DC’s Titans Season 3 Episode 2 sees the Titans all heading back to Gotham to face some new threats, now that Batman is gone.
DC’s Titans Season 3 Episode 2 brings in one of the best villains — Red Hood. For those who don’t know who this character’s true identity is, don’t worry, you won’t have to wait long. They do reveal him in this episode which I felt was very important to do because those who know him from the comic books, or DC FanDome announcements, would have gotten frustrated having to wait too long. This episode is all about Red Hood, with a little bit of other stuff sprinkled in — like Dove and Hawk’s return.
Warning, this recap and review of Titans Season 3 Episode 2 will contain spoilers. So if you have not yet watched this episode on HBO Max and would like to remain in the dark, please come back at a later time. If you missed our Titans Season 3 Episode 1 recap, check it out.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Titans Season 3 Episode 2
Red Hood
This episode starts off with a meeting of the Gotham crime bosses discussing Joker’s death. Some of them are not too convinced it was Batman, since he has a no kill rule, but others think he just snapped. Red Hood crashes their party with a bag full of each and every groups’ number two’s heads. Just to show he isn’t playing around. He tells them that they all work for him now, and when one puts up a fight, he kills him without even thinking. Of course, they all agree after that.
Cut to DC and we see Hawk as a bicycle cop being grilled by his partner about what he used to do before this. He eventually confesses, explaining what he did as Hawk in a hilarious way, making his partner just laugh thinking he is making it up. They then get a call about shots fired and Hawk takes off to try to catch the perpetrator. Dove is there to take him down and they exchange some awkward conversation before she leaves to go meet with a guy she is dating.
The Titans Arrive
Dick and Barbara briefly talk about the situation of Bruce killing Joker and then skipping town. She talks about how it wasn’t right for him to dump the whole city and “be a better Batman” on him. Dick then calls in the Titans for backup, knowing that news of Batman being gone is going to spread quickly, and they will have their hands full with criminal activity.
Almost immediately that is the case, as a woman dons a red hood and blows up four people. After she is taken in, it is very clear that she is being made to do this. The Joker used to wear a red hood when he first started out, so it is thought maybe they are connected. The woman delivers a note that is on the back of a book page asking to speak with Nightwing. When he shows up she refuses to talk, but shows a phone number that is carved into her arm.
Once that is called it releases a toxin, which is slowly killing her. She tells make it stop before snapping her own neck. The police and Titans quickly figure out that her daughter was taken from her, and she was doing this in hopes to get her back from her abductor. They now know there is someone out there willing to do just about anything.
Scarecrow Consulting
Barbara tells Dick that he might not like it, but Bruce had the idea of them working Dr. Crane, AKA Scarecrow, as a consultant on profiling cases like this. She is right, Dick hates it, but goes to see him anyways.
In the meeting with Scarecrow, which by the way he looks and acts amazing for the character, he says he thinks this person knows Nightwing’s real identity and has a jealousy complex. He also explains that the book page it was written on is from a chess handbook, and means this is just his opening move.
The Bank
Barbara calls the team in when a bank is being robbed and people held hostage — but all the ones doing it are wearing red hoods. The Titans sweep in, and Dick thinks that these are also parents, whose children are being held hostage. He asks the police to stand down, and Barbara listens to him. dick is hoping to reason with the parents.
Superboy and Beast Boy find the kids, but then quickly also find the parents. The people in the bank are part of one of the crime teams in Gotham, now workign for the Red Hood. They release a flashbang and make off with 25 million dollars. Of course Barbara is not at all happy about this.
Red Hood’s Identity
After playing chess for a very long time, the Titans end up figuring out that the point of the opening move is to look up defenses to it. They then triangulate to go to Hobb’s Powder Group, where they are met by Red Hood and a bunch of goons.
Here we do get some pretty great fight scenes, although there is some cheesy dialogue during them again, and eventually Nightwing and Red Hood come face to face. After a one on one battle, part of Red Hood’s mask breaks, and he is revealed to be Jason Todd. Dick is shocked as he takes cover from some bullets that Jason shoots at him. Jason tells him his new name is Red Hood, before disappearing.
DC’s Titans Season 3 Episode 2 Review
The way that Red Hood is portrayed in this episode is fantastic. It is shown that he is brutal, uncaring, and quite frankly, a badass. It is great to be back in Gotham completely where things are especially dark and gritty. His identity reveal as Jason was done really well, and Dick seemed completely taken by surprise. It is exciting to think where this might lead as the season continues.
Having Hawk and Dove back is definitely adding to the drama, and it was fun to make the parallel between their relationship and Barbara and Dick’s relationship. Some of the dialogue during fights is, yet again, cheesy. Titans would do better off letting the choreography and action take over in those moments, there is no need to add one liners or conversations to it.
Bringing in Scarecrow was fantastic as he is one of the best villains in the DC Universe. He is smart, especially when it comes to chemicals, so it feels like he must be involved in whatever Jason was doing with that chemistry book. Unfortunately this means that twist, whenever it comes, was pretty predictable. Perhaps they will not go in that direction, but it certainly seems likely.
About Titans Season 3 Episode 2
The Titans come to Gotham to face off against Red Hood.
About Titans Season 3
Titans follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find where they belong. In season three, circumstances draw our heroes to Gotham City, where they will reunite with old friends and face new threats.
Titans Season 3 kicks off on HBO Max with Episodes 1 – 3 dropping on August 12th!
