Sometimes Titans has excellent storylines, but the execution is too silly to take seriously.
Titans Season 2 Episode 11 was one of those times.
We had every single character aside from Hank and Conner, and there was too much going on for us to take much of it in.
Brenton Thwaites delivered another stunning performance as Dick, the man who is having the world’s most prolonged identity crisis.
The way he morphed into Nightwing left much to be desired. This is one of the most crucial developments from the source material, but it was dumbed down by illogical storytelling.
Bruce has obviously made quite the impression on Dick if he continues to imagine his presence, more so than Dick would like anyone to believe.
It’s been a slow road for Dick ever since he gave up the Robin mantle. He tried to lead the team for a while, but then the past came back to haunt him.
Rachel: Kory?
Kory: Rachel?
Rachel: What the hell are you doing here?
Kory: Shit, I’m not completely sure.
In jail, he figured he could keep everyone safe, but how was he supposed to do that when things kept popping up?
The dance routine between him and Bruce was corny as hell. You may call it a fight sequence, but it was so god damn obvious they were being choreographed that I had to do a double-take.
The only positive from it was Deathstroke using sign language to tell Dick Jericho was still alive. It didn’t become clear until Kory and Rachel arrived at the prison what was being said, but now we know.
If Jericho is genuinely alive, it will be the thing that allows the Titans to join forces again. In all honesty, though, it feels like a cheap tactic to do so.
Bruce: You need to rest. Build up your strength for the escape.
Dick: No escapes for me.
Bruce: Deathstroke has taken hostages. And here you are.
Dick: We have a truce. He’s not touching anybody.
Bruce: No one you can see. At Adeline’s, Slade was there, you were there, and yet no killing. Why?
Dick: He was unarmed.
Bruce: And?
Dick: And I was in Adeline’s house.
Bruce: Maybe you didn’t want to. Maybe there’s something inside Slade that you need.
Dick: Yeah, his tiny tin heart got to me.
Bruce: You both loved Jericho, and you both got him killed. A common bond of self-loathing. As long as you’re both alive, you can always blame the other guy.
Why build this mythology only to bring a previously dead character back into the fold? It’s a common TV trope and one that Titans should veer well away from if it wants to keep me as a viewer beyond Titans Season 2.
If Jericho is alive, then what is Slade’s plan here? He told Dick he would kill everyone if the Titans ever reunited.
It leads me to believe that Slade is not as wicked as we’re being led to believe and that he’s going to ultimately swap sides.
Having this iteration of Slade go from a villain to a good guy would be a stretch, and one many fans would struggle to get on board with.
Stranger things have happened, but the Slade Wilson arc needs to wrap up entirely by the close of Titans Season 2. That includes getting rid of Rose, as well.
Child: You’ve been in there for an hour. You look rough.
Kory: Thanks.
Child: Get your life right, lady.
We should have known she was working with her father all along. Her reaction to Dick admitting it was his fault was to run off with Jason.
She would have been more upset had she not known the truth beforehand. Her scenes with Jason were painful on this particular installment, primarily because they felt like they belonged in another episode.
Rose was playing everyone, but she was growing genuine feelings for Jason. She was ready to cut him off, but she started to realize that he was also a genuine young man and that they had much in common.
Her plan is probably to slum it out with Jason, but without knowing what Slade’s up to, there’s no telling how this is going to shake out.
Bruce managing to get Donna, Dawn, Rachel, and Kory to the diner was a task well done, but he could never have anticipated how divided the team is.
It’s probably for the best Donna and Dawn headed back to San Francisco to save Garth. They didn’t need the four of them to go to the prison.
Rachel and Kory handled that all on their own. Kory really got the short end of the straw when she learned that her sister is taking on her mantle back home, but she has a thirst for revenge.
Kory continues to be one of the best characters because the writing for her has been consistent. Even in the face of doom, she can find a way to make lemons into lemonade.
Maybe speaking to a therapist would help give her some perspective, but the person she planned to have the one night stand with psychoanalyzing her was too much.
As for Gar, we should be worried. Nothing good was going to come from him being locked up at Cadmus, and Mercy has successfully created her own personal pet killing machine now.
If he can kill Rachel, then he’ll kill anyone. Donna and Dawn are going to be in for a tough time as they try to save him. It seems like a job for the entire band of Titans, assuming they get back together.
“E.L._.O.” wasn’t good. It was a cumbersome episode that went in circles, throwing multiple plots at the wall as though the writers wanted to see what stuck. Very little of it did, actually.
The series is playing a dangerous game. Many fans have been alienated as a result of the way things are playing out, and there are only two episodes left to convince me to watch next season.
When the show is good, it’s the best superhero drama out there, but when it’s bad, it’s been terribl.
What do you think of the way things played out? Were you impressed by the introduction of Nightwing?
What’s your theory on the way Deathstroke gave Dick the message?
Hit the comments.
Titans continues Thursdays on DC Universe.
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