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. 

Return of the Titans...

I was enthralled by DC Universe's "Titans", at least until its season finale, and then several things happened to upset me. I felt betrayed enough not to watch again, even if what I witnessed was part of a terrible, Trigon (Seamus Patrick Deaver) embrace-the-dark-side trick. Still, how can I turn my back on anything DC based (unless it's that blasphemous "Lego Batman")?

Besides, there are hints that things may swing in a more positive way for the Titans in Season 2, with new faces on board to fortify the optimism. Batman (Iain "Game of Thrones" Glen) and Deathstroke (Esai Morales) enter the plot. Even Superboy/Connor Kent (Joshua Orpin) and Aqualad (Drew Van Aker) say hello, along with other bold faces. (It would be cool if we got another "Doom Patrol" detour, but maybe that's expecting too much.)

Brenton Thwaites returns at the troubled Dick Grayson, aka Robin (though he's much more Nightwing). His titans include Teagan Croft as Raven; Anna Diop as Starfire; Beast Boy (Ryan Potter); Wonder Girl (Conor Leslie); Hawk (Alan Ritchson); and Dove (Minka Kelly). Jason Todd's Robin (Curran Walters) will not only guest star, but be a full-fledged member this time out. 

For most of Season 1, the members formed a tight fit; let's hope that doesn't slip for the sake of trendy contention (i.e, more Dick-hates-Bruce motifs or variants).

This saga's ongoing theme requires our young superheroes to halt the spread of Hell on Earth: a daunting premise, to say the least, but then fighting any form of super-powered evil would be. "Titans" has invested a steely realism to the war at hand, which isn't likely to cease anytime soon.

The series' real success will spring from how well the intent plays over Season 2's run. "Titans" is DC Universe's founding, live-action series: an original that, if it prevails, should amass an enduring, faithful following. Here's hoping that it stays on track (skips those annoying misleads and out-of-character experimentation), serving its purpose with focus and respect. 

Weekly episodes of "Titans" begin September 6.