First off I think its important for me to mention that going into this episode I already had some pretty strong negative feelings towards this show. Teen Titans Go and the rest of the new programming coming to DC Nation (not to mention the cancellation of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, even if that's somewhat more understandable) have replaced 2 of my favorite animated shows on television; Young Justice and Green Lantern the Animated Series. Both YJ and GL we're crowd favorites and their cancellations this spring came with a heavy heart and many a clenched fist from DC fans around the world. Especially when we learned the reasoning... toy sales were too low. This news was doubly frustrating when compounded with what we learned was to replace them on DC Nation, CN's super hero block. Beware of Batman (which, rumor has it, has already been cancelled and will only air for the 1 season) and this; Teen Titans Go. A much hyped return of the Titans to the small screen. Even the voices from the original cartoon are back.

Coming up to the launch of the show I was skeptical. Even though the original voice cast was returning, they were going in a completely new direction. Going away from the more straight forward approach to a new, very lighthearted and comedic direction. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a funny super hero just as much as the next guy, I just wasn't sure if this was going to work. But... it does, at least partially. Some of the gags worked, some didn't. The show takes the characters you know from the Titans: Robin, Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Starfire, and puts them in a whole new light. For instance, the first part episode starts with Raven, the typically dower monotone, watching a show called Pretty Pegasus Which I guess is supposed to be a play off of My Little Pony. regardless, seeing Raven watching a show with a character called Sparkle Face was a well done humorous touch for fans who know the character. And With each 22 minute episode broken up into 2 parts, telling completely unrelated stories, its easy for their to be a lot different directions to take the comedy.

I have to say, having the original voice cast return is a nice touch. Even though I wasn't hugely into the original series, those voices are still what I associate with many of these characters. Special props goes out to the voice of Beast Boy, Greg Cipes. He's perfectly suited to the new comedic tone of the series, especially when you consider he also perfectly voices Michelangelo on the new TMNT show (you can find my review of the latest episode of that series here). That's not to say that the rest of the cast is doing a poor job. In fact they all seem to be thriving with the new the tone the show has taken.

"Batman never has to go grocery shopping"

Overall, I mostly enjoyed the premier. I found myself laughing more then I thought I would but still found many of the jokes to be forced and grating. That said, I'm willing to give the show the benefit of the doubt and let it grow into itself a bit more before I judge it too harshly. I mean any show with a song about loving pie (when i say yummy, you say pie) has at least my initial vote.

A few side notes:

I'm undecided if I'll continue reviewing this series. email me at towerofbabblepodcast@gmail.com and let me know if I should continue.
watching Starfire plan Cyborg's birthday was especially funny. (balloon animals made from balloons with animals in them!)
Robin freaking some guy out at a supermarket with his bow staff was also very funny ("ha! clavicle!")

May 22, 2025

SSSW/ToB Film Club - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

It's hard to believe that 'Rogue One' premiered nearly a decade ago. At the time, it was fairly well received, considered to be a decent first step into the standalone Star Wars movies, if not a bit messy. As the years passed, we learned more about the production. Gareth Edwards, who retained sole directing credit, was assisted by Tony Gilroy to "fix" the project. Tony went so far as to call it a "corpse" when he came aboard for rewrites and reshoots. It was Tony's inclusion that brought us some of the movies most memorable moments, and ultimately led him to leading the charge on 'Andor', a prequel project that flew under the radar as hits like 'The Mandalorian' hogged the spotlight. With 'Andor' now complete, considered by many to be a masterpiece in storytelling, not just in Star Wars but on television in general, now is the most appropriate time to reexamine the movie that spawned the Cassian-centered prequel series with fresh eyes. 'Andor', which leads directly into the events of 'Rogue One' recontextualizes much of the film, creating a unique viewing experience that pays off a multitude of threads that are brilliantly laid over the two seasons of 'Andor'. It takes the movie, which was already pretty good, and makes it great. Now existing as part of a whole that weaves a cohesive narrative from the nascent moments of the Rebellion all the way through to the destruction of the Death Star in 1977 (the seed that begat ALL Star Wars, and what we appropriately align our Star Wars BBY calendars to). It all feels wholistic and considered when viewed from the broader perspective - an accomplishment that should set a shining example of what Star Wars can and should aspire to.

May 15, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 Finale

After only 4 weeks - the blink of an eye - it's all over. The best Star Wars story since the Original Trilogy has graced our screens and left us in awe. These final three episodes weren't able to reach the emotional highs of last week's arc, but that wasn't the goal. Instead, it provides time to look back at what brought us here, and sets the stage for the climax of the story to take place not in this moment, but within the now recontextualized film that birthed all of this in the first place, 'Rogue One'. And while the show may carry Cassian's name on the title screen, it's been the cast of characters we've met along the way that truly elevated this experience. Not to pick favourites, but in particular, Luthen and Kleya, who get an episode all to themselves this week are the standouts. And what an episode it was, as their story which shepherded much of the series came to an end, as we all expected it would have to. Embracing those feelings of closure, in the final moments of the series, as Cassian flies off into 'Rogue One', we are treated to our last glimpses of our heroes and villains. From Dedra to Vel and even Perrin, we are left to consider their fates as the story marches with inevitability into what begat all of this way back in 1977. Will we ever see Kleya, Vel, Wilmon, or Bix again? One can only hope - and rebellions? Well, they're built on hope.

May 9, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 E7 - 9

When dealing in the world of prequels, it’s impossible to escape the inevitable - Anakin will fall, Han will win the Falcon, Cassian will die on Scarif. Somehow, in the midst of some of the most thrilling episodes of television ever put to screen, Tony Gilroy and his team found a way to address that impending doom and weaponize it against the audience to induce some of the most gut wrenching and heart breaking moments we’ve yet to see on ‘Andor’ - “There’s some place he needs to be”. At a larger scale, the show continues to outdo itself on a weekly basis, proving that the Star Wars galaxy provides a colour pallet of some of the richest hues from which to paint bold and personal stories. Proving you can go beyond the larger than life stories of heroics and grandeur to human stories of loss and pain and everything in between. That’s without mentioning the deft touch in pulling in themes that resonates with the contemporary while remaining timeless - a feeling that is a staple of Star Wars. Every detail is considered, every character is deep and interesting. There isn’t much more that can be said about such a powerful piece of art, except that not even the audience can escape the inevitable - only one week remains of this masterpiece.

May 2, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 E4 - 6

I'm sorry to tell you all, but we're already halfway through this final season of 'Andor'. Fortunately, the quality hasn't dipped one bit as we accelerate into the finish. Join Julian and Rachel as they savour every minute of this 3-episode arch that takes us to Ghorman for the first time on screen. Tony Gilroy and the team at Lucasfilm outdid themselves yet again in crafting every detail. The size of the set alone is impressive, but they take it a step further by developing a unique culture and even language different from anything we've seen in Star Wars before. It all fits seamlessly into this next chapter of the story that has a heavy emphasis on spycraft as the pressure ramps up for both the Rebellion and the Empire.

Teen Titans Go!: Premier Review

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