DC Universe’s Titans season 2, episode 9 recap: Atonement

Who’s atoning what in the latest episode of DC Universe’s Titans? Definitely Dick Grayson, but also Garfield Logan. Find out why in our recap.

It’s been a long time coming, but the majority of the Titans decide to abandon Dick Grayson in episode nine of Titans. He apparently lied to the original team about how Jericho died, and now they’re sick and tired of his half-truths and lies.

Keep the Faith, Gar

Having lost his salvation, Dick also leaves Titans Tower; meaning Gar is the only team member left to hold down the fort. Gar remains the only optimistic person in this series, and also, rightly, feels like Dick should be forgiven. Not sure why Dick is always persona non grata on this show – aside from a few missteps, he’s really not all that bad of a human being.

While the Tower runs itself, Gar is left in charge of taking care of Conner. Conner is still recovering from his gunshot wounds, and Dick instructs Gar to call Bruce the moment Conner is awake. Conner will want to speak to Superman and Bruce can make that happen. The look of glee on Gar’s face when he hears the names of these superheroes is exactly how any of us would react were we in Gar’s shoes. Seriously, this character needs so much more screen time.

Gar’s enthusiasm for running the Tower lasts exactly one day. He starts off with good intentions – gets into a good fitness routine, eats healthily, reads the classics to Conner and writes motivational messages. By day three, Gar is at his wit’s end. He’s a kid and he’s on his own – what can we expect?

Good thing then that Conner decides to wake up on day four; Gar was definitely losing his mind. Gar decides against calling Bruce, instead he and Conner bond over video games. Gar realizes just how special Conner’s abilities are and he immediately invites Conner to become a Titan, but Conner is still afraid of the Lex Luthor part of him taking over. Gar decides to show Conner the sites of San Francisco and tries to explain to him that they must protect this place and its people.

Of course, this goes sideways. Conner mistakes two cops apprehending a suspect as an attack and unleashes his superpowers on the poor cops. When more police turn up, Conner is gripped by the same fear he had when the SWAT team attacked the Luthor home and escalates his attack. The media cover the brutal attack, but what will happen to Conner?

The Tamarraneans

Kory thought she’d safely dispatched Faddei to their home planet, but now he’s back. And he’s got bad news. Kory’s sister Blackfire has taken over the throne and she wants Kory and Faddei dead. Blackfire has already killed all of Kory’s courtiers and she’s headed to Earth to finish off the last of her competition. I love that Kory left her planet as a mighty, warrior; her character deserves every upgrade possible.

When Kory steps out of Faddei’s car at a rest stop, Faddei is possessed by Blackfire using a Tamarranean device. Blackfire in Faddei’s body tries to convince Kory that she doesn’t need to de-throne Blackfire, she should investigate other options. But Kory’s having none of it. She doesn’t believe her sister is good enough to be queen and she isn’t going to go down without a fight.

When Faddei takes Kory to his ship, Kory confronts him about who he really is – Blackfire (Damaris Lewis) – she has to kill Faddei to get her sister to talk, but this fight isn’t over. Blackfire has killed their parents and created an army. She’s ready to take on Kory.

Hank and Dawn

Hank and Dawn return to their razed Wyoming cottage and they’re struggling to get it back to working condition. To cheer Hank up, Dawn takes him to a karaoke bar. They sing a catchy rendition of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High and Low’ (is there anything Ritchson and Kelly can’t do?) which certainly helps the mood. Of course, nothing lasts for this couple. The sister of their friend who was killed by Dr. Light, Ellis, appears and she threatens to make them suffer for letting her brother die.

This hits a nerve with Hank. He’s suddenly possessed by the idea that his and Dawn’s relationship is nothing but an endless cycle of pain. They met in grief counseling following the death of Hank’s brother and Dawn’s mother in the same accident. And they’ve faced losses ever since. Hank can’t help but wonder if the two of them together are just worsening the situation. I think someone needs to remind Hank that when Dick and Dawn were together they faced losses too. Also, the timeline for Dick and Dawn’s relationship just doesn’t fit anywhere. Why did Hank and Dawn break up in the first place more than five years ago? Who knows.  Anyway, Hank doesn’t take the break up too well. He gives up on his hard-earned sobriety.

The Other Titans

Rose and Jason leave the Tower together but we don’t follow them for the rest of the episode. Rachel decides to join Donna, but then she runs away partway through their ride. We will probably follow these characters in the next episode.

Dick meets Adeline, Jericho’s mother, to apologize for Jericho’s death. Adeline is unforgiving, which is understandable. But then she places the real cards on the table. Adeline tells Dick to enter another room and there Dick finds Slade Wilson. Slade has achieved his goal – he’s taken Dick’s family away the same way Dick took away Slade’s. It seems like Slade isn’t all that well, but he makes it a point to warn Dick that if he were to ever reform the Titans, Slade will kill every last one of them.

The episode ends with Dick at an airport. He decides to get as far away from people as possible and buys a ticket to Greenland. But, he doesn’t follow through with his plan. While Gar, shaken by what Conner did, tries to get through to Dick, Dick abandons his ticket and purposely attacks some security in the hopes of getting arrested.

So, this is how Dick wants to atone for his sins? It seems more like the showrunners want to persecute Dick as much as possible so that he’s pushed to the edge and, presumably, decides to purge any vestige of his former self and become Nightwing. We get where the writers are going with this arc, but at the same time, it is more of a miss than a hit at the moment.