Titans returns to HBO Max with a two-episode premiere on Thursday, April 13, 2023. New episodes air weekly thereafter. UK airdates are yet to be confirmed.
Synopsis
In the final episodes, the Titans enter into an epic battle to save both Kory and the world. Gar goes on a quest of self-discovery, attempting to find his true purpose and to save his friends. Rachel embraces darker powers while Conner, struggling with his Lex Luthor side, goes his own way to defeat Sebastian. Tim and Bernard’s growing feelings for each other become increasingly difficult to resist, and when Bernard’s life is threatened, Tim finally becomes the hero he has always strived to be.
Review
Here we are. Journey’s end. The final six episodes of DC’s Titans begin airing this week and I have had the ultimate privilege of seeing all six episodes that round out the series endgame. Whilst series finales are always divisive, it’s important to look at these final episodes as a chance for the Titans cast and crew to run a victory lap, one which is certainly rewards to fans who have stuck by the show.
We pick up right where we left off, with the Titans in disarray following a climactic standoff with Mother Mayhem (Franka Potente) and her soon to be Brother Blood son, Sebastian (Joseph Morgan). In fact, Titans fourth season has juggled its episode order a little to try and create a sense of flow to these final episodes.
We pick up with a two-part storyline in episodes “Caul’s Folly” and “Dick & Karol & Ted & Kory”. Those waiting for “Dude, Where’s My Gar?” will have to wait another week. First things first the series has every intention to split up our group one more time before having them band together to save the day.
The two-part story brings Trigon back in to centre stage as Blood and his mother search for a mythical horn which can bring the demon back to Earth. It feels right that the series should end as it began, saving the world from the arrival of the demonic being and father of Rachel (Teagan Croft). It kicks off a sense of these episodes acting as a greatest hits for the show. A theme which runs throughout the back half of the season.
For our Titans there’s little time to dwell on their losses. Whilst Gar’s (Ryan Potter) absence is noted and Rachel’s white witch status is acknowledged. There’s really only time to focus on the loss of Jinx (Lisa Ambalavanar) with no magical cure bringing her back from the dead any time soon. It’s strangely unreflective for a series which often buries itself under its ghosts.
The pacing of these final episodes is fast and loose. For instance, “Caul’s Folly”, written by Mellisa Bride, kicks off in to high gear, grabbing the audience and hurtling towards Sebastian’s destiny to destroy Earth. But as quickly as Kory (Anna Diop) can park up the van in the episode’s titular town, the breaks come on and Titans shifts gear in to something very different. The second hour, written by Tom Pabst, is in the vein of episodes like season one’s “Dick Grayson” with its tantalising “what if..?” elements.
In typical Titans fashion, these two episodes feels akin to a side quest. Something to distract our heroes whilst the villains pull together their endgame. There are some brilliant elements to these episodes, particularly the Tim (Jay Lycurgo) and Bernard (James Scully) relationship. But overall they do feel a little like treading water.
I think it’s important to note it feels like the writers knew this was the end. Knowing this, there had to be a balancing act between completing the story which had already begun in the first half of the season and also wrapping up the Titans story (sadly) forever. Knowing it’s the end also impacts our journey as viewer. Ordinarily, episodes like “Caul’s Folly” and “Dick & Karol & Ted & Kory” would be incredibly well received by fans. But with the blockbuster “Dude, Where’s My Gar?” and the fantastic series finale on the horizon, this feels like a false start.
What’s striking throughout these final episodes is how Brenton Thwaites has become synonymous with Dick Grayson. Truly these episodes show the ensemble cast functioning at their very best with Thwaites front and centre as a true leader, friend and father to the rest of his chosen family. There’s little room for him to question his place in the world and instead we have the best written, best acted version of the character this show has presented us.
As for Ryan Potter’s debut story credit for the series… “Dude, Where’s My Gar?” is fantastic. Easily one of the best episodes of the series and one of the finest hours of DCTV ever. It’s a fantastic love letter to Gar and all that he has meant to fans. It revisits moments from his past to give context which has always sadly been missing. It also allows Potter the breathing space to do some of his finest work on the show.
Plenty will be written about the headline grabbing cameos (and there are many!) in this episode. But underneath all the bells and whistles, fantastic as they are, this really is Potter’s standout moment and he deserves all the credit for fighting for this moment to happen. As for those cameos… I was on the edge my seat and nothing can prepare you for that first watch.
From here we head in to “Game Over” and “Project Starfire”, lining up all the pieces ready for a dramatic conclusion to the Brother Blood storyline. As always the villains have our group on the back foot and with Conner (Joshua Orpin) still exploring his darker side, the groups numbers are dwindling by the time “Titans Forever” rolls around.
That dark side factors in heavily to “Game Over”, one of the slower episodes of season 4. On one side it continues the excitement of “Dude, Where’s My Gar?”, whilst on the other it falls in to Titans typical trap. Trying to capture global consequences on a small scale. Conner, still unsure of this place in the world, reaches out to Sebastian and brings him on board to work with Lex Corp. When Sebastian releases a video game which brainwashes and ultimately kills users across the globe, the episode remains insular and fails to grasp the scale of its ideas. It’s a frustration I’ve had at times with Titans execution of big ideas and by no means a dealbreaker.
Thankfully, “Project Starfire” is where season 4 really hits its stride once again. It’s the quintessential penultimate episode, bringing all the pieces together and kicking the storytelling in to super high gear. This is really where it becomes tangible that the writers were aware the end was coming. Several storylines get a huge fast forward to give characters the chance at satisfying closure in the finale.
Chief amongst them is Tim Drake. “Project Starfire” hurtles him journey towards becoming Robin to its climax. Giving him an outstandingly well designed costume and the chance to assume the mantle he has been longing for. Of course it also gives Titans the chance at another greatest hits moment as Curran Walters returns for one final appearance as Jason Todd/Red Hood. Having Jason be the one to train Tim and pass the baton feels right and serves the plot in a number of ways, giving closure to Jason who had become such a fan-favourite character.
Every aspect of “Project Starfire” works to bring the group back together ready for the finale. It’s almost a two-hour story, only separated by the need for one final, jaw dropping cliffhanger to set us up for the final battle. In fact, “Titans Forever” starts with one hell of twist which feel right for both the Brother Blood character and the series as a whole.
That final hour, written by Richard Hatem and directed by Nick Copus, tries to hit every available note to really send the series off in blockbuster style. Where “Project Starfire” setup the dominos, “Titans Forever” smashes them down with some of the series best action scene ever. Finally we have a full Titans team working together to stop an apocalyptic threat, one which threatens the life of one of its own. The final story beats circles the show back to the idea of family and who these characters are when they’re together. But in doing so it also focusses on what that means to each of them individually as well as its impact on them as a team.
After the fighting is over there is plenty of time to wrap up each character’s storyline. It’s done in a way which reflects the writers absolute love for each of the cast and characters. In fact, many will argue it’s too overly romantic in giving every single character (who survives!) a happy ending. But others will argue that given the little time we’ve had to process this being the end, it’s wonderful to see that season 4 is the perfect send off.
Verdict
I never wanted Titans to come to an end. But if this is how we say goodbye then I couldn’t ask for a better send off for these characters. Not without issue, the final six episodes of the HBO Max series act as a fitting victory lap and final send off for Dick, Kory, Rachel, Gar and the rest of their Titans family.
