After Teen Titans’ third season ended in 2005 (exact same year V For Vendetta came out) on Cartoon Network, a fourth season immediately aired earning positive reviews from critics, fans and viewers alike. Now that James Gunn’s shepherding the DC Universe, a live-action “Teen Titans” movie is in development along with a “Bane and Deathstroke” movie. As a fan of the original Teen Titans cartoon since childhood, I wanna share my thoughts on Season 4.
This review contains no SPOILERS.
Positive & Negative Aspects
Positive: Tara Strong, Scott Menville, Khary Payton, Hynden Walch & Greg Cipes reprise their roles and they all did an excellent job for their respective voiceover performances.
Bruce Timm served as a producer.
Animation’s a unique combination of anime and an American cartoon.
Action Sequences highlight our heroes using their skills to combat adversaries.
Chemistry between members of the titular team serves as the main highlight.
Japanese pop duo Puffy AmiYumi perform the theme song in both English & Japanese.
Raven’s father, Trigon serves as the main villain of Season 4.
Although Season 4 focuses on Raven’s predicament, some episodes feel like good side quests
Ron Perlman reprises his role as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke. This time, he’s in cahoots with Trigon.
Notable actors/actresses guest star in various episodes.
- Michael Clarke Duncan
- Rob Paulsen
- Tom Kane
- Jason Marsden (Max from A Goofy Movie)
- Stephen Root
- Virginia Madsen (Michael Madsen’s real-life sister)
- Rodger Bumpass (Squidward from SpongeBob)
- Lauren Tom (Amy Wong from Futurama)
The three-part episode, The End is my all-time favorite episode. I also consider the season premiere as my favorite episode on the silly side.
Raven’s my favorite character and my third favorite superhero. When I was a kid, I use to have a crush on her. Here are my Top 5 favorite superheroes listed below.
- Batman
- Wolverine
- Raven
- Rocket Raccoon
- Deadpool
Negative: The team never address each other by their real names and always wear their outfits 24/7.
Episode 41 – Don’t Touch That Dial/Episode 297-494
Rich: Season 4’s first episode is a silly. Control Freak takes over television teleporting from one channel to another.
A moral lesson is played for laughs.
This episode is filled with references to movies and TV shows. So, here’s a list.
- Control Freak says, “I know kung-fu.” A quote from “The Matrix.” Keanu Reeves played “Constantine.” Plus, it came out in 2005.
- Control Freak also says, “Hasta la vista titans.” Paraphrasing the infamous line from “Terminator 2: Judgement Day.” “Hasta la vista baby.”
- Control Freak steals a laser watch from somebody who looks like James Bond.
- A sea creature resembles “The Creature from the Black Lagoon.”
- A chase scene based on Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote.
- Beast Boy’s favorite show is obviously based on “Star Wars.” Speaking of which, “Revenge of The Sith” was also out in 2005.
- Robin “jumping the shark” mirrors Fonzie’s infamous moment from “Happy Days.”
- A blonde Australian resembles the late Steve Irwin. May he Rest in Peace.
- During a fight, Control Freak exclaims, “There can only be one.” A quote from “Highlander.” Ricky Bobby claims it won an Oscar for “Best movie ever made.”
- The Phantom Zone from Christopher Reeve’s Superman is used.
Episode 42 – Cyborg the Barbarian
Episode 42’s title is a referenced to “Conan the Barbarian.”
Cyborg accidentally transports himself five thousand years into the past. He helps an army battle big bugs. Not the ones from “Starship Troopers.”
Raven’s line, “Evil beware, we have waffles.” It became a meme. Plus, waffles are her favorite food.
“Planet of the Apes” is referenced.
Cyborg says, “I’m not even supposed to be here.” A reference to Dante Hicks’ catchphrase from “Clerks.” “I’m not supposed to be here today!” Kevin Smith’s also a lifelong comic book fan.
Episode 43 – Birthmark
Raven’s friends surprise her with a birthday party.
Slade makes his return working for Trigun. This time he acquires powers. Thus, marks the beginning of Season 4’s main story arc.
This episode’s darker and serious. For instance, Raven sees a glimpse of the future.
Episode 44 – The Quest
Robin goes on a solo mission for intense training without relying on his gear. Coincidentally, Bruce Wayne traveled across the world undergoing vigorous training in “Batman Begins.”
Meanwhile, Robin’s pals play “dress up.” Raven gets to have a little bit of fun after her encounter with Slade. She deserves a break.
Episode 45 – Employee of the Month
Fed up with slow traversing, Beast Boy gets a job at a fast-food restaurant in order to make some money to buy a moped.
Meanwhile, The Gang are tasked to stop UFOs from stealing cows. They’re lucky Crypto from “Destroy All Humans” isn’t around.
Robin has a cape for a glider. Batman also equips a similar one. In the words of Christian Bale’s version. “Does it come in black?”
Cyborg’s huge order possibly pays homage to Big Smoke’s absurd order from “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.”
A shocking moment towards the end is played for laughs. The reactions are priceless.
Episode 46 – Troq
The Gang are recruited by a space hero named, Val-Yor to help him fight a robot army. Well, he’s not your typical boy scout wearing blue and red.
This episode tackles a serious subject involving Starfire being discriminated over her alien heritage. The short answer is racism. It doesn’t inject any preachiness. Thankfully, the theme was handled maturely. Plus, it taught me a valuable lesson. Never meet your heroes.
Cyborg & Starfire have a serious talk related to one another being discriminated.
Episode 47 – The Prophecy
After three episodes of side quests, this episode resumes the main story arc. Raven’s conflicted about telling her friends that a prophecy tied to her role in Trigun’s apocalypse. She goes on a solo mission to prevent her father’s scheme from happening.
Once again, our heroes battle Slade.
At one point, Slade burns a large S on the ground. A reference to “The Crow.” Other films referenced a burning logo including “The Mask of Zorro” “Daredevil” & “V for Vendetta.”
We learn a bit about Raven’s backstory.
Raven has an awesome moment.
Episode 48 – Stranded
No Slade or Trigun this time. A space monster uses its sonic scream damaging The Gang’s ship. Causing it to separate our heroes in various locations. Cyborg & Beast Boy try to repair the ship, Robin & Starfire search for their friends. Raven, however, has the least number of problems. Give the girl a break, she’s been through a lot.
A visual gag with Cyborg rebuilt as a cross between a robot and a chicken. Get it? “Robot Chicken?” Coincidentally, the show premiered on Adult Swim in 2005.
Beast Boy morphs into Chewbacca.
Raven has a funny moment with tiny friendly aliens.
Episode 49 – Overdrive
Having a hard time getting his routine done, Cyborg installs a computer chip significantly increasing his abilities.
Much like the Venom symbiote in “Spider-Man,” Cyborg’s addiction to the computer chip acts as a metaphor for drug addiction.
The Gang dukes it out with a Multiple Man (from X-Men) like bad guy. He has a hillbilly accent.
A commercial mentions S.T.A.R. Labs. In the comics place Cyborg was surgically reconstructed at the place.
Episode 50 – Mother Mae-Eye
Inspired by the witch from “Hansel and Gretel,” the titular villain casts a spell on The Gang. Treating them like little kids.
Mother Mae-Eye mentioned “Sugar, Spice and everything nice.” A reference to the opening line from “The Powerpuff Girls.” It’s funny because Tara Strong voiced Bubbles.
Cyborg’s explanation on how he got into The Gang’s predicament made me crack up.
Episodes 51-53 – The End
After three side missions, this three-part episode centers on The Gang’s biggest challenge. They battle Trigon and his army. He seeks Raven as his plan to conquer humanity. Meanwhile, Slade has an agenda.
The Tone has a much darker and serious side.
Before one beautiful day takes a darker route, Raven’s pancakes for breakfast made me chuckle. Gotta love the way she smiles like Joker.
Near the end of Part I, Raven makes a drastic decision. Thus, the stakes are raised. Cue, Martin Lawrence’s line from “Bad Boys II.” S**t just got real!”
Part II features The Gang battling evil copies of themselves. I’ll take that over Superman’s fight with Doomsday in “Batman vs. Superman.”
Without giving anything away, in Part III, Raven has an epic moment. She earns Bonus Points. This is the real Raven, not the obnoxious gassy goofball in “Teen Titans Go.” Will somebody please include Raven in a live-action Teen Titans movie? She’s one of my all-time favorite superheroes.
The Final Verdict: A-
Teen Titan’s fourth season is arguably the best. 2005 was a great year for DC Comics. Christopher Nolan got Batman’s groove back, V for Vendetta became a timeless classic and Justice League Unlimited’s second and third seasons were awesome. If you’re gearing up for James Gunn’s DC Universe like me, rewatch all five seasons of Teen Titans.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 