Titans stars Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson/Robin, Anna Diop as Starfire, Teagan Croft as Raven, Ryan Potter as Beast Boy, Alan Ritchson as Hawk and Minka Kelly as Dove.
Titans is available to watch now on DC Universe in North America. The series will arrive on Netflix in international markets on January 11, 2019.
Synopsis
Dick takes a dark journey back to Gotham.
Review
So finally Titans has reached its dramatic conclusion albeit a little early. It would seem the final episode, teased in behind-the-scenes footage, is no more. Instead what we are left with is a cliffhanger worthy of the series which came before it.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ll be aware of this episode. The episode which finally brings Batman out of the shadows and in to… slightly less shadow.
The episode hinges on a dream future for Dick Grayson which quickly becomes a nightmare. All thanks to the powers of the demon Trigon. The premise of the episode is very clever. But, much like many of the episodes in Titans debut season, it’s a little out of left field.
Writer Richard Hatem does a great job of maintaining Titans status quo when it comes to Batman. Although the character does finally appear he still doesn’t upstage, or negatively pull focus from Dick. The story is cleverly crafted to keep the focus on the former Boy Wonder a Trigon manipulates his visions.
Whilst it’s obvious throughout the episode that it is a dream sequence it’s still compelling to watch. Seeing Dick so far removed from vigilantism that he can settle down with Dawn will tug at the heart strings of many an audience member. To then see him dragged back in to the life is equally heartbreaking.
Throw in some cameos by several high profile Batman rogues and you’ve got the formula for a mind-blowing episode.
We’ve seen very little of Gotham up to this stage in Titans. “Dick Grayson” goes to great lengths to setup the city as quite fallen empire. It in fact goes a little OTT on the depravity. But depravity is the name of the game in Gotham City. As a Bat-fan it was hugely exciting to see a new interpretation of the city in live action.
As for The Dark Knight himself: his costume looked impressive. One shot was slightly over-lit and gave away that the chest plate of the costume didn’t in fact have a bat on it. That pulled me out of the action momentarily. That aside his appearance was near perfect.
It will be intriguing to see how the show uses the character in future. The door is open for plenty more appearances. Especially as this was a dream sequence meaning that the costume and even the city can be augmented before we see them again.
Ultimately this episode will be judged on how it rounds out the narrative of Titans first season which is not at all. Instead it pulls a huge cliffhanger ending on us. With no confirmation of when the second season will even go in to production we could be waiting a while.
But I commend Geoff Johns, Akiva Goldsman and the team for delaying the inevitable confrontation with Trigon. Had the series wrapped up the storyline by suddenly pulling the team together and disposing of the bad guy it would have felt too soon.
The narrative has run at such a pace that it has only been a matter of days since the events of “Asylum”. Similarly to have put Dick in the Nightwing costume would have been disingenuous to the character.
Instead fans are treated to one hell of a stinger scene which sets up some interesting action for season 2. We’re also left pondering what will become of Dick Grayson now he is under the control of Trigon.
Verdict
“Dick Grayson” is perhaps not the most fitting end to Titans first season. But what it is is a flipping good episode! Think “Over The Edge” from Batman the Animated Series brought to life and starring Dick Grayson.
B8.5/10
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