‘Titans’ Episode Two ‘Hawk and Dove’: Still Melodramatic, But Worth the Watch

Last week, the pilot episode of “Titans” seemed to be a shining light among the mediocrity of DC superhero shows like “Arrow” and “The Flash.” The revamped, beloved team, Titans, premiered on DC Universe in a more serious and dramatic way than its predecessors. The second episode continues to add complexity to this plot in an engaging manner that is captivating in spite of of the cheesy dialogue as Robin (Brenton Thwaites) deals with internal conflict while helping Raven (Teagan Croft) discover the truth about her powers.

This week, even though Starfire and Beast Boy don’t have much more involvement in the story, two new characters, Hawk (Alan Ritchson) and Dove (Minka Kelly) enter the scene. These two vigilantes are a couple struggling to cut ties with busting crime after a long history of risking their lives for the job. In addition, the show depicts their messy relationship with Robin, who not only previously abandoned his friendship with the both of them, but also walked out on Dove, whom he had been dating. The episode focuses primarily on the duo as Robin seeks refuge for Raven with them, eliciting an awkward reaction between the two.

Compared to last week’s, there are many moments when this episode becomes extremely melodramatic, especially in the dialogue. While DC is notorious for intense somberness in their media, some lines, from Robin saying “You don’t know what I’ve become,” to Raven proclaiming, “When I feel the darkness sometimes...It feels good..” are just laughable. These lines seem out of place for a superhero show, a problem that has only worsened from last week. Furthermore, the mediocre CGI persists, like when Raven loses control of her powers and becomes demonic. Unfortunately, this feature looks like it’s here to stay as Rave increasingly gains control of her powers and learns about her origins.

However, despite these drawbacks, it is hard to not find genuine amusement from the show. The plot is compelling — there is still the mysterious element of sourness between Robin and Batman’s relationship, as well as the constant insecurity of Raven’s position as corrupt cops and Russian agents continue to try to capture her. There are also numerous heartfelt moments between Rachel and Robin as the show clearly sets the two up as a parallel of Dick’s backstory with Bruce after he was orphaned and taken into the billionaire’s care. Although Dick explains his trouble with forming familial relationships because of his emotional trauma, it becomes clearer as the show progresses to see the formation of a caring, father-daughter-like bond between the two, adding depth to their characters.

In sum, although the Titans’ problem with melodramatic cheesiness and strange visual effects lingers, the plot continues to overwhelm these drawbacks through its superb emotional characterization and deepening plot. Because these flaws are unlikely to change as the show continues, this show might be a right fit for viewers who prioritize quality of plot. This episode’s cliffhanger is incredibly shocking, and hopefully next week the show’s tone will be less excessive and feature more screen time for Starfire and Beast Boy while following up on this episode’s events.