After some controversy regarding the darker tone of the show, Titans, featuring Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti, and Akiva Goldsman as Executive Producers, makes a strong debut on the DC streaming service, DC Universe.
The pilot episode, directed by Brad Anderson, starts off with Raven (Teagan Croft), a teenage girl struggling with inner demons that emphasizes the latter part of that phrase. We then shift to Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites), an emotionally distant detective for the Detroit Police Department that we learn – especially in the evening – is not as void of emotion as he initially lets on. Simultaneously, we follow a stylish young woman that we know to be Starfire (Anna Diop) trying to discover her identity. Finally, Beast Boy (Ryan Potter) does make an appearance, but that is about all I can say about while avoiding spoilers.
The idea of taking time to introduce the main characters and not rush to include a villain, or even bring the team together, is smart. It allows for the story to unfold in a more natural, smooth way. All of the characters have their own challenges to work through, which makes each character more interesting to follow. Although Starfire and Raven deliver on good screen presence and are written well, Dick Grayson/Robin leaves the strongest impression and is easily the best on-screen portrayal of the character. That is in no way a knock on the other two, but Grayson/Robin is definitely the standout.
The cinematography also deserves some praise. It might not be revolutionary, but captures some unique things and provoked certain ideals. The most noticeable being the religious undertones in the background of quite a few scenes. It reflects the internalization of the characters trying to find redemption in a dark world. It also feels big and cinematic in scope, which makes it more encompassing and, ultimately, fun.
I know there was a public controversy regarding the darker tone of the show, but, to me, it feels perfect for what this show is trying to become. Part of the problem reflects the notion that the source material for Titans are the cartoon shows of Teen Titans and/or Teen Titans Go. Yes, it is a part of the DC lexicon involving these characters, but pales in comparison to the abundance of source material in the comics. Besides, since Titans airs on DC Universe, which is targeted for an adult audience, it makes sense to do something more oriented to that audience. Quite frankly, it makes for a solid entry in the streaming service to give more flexibility and diversity in styles and tones compared to a lot of their older, lighter, and campier material.
Yes, the inevitable comparisons to Zack Snyder’s DCEU have been made, but what most people don’t realize is that the show has strong creative input from Geoff Johns and Greg Berlanti. Johns, former President of DC Entertainment and co-runner of DC Films, is most known for his legendary stories in graphic novels and comic runs, featuring hopefulness and heroism, and his rollercoaster ride with the DCEU.
Meanwhile, Berlanti is best known as an Executive Producer for the successful DC universe on The CW with Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Black Lightning – as well as for directing the critically-acclaimed 2018 film Love, Simon. Knowing how both have previously stated their stance on heart and humor on multiple occasions, as well as their respective resumes, it is fascinating to see them tackle something entirely different.
Overall, Titans is a dark exploration of the characters found in Teen Titans and breaks free of the traditional boundaries holding back a lot of other shows. Titans is a grittier take that reveals a side of superhero adaptations not delved into often. The writing is superb and the acting is as well for the most part. The show is off to a great start and it will be fun to see how it all comes together. Next week’s episode is titled “Hawk and Dove,” so that is very likely.
Overall rating: 9/10
Titans is currently streaming on DC Universe.
-Daryn Kirscht
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAsKSkfC3E4
