Titans Go Round 3

DC/HBO Max's Titans returns with more anguished, two-fisted adventure. (As readers may recall, the series was a significant part of the pay-for-it DC Universe, which has since become a primary, comic-book hub.) 

For this new season, Brenton Thwaites' Dick Grayson will become Nightwing, but hey, that's not such a stretch. Most viewers have been clamoring for his historic transition from the Boy Wonder and expected it much sooner than this. 

Iain Glen's Bruce Wayne is also returning, in the flesh and/or cerebral form. The latter component gave Season 2 a Dexter feel, which I, for one, enjoyed. The banter (whether concrete or surreal) also grants Grayson greater, reflective range. 

In addition to Thwaites, Season 3 features Ana Diop's Starfire; Teagan Croft's Raven; Ryan Potter's Beastboy; Coner Leslie's Wonder Girl (back from the dead, eh?); Joshua Orpin's Superboy (Kal-El/Lex Luthor's combo-clone); Alan Richtson's Hawk; Minka Kelly's Dove; Kimberly-Sue Murray's Lady Vic (who could be good or bad depending on how the dime drops); Savannah Welch's Batgirl (the neo Commissioner Gordon); Jay Lycurgo's Robin (Timothy Drake); and Curran Walters' Robin/the Red Hood (Jason Todd).

The team will tangle with Vincent (Madmen) Kartheiser's Hannibal Lecter/Timothy Leary-ish Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow on a comeback). Crane's participation implies an even deeper psychological slant for Season 3.

This increased slant jives, since all Titans' main characters distinguish themselves by introspection, with Grayson and now the burgeoning Red Hood prepared to lead the pack. The series is, therefore, one where wrestling personal demons is as much a priority as stomping maniacal threats: a wise, melodramatic move that has thus far made the program a must-see for DC followers. 

Titans: Season 3 debuts August 12 and will spread into October. No doubt the 13-episode expanse will once more hit an influential, glad-I-subscribed spot.