Titans streams new episodes weekly in the US via HBO Max. International airdates are yet to be confirmed.
Synopsis
Time is running out for one of the Titans.
Review
Well this was unexpected. In a season which has already proven to be its best, Titans pulls an episode like “Hank & Dove.” One of it’s most tense and exciting hours to-date.
Going in to season 3 it was clear that a number of characters would be leaving in order to thin our the herd. Also, it’s not hard to guess who I and many others put our money on in terms of who might be killed off and how. After two seasons of relative turmoil the finger has been pointed squarely at Minka Kelly and Alan Ritchson to exit during season 3.
So we arrive at “Hank & Dove” with the realisation that both may not survive the hour. But even with those expectations the cat-and-mouse game provided by Red Hood is intense and broadly satisfying.
Ritchson and Kelly have always been two of the best performers on Titans. Despite really only guesting in season 3 neither phones in their performance. Their relationship has always been complex and that is still evident in this episode. The added problem of a bomb attached to Hank’s heart by Red Hood only complicates their relationship further. Ritchson gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as Hank staring down the barrel of death. It’s his finest work on the show. Complimented by Kelly as an already grieving Dawn.
Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop and Ryan Potter also featuring heavily in this episode. Each processing the events of “Hank & Dove” brilliantly thanks to the direction of Millicent Shelton and Jamie Gorenberg’s script. Though Gar may not be front and centre, fans of Ryan Potter should be proud at how the character has become central to the relationships between Titans.
After two episodes of lurking on the periphery Titans needed to shift Red Hood in to a more formidable position. Having one of their own taking down a member of the team serves that exact purpose. An incredibly tense standoff between Red Hood, Dove and Nightwing is the pinnacle of the storyline so far. With some truly exciting material to play with all of the cast are bringing their A-game which only makes the series more compelling.
The same can be said of Joshua Orpin’s Conner, this episode finds him struggling to balance the human and Kryptonian aspects of his personality. Conner is also tasked with searching for a way to save Hank at super speed. The purity of Gar and Conner’s relationship is perfectly illustrated in this episode. Ryan Potter and Orpin work well together and season 3 is capitalising on it brilliantly. However, the levity of that relationship is overshadowed by the pressure to perform like Superman. There’s no doubt that the episode will have consequences on Conner’s character for the rest of the season.
Verdict
“Hank & Dove” proves to be the strongest hour Titans has ever produced. Tense, engaging and ultimately heartbreaking. The cast knocks it out of the park in unexpected and gut wrenching ways.
Titans stars Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Anna Diop as Starfire, Teagan Croft as Raven, Ryan Potter as Beast Boy, Alan Ritchson as Hawk, Minka Kelly as Dove, Curran Walters as Jason Todd/Robin and Joshua Orpin as Conner Kent/Superboy.
Joining the cast in season 3 are Savannah Welch as Barbara Gordon, the former Batgirl, Jay Lycurgo as Tim Drake and Vincent Kartheiser as Dr. Jonathan Crane, the former Scarecrow.
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