One of DC Comics’ big bets to the future of their direct-to-consumer streaming service — DC Universe — is their live-action TITANS show. And there’s been some buzz around it sporadically as bits and pieces had been either officially released (like with the first shot of Brenton Thwaites as Robin/Dick Grayson), or leaked (as in the case of Anna Diop as Starfire).
Now, I’ve been a bit wishy-washy on how I feel about the show, and that’s due to the fact that I’m not quite sure what DC Comics wants it to be.
When it was first announced, I was ecstatic because I thought that we were going to get a really cool next-gen type story with the Titans (Nightwing, Wally West, Donna Troy, Red Arrow, etc). But then we got word that Thwaites was cast as Robin, pre Nightwing. So it felt like they were attempting a best of both worlds type gimmick, and that threw me a bit.
Prepare yourself, because I’m about to give a “Hot Take” in regard to the official first trailer of TITANS…
I’m not feeling it.
Now, before you start sharpening the pitchforks and lighting the torches, you should check out the trailer for TITANS yourself. I don’t want you to make my opinion yours, so watch the trailer below:
All right, so let me explain myself…
When it was being rumored that the show would be “violent and dark and gritty,” as well as having adult language, I was smiling ear to ear. It seemed like they were headed down the road Zack Snyder had set up with the DCEU, but then I watched the trailer and immediately felt punched in the face (myself). I feel like they’re being super violent just to be super violent. It reminds me of the way Marvel forces jokes into every chance they get just to be “funny”.
Now don’t get me wrong, I would’ve (and might still end up) liked this if it was organically “violent and dark and gritty,” and I love the part when Grayson says, “Fuck Batman!” as much as the next guy. But I’m just not feeling TITANS based off this first trailer. I’m going to need more, and it may even take a couple of episodes for me to fully come around. It’s unfortunate, but hey, you can’t win them all.
TITANS is set to air Fall 2018.