TITANS (S2E1) “Trigon”: A Bumpy But Promising Continuation For DC’s Young Heroes

After nearly a year since the conclusion of its first season, Titans is back on the DC Universe streaming service. Last season’s finale left us on perhaps a displeasing cliff-hanger that never quite let its punches fly, and season two picks up right where we left off. 

The first episode of the second season is directed by Carol Banker, and it reintroduces us to familiar faces as well as brings in new characters from DC lore. This opener fumbles its way through to a conclusion for last season and offers a vision for what we can expect of season two; the outcome is messy, in most cases, but it’s at least a promising start with a keen eye for the future of DC.

Titans Tower

Season two continues delving into the relationship between Raven (Teagan Croft) and her father Trigon (Seamus Dever). As Raven and Trigon oppose each other, the rest of the Titans find themselves under his spell, falling to their own personal demons. As they’re tranced, the audience is given a look into some of the teams’ past and the traumas that have shaped them. The episode offers some enjoyable action sequences and insightful drama, but it’s ultimately made with pieces of a puzzle that don’t fully take shape yet.

The biggest problem with this episode is that it attempts to tie up the loose ends of last season while setting course for what’s to come. The first half is rushed and doesn’t give us a proper conclusion to the story’s arc, and it would’ve undeniably worked better as a finale rather than a season opener (which was intended of it, as season one was initially slated for 12 episodes).

If you’re a fan of the comics, you’re probably aware of Trigon’s importance to the Titans’ mythos, and his presence here is a bit lackluster. It isn’t much of a spoiler to say that we finally get to see Trigon in his demonic form; what they chose to do with him, however, is where the show falls flat. 

The CGI is well done and Dever’s acting is cold and menacing, but the script lacks the fireworks or excitement that could have taken place, since this antagonist had been built up since last season. If you’re like me, you may be disappointed with the missed opportunities of this conclusive arc.

The New Titans

If you were looking forward to an exhilarating follow up to last episode, then you may be displeased, but at least there’s adequate closure. More so than that, the episode ends on high notes. 

As one story ends another begins to unravel, and we’re introduced to a couple new characters who had been previously announced. Iain Glen makes his first appearance as Bruce Wayne, and Esai Morales brings to life the villain of Deathstroke. These two bring a presence to the screen that’s definitely felt, leaving DC fans to look forward to what’s to come.

The team feels more fully formed by the end of this episode, and we’re given hints of rich history that’ll make for intriguing future stories. Each main character is given a fair amount of screen time, with fan-favorites Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) and Raven (Croft) standing out.

Cowls and Tights

This episode of Titans is mainly intended to get the ball rolling, and the show further impresses with its costume designs. Last season, fans were thrilled to see comic accurate suits come to life, and this season brings us an upgraded version of Raven’s design and gives us a look at Wonder Girl’s (Conor Leslie) and Deathstroke’s (Morales) superhero attire — which are equally worth admiring.

These costumes fit right into the gritty world of the DC Universe that Titans initially developed. The show also continues to employ the darker tones of the first season. The grit and edginess of the show was initially divisive among fans, but Titans season 2 seems more confident with the material at hand, as the costumes, setting, and script work to complement each other with a higher sense of bravado.

Titans S2E1: Conclusion

Season two of Titans starts off on a messy but promising foot that does more to excite fans for future episodes than work as a spectacular conclusion for its previous arc. Nonetheless, episode one should offer enough fun for superhero fans, and with Superboy, Krypto, and Aqualad set to make an appearance in future episodes, we can surely expect the series to delve into the rich history of DC Comics.

What did you think of DC’s Titans? What’s your favorite DC TV Show? Let us know!

Titans season 2 premiered on Sept. 6th on the DC Universe, with episodes slated to release every Friday.

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