Titans season 3 finale brings to a close the very best season of Titans to date. When people typically state things like “best” or “worst,” frequently its synonymous with “favorite.” While this is my preferred season of the show, I likewise feel like it is “objectively” much better than the previous ones. While Brenton Thwaites’ Dick Grayson is still the series’ primary focus, we got quite deep into the emotional journeys of the other Titans this year. other than a small stumble in the house stretch, the pacing of the season felt much much more consistent. There was likewise a much better balance of their version of gritty realism as well as the fun, goofy magic of comic book stories. There likewise was much more team action than previously, however I picture hardcore fans of the teen Titans story would still want more.
Nonetheless, I believe the Titans season 3 finale brought the very best (meaning: my favorite) Red Hood story so far to an extremely moving close. When it concerns DC series on the CW or the HBOMax originals, some fans of these characters are excessively crucial of them. Whether it’s silly plot moments or doubtful visual impacts (all typically associated to TV budgetary limitations), they treat these stories as “lesser” than those in the DCEU. (The Snyder fans are particularly crucial of anything the maestro didn’t touch.) Titans is certainly in the pulp tradition. Vague power usage, confusing instances of heroes in civvies as well as their costumes, as well as moustache-twirling villains are part of the DNA of comic book stories. CW series are serial morality plays for teenagers. Titans is something different, as well as in their next season I hope they can much better balance the pulpy silliness against what appears to be sloppy storytelling.
Spoilers to follow.
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Titans season 3 Finale
picture courtesy of HBOMax
While this season was all about, as the show phone calls it, “Gotham bullshit,” the story between Damaris Lewis’ Blackfire as well as Anna Diop’s Starfire was wonderful. Blackfire is a traditional comics villain, implying she was evil for a while, however now she vacillates between hero as well as antagonist. Titans totally subverted our expectations about her over the final three episodes. She seemingly takes Starfire’s power as well as abandons her, however Starfire is awesome with it.
Blackfire ended up being the very first like of Joshua Orpin’s Superboy, as well as he destroyed her only method home. In this episode, she just forgives him. As a parallel to the sibling dispute going on between Dick as well as Curran Walters’ Jason Todd, Blackfire as well as Starfire provide us a story about the fantastic power of forgiveness. The two women just talk freely as well as honestly, as well as when the time comes select to forgive as well as relocation ahead rather than, you know, ruin a whole city.
The arms-length redemption of Jason Todd was not ideal. I would have liked to have seen him deal with the entire team, rather than just Dick as well as Ryan Potter’s Gar Logan. Still, the final scene between him as well as Iain Glen’s Bruce Wayne was deeply moving. much of the lore in Titans about Bruce Wayne is that he’s a really sadistic dad to his crime-fighting kids. In this season alone, Dick told a story about Bruce sending him into the woods to make it through as well as he had to behead a wolf. When Jason admits the depth of his autumn to him, Bruce is much more like Starfire than Dick. He just forgives him, as well as then lets him select his own path. It’s macabre however likewise touching when Jason asks if Bruce killed the Joker for him. Walters’ shipment of Jason’s “Thank you” moved me. It’s what any type of Red Hood always wanted.
There’s a fine Line between Pulp as well as Sloppy Storytelling
picture courtesy of HBOMax
In the finale, the baddies kill around 2,000 Gothamites. A huge failure on the Titans’ part, as well as really tragic. So, the truth that the “fix” is some type of vague power mash-up with Lazarus Pit liquid to bring them back to life is fine with me. That is the great type of silly that only truly works when characters are magic. (Shout out to the lady with curly white hair who played an uncannily precise dead lady.) even the costume inconsistency is something we comics fans ought to let go. exactly how does Gar get his exact same clothes back after being an animal? exactly how does Dick get into his costume so rapidly best before fight scenes? To that I say, ever believe about shutting up?
Still, it’s difficult to accept that type of silliness when it appears to be carelessness with storytelling. A number of doubtful decisions from the Titans in the “Troubled Water” episode, for example. The method the whole authorities plan played out was ridiculous. So, it’s been challenging to understand, let alone care about, the whole “rogue cops in league with Crane” angle. It seemed to only exist to provide the Titans somebody to beat up. Though, it is a good touch to bring ARGUS into a story as the heroic cavalry before exposing they are a ruthless, uncaring intelligence as well as enforcement agency. (Also, Titans member Roy Harper was name-dropped, implying we’ll likely see him in Titans season 4.) There’s likewise a moment in the episode opening where Jonathan Crane goes from the Batcave to the streets of downtown Gotham in seconds. It just felt sloppy in parts. Yet, it’s still a fun hour of TV.
The thing that dissatisfied me the most about the season 3 finale, was that we didn’t see Dick reunite with the Titans. He’s just back with them at some point. The episode might have utilized that peaceful moment to focus on as well as tie together the character journeys from the rest of the season. Still, when they’re together as well as working on the plan, it’s just as fun as any type of Titans fan might hope for.
picture courtesy of HBOMax
Titans season 3 is streaming on HBOMax, as well as season 4 is expected in late 2023.
What did you believe of the finale as well as of Titans season 3 in general? exactly how do you like exactly how they handled the Red Hood story? Were you pleased with the number of other Titans in this season? let us understand your thoughts, reactions, as well as really hopes for season 4 in the comments below.
Featured picture through HBOMax.