Titans: A Somber, Yet Exciting, DC Universe Original Series

A DC Universe online streaming service original, “Titans” is a dark and gritty portrayal of our favorite innocent team of young heroes, led by a ruthless and troubled former Boy Wonder himself (Brenton Thwaites). Joined by the likes of Firestar (Anna Diop), Beast Boy (Ryan Potter), Wondergirl (Conor Leslie), Hawk (Alan Ritchson) & Dove (Minka Kelly), and Jason Todd (Curran Walters), Dick Grayson and co. work tirelessly to provide safety to the deeply disturbed Raven (Teagan Croft), hoping to discover the origin of her dark powers and mysterious connections to members of the team.

With screenwriting from a coalition including Greg Berlanti, Akiva Goldsman, and comic book legend Geoff Johns, the story is well-paced for the majority of the 11 episodes, avoiding most of the sluggish narrative ills seen in similar superhero-based series’ such as Luke Cage and Iron Fist on Netflix.

The casting for this series is spot-on, with convincing performances from the diverse group of actors in their representations of an unlikely group of heroes (and anti-heroes). The hair and makeup crew, along with the costume designers, created exceptional adaptations of these characters’ looks from the source material, with a few innovative twists to fit with the tone of the show.

While the fight choreography and cinematography is not nearly on the level of a series like Netflix’s Daredevil or The Punisher, there are some pretty electrifying, frenetic action sequences that might even require a rewind to get the full impact.

The music from Kevin Kiner and Clint Mansell further supports the unique vibe of these adventures, combining the grim elements of the story with its fantastical comic book aspects.

                                        
Of course, “Titans” is undoubtedly plagued with a few flaws, notably some choppy editing in certain action sequences, subtracting from their potential as fully immersive and enchanting.

Some of the special effects, specifically in scenes of acrobatics and superhero flight, are utterly laughable. Yet, these instances are few and far between.

DC Universe does require a reasonable $6 monthly fee for access to its wide array of shows, movies, and comics, but the free one-week trial should be enough to breeze through the 11 episode series if so desired. “Titans” is definitely worth your time if you’re a fan of comic book adaptations and similar genres.

Grade: B