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Part of this review was published previously last week, but I thought the three-part finale deserved a little more fleshing out.
The End, Part 1 continues the story set forth in the episode Birthmark. The dark heroine Raven a dark secret she has kept from her friends, and a dark destiny to fulfill. She is the catalyst to bring about the end of the world. Her father, the dark demon Trigon, sired her for one purpose only: to be the portal for him to enter the mortal plane and take over the universe.
When Raven realizes the day for the end has come, she breaks out of her moody, goth-girl mold and tries and bring happiness to her friends on their last day on the planet. It's interesting to see her change for the love of her friends, and do her best to insulate them from the inevitable. It doesn't last long however. Once they realize that the day for the End has come, they reveal a plan to keep her safe and show Raven to a safehouse within Titans Tower.
Trigon, however, has other ideas. He sends the reborn Slade and an army of fiery minions to descend on the Teen Titans and capture Raven. Slade and the army threaten to overrun the Titans, and Raven is forced to give herself up to save her friends. Her friends, down but not out, follow her down the crypt and try to stop the process. Despite their best efforts, Raven is sacrificed and Trigon enters the world.
The End Part 2 continues the story. The remaining Titans awake to a dead world. Raven saved them with a blessing before Trigon arrived, but now there is little hope to save the planet. The Titans attempt a frontal assault on Trigon, but it proves useless. The team is almost without hope.
And then it comes from an unlikely place, Slade. The Titans former archenemy arrives and offers them a chance. They may yet be able to save Raven. As for what is in it for him ... his reasons are his own. With little choice but to accept, Robin follows him down into the Abyss, leaving Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg to distract Trigon in any way they can.
Robin and Slade battle their way down into hell, as the others find themselves facing the evil within. Secrets are revealed in the underworld, including how Slade survived his battle with Tara, why he worked fro Trigon, and where Robin might find Raven. The episode ends with more questions than answers.
Part 3 of The End does not disappoint. Still fighting their evil counterparts, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg struggle in a losing battle against Trigon. Robin finds a young Raven clad in white who remembers nothing but her name. Slade battles the a guardian of the underworld in an attempt to regain his flesh. All are victorious in these single battles. All dig very deep in the face of despair against the demon lord. All meet up on the surface for a final confrontation against Trigon.
One saves the world.
Her friends behind her, and cleansed of the evil in herself, White Raven rediscovers her self and power. Once and for all she is able to stand up to her father, overwhelming him in a climatic battle. The Titans prevail, the world is saved ... and Slade lives once again!
The End was a powerful end to Season 4. There was a good deal of characterization in these episodes, and we got to see Robin and Raven dig really deep in the face of despair to claim victory against Trigon. White Raven's one-on-one fight against Trigon was the highlight of the show. I really liked White Raven's character model, her all white costume and long flowing hair heightened the climatic mood. Too bad it is a one-shot deal for this series.
There are hints of romance between Robin and Raven, even more than we have seen between him and Starfire in a while. I wonder if they are going to play this up at all in Season 5 or if it will end with the season. That has yet to be determined I suppose.
I'm sorry to see the season come to an end, but I'm really happy with how it drew to a close. Slade's return alone could make Season 5 a blast. Hopefully it won't be too long before it starts up again. Till then, there are always reruns and DVDs.
Purchase Teen Titans DVDs in our Online Store today!
The End, Part 1 continues the story set forth in the episode Birthmark. The dark heroine Raven a dark secret she has kept from her friends, and a dark destiny to fulfill. She is the catalyst to bring about the end of the world. Her father, the dark demon Trigon, sired her for one purpose only: to be the portal for him to enter the mortal plane and take over the universe. When Raven realizes the day for the end has come, she breaks out of her moody, goth-girl mold and tries and bring happiness to her friends on their last day on the planet. It's interesting to see her change for the love of her friends, and do her best to insulate them from the inevitable. It doesn't last long however. Once they realize that the day for the End has come, they reveal a plan to keep her safe and show Raven to a safehouse within Titans Tower.
Trigon, however, has other ideas. He sends the reborn Slade and an army of fiery minions to descend on the Teen Titans and capture Raven. Slade and the army threaten to overrun the Titans, and Raven is forced to give herself up to save her friends. Her friends, down but not out, follow her down the crypt and try to stop the process. Despite their best efforts, Raven is sacrificed and Trigon enters the world.
The End Part 2 continues the story. The remaining Titans awake to a dead world. Raven saved them with a blessing before Trigon arrived, but now there is little hope to save the planet. The Titans attempt a frontal assault on Trigon, but it proves useless. The team is almost without hope.
And then it comes from an unlikely place, Slade. The Titans former archenemy arrives and offers them a chance. They may yet be able to save Raven. As for what is in it for him ... his reasons are his own. With little choice but to accept, Robin follows him down into the Abyss, leaving Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg to distract Trigon in any way they can.
Robin and Slade battle their way down into hell, as the others find themselves facing the evil within. Secrets are revealed in the underworld, including how Slade survived his battle with Tara, why he worked fro Trigon, and where Robin might find Raven. The episode ends with more questions than answers.
Part 3 of The End does not disappoint. Still fighting their evil counterparts, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg struggle in a losing battle against Trigon. Robin finds a young Raven clad in white who remembers nothing but her name. Slade battles the a guardian of the underworld in an attempt to regain his flesh. All are victorious in these single battles. All dig very deep in the face of despair against the demon lord. All meet up on the surface for a final confrontation against Trigon. One saves the world.
Her friends behind her, and cleansed of the evil in herself, White Raven rediscovers her self and power. Once and for all she is able to stand up to her father, overwhelming him in a climatic battle. The Titans prevail, the world is saved ... and Slade lives once again!
The End was a powerful end to Season 4. There was a good deal of characterization in these episodes, and we got to see Robin and Raven dig really deep in the face of despair to claim victory against Trigon. White Raven's one-on-one fight against Trigon was the highlight of the show. I really liked White Raven's character model, her all white costume and long flowing hair heightened the climatic mood. Too bad it is a one-shot deal for this series.
There are hints of romance between Robin and Raven, even more than we have seen between him and Starfire in a while. I wonder if they are going to play this up at all in Season 5 or if it will end with the season. That has yet to be determined I suppose.
I'm sorry to see the season come to an end, but I'm really happy with how it drew to a close. Slade's return alone could make Season 5 a blast. Hopefully it won't be too long before it starts up again. Till then, there are always reruns and DVDs.
Purchase Teen Titans DVDs in our Online Store today!
I started working my way through my DVR again last night and polished off some Teen Titans episodes.
One was a mixed bag, two were great.
First the mixed bag. Mother Mae-eye was a freaky little show very much in the Mad Mod vein. The story was about a Hansel and Gretel-esque witch who takes over the heros of Titans Tower, controlling their minds by feeding them pie and dressing them in silly outfits. It felt too much like a bad trip, and although there were a few funny parts, it just was not my cup 'o tea.
In The End Part 1 we continue the story set forth in episode Birthmark. The dark heroine Raven has a dark destiny to fulfill. She is marked to bring about the end of the world by acting as a portal for her father, Trigon, to enter and take over the Earth. It's episodes like this where Teen Titans excels.
When she realizes the day for the end of the world has come, Raven breaks out of her moody, goth-girl mold to try and bring happiness to her friends on their last day on the planet. It's interesting to see her change for the love of her friends, and do her best to insulate them from the inevitable. Robin and the others have a plan, however. Once they realize that the End has come, they show Raven to a safehouse within Titans Tower that should keep her safe from her father's approach.
Trigon has other ideas. He sends the reborn Slade and an army of minions to descend on the Teen Titans and capture Raven. Slade and the army threaten to overrun the Titans, and Raven is forced to give herself up to save her friends. Despite their best efforts to stop the process, Raven is sacrificed and Trigon enters the world.
The End Part 2 continues the story. The Titans awake to a dead world. Raven saved them with a spell before Trigon arrived, but now there is little hope to save the planet. A frontal assault on Trigon proves useless, and the team is almost without hope.
And then hope comes from an unlikely place, Slade. The Titans former archenemy offers them a deal. He will help them save Raven and the world, if he gets to tag along. With little choice but to accept, Robin follows him down into the Abyss, leaving Starfire, Beast Boy and Cyborg to distract Trigon in any way they can. Secrets are revealed in the underworld, including how Slade survived his battle with Tara and where Robin might find Raven.
The end of The End Part 2 leaves us waiting impatiently for The End Part 3. It airs this Saturday 7/16 on Cartoon Network at 8:00 PM following an Encore presentation of Part 2 at 7:30 PM. Even if you did not have the chance to see Part 1, I would suggest watching Parts 2 and 3 together in a nice hour-long session. The End is an outstanding set of episodes and I can't wait to see how it ... ends.
One was a mixed bag, two were great.
First the mixed bag. Mother Mae-eye was a freaky little show very much in the Mad Mod vein. The story was about a Hansel and Gretel-esque witch who takes over the heros of Titans Tower, controlling their minds by feeding them pie and dressing them in silly outfits. It felt too much like a bad trip, and although there were a few funny parts, it just was not my cup 'o tea.
In The End Part 1 we continue the story set forth in episode Birthmark. The dark heroine Raven has a dark destiny to fulfill. She is marked to bring about the end of the world by acting as a portal for her father, Trigon, to enter and take over the Earth. It's episodes like this where Teen Titans excels. When she realizes the day for the end of the world has come, Raven breaks out of her moody, goth-girl mold to try and bring happiness to her friends on their last day on the planet. It's interesting to see her change for the love of her friends, and do her best to insulate them from the inevitable. Robin and the others have a plan, however. Once they realize that the End has come, they show Raven to a safehouse within Titans Tower that should keep her safe from her father's approach.
Trigon has other ideas. He sends the reborn Slade and an army of minions to descend on the Teen Titans and capture Raven. Slade and the army threaten to overrun the Titans, and Raven is forced to give herself up to save her friends. Despite their best efforts to stop the process, Raven is sacrificed and Trigon enters the world.
The End Part 2 continues the story. The Titans awake to a dead world. Raven saved them with a spell before Trigon arrived, but now there is little hope to save the planet. A frontal assault on Trigon proves useless, and the team is almost without hope.
And then hope comes from an unlikely place, Slade. The Titans former archenemy offers them a deal. He will help them save Raven and the world, if he gets to tag along. With little choice but to accept, Robin follows him down into the Abyss, leaving Starfire, Beast Boy and Cyborg to distract Trigon in any way they can. Secrets are revealed in the underworld, including how Slade survived his battle with Tara and where Robin might find Raven.
The end of The End Part 2 leaves us waiting impatiently for The End Part 3. It airs this Saturday 7/16 on Cartoon Network at 8:00 PM following an Encore presentation of Part 2 at 7:30 PM. Even if you did not have the chance to see Part 1, I would suggest watching Parts 2 and 3 together in a nice hour-long session. The End is an outstanding set of episodes and I can't wait to see how it ... ends.
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