Titans: the complete third season (TV series review).
After the tragic demise of Robin, specifically the Jason Todd version portrayed by actor Curran Walters, at the hands of the Joker, Dick Grayson (played by Brenton Thwaites) makes his way back to Gotham City. He discovers that Bruce Wayne (Iain Glenn) has already laid Jason to rest and is contemplating finding a replacement. Meanwhile, Gotham is plagued by a mass murderer, and Bruce leaves the city after killing the Joker. This at least puts an end to some Titans expressing a bizarre desire to engage romantically with the Joker.
However, things in Gotham are not as straightforward as they appear. A new villain, the Red Hood, emerges to take control of the city’s crime syndicates. Interestingly, the Red Hood was also an alias of the Joker, but he’s now deceased. Adding to the complexity, Nightwing uncovers that the Red Hood’s true identity is Jason Todd, which is bewildering since Jason is supposed to be dead. Without delving too deep into spoiler territory, the plot thickens when one of the Titans is killed in an explosion at Wayne Manor. Commissioner Barbara Gordon (portrayed by Savannah Welch) is aware of the incident, and so is the Scarecrow (Vincent Kartheiser), who is currently in prison. This rapid spread of information raises questions about the effectiveness of Batman and Nightwing’s secret identities, especially considering both have visited Scarecrow as civilians.
The series also ventures more deeply into mysticism. Granted, the presence of Wonder Girl, a character from Greek mythology, always suggested mystical elements. However, the introduction of the Lazarus pit implies that death in this comic book universe isn’t necessarily permanent, with one notable exception. It’s curious why Batman didn’t consider using the Lazarus pit to resurrect Jason Todd, leaving this point somewhat ambiguous.
Jonathan Crane, even out of costume, masterfully manipulates events to portray the Titans as villains responsible for unleashing anti-fear gas that disrupts the morals of Gotham’s citizens. Not surprisingly, crime and death rates in the city escalate. Additionally, Crane’s plan to release a toxic gas and his alliance with Todd, now Red Hood, further complicates matters, especially when Red Hood is declared a hero.
This season stands out as it features all Titans in action and in costume, for the most part. It’s regrettable that this is their final season, as the series appeared to be hitting its stride.
The DVD includes 28 minutes of extras, divided into six segments that explore the characters, stunts, costumes, and other facets of the show. Toronto serves as the backdrop for Gotham City, and these features allow cast members and production staff to discuss their roles and experiences.
There are many aspects of ‘Titans’ that I enjoyed, and by this season, even Starfire’s portrayal aligns more closely with her comic book counterpart when powered. Like DC Comics’ other two TV series, I don’t see why occasional mini-series couldn’t be a future possibility. There’s certainly more potential to be explored in this universe.
GF Willmetts
December 2023
(pub: Warner Bros, 2023. 3 blu-ray disks. 603 minutes 13 * 45 minute episodes with extras. Price: varies. ASIN: B0BBQ67DWD)
cast: Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Rayan Potter, Teagan Croft, Joshua Orpin, Curran Walters, Conor Leslie, Alan Ritchson, Vincent Kartheiser, Demaris Lewis, Iain Glen, Jay Lycurgo and Savannah Welch
check out website: www.warnerbros.com
