There's no single simple formula that the series relies on for consistently delivering standout episodes. Of course, some were more comedic than others, with the particularly laughable entries being forewarned with an upbeat Japanese version of the iconic theme song, owing to the show's anime influences. Naturally, the more serious episodes focusing on long-running plotlines or intense internal conflict tended to rise to the top, with fans lamenting the loss of serious stories with the soft reboot, Teen Titans Go!, which focuses entirely on comedy.

Related

10 Lessons The DCU Teen Titans Movie Needs To Learn From The Animated Series

DC just announced that the DCU reboot's slate will include a Teen Titans movie, which should take inspiration from the popular Teen Titans show.

Posts

10 Haunted

A chilling escalation of Robin's obsessive psyche

Some of the most impactful episodes of Teen Titans were the ones with relatively lower stakes. While Robin's decaying psyche is certainly on the line in Haunted, the lack of any actual villainous presence is exactly what makes the episode so intriguing. After the apparent death of Slade at the hands of Terra, Robin becomes convinced that the team's old rival has found a way to return from the grave, slowly falling deeper into paranoia and anti-social tendencies in the name of bringing him to justice.

It turns out that Robin was so used to the lingering threat of Slade for so long that he actually convinces himself the villain is still active. The other Titans watch heartbroken as Robin battles hallucinations, desperately trying to get him to rest, only to be swatted away by their increasingly obsessive leader. This episode takes an important look at the dangers of prolonged stress, and how the inability to be vulnerable can erode even the strongest of friendships. Watching Robin's mind play tricks on him is one of the most compelling conflicts in the entire series.

9 Nevermore

The long-awaited reveal of Raven's mind

For a long time, Teen Titans kept those unfamiliar with the comics in the dark about Raven's origins and powers, only slowly drip-feeding small nuggets of information over the course of entire seasons. For instance, Raven tells her team that she has to meditate daily to control her powers, but the series never directly tells its audience why. That is, until The End, an episode that acts as a sort of tell-all for Raven's history, powers, and relationship with her demonic father, the evil lord Trigon.

This element has some surprisingly hilarious elements, with the introduction of the various Ravens that each represent an aspect of her personality, giving Beast Boy and Cyborg no end of entertainment. But the looming threat of Trigon and his power over his daughter is certainly not lost on the Titans, who finally understand why their comrade is always so tortured and withdrawn. The final showdown of Raven and the manifestation of her father puts a beyond satisfying cherry on top of this phenomenal episode.

8 The End

Raven finally escapes her father's influence

Whereas Nevermore finally gave the rest of the Teen Titans' roster a greater insight into their magical friend, the three-part climactic mini-arc The End follows Raven's story to its logical conclusion. Right from the beginning, Raven's anxiety towards the arrival of her father and subsequent end of the world is translated to the viewer, watching with anticipation as Raven tries to put off facing her destiny for just one more day. By the second part of the three-part episode, the viewer is left genuinely wondering how the Titans can hope to make it out alive.

The apocalypse continues as the Titans try everything to stop Trigon from heralding the end of the world, to no avail. The feelings of hopeless compound in the second part, where the Titans are forced to face dark clones of themselves before they can even attempt to stop the demonic overlord. The End's character development is second-to-none, with a rare moment of Robin acting as a beacon of hope rather than a simple villain-fighting machine being shown, comforting Raven's inner child to give her the strength to finally defy her father once and for all.

7 Things Change

A bittersweet ending to the Teen Titans' saga

Things Change may seem like a strange ending place for Teen Titans, being more of a monster-of-the-week episode rather than a climactic finale battle. However, the last episode in the series manages to be one of its strongest, with a thoughtful, if hard-to-swallow message about accepting change that evokes its title. This message seems almost like the series acknowledges its own premature ending, bidding its viewers a tearful goodbye while assuring them that everything will be ok.

The narrative of the episode is split into two main plots -- The return of Terra, and the White Monster. The White Monster is one of the most powerful foes the Titans ever face, and uses its evolving powers to act as a metaphor for the turbulent change that the Titans, and normal teenagers, go through. Meanwhile, Terra's heartbreaking return is tough on Beast Boy, but he learns to accept that Terra is happy without her memories. Teen Titans' ending is made happier thanks to a tie-in comic confirming as much, in which Terra's brother Geoforce visits Beast Boy.

6 Birthmark

Wove together the story of the Titans' two strongest villains

Whereas Haunted merely teased the return of Slade, the Teen Titans' archenemy, his actual return in Birthmark manages to somehow be even more terrifying. Echoing the events of Nevermore, an encounter with the villain Dr. Light winds up leading to a revelation about Trigon and Raven's ultimate purpose in his plans. It's hard to understate how shocking the initial revival of Slade is, complete with Trigon's mark and wielding new, dangerous fire powers.

There's a lot to appreciate about how Birthmark sets up the events of The End, instilling a sense of anxiety in the audience as the eventual arrival of Slade's new master is foreshadowed. Not only that, but some long-awaited teases are followed-up on over the course of the episode, including a rare glimpse at a maskless Robin and Slade wielding a flaming pipe like a sword, evoking his comic arsenal. Of course, the return of a powered Slade also treats viewers to some of the best action scenes in the series.

5 Aftershock

An earth-shaking season finale

Terra has one of the most poignant arcs in the history of Teen Titans, and the climax of her story in the two-part finale of season 2 pays off what was set up in a big way. Though she's welcomed as a new addition to the Teen Titans , Terra ultimately follows through with her promise to Slade to betray the group, leaving no one standing in the villain's way but Terra herself. Between her ability to defeat the rest of the team and Slade's careful monitoring of her, Terra's astonishing powers are established as dangerous in no uncertain .

This duology manages to be so good due to its simultaneous management of emotional and physical stakes. Terra is powerful enough to threaten the entire city, if not the world, but she was also the Titans' friend, making taking her down like any other criminal not so simple. Switching the perspective to Terra herself and giving the Titans a menacing "back from the grave" sequence in the mists of the abandoned Jump City is also a stroke of genius on the showrunners' part. Complete with one of the most heartbreaking endings in the series, it's hard not to rank both Aftershock parts highly.

4 Masks

Introduced the mysterious Red X

While he does act as the team's faithful leader, and does genuinely have their best interests at heart, Robin's decisions as leader sometimes warrant a step back. No episode better demonstrates this than Masks, which also introduces the effortlessly cool Red X. While the supposed protégé of Slade turns out to be a persona of Robin, the initial sense of mystery presented by the original character, who has since made his way into DC Comics, deserves high praise.

Robin's ability to defeat his superpowered team solo as Red X demonstrates why he's one of the most powerful Titans, despite having no powers himself. The mixed emotional payoff of his reveal also creates some interesting moral quandaries regarding whether the ends justify the means. As Starfire painfully points out, Robin felt as though he couldn't trust the team with his plan, making him more similar to Slade than he may have realized.

3 How Long Is Forever?

A curious look into a bleak future

A Starfire-centric episode, How Long is Forever paints a painful picture of the Teen Titans' future almost as tragic to watch as it is fascinating. This episode demonstrates right off that bat why Starfire is the emotional glue that ultimately holds the Teen Titans together, attempting to resolve their petty disputes from the very beginning. After she falls into a portal to the future created by the new villain Warp, this is only proven further.

Years into the future, the Teen Titans have split up following the loss of Starfire. Seeing the different direction each Titan goes in without the team's influence is a true gift, raising some fascinating questions about each of their motivations for being a hero. Beast Boy is a balding, overweight carnival attraction, while Cyborg is forced to remain indoors due to his limited power supply. Of course, the best part of the episode is the depiction of Robin becoming Nightwing, confirming the Teen Titans version of Robin to be Dick Grayson.

2 Troq

Thoughtfully tackled a delicate subject

Another episode of Teen Titans to tackle a sensitive subject with grace and dignity while translating it into a message suitable for children, Troq deserves more recognition as one of the series' strongest installments. When the spacefaring hero Val-Yor recruits the Titans' help, most of the team is smitten with the chance to work with a professional hero. However, his treatment of Starfire leaves much to be desired, expressing an instant dislike for her simply due to her status as a Tamaranean.

The conversation between Starfire and Cyborg in Troq is, frankly, one of the best moments in the entire show. When she asks him if he understands what it's like to be judged at a glance, Cyborg slyly responds "Of course I do...I'm part robot". All but spelling out the real reason Cyborg can empathize with Starfire in this scenario, the episode went to great lengths to condemn the attitudes of people like Val-Yor while giving kids and adults alike a road map as to how to deal with them.

1 Titans Together

A climactic battle with nearly every Titans ally

Over the years, the Teen Titans managed to recruit help from a wide variety of different allies over the years, even forming a sister team, the Titans East. Seeing each of these minor heroes come back, as well as many minor villains, in a climactic final battle made for an unforgettable penultimate episode. Much like the finale of Avengers: Endgame, this episode was a victorious celebration of the franchise that brought back many familiar faces.

Other than the sheer spectacle of the Teen Titans' final confrontation with the Brotherhood of Evil, Titans Together gave Beast Boy a rare moment in the spotlight. Though typically thought of as the least-suited for leadership, taking things the least seriously of all the Titans, it's only thanks to Beast Boy that the initially-defeated heroes have any hope of rallying together. A perfect send-off for the Teen Titans, the second-to-last episode is a joyride of pure payoff for those that stick with the series to the end.