[7.0/10] I’ll take it! The writing in Teen Titans still isn’t very deep, but this is the closest the show’s come to a story with treue insight. Body switch episodes are an old trope, but the concept comes up again and again for a reason. Helping two people see from one another's perspective is a venerable type of character writing, and using a sci-fi/fantasy motif like that one helps make it literal.
Raven and Starfire are good candidates. The pair could hardly be more different, with the bright and sunny Starfire contrasting with the sullen, introverted Raven. The difference results in more meaningful challenges in mutual understanding than, say, flipping two characters like Robin and Beast Boy.
The typically exuberant Starfire must learn to keep her emotions in check when in Raven’s body, because Raven’s powers feed off of emotion. Conversely, Raven must learn to embrace her feelings, because Starfire’s powers require concentrated expressions of confidence, joy, and righteous anger. The switch amounts to more than driving someone else’s car. Instead, Starfire and Raven learn how to feel what the other one feels to save the day. The clever conceit allows Teen Titans to make the familiar trope its own.
The Puppet King is also one of the show’s most memorable villains. His creepy, Toyman-like demeanor, and Peter Lorre impression voice gives the episode another spooky vibe worth celebrating. And turning the remaining members of the group into zombies doing his bidding complicates Raven and Starfire’s efforts to defeat him, since they don’t want to hurt their comrades.
Naturally, in the end, the girls learn from each other enough to master each other’s powers and rescue their friends. I wish we got to see more of that commiseration and understanding, rather than it happening off-screen between acts. But the idea is a good one. Starfire seeking to meditate with Raven after the dust settles and Raven offering to go to the mall with Starfire after they're done is a lovely grace note for their newfound understanding of one another.
Overall, this is a solid episode of the show that deepens the relationship between the two members of the team who have the least in common. The project is worthwhile, and the execution of it is good.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-06-22T21:19:54Z
[7.0/10] I’ll take it! The writing in Teen Titans still isn’t very deep, but this is the closest the show’s come to a story with treue insight. Body switch episodes are an old trope, but the concept comes up again and again for a reason. Helping two people see from one another's perspective is a venerable type of character writing, and using a sci-fi/fantasy motif like that one helps make it literal.
Raven and Starfire are good candidates. The pair could hardly be more different, with the bright and sunny Starfire contrasting with the sullen, introverted Raven. The difference results in more meaningful challenges in mutual understanding than, say, flipping two characters like Robin and Beast Boy.
The typically exuberant Starfire must learn to keep her emotions in check when in Raven’s body, because Raven’s powers feed off of emotion. Conversely, Raven must learn to embrace her feelings, because Starfire’s powers require concentrated expressions of confidence, joy, and righteous anger. The switch amounts to more than driving someone else’s car. Instead, Starfire and Raven learn how to feel what the other one feels to save the day. The clever conceit allows Teen Titans to make the familiar trope its own.
The Puppet King is also one of the show’s most memorable villains. His creepy, Toyman-like demeanor, and Peter Lorre impression voice gives the episode another spooky vibe worth celebrating. And turning the remaining members of the group into zombies doing his bidding complicates Raven and Starfire’s efforts to defeat him, since they don’t want to hurt their comrades.
Naturally, in the end, the girls learn from each other enough to master each other’s powers and rescue their friends. I wish we got to see more of that commiseration and understanding, rather than it happening off-screen between acts. But the idea is a good one. Starfire seeking to meditate with Raven after the dust settles and Raven offering to go to the mall with Starfire after they're done is a lovely grace note for their newfound understanding of one another.
Overall, this is a solid episode of the show that deepens the relationship between the two members of the team who have the least in common. The project is worthwhile, and the execution of it is good.