot of episodes with the truth coming out and Karai learning the truth, she finally is able to share a real hug with her true father, Splinter. The poignant music that accompanies it just shows the payoff for her, Splinter and the turtles. [[spoiler: This makes her mutation all the more heartbreaking]].

* As The Turtles are grabbing things from their lair, Donnie goes to the frozen Mutagen Man/[[spoiler:Timothy]] and vows to return for him someday.

* When the turtles (sans Leo) and April see Splinter and Shredder fighting in the sewers, [[spoiler: Shredder defeats Splinter and throws him into a whirlpool to drown to death. Raph swears vengeance on Shredder and tries to open the sewer gate bars, and when Mikey tells him to calm down, Raph is about to hit Mikey only for Mikey to hug Raph to cool him down.]]
* The ending with [[spoiler: Karai (in her mutant snake form) saving Splinter from the rushing water in the sewers can be this. For bonus points, Karai nudges Splinter before swimming away, as if she was giving him a soft kiss.]]

* The boys briefly [[spoiler: reuniting with Splinter through the magic fire.]]

* The family is finally reunited, [[spoiler: except for Miwa.]]
* The turtles referring to themselves as Splinter's sons [[spoiler: as they're trying to break through to him while he's in his primal state.]]
* April [[spoiler: using her powers]] to help Splinter.

* When the turtles are trying to [[spoiler: get Karai back to her senses]], Mikey says, "It's okay, Karai. It's me, Mikey. Your ''brother''."

* Leonardo talking to [[spoiler: the simulation of Splitner is this and TearJerker. It's clear he misses him, but Splinter's comforting words and such to Leonardo does reassure Leonardo on having hope and that they have made Spinter proud. While a simulation, Fugitoid points that the machine is psychic, using the person's memories as the basis for the simulation so it's clear that the words simu-Splinter is telling Leo would be the same words the real Splinter would say.]]
** Mikey dissauding the others' concern over Leo's way of coping. He knows his brother well enough to accept what he is doing and shows hints of understanding Leo's reasons, especially in regards to the ChainsOfCommand

* No matter the risk to himself, Donatello never gives up on April and never blames her for any of it, including [[spoiler: ripping his molecules apart.]]

* Leo performing CPR on [[spoiler: Karai]].

* The fact that the Turtles, April, and Casey aren't the only ones attending [[spoiler: Master Splinter]]'s funeral - the Mighty Mutanimals, Kirby, Shini, Dr. Cluckingsworth, and Pigeon Pete (who is implied to have been kicked out of the Mutanimals) are there, too. It's definitely a TearJerker moment, but it's nice to see that the Turtles' friends are there for them in a moment of grief.
* [[spoiler: Splinter]] may be dead, but not necessarily gone. [[spoiler: His spirit]] gives Leonardo some words of advice from beyond the grave, [[spoiler: both at the beginning of the episode and during the final battle with Super Shredder]].

--> '''Leonardo''': You killed him! He was your brother, and you killed him!! He was your brother, Saki! Your best friend!! How could you do that!?

* [[spoiler: Karai]] doesn't blame the Turtles for [[spoiler: Splinter]]'s death, assuring them that [[spoiler: she]] knows that they did all that they could. Even in [[spoiler: her]] grief, she doesn't take it out on them.
* [[spoiler: Karai]] and Leonardo's interactions in general. From [[spoiler: holding hands at the hospital]] to [[spoiler: sitting together on the rooftop and comforting each other in the aftermath of the final battle]], it's obvious that [[spoiler: whether their relationship is platonic or [[ShipTease something more]], their old tensions have been replaced by a much healthier bond]].

* The very end. BittersweetEnding though it may be, the Turtles and their allies are ready to move on after [[spoiler: Splinter's death]], and face whatever the world's got in store for them next together.

** Also her [[spoiler: decision to stay on Earth]].
* Triples as a TearJerker and a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, but Raph's immediate reaction to [[spoiler: Mikey being disintegrated]] is to zap [[spoiler: The Newtralizer]] until his weapon runs out of power. Extra points for borrowing Mikey's "booyakasha".
* After [[spoiler: their final fight with Lord Dregg]], Karai and April can be seen helping each-other stand in the background.

* Compared to his literary counterpart who dies unloved and in vain? Literature/{{Frankenstein}}'s Monster (named Frank by Mikey) [[spoiler: is allowed to live in the future courtesy of Renet, who assures the creature he will be better accepted there.]]

* You probably won't notice it on first viewing. In Season 1 the turtles at one point all encircle Splinter in a group hug, and only Donnie really makes it to his shoulder, and even then just barely. In season 3 when they're [[spoiler: finally reunited with Spinter after being separated for half a season]] they all run up and hug him again. This time Donnie's head is just below his chin and Mikey, the shortest one of the bunch, is at his shoulder. ''We are literally watching them grow up, just like Splinter is.''

** Another layer of heartwarming here is that Slash has generally been portrayed as an exaggerated version of Raph. His initial hostility towards Leo was largely based on Raph's one-sided rants to him when he was Spike, then turned UpToEleven. His newfound respect for Leo is based on Slash getting to know Leo in his own right and not just through Raph, but given the similarity in personalities, it also reflects the ''other side'' of Raph's feelings for Leo that Slash probably didn't hear as much about: Yes, there are the annoying things, but there is also genuine respect and affection.[[note]]This is actually further reinforced by Raph interceding between them when Leo and Slash are arguing. Raph understands that Slash has a blinkered and inaccurate perception of Leo and of Raph's relationship to Leo, and he also understands that Leo's hostility towards Slash is based on Slash harming the family. He mediates until they're able to get to know each other well enough to develop a more nuanced view of each other - like he has for both of them.[[/note]]

* Maximus Kong/Leo had his own little EvilEmpire thing going on, but as soon as he recognizes Raph, Donnie, and Mikey, he just...walks away from it all to be with them just to ''search'' for an oasis.

* Even this grim arc had heartwarming moments. To start with, just how much the various Turtles missed each other and wanted to be together. Bear in mind one ''very'' thin SilverLining for them in this situation is that they no longer have to hide themselves. They can go about freely and associate with whichever mutants they want. But they ''want'' to be together, showing that even in the rest of the series, it's not merely their isolation from society tying them together.

* Raph, who has memory problems in this arc and can't even remember Splinter (suggesting he can't remember most of his childhood) remembers his brothers. It only took the phrases "mutant turtle" and "Holy Chalupa" to make him think of Mikey, and he immediately recognizes Leo as soon as he [[EyesNeverLie sees his eyes]]. They hadn't seen each other in decades and both had aged, but moreover Leo had a secondary mutation that made him all but unrecognizable, but it only takes ''seconds'' for Raph to know with certainty that Kong is Leo.

* Raph, who has memory problems in this arc and can't even remember Splinter (suggesting he can't remember most of his childhood) remembers his brothers. It only took the phrases "mutant turtle" and "Holy Chalupa" to make him think of Mikey, and he immediately recognizes Leo as soon as he sees his eyes. They hadn't seen each other in decades and both had aged, but moreover Leo had a secondary mutation that made him all but unrecognizable, but it only takes ''seconds'' for Raph to know with certainty that Kong is Leo.

** Another layer of heartwarming here is that Slash has generally been portrayed as an exaggerated version of Raph. His initial hostility towards Leo was largely based on Raph's one-sided rants to him when he was Spike, then turned UpToEleven. His newfound respect for Leo is based on Slash getting to know Leo in his own right and not just through Raph, but given the similarity in personalities, it also reflects the ''other side'' of Raph's feelings for Leo that Slash probably didn't hear as much about: Yes, there are the annoying things, but there is also genuine respect and affection.

** Another layer of heartwarming here is that Slash has generally been portrayed as a [[Flanderization Flanderized]] version of Raph. His initial hostility towards Leo was largely based on Raph's one-sided rants to him when he was Spike, then turned UpToEleven. His newfound respect for Leo is based on Slash getting to know Leo in his own right and not just through Raph, but given the similarity in personalities, it also reflects the ''other side'' of Raph's feelings for Leo that Slash probably didn't hear as much about: Yes, there are the annoying things, but there is also genuine respect and affection.

** His initial "[[AreYouInsane HAVE YOU LOST YOUR SHELL?!"]] comment also seemed to be AngerBornOfWorry more than his subsequent upset at Mikey messing with the retro-mutagen formula he'd been working at for months. He knew Mikey could have easily gotten himself killed with the things he was mixing.

** Raph takes a picture of [[WeUsedToBeFriends Spike]] as his only possession from home.