Titans
Developed by: Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Akiva Goldsman
Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Teagan Croft, Ryan Potter
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10 Stars
Summary
Titans follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Dick Grayson and Rachel Roth, a special young girl possessed by a strange darkness, get embroiled in a conspiracy that could bring Hell on Earth. Joining them along the way are the hot-headed Starfire and love-able Beast Boy. Together they become a surrogate family and a team of heroes.

For those of you, like myself, that were fans of Teen Titans when you were younger, you would be foolish to pass on this show. Titans do justice to its material. It’s grittier and a lot more violent, but it also sprinkles a good dose of wit and heart and gives our character’s plenty of space to develop without being confined to the team. Focusing on the four core members of Titans, it is important to note that the supporting cast of characters was equally as endearing and ensured that the show never strayed too far off track, even if one or two episodes seemed out of place. It is clear that the titular focus of the show is on Dick Grayson and his journey to build his own identity outside of Batman and Robin, as he believes that Batman’s teachings have morphed him into a destructive weapon instead of a hero.

So, to address the bat in the room. We never explicitly get to see Bruce Wayne on the show. The closest we ever get to is his silhouette. This was a smart decision by the creators because if they gave a face to this Bruce Wayne, then it is likely that he would overshadow Dick Grayson’s journey. You can’t avoid mentioning him and while they strategically kept his physical presence to a minimal, they still did a great job at exploring the breakdown of the relationship between Dick and Bruce. This is best seen in the sixth episode, Jason Todd. Here, Dick meets his replacement and the differences between these two Robins is paramount from the start. Jason Todd is brasher in his unreserved embrace of the Robin persona, but his presence forces Dick to question why he still holds on to his own Robin costume if he’s so desperate to break away from him. It is clear that the writers are setting Dick on his path to Nightwing, but they made the smart choice of taking its time with this development as Dick needs to be secure in his own identity before taking on another mantel and assuming the role of a leader. 

Our other Titans have their part to play in this tale too, but it’s clear that Dick Grayson is the start of the show and this could be its own ruin. It takes at least 5 episodes before we even get a sense of what this ensemble is capable of. Yes, it is important to take the time to establish the character’s as individuals first, and this wouldn’t be an issue if their stories were as compelling as Dick Grayson’s. Koriand’r’s memory loss is only briefly touched upon after the third episode and Gar’s emergence as Beast Boy was only given a direct spotlight in Doom Patrol, which served as more of an introduction to this spin-off than it did to Gar’s character. Surprisingly, the weakest link in this group is Rachel aka Raven. Historically, her character has one of the most compelling and complex stories, yet the execution of her character was lacking. There were elements that demonstrated her potential as a formidable force, but it wasn’t consistent. Nevertheless, if the next season can tighten up on these aspects and provide a more balanced narrative,  then this show will undoubtedly reach new heights.

Overall, Titans is an incredible hit for DC. It’s gritty and grounded in a sense of realism, even with its otherworldly elements, and has a clear sense of direction with our team. There are areas that can be improved on, but as a whole, it was an impressive season and has plenty of potentials to show just how dynamic the characters of DC’s comics can be.

Best episodes: Doom Patrol | Jason Todd | The Asylum | Koriand’r

Stray observations

• Dick is a total dick in the first couple episodes…all part of his growth I suppose.
• Really appreciated exploring the physical toll being a superhero takes with Hank and Dawn, who are adorable together.
• So excited for Doom Patrol. The ensemble is wonderfully weird and I don’t trust this Dr for one second.
• Speaking of trust, NEVER trust the nuns.
• I wonder if they’re planning on following the Red Hood path with a certain Jason Todd. (fingers crossed)
• They name dropped Batgirl a couple times towards the end – could she make an appearance?
• When do we get to go to Tamaran?
• Superboy & Krypto are on the move!!!!
• Bring on Season 2

What did you think of Titans?
Who is your favourite DC Superhero?