Hits and Misses! ‘Titans’ Season 2 Finale [SPOILER ALERT]

Season 2 of “Titans” is now past but the repercussions of the finale are permeating the excitement for season 3. A successful show in its own right “Titans” has brought to audiences characters that are beloved across multiple mediums and some never seen in live-action. We have traveled with these characters for 2 seasons and I for one can’t wait for round 3! Here is a list of hits and misses from the season 2 finale:

Hit: Superboy/Beastboy – BFFs

A subplot that appeared later in the season was Superboy waking up and having Gar as his tour guide on integrating into society. It had its share of light-hearted moments and, as this is The Titans, danger looming overhead. We were able to see more of Cadmus Laboratories, which is a scientific facility with Lex Luthor pulling the strings. Responsible for the genetic experimentations that produced Subject 13 AKA Connor/ Superboy. Also in the spotlight was a character we don’t see enough of but is always a fan favorite when present, Mercy Graves the personal assistant/ bodyguard of Lex himself. The true evil of the Mercy controlled Cadmus was on full display with the mind control of both Gar and Connor. The plot to stage a fight between the two at a Carnival was indeed diabolical as it served two ends; it would create a massive PR boost for Cadmus and it would have been streamed live to nefarious bidders around the world to purchase their very own metahuman.  I say “would have” because the ever-vigilant Bruce Wayne would make a brief appearance shutting it down, like a boss. The team, special mention to Raven and Dick, manages to get through to the minds of Gar and Connor and restore them once again as family and teammates. This entire wrap up demonstrated the best of what the Titans have to offer as a series. 

Miss: Deathstroke Family Tree 

Let me preface this by stating I was enthralled with the character of Deathstroke/ Slade Wilson in this series as portrayed by Esai Morales. Deathstroke was pivotal in an emotionally embroiled story that involved the death of a Titan, the death of Slade’s estranged son, and the betrayal of Slade’s other offspring Rose Wilson / Ravager. Slade had been a pivotal character in the Titan’s history in that he caused the team to disband and move on to separate lives, with everyone licking their wounds. This episode sees Deathstroke making good on his promise of murdering the Titans if they ever reform, with a hail of gunfire at the SUV that Donna, Kori, and Raven are in. We see Dick appear for the first time as Nightwing and begin to fight Deathstroke only to be joined by Rose Wilson in full Ravager armor. It would appear at this point Rose chose team titans and defected from her father’s control. The fight goes on and very simply ends, a few flips, thrusts, parries and Slade is impaled by Rose. While a swift end can be powerful and impactful to a story this was almost, lazy. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was predictable because I expected more from the show. I would have predicted an ending to Slade that would have more than satisfied my palate, but instead, we were given. Stab! On a side note, however, I would be remiss not to mention Slade’s deceased son Jericho whose power of possessing other people came in rather handy as he jumped into the body of his father before his untimely death and again jumping out him and into Rose just before she ends her father. An interesting addition to the scene but with Deathstroke’s ending being so underwhelming, Jericho’s salvation matched in tone and affect. 

Hit: Superboy vs Wondergirl 

Alright maybe it wasn’t the meant to be the main event but looking back, it stole the show. Two powerhouses going toe to toe the likes of which we have never seen on the small screen and it was spectacular. There was a strong sense of danger as Donna rushes in because she’s about to tangle with mind-controlled Connor that will presumably not hold back and hit to kill, and then it shifts. As the fight begins you see full well that Donna is not someone not to be trifled with, with power that was seemingly on par with Connor’s. It was uniquely fun and dramatic to watch what else can I say except Superboy and Wondergirl just slugged it out on my TV and it was awesome!! 

Miss: The Nightwing reveal 

I’ll just put this right on the table; the parallel between Netflix’s “Daredevil” season 1 and Titans season 2 in terms of costume reveal is painfully apparent. Let’s be honest folks it’s all about the costume, it’s always about the costume. We knew by the end of the season Matt Murdock would be getting his red costume just as we knew Dick would be getting his Nightwing costume. Daredevil’s reveal being drawn out the entirety of the season was successful where Titans fell completely flat. Daredevil’s success came from an entire season of focused on Matt falling down and getting back up, season strife with external and internal struggles wherein the growth or rebirth culminates in the new red costume crashing onto the scene. It was perfectly timed and superbly impactful. Over in Titans, maybe not so much. “Titan’s also drew out the Nightwing reveals the entirety of the season but there was no real reason why. The build-up to it, emotionally, just wasn’t as palpable. It was stated very plainly through dialogue throughout the show but never truly felt, so when it came time to reveal it lacked the resonance it was meant to have. However…the costume itself…was amazing! Nightwing dressed as Nightwing! It would have served better to have given this to the show an episode or two sooner and properly showcase the team unified under the Nightwing banner. 

Hit: Titans Together

It was the moment we were all expecting the Titans past and present together! I have been reading comics for most of my literate life and the notion of the Titans show was almost unheard of prior to this and what a blessing of fandom it is to watch this unfold. Seeing all the characters together was probably the best takeaway from the series thus far. 

Miss: The Death of Donna Troy

Soooo, the death of Donna Troy is indeed canon. I read the comic, Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day, when it happened and I have to say I didn’t like it then, actually, I was devastated. Nonetheless, I accept that show in this regard is following comic canon, but the way in which she perishes is painfully lackluster. A Titan is about to lay her life down and it was crafted without the punch her character deserved. She sees the tower falling and acts to save the people underneath by using her super-speed to close the gap and her strength to hold it up, but her powers seemingly end there and she’s electrocuted. A strange death that felt rushed and thrown in, leaving most who watched asking “But why though”. 

The Takeaway: 

Season 2 subplots all seemed to converge onto this final episode, the effort in making sure most everyone’s stories are wrapped up is commendable indeed but all the subplots didn’t need to be stretched out to the last episode. As the season progressed seeing storylines close one by one as we near the end only leaves more room to soundly investigate the major plots in greater depth and giving them the attention they deserve.

https://youtu.be/jbphZIzozEQ

Written by Victor Mercado