Teen Titans | Understanding vs Caring
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
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"Cardiac, you're under arrest"
Whoever wrote that line knew exactly what they were doing
"this is a smart joke"
Is a ❤ bad guy ever in the comics ?
@@lifewithlee6298there are villains with heart motiffs and villains who rip out people's hearts.
But the only villain I can think of who's main gimmick is their own heart is Metallo with his heart made out of Kryptonite.
@anthonyrodriguez8788
Metallo in Superman TAS was a character I pitied I wanted to see him be better because he lost so much of himself because of Luthor and his own ego and hate for Superman.
The same for Parasite Rudy was a character that was easily fallible which was hard to see him get manipulated by others later in the series.
Robin specifically had so many terrible one-liners when facing off against the villain of the week.
I just realized this was a pretty blatant metaphor for grooming
"He lied...and I gave him what he wanted"
"I got what I wanted, I don't need you anymore"
I was thinking this, as well.
The teen titans have heaps of episodes with older men manipulating the team, need to warn the children somehow
@@khanolval9848slade is an evil pied pipper father figure.
@@nataliapanfichi9933originally he even SA'd Tera
@@johnynoway9127 actually the comics tried to portray it as Terra fault which is pretty fucked up for very clear reasons
The introvert shut in falls in love with a character in a book, choosing him over hanging out with friends and it nearly destroys her life.
This show was ahead of it's time.
Although ironically for many people Raven has become that very waifu that people have been consumed by.
You either die a hero or live long enough to become a Waifu.
@@langadube9611or become a villain that's arguably more attractive than when they were a hero.
@@redshepherd32It's the evilness that adds to the hot
not our fault society collapsed and real women don't wanna Raven it up.
IThe nevernding story did it before and likely other stories.
imean the book.
Her magic isn’t actually dark. It’s emotive. Her emotions dictate a lot of her power. When she is at peace or in pure focus she is white. When she is troubled or before she gains more control over herself, she is purple to purple and red.
She is a magical empath due to being half demon and all of that, but not inherently evil or dark. The evil versions are often her being manipulated by Trigon or some other using her for their gains
Also her magic was learned from the monks of Azarath (hence the magic words) which was a parallel world full of people who were pacifistic in nature and directly against Trigon her father and were actually the people who originally sealed him away.
If anything, they added a lot to her powers here, to the point that it took away from one major aspect in the comics: empathic healing. Titans addressed it better, her magic was unpredictable and had that tinge of evil, but once that aspect of Trigon was purged in a sense, she gets the white outfit and arguably is more powerful than before
Yeah it’s dark 😅 demonic powers
Her powers are literally demonic and they only turn white in 2 cases in the show- final battle against trigon and one attack against the dragon in the episode discussed in the video.
Oh I get it when she's peaceful she's white but when she's angry she's darker, yeah buddy ok man
The color motif of Raven’s cloak is tied to the whole subplots with the different emotions of her personality. Normally she suppresses all her emotions resulting in her cloak being dark also known as the absence of color. When she embraces and controls her emotions like a healthy human being her cloak gets closer to white which is composed of the full spectrum of colors.
Actually, white is the absence of color. Black is the mixture of every color.
@@jordanwhite8718🫰🫰🫰
@@jordanwhite8718 not when it comes to light
@@jordanwhite8718 that’s when talking about pigment colors. Colors of light, when all mixed together, make white, where as the absence of light makes black.
Her normal cloak is dark blue which is in fact a color lol
I mean one thing that I also found interesting about Beast Boy and Raven's dynamic is how despite being different, Beast Boy is still very much a extrovert and doesn't understand why anyone who sees themselves as different would hide away (anyone remembers how he wasn't afraid of Cyborg when they first met and just thought he was cool). Might be a result of him being raised by the Doom Patrol who treated each other like family despite being different
Eh, Mentos is debatable. Depending on the version.
or he recognizes she is a outsider and needs company, or it helped him.
i mean they oth arr kinda freaks and he wats to comfort her, if clumsily. nd i think it mostly works.
Beast boy a lot more likable in tv than the early comics were he was basically a horny teenager 😅
@@redshepherd32 _Despite_ Mentos, probably, minding their strained relationship when the Doom Patrol gets featured.
The X-Men before the X-Men
I also like the not-so-subtle ‘be careful of who you talk to online’ lesson. Phones & the internet were well on their way to their modern forms during this time & predators were adapting. Malchior is a perfect representation of them & their techniques to lure someone in. (A lonely kid thinks they’ve met a handsome prince when it’s actually a monster in disguise.) I like shows that manage to convey real life dangers so well.
Edit: It’s also important that it happens to Raven. She’s arguably the most logical & level-headed Titan, & she’s usually suspicious of others. However, even she quickly falls for Malchior’s words. This shows it can happen to anyone, & falling for it doesn’t make you stupid.
Wow that is so true!
Yo, I just left a comment about this episode possibly being a warning against Groomers! I thought I was just tripping! I'm glad that others picked up on it.
I didn't even notice how creepy he was until Shady pointed out that he could have told her he was alive at any point, but waited until after she had him pressed against her chest. She's like sixteen or seventeen but he's been alive at least since the dark ages. Freaking gross.
Omg, that makes the sentence, "I never even heard of this spell" creepier given that context. It's like doing something gross for a predator. 😱
oh dear, you believe that stuff? That was all made up, and it was all revealed that it was all made up. just media scaremongering, which has rendered entire generations of females terrified of males or "risky behaviors" that their forebears all participated in..
I'm surprised you didn't touch on the hot button issue of Raven being, for all intents and purposes, groomed and gaslit by an older man. As a kid you don't notice that stuff, but as an adult...this episode makes Malchior much creepier and more evil than he normally would be.
And arguably Slade does something similar with Terra, and it's toned down from other depictions, particularly the comics, but even Teen Titans Judas Contract actually got closer to the creepy dynamic they had
Malchior sweet-talked a young woman, "got what he wanted", and tossed her aside when he was done. Even when it first aired, it was very clear what this was an allegory for.
The good old cartoons that weren't afraid of exploring a bit of sensitive topics.
I'm glad i got to watch these as a kid
As a kid you REALLY don’t notice that stuff. I remember being attracted to older men when I was younger and always trying to get them to notice me. And of course I guess being “taken advantage of.” Especially back then (I’m in my late 20s now) it wasn’t really talked about as much and if you were caught it was more about you being a “bad kid.” Like I remember when the cops found out about my friend being involved with a much older guy they basically just yelled at my friend for being “bad” and that was it. Nowadays there’s more awareness to this type of behavior and people are more sensitive to it. But back then when you’re a kid you just think your family is keeping you from seeing someone you “love” or whatever.
When did Raven became a child?
I like to think that Raven gets in the car after they defeated Cardiac. Because they got there as a team. And despite her rush and lonely demeanor. Is still attached to the team.
Even if she doesn’t always show it. Like how she sometimes pushes people away. She does seem to prefer them to be around, over being completely isolated
Also I imagine flying does take SOME effort, vs just getting in Cyborgs car.
thats what i figured to. There's times where they fly together but even when the other team members are going slower then her cruising speed Raven and Starfire both usually go the same pace as the others.
I figured it was because teleporting drains her energy.
Also, mad props to how Robin treated Raven when they got back. Clearly something was up, and he reached out to help, but didn't overstep his bounds.
One of my favorite moments he was Batmans protege but not as cold or withdrawn as bruce
Fun fact: Raven's one-liner to Malchior "You taught me spells, but I just learnt a curse" is a Shakespeare reference. It's from The Tempest, said by Caliban to the play's lead Prospero.
Totally in character.
I probably should watch Teen Titans at some point.
To me, I’ve always interpreted this episode of how online predators go after young, impressionable children. He says and does everything to gain Raven’s trust, and once she’s no longer useful, he jilts her.
the fact that this is the first place your mind wanders off to shows that you are obviously projecting lol. this is a literary review of a animated childrens show. anyone who agrees with you is projecting. yall need some therapy.
I gotta say as a 30 year old male who's always had immense social issues and a total lack of being able to understand or interact with people normally, who is also an intense introvert, hearing "I'm not creepy, just different" just hit me in the gut like a 20 lb sack of potatoes.
As an adult, I was looking at this episode thinking it was about sex. Think about it. Malchior introduced himself to Raven when she was feeling lonely and vulnerable. He flirted with her and charmed her because he wanted something from her; and when he got it, his whole attitude toward her changed. I also remember Raven saying somewhere near the end of the episode: "He used me, and I gave him what he wanted"
It 100% is an allegory of grooming. Same with Slade and Terra, even though it was toned down a bunch from the comics.
Can we also appreciate the fact that Beast Boy and Cyborg had a special referee cloak made specifically in the style that Raven wears? It's another small gesture that shows that they know and care what she likes to wear.
Raven isn't actually a goth. She didn't wake up one morning and decide that she likes My chemical romance and Edgar Allan Poe. Her manner of dress and the relics around her room are simply from her culture. She isn't gloomy for an aesthetic It's an actual part of her character.
Edit: This is apparently the a controversial take. As to preempt the comments of people with an urge to correct someone on the internet, like myself, I will make a clarification.
Raven IS a gothic character
Raven IS NOT a character that is goth
I thought I was making an interesting observation about an iconic gothic character as she is portrayed in the narrative of the show. Apparently some are very passionate about this topic.
Now to clarify the sentiment that MCR is emo and not goth...
Distinction without a difference.
Sorry/Not Sorry
Thank you! I've been saying this for years and told I was in denial for it!
I could be wrong but I assumed that was what he meant when he said Raven is a real goth and not just a goth aesthetic.
That and she never once sacked Rome.
@@Shrapnel82 it was the Visigoths those other goths were posers.
HUH! Well that interesting and can't deny Azaroth dress like that and most of it is magic relics and she gloomy self is her not some goth thing and she just love books like normal people.
I am right there with you when it comes to Raven's identity. I have only ever heard her be called Raven. Even by her own parents. Even in the animated movies I have seen, they always exclusively call her Raven.
The only show she was called rachelle was the live action
I'm pretty sure in the DCAMU movies she's called Rachel.
Part of me believes that Raven IS the real name. We often forget she is from another planet. Since Trigon (a demon) is using Raven she might consider that her 'true name' and any demon like entities would use that one.
I think her normal name is made up.
@brianpembrook9164 that was the case in the old comics. She was born Raven but later made up Rachel as a "civilian" name. Not sure what they settled on in the current books.
@@langadube9611 Maybe in some of them. I haven't seen all of them. But in Teen Titans vs. The Justice League, Justice League Dark: Apocalypse War, and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, it's always Raven.
"Cardiac, you're under arrest." Robin making the 10/10 puns today I see.
Squidward yelling "Oh no he's hot!" is the funniest part of this video 😂
And one of the most popular memes.
Besides the cloak changing color, another visual motif I love is Raven's hood is down in her room, but she puts it on to open her door. The third time she opens the door, her hood is down when she's ready to reach out.
Something to understand about girls, Shady. Even if they're obviously beautiful, even if they know it intellectually, there's always that nagging doubt in their minds that says they're not. They need to be told now and then.
This x 1 million!
That's the problem with unearned achievements, you know they don't belong to you but instead to genetics, or something being wrong with the other people, etc. Also, us females are super nit picky and ultra judgemental because we live in a pecking order. Bullies are rewarded by keeping their competition down, and said bullying goes under the radar for any not directly involved. The women bully the women they view as a threat to their social position, the girls the girls. Believing you're beautiful, accepting it? That means you now have to defend your position in the pecking order, and you paint a target on you. Us introverts do not enjoy social conflict whatsoever, so in order to avoid it all it's easiest to just believe we are not beautiful, or in evolutionary terms, that we have no social value.
Spoiler Alert: This feeling is not exclusive to girls
@Amins88 Yep, learned that by having female friends.
Add that raven has pretty ig issues that nag on her. as we find out. She is a lot in a better mood after defeating trigon.
People can care about you, but not understand you. People who do understand you sometimes have ulterior motives.
Know thy enemy as the saying goes.
Honestly thinking back on this episode it feels one for one like a cult when they prey on someone who feels empty and alone.
Gives them words of encouragement with the sole purpose of gaining something out of them. Distance them either mentally or physically and in the end basically trap them.
Interesting how star fire was treated as a a literal outsider by the big white racist while raven was alone internally. Makes their friendship even stronger
You're not wrong with you're statements, but I think the writers planned for this to be closer to a catfish situation. Back when Teen Titans was on, internet usage was still young, several children would be prey upon by indivisuals who would pretend to be someone else to get something out of her (sex, money, living out a fantasy, etc.). Malchior pretends to be a powerful wizard from the story she's reading gets her to bond, and possibly fall in love with him, and get him released from the book. However, you're situation is also valid, as both situation require a person or group manipulating another person who is less fortunate than theit peers to exploit the latter.
I like the cult metaphor, because there are folk that will hold you emotionally hostage by saying stuff like "we took you in, accepted you, gave you help, and this is how you repay us!? BY LEAVING!?!?" Which is when you HAVE to say "Yeah I'm leaving because your charity wasn't true charity for my well being: it was indoctrination. Bye." And the same goes for toxic friendships: anyone who makes you feel obligated to be their friend has lost all friend privileges then and there and you gotta move on.
It's a little ironic since Raven's mother was a teen runaway who fell in with cultists, leading to her getting used in a ritual to marry Trigon. So while Raven's intelligent, discerning, and probably grew up knowing her mom's story, it goes to show that she's still a teen and vulnerable to the same manipulative tactics that her mother fell for.
I think what makes it really work is that it's not a simple one to one analogy. It's about manipulation, and could apply to cults, online predators, or toxic relationships.
Cults, abusers, dictators. It’s all the same, they force you to think you have to mentally and or emotionally depend on them only
I love Raven episodes, not for the reasons you think. She is one of the most caring people in the show, but you have to watch closely. I like shows that make you watch characters expressions and listen to the words they speak closely. Rewarding you for paying attention. Raven is a perfect example.
Yeah, when you're older or rewatching the series you have a better ability to pick up on the hidden depths of a character. The same goes for Tharja from Fire Emblem Awakening. She's got similar depths to Raven as well.
Teen titans, KoTH, and ATLA are where shady does it better than anyone else
Damn straight
Don’t forget about Justice League
dont forget king of the hill
Don't forget what got him on the map, Bojack Horseman
Eh I kinda disagree about ATLA. His interpretation of Azula was completely off the mark.
I always really felt for this episode's message.
I moved to Connecticut out of Tennessee when I was about 8 and the cultural shift was really rough.
In Tennessee it's generally the case that everyone is friendly and cordial with each other as it has that small town community vibe to it and people try to keep up appearances and their manners. In Tennessee you can drive down the road, wave at somebody mowing their lawn and they'll wave back. It's incredibly civil and polite. Do that same thing in Connecticut and everyone will think you're being a smart *ss. They were rude, straight forward, and generally mean as p*ss. What didn't make things better was the people there living under the impression that all Southerners, ALL of them, are racists or associated with the KKK. I walked into 3rd Grade and the first thing a bunch of 8 year olds asked me, with excitement in their eyes, was whether or not I was part of the KKK. No joke. It was that bad. Didn't help that I was dyslexic and slightly aspergic either.
And for 7 years, I was "Different". I was "Creepy" and "Weird". Eventually I just stopped caring and became outwardly aggressive and that stopped it.
So I FEEL this episode.
And people wonder why I hate Yankees. Been in the south all my life and this shit aggravates me to no end. They have a moral superiority complex because they watched too much TV bashing southerners or they're just too stupid to think for themselves.
I can relate to the struggle. I actually moved from Connecticut to Florida back around 2012 and I was shocked by just how different everything was. I was autistic so I was used to having a teacher aid and benefits to help me out but got none of that down here. I was also surprised by how different the other kids were to me. I was in middle school during this time so I was used to teens being all fake and sneaky. But here they were straight up about not liking me and took any opportunity to insult and belittle me. It was the first time I was ever really bullied. I know it's not easy being an outcast but hey, life is full of ups and downs. People like us just have to keep our heads up and wait for the ups. It's easier to have that mindset now that we're adults but still.
Strangely enough, I moved to Tennessee from Connecticut and can confirm the cultural shift is real.
Being a black kid who grew up on the East Coast of Bridgeport, I grew accustomed to how ethically diverse the area was, we had whites, blacks, hispanics, not many Asians though, but I digress. After moving to Tennessee a year ago, I quickly noticed how we were the only black family in the neighborhood, but of course, everyone was nice, granted, we do try to stay out of trouble, every person may not be a racist, but you never know when you can run into the wrong person.
@@kenslycarpel3140 true that 👍. I'm Hispanic but living in Connecticut there was only about a handful of us in Hartford.
@@danielperez143 So you moved from Connecticut to Florida? This comment thread has to be the coincidence of the century, I was born in Florida, then moved to Connecticut where I stayed for 12 years, then moved to Tennessee just last year.
Teen titans is back, sweet!
But they are not gonna show season 6 of it
GO: but I never left
*nearly every teen titans fans get their guns*
@GigaPhoenix9001 i prefer bird shaped throwing stars
@@cesarmorales9138 actually the common misconception is that teen titans left on a cliffhanger but in reality it ended exactly where the creators wanted it too
Plus there’s the movie that rapped up robin and Star-fires romance so I consider that a win
@@The-last-1 eh it ends right with Terra seemingly being back, it seemingly not being her but then it shows one last scene of her self made sacrifice statue being gone. That’s what I remember
I love B B so much. He's so wholesome when it comes down to it. He is the dictionary definition of a good friend.
Or Good Boy, you know his whole animal Shtick.
Not only do I agree with your interpretation, I also see this episode as a great warning against Groomers online and IRL. It might be because I consumed WAY too much commentary regarding a certain ukulele wielding demon last month but I can't shake the idea. The Book Wizard's words and actions fit grooming to a T. The Book Wizard had the upper hand when it came to power and only started interacting with Raven when she was at her most vulnerable, making it easier for him to get her to do what he wanted while making think it was all her idea. His flowery compliments, the way he speaks negatively about her friends, showing her his version of magic and always validating her feelings reeks of isolating via lovebombing. The realization that he taught her dark magic and Raven calling him out makes me think of a victim realizing what's happened. The final battle makes me think of the victim taking back their power and going after the Groomer with a good support system AKA the rest of Titans. Unlike most Groomers, The Book Wizard was fully exposed and faced the consequences of his actions before being put back in the book which makes me think of a Groomer going to jail. I could be wrong but I really like the idea.
Yeah, the Book Wizard sounds almost exactly like a standard Internet predator that we were warned about in chat rooms.
Oh my Lord, yes.
Holy shit, you’re right. It also makes it more fitting with Shady’s “how many of you guys had a crush on him?” joke.
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. He even plays on the idea of Raven being an outcast that society just doesn’t understand… except him, of course.
...
Wait, who's the ukulele wielding demon?
@@jordancampbell8597 Colleen Ballinger AKA Miranda Sings. She's just the absolute worst and instead of taking accountability, she picked up a ukulele and sang a song spitting in the faces of her victims called Toxic Gossip Train.
I’m also an introvert, and I 100% agree with you about the ending. The Titans at least trying to compromise first would’ve been better than just, “okay, can we go back to doing the thing I wanted to do?”
I also appreciate Raven as a depiction of an introvert who isn’t agoraphobic/socially anxious. They both lead to similar results (feeling exhausted after interacting with others) but they are fundamentally different yet people confuse them. I know I’m an introvert because I still feel tired and drained even after hanging out with people I enjoy spending time with. Once I’ve had time to myself, I’ll go back to hang out with them again! That, and the fact that my ideal relationship setup would be living separated. Or having two different bedrooms like we’re British royalty or something.
"I also appreciate Raven as a depiction of an introvert who isn’t agoraphobic/socially anxious." - So you mean Raven being an introvert and not a socially anxious person. The latter can be introverted, extroverted, or an inbetween.
@@GeekZone210 - Yes. It’s a common misconception that the two are the same or that even being shy is the same thing as introversion (when it isn’t.)
To be fair, the show handled it much better in the episode where Raven and Starfire switched bodies. Starfire asked to join Raven in meditation, then Raven asked if she wanted to go shopping later. The show did this angle a few times where Raven wants to be alone, then joins in with the fun. I see Shady's point, but I don't really think it takes away from the story just because her friends are not suggesting doing something only Raven cares about. The point is Raven is engaging with her friends. Either way, it makes me happy to see Raven hang out with her friends.
I do feel as though the other Teen Titans often had a lack of awareness with Raven. It was clear when she wanted to be left alone, yet they kept asking for her attention because in their minds, that's what they would have wanted. It seems like it's always Raven learning the lesson to socialize more rather than the Titans learning to respect her boundaries and give her space when she wants. Then at some point it resets where Raven wants to be alone and her friends keep bothering her, finally leading to Raven joining the fun again.
Your point about introverts was spot-on. Sometimes we don't want to be bothered and just want a little time to ourselves, but some people want to shove us out of our comfort zone for whatever reason. Though I also see Beast Boy's perspective, as introverted as I am, I enjoy having the presence of people I care about or feel comfortable around, and it gets frustrating when there's someone even more introverted than me who's outright shutting themselves off entirely.
The color motif of Raven's cloak is based mostly on her expression/personality. We see her mostly in her dark purple default because as stated during the puppet episode her magic is tied to her emotions and she cannot express emotions otherwise they just come out. In the Mirror episode we get to see the inner side of all the many personalities of Raven with each color representing a personality that is part of her. When she is white it mostly means she has embraced her emotions while still keeping them in check.
While she may be a half demon with dark energy, she actually trained with magic opposite of Trigon’s, so it’s not “Dark Magic”
The point of the first fight scene with Cardiac is to set up the true nature of the episodes antagonist. Mainly that, the bad guy of the episode is a Predator.
The secondary Villain, Cardiac is LITERALLY a heart that prays on children.
And the main Villain, Malchior is an older...well I was gonna say man, but that doesn't really apply to him. He's an older individual, who lies to and manipulates an emotionally vulnerable teenage girl. And then throws her away once he's succeeded in using her to fulfill his desires.
14:54 Raven's line here hits particularly hard when you look at it from this perspective.
This super creepy subtext was totally lost on me as a child, but as an adult, I almost can't unsee it ever since it was pointed out to me a couple years ago.
Yep! Having the Kardiak scenes also provides further contrast, along with Malchior, to the notion of creepy. I think, especially during the early 2000s, there was still the stigma that there's some objective evil in all goths and the aesthetic surrounding it. But it can really hurt to call them creepy because of the weight of that label. Kardiak and Malchior are REAL creeps. And even Beast Boy being an intentional fly on the wall was objectively creepier behavior than anything Raven did that episode (even though his spying was more out of concern for Raven).
Oh God. I can't unsee it now.
projecting. take your meds schizo. or stop thinking about diddling.
dark magic is generally magic that invokes things that you can't control, and that may drain you of humanity or life when used but grant immense power greater than yourself. raven pratices dark magic, but her own force of will prevents it from taking it's toll or growing more destructive than she lets it. if she was learning new dark magic and wasn't warned that it's literally stuff she can cast better than anyone else and is constantly trying to contain in herself, that's very much reason for her to be mad and feel betrayed. she could've definitely been misled into not knowing it's dark magic since it's taught from a source she has never seen before or heard of the contents of. granted, the guy teaching it is literally sealed into a book, so there must be something dark to it.
i mean her mntors so far she had did very much teach her to not do darkmagic even with her motive magic and control it.
She knew good teacher to notice he isnt i guess.
16:42 like at the end of the episode “Switched.” Starfire asks if she could meditate with Raven, to which she obliges. Raven then asks if Starfire wants to go shopping afterwards.
No one can blame you. There is no real reason in this sort of series for her to have an alternate identity and for Raven not to be her first name. Being a half-demon raised in another dimension. While with Starfire its literally a translation of her name.
She'd still have to have a civilian identity, arguably and Starfire has that as well, though I forget the nature of her powers, since as long as she takes in sunlight, she supposedly doesn't have to eat or drink
@@ToHoldNothing In this series specifically, not really. They never leave the Tower out of costume. They are always using their powers in public. Even Robin is literally always wearing a mask and costume, even indoors among his friends. They didnt know Beast Boys actual name until the Doom Patrol episode waaay late into the show.
I think the reason her cloak changes color has to do with her emotional state. The episode with the mirror kinda explains this perfectly. Basically, there are different Raven's with different colored robes in her mindscape that represent different parts of her personality. When all of her emotions are unified towards a common goal, and no longer suppressed or ignored, her robe turns white...because white is made up of all colors in equal measure. Obviously, her powers are tied to her emotions and so being "white raven" makes her more powerful. It's not necessarily a power up because she's had access to it all her life, she just needs to be at peace with herself before she can really use everything she has. So, i think the change in this episode in particular was her gradually coming to accept her own flaws (real or imagined) as a part of her identity.
This is one of my all time favorite Raven episodes of the original Teen Titans series! And Malchior instantly became one of my all time favorite one time villains from this show!!!
4:35
Robin being an emotionally competent leader. We stan
I still resonate with Raven even after all these years. Now when i was younger i was more open with people but after many emotional stabs in in the heart i became wary of people and found comfort in solitude. As time go on and i grew i rather be reading or playing games than dealing with people.
Guilty. My heart fluttered a little at the walking paper man. It was the androgynous body, the accent and THOSE EYES!
i always imagined that the flying vs driving thing is like yeah flying is faster but takes more energy. kinda like jogging or running
This episode always felt like an allegory for online grooming. "He lied to me, and I gave him what he wanted..." "I got what I wanted; I don't need you anymore!"
Back in the early 00's, this problem was starting to gain a lot of attention. Unfortunately, it's more relevant now than ever.
I’m one of the only people in my immediate family with sensory issues. My hearing is super sensitive compared to my family. I am probably the black sheep of my family. This episode is really comforting to me. Thanks for covering it Shady!!
Eyy, hearing sensitivity gang~
Though, I’m not the only one with sensory issues in my family. My brother is autistic with high-support needs. And, while I love him, he’s constantly sensory seeking which includes loud, inconsistent noise. The kind I can’t block out. I get that he can’t help it and that being still/quiet is uncomfortable for him, but goddamn being near him can be painful sometimes.
Shady, I don’t know much about ravens magic, but that dark stuff that she uses in attacks and what not is literally her soul.
Oh, I've been looking forward to this episode. I watched TT religiously growing up and it taught me so many great life lessons. This episode feels like a great lesson in the infancy of the internet "beware 'nice guys' online. They're often quite bad people."
Raven: “You think I’m beautiful?”
At least half of the entire male gender: *Y E S*
I remembered when this episode came out. I loved Teen Titans and it wasn’t until 2009 when I finished the series on Mega Video. But back to the episode it struck a cord with me because I was and still am an introvert. I knew what she was going through.
11:57 He's a wizard without a spellbook, so he's stuck with casting the spells he prepared on the day he lost his spellbook. He must not have prepared Remove Curse that morning.
Also, I think we've all done the delicate dance of convincing someone else to spend their spell slots instead.
Coffeelocks rule supreme yet again!
What's fascinating to me about the title not even watching the video yet, is how much you need both to get a true internalization of another.
7:09 As someone who feels unloved by most people around me and unwanted by society at large, I can relate to Raven when it comes to suddenly having to face someone treating you po.orly again and having that feeling take over your thoughts even if it’s a super minor thing in the grand scheme of things. For me, it just reminds me of all the stuff that happened previously and makes me insecure about myself all over again.
4:19 - The one enemy the Teen Titans can't defeat: city traffic
Out of all the friendships in this show, Beast Boy and Raven were my favorite. Episodes revolving around those 2 always made me feel good. This episode, the one where he and Cyborg went inside her head, and the one where Beast Boy is turning into a monster are my 3 favorites.
If you had to choose an episode you really sympathized with each character which would you choose and why?
Probably the one where cyborg was sent into the past and had to charge his power cell while also helping the people of the past fight monsters. It ended with cyborg being pulled back to the present, and long story short...Raven showed Cyborg a book where he was the only one without armor. When she said "funny that you're the only one without armor" he said "yeah...I didn't need it." The episode was about how Cyborg was limited in his time to function because of the power cells he had to use, and him accepting that just because it hindered him, it didn't have to control him.
Robin- Haunted
Dude was beating himself to a pulp believing the whole time that it was his (still not quite dead) nemesis who had succeeded before in pitting himself and Terra against the other titans. Even managing to do so to Robin TWICE. (Apprentice and Red X) Only to find out he was never actually there to begin with. That's a lot to deal with.
Cyborg- Deception
Even though he resisted the temptation, you know at some level Cyborg must have really wanted to have at least the phantom sensation of being entirely organic again. And his reluctance to finish the mission because he got caught up in the fun side of the high school experience was so truly understandable.
Beast Boy- Betrayal
The title speaks for itself. Having Terra betray him after he opened himself up to her and trusted her was heart wrenching. And while clearly the exact situation is obviously fictional, the feeling of being betrayed by a loved one you have made yourself vulnerable to is far too relatable.
Starfire- Sisters
While I was tempted to say "Troq" for this one, I decided against because I am lucky enough that I've never really experienced rock-ism (you know what I really mean). So instead, I'll choose an episode that hits a little closer to home for me. Not necessarily with a sibling, but I know what it's like to feel replaceable and anxious like Starfire did in that episode. To feel like there's someone who is better than you in every way. But unlike Starfire, I didn't have a friend to teach me that there will never be someone capable of replacing you in all of the ways that truly matter. And it took me a long time to learn that lesson by myself.
Raven- Spellbound
Feeling alone and misunderstood by everyone close to you. Being labeled as weird and/or creepy. And being betrayed/abandoned by the one person whom you see as a safe space. That is a horrible feeling and I hope I never have to experience the third part of it myself. While I haven't had the experience of being betrayed by my one safe space person, that's partially because for the longest time, I didn't have a safe space person to turn to. So to have that now, a small part of me is always scared of them turning on me at some point, no matter how unlikely it would be.
shady mentions struggling to pick a good raven-centric episode because his favorites involve her as a copilot, and her best ones are more story-driven than character-focused, and i think that describes it so well. raven’s empathic nature makes her such a good guide to explore emotional depths, a darkness to find every other character’s inner light.
“Haunted” for Robin
“Switched” for Starfire
“The Beast Within” for Beast Boy
“Car Trouble” for Cyborg
“Titan Rising” for Terra
all explore each character’s relationship with their own hidden power, and the potential dangers that lie within. wouldn’t say they’re my favorites for each individual character, but character copilot / spiritual guide raven is just so great for character exploration and psychological depths
@@josephbiddle1637 I like this list. Remarkable amount of detail. Kudos
Always liked Nevermore for Raven. Any opportunity to go on a mental trip is fine by me.
Shady, your amazing! You covered King of the Hill, ATLA, and now Teen Titans! These were ( and still are) my favorite animated shows of all time and its always great to hear fresh perspectives on them. So here's to you good sir!
I just realized that both the Beast Boy and Raven-centric episodes, "The Beast Within" and "Spellbound," focus on them caring for each other at the end of the episode. It shows how much they care for each other, even in serious moments.
It all makes sense to me. The heart monster trying to steal children was a metaphor for an innocent heart. When Raven learned all the dark magic, it was another metaphor for the corrupt ness/ darkness that raven learned and feeling powerless to stop any of it. So it blackened her heart, destorying her innocence.
And then her being manipulated to give herself up to him and him saying that he got what he wanted and didnt need her anymore.
Yeah, the writers knew what they were doing.
7:41 that "Ow" was for some reason hilarious to me
Teenagers fighting crime while wearing inappropriate clothing...that describes half of animated television back then.
We love you Shady. An underrated gem on YT!❤
One of the top 5 TH-cam cartoon reviewers but only dude who does TT reviews in the top 5
Here here! We love you Shady!
I don't know when i was going to say but i like shows that are really good and teen titans i think the short version is tt i don't remember so it could be something else
I like your idea for how to better bring up the conflict between Raven and BB. I'd add in BB starting to passive aggressively make digs at her hobbies/interests each time she shoots him down so it more naturally shifts the focus from "Raven wants to read" to "Raven feels outcasted for having different interests". It also makes her more aggressive reaction make sense as it would be the culmination of an entire day of BB constantly poking at her.
Hey- the paper man has a really nice voice. Sometimes that's all a girl needs to start a crush
You get it!
As a kid, I loved this episode on a very surface level. I related to Raven bc I liked books and magic so regular kid activities didn’t really do anything for me. As I got older I really saw the aspects of her feeling like an outcast bc of her differences and it hit me harder
Has shady ever heard of king of the hill? I think he'd be interested
he's got countless of videos covering KOTH
@@PeptoAbismol wooosh!
Nobody ever talks about the episode where bobby gets a job it was really underrated, he ought to make a video on that one
@@PeptoAbismolreally? I’ve been watching Shady for years and as hoping he would finally cover KOTH
I don't know, man. It's a pretty niche show. I'm not sure an analysis video would get much attention.
Raven’s powers are emotion based. Her cloak changes color depending on which emotion is dominant. Blue, is her neutral color. And Raven remains neutral for the most part because of her powers, if she feels too much she could lose control. And because she is part demon, that fear is always present (like in the episode Nevermore or Switched), which is why she works so hard to control her negative emotions since she’s more susceptible to that demonic side overtaking her. When Raven is at peace mentally and emotionally, her cloak is white to represent that balance.
Raven struggles with accepting herself and struggles with a negative self view because of her origins. This is an apparent factor in her character. She doesn’t view herself as ‘good’ because of her ties to Trigon. She’s meant to end the world. She has a side to herself that can pose a threat or harm to those she cares about. This is partly why she tends to maintain distance, aside from her natural introversion. Point is, she has a hard time thinking well of herself. This is why when Malchior tells her she’s beautiful, she doesn’t believe it. She doesn’t believe that she - a half demon meant to do terrible things - can BE beautiful. And the fact that in the show, characters tend to fawn over Starfire as the beautiful one. She has a more open and bubbly personality, which more people will be drawn to. Not saying people with Raven’s personality isn’t attractive, but it is psychologically given that people respond more openly to people that are more welcoming - like Starfire. So yeah, with Starfire around, someone characters in the series have shown to find lovely, Raven may feel as though she isn’t as beautiful. Even if she doesn’t openly show it, we have a tendency to compare ourselves. And hey, when does a girl not want to know she is beautiful? It’s no surprise she felt shocked to hear someone telling her that SHE was the interesting, beautiful one. Malchior took advantage of her insecurities.
I've heard people's interpretations of this episode on particular.
One Ive heard and as someone who can relate to someone like Raven.
But I've heard people use this episode to try and reference this to Raven being abused in a certain way. And how a abuser will keep you away from those that do want to help and see things you don't see yourself about someone.
But I personally dont know about this even as someone whose gone through that type of abuse. But i feel this fits any kind of abuse, not just that one particular kind.
Raven has always been my favorite character. I can relate to her, especially since I’m pretty much a loner, do things my own way, her personality parallels my [off stage] personality.
When I was younger, I’ve had my share of “Melchior” style relationships, but I’ve learned to recognize the signs and get out of those relationships much faster, or even avoid them although. I’ve even helped my friends pull out of or avoid them as a result.
Gah Raven was so cool! When TT first came on I was a huge Starfire fan but when I went on a rewatch in 2020 when the pandera happened, I realized how amazing and great and complex of a character Raven was. Man I need to rewatch this show again
Thank you Shady for bringing up Daria and Wednesdays humor. Hope the 2nd season is just as good.
Shady, I think you should include the older Gen-Zers when talking about the 2000s. Because the older Gen-Zer is 27-28 years old. I'm 22 and was born in 2000.
Please, the MO is to blame us Millenials for everything. Why expect a TH-camr to have any discernment about the 00s when blaming Millenials is possible?
@@Undomaranel Shady is 31. He's also a millennial. So he's calling himself out too.
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Spellbound was one of my favourite episodes, I was disappointed with what happened between Raven and Malchior/Rorek, a bit because I really liked him for Raven (until the reveal) but also because I was more like her as a kid: preferring books over … sports 😖😖😖 (seriously Beast Boy’s attitude was a big contributor to her entanglement to Malchior/Rorek). I also think her joining in at the end was her ‘giving in’ to his jabs … not _his_ best episode …
Thanks for the new video Shady and go hug your furbabies all 💙🐱💙
(I’m 11th today!)
I 100% agree here. The episode could be better but it mostly handled these important issues well. Being an introvert myself I've encountered so many of these issues. Then there are other aspects of my life that have led to people treating me as "weird", "creepy", and an "outcast" as well. Due to that, I had multiple ways that people would try to isolate me and just generally be crappy. I don't even want to imagine how I would have turned out if not for the small handful of people in my life who did genuinely care.
No worries. Raven's real name really is/was Raven with "Rachel Roth" being a fake name she made up to give herself a normal civilian life, this was all in the 00s when the cartoon was airing not in the 80s when she originally was created and even went to college as just Raven. Most "Real Fans" will get cranky at Raven being called Rachel. I find it odd not many people requested this episode for various reasons. Various, various reasons. "White Raven" is also from the original 80s comics where Raven wore white when she was free of her father's influence (unless there's a joke I'm missing). EDIT: can't remember source but I remember someone on the show saying Malchoir was inspired by a non-magical dirtbag who manipulated Raven into falling in love with him to get her soul self. If you read those issues the similarities are definitely there.
The early scene of BB blowing up at Raven is a one reason I've been sick of shipping with those two and how it dominated every scene these two shared. "Puke colored goblin" indeed. Most of the time they felt like siblings who had to be reminded to get along but that's just me.
Also, thank you for sharing my frustration with Sam Manson.
You sir have somehow been able to perfectly put into words all the feelings I had watching this show as a wee lad.God bless you!
“Fun fact about the scroll’s, i don’t know what they are”.
Reminds me of how I would be responding in a group discussion in middle school on chapters I never read but just trying to get participation😭
I haven't seen the episode, just this review, but what struck me most was showing how someone who is emotionally vulnerable (such as feeling lonely and lacking self confidence). could be manipulated (grooming). He used her feeling of being isolated, and her excitement at finding someone who she thinks finally gets her. The line about a lock of hair from a beautiful girl gave a severe groomer vibe.
Really good review of this Raven-focused shady, I never knew how relatable raven’s feeling of being alone were.
I personally liked how she wanted some time alone to read her book, as that is a hobby I’ve enjoyed doing since last year.
Also, I get what you mean about how thirsty the internet is for raven, I keep getting videos recommended on raven in certain art styles.
I hope that Shady does the episode of when Starfire and Raven switched bodies and how it’s about understanding each other.
Actually just was reminded of this epidsode months ago after not seeing it since I was a kid, was so refreshing and really reminded me why the original Teen Titans was so beloved
They really don't make em like they used to, especially not when it comes to things like CN
My only guess for the confusing night to day back to night in the beginning was that it actually was day before they left for the first cardiac fight but raven just has REALLY tinted windows which character wise makes sense
Made2express explained this one as well about introverted people. And I think both videos helped proved that to me because I relate to it on so many different levels. After being heartbroken, sexually harassed (classmate and cousin), not getting enough attention, and getting kicked out of the house at 14, I was officially done with life. My life is a living F***IN’ nightmarish hell! I wanted be alone, so I could be at peace no less. But I don’t know how I can get it when nobody wants to leave me alone. Like, BACK THE F UP!!
*p l e a s e* 😢😭😔
My theory on Ravens magic: Until Melchior, Raven only used the techniques of Azarath, they would have been along the Right Hand Patb (through an old wiccan view of mysticism). Dark magic or the left hand path is technically the same style of learning but draws on selfishness, negativity, and harm. Also her soul is dark due to her concealing and restraining her emotions, thus her cloak is dark. The lightening of her cloak is used as a visual tool to communicate her embracing her emotions until she can express them all and the full expression of her power. White being the full reflection of light and all.
How I wish absorbing reading was THAT EASY 😂
5:19 I needed a moment to recover, that insult caught me so off guard
I didn't have cable when this show was on the air, so I had to resort to episode recaps and screencaps for all the episodes that never made it to regular broadcast TV (basically, everything after season 2). As such, I've never had a chance to watch this episode without knowing the big reveal.
Nonetheless, I've always really liked this episode - if nothing else, because I love classic fantasy and magic, and this episode is the closest we get in this series. And watching it after the reveal, it's interesting to pick apart all of Melchior's blatant manipulation.
Now that I have seen it, I really like that they gave us an episode where we really get to see that under Raven's snarky, edgy/"I have dark powers I have to contain" exterior... she also has normal teen girl insecurities, too. I know the part where Raven says "You think I'm pretty" made you laugh, but as someone who was a teen girl who "didn't care" about how I looked, but secretly did... yeah, I related to that.
Two comments I have about your points in the video. First, I swear Raven has some kind of cover over her window that makes it look like perpetual night in her room. I can't remember if you can see out the window in Nevermore, but it's dark in there when Beast Boy and Cyborg come in, even though that part of the episode explicitly takes place during the day.
(EDIT: I realized later that you can see the sun coming through at the beginning of "The End, Part I". Okay, fine, so the episode is just inconsistent.)
As for "Why couldn't Melchior cast the spell", I've always assumed the terms of the curse prevented him from casting the counter-spell himself. Otherwise, the curse wouldn't be that effective to imprison him.
11:00 OMG You have no idea TTG and that episode focusing solely on Raven's legs those people knew They Freaking Knew....
This episode retroactively made me see the “Many books” trope I see constantly in fictional media
You get ancient libraries, Magical scrolls, lost tomes, just stacks of books about, and it’s just automatically supposed to convey vast knowledge and high intellect, but when you stop to think about it, how exactly are said books truly organized and constructed?
Spellbooks especially I’ve been curious about. Cause you have to wonder if there’s introductory chapters, then you transition, or do you just jump into the spells with the idea of this knowledge was someone’s own research, then organized and logged by someone else to specifically be read by others.
Also part of the magic Raven uses of her birthplace, Azarath. They are all pacifists, so you can argue that it's not dark magic. The show does eventually explain Ravens magic system to a small extent. At this point it still feels like the writers were getting the hang of things with this set of Titans. Afterall, the whole point of the show was to try and save the comics.
Thanks for the Mulan reference. Made me remember that I haven't seen it all the way through, but I have seen all the Teen Titans. Priorities people.
Also, I'd except if Raven's windows are tented. It would at least explain the first drastic time switch.
What's funny about the dragon and wizard is that the name Rorek is also the name of a prince from the Guild Wars universe. He was the prince of a human nation that was burned to the ground by angry cat people. He wielded a flaming sword with a dragon's head design on the hilt, and was killed in battle, leading to his father burning the remainder of the nation alive in another, more ghostly fiery cataclysm that turned them all into vengeful ghosts.
4:03 I think this is actually before they started giving her teleportation and portal powers. It's interesting to see how her power list has consistently gotten longer as the years have gone by.
I think later animated depictions at least tried to limit it somewhat to demonic magic and that she has to always keep her emotions in check and yet does get the white outfit in Justice League Dark Apokolips War AND Titans season 4
“Feeling like an outcast ironically is a universal feeling” exactly shady you reminded me of one song I like listening to it’s called the middle by Jimmy Eat World.
Honestly this was one of my favorite episodes because we get a bit more of Beast Boy and Raven's dynamic. I'd just see Beast Boy's retaliation towards Raven as pent-up aggravation towards her cynical remarks at him since, while subtle, she's doing the same thing, usually seeing him in an "I'm surrounded by idiots" mentality. The episode "The Beast Within" would dive more into that...
9:17 - My headcannon for that was that that was the reason she got so quickly attached to the guy. She likely had some fleeting hope that he could help her with her Trigon issue (which was why we see her in her white cloak this episode. Always took it as a sign of her "retaliation against Trigon"). She just needed to both help him first and time to actually confess this issue to someone she truly felt close to. Note she didn't even tell her friends about Trigon, though TBF BB and Cyborg knew a bit about him. They found out through a revived Slade.
16:19 Surprisingly they did actually do that at the end of "Nevermore" exactly the way you described it.
Also, I never knew this at first, but their dynamic here made me suspicious of their relationship outside of this series and sure enough, they were indeed a thing, which TTG would show off constantly.
Yeah, it's a lot, but it goes to show how much I liked this series....
Thank you for apologizing for that "get your fake fan self out of here" joke. I was offended by the gatekeepy attitude, but I stuck around, and I'm glad I did. I didn't know I was still mad about that.
All is forgiven.
We're square.
Thanks for that.
I am sorry but the part where the book can feel and Shady mentions wonder why he waited while showing a pic of the book press against her chest just made me laugh freaking hard.
When Raven screams around 13:40 she almost sounds exactly like that slightly bigger kid in the Camp Fear episode of Ben 10
7:34 I think your right and probably what would of worked would be like you say a light reframing. Maybe (as this is something I have experienced as an introvert) have it so Raven doesn't reject the offers, but tries to get involved, but just can't shes not combtable and it becomes a well meaning point of fustration between the gang that she cant share in what they enjoy and its hard because she wants too, but also show how the core group struggle to meet her halfway. Maybe ending it with say Robin being the one who can because he knows how to interact with edgy brooding types...after all his dad is one.
-----Topic break---
I feel personality wise I fall somewhere between Raven and robin, not exactly there's alot of neauances missing but still I float around there most days.
Also I always liked how Tara auditioned for starfire but got raven. Its one of her best roles because it plays against her type in my opinion.
7:27 i understand its frustrating as someone who has also felt that innate NEED to finish a good story despite constant interruptions but having that, or a similar obsession or desire immediately turn to shame that lasts longer than the obsession, has happened to me and is understandable. that desire and pleasure you got from your book turning into a shameful despair and souring in your mouth happens in situations like this. especially since it was said by beast boy, the guy she kinda has a crush on. weather or not she would ever admit that to herself this early.