While surfing for something to watch, I accidentally came across the premiere of Teen Titans Go! I had had no interest in watching the show and had low hopes for the show. But I ended up watching it because there was nothing else on.
First off, I would like to say that there is a slight bias because I'm still in mourning over the loss of Young Justice. It was one of the best comic book based shows on Television (please keep in mind I said ONE OF, not the best).
So, from the starts, it's BLATANTLY OBVIOUS that the show's target audience is children. Considering it's on Cartoon Network, the term "children" has a very broad range (because the shows vary in their target audience). When I say children, I mean the 5-12 age group (and 12 is pushing it). So any one who is older or a comic book, they're are going to have a tough time liking the show. But that's beside the point. My goal is to provide an unbiased review, as best as I can. That being said, my opinion of the show was rather mixed. There was things for it that worked and things that didn't.
Now the show itself. The show has a thirty minute time slot, with two fifteen minute episodes. The pilot featured two episodes.
The first was called "Legendary Sandwich." In it, Raven sends the rest of the team on an adventure to assemble a mystical sandwich. Really, she wants the team out of the tower so that she can watch a show called "Pretty Pretty Pegasus." Robin ends up merely waiting for his order at the supermarket while Starfire, Cyborg and Beast Bot must battle mystical sandwich guardians to obtain their ingredients. The team puts the sandwich together, and then argues over who gets the first bite. Whilst they fight, Silkie (who many of you may remember as the team's Pet Larva in the original series) eats the sandwich.
This episode gave me a pretty good idea of what the show is going to be like. Because of its target audience, the team will often have nonsensical (or "stupid" to many older viewers) adventures. Although, we could have figured that out from the previews when we see Cyborg and Best Boy fight an evil pizza delivery boy.
This episode performed how I thought the series would. Ultimately, I give it a 2 out of 10.
The second episode was called "Pie Bros." In this episode, Beast Boy feels obligated to get his best friend (Cyborg) the most awesome present ever for his birthday. He makes cyborg a drawing, but Cyborg starts hinting he wants a new video game. Beast Boy tries getting a series of jobs to raise the money. Ultimately, he gets a job at Mother Mae-Eye's pie shop. However, Beast Boy hurts Cyborg when he tells his best friend that he'll be working during his party. The two get into a fight and eventually make up, with a humorous ending.
This episode was a little bit surprising. Once again, it dealt in a mostly childish adventure but it was more heart felt. I thought that the emotion of the episode helped make it watchable. Like the original series, there is some humor in Starfire's confusion over earth customs and phrases. For example, in one scene she sets up "balloon animals," which she believes are balloons which are inflated with real live animals inside. I also liked the reference to the original series in this episode, which was the inclusion of villain Mother Mae-Eye.
Like I said, this episode surprised me, but it still performed to my expectations. This episode garners a 3.5 out of 10.
As I said earlier, there are some things about the show that work and some that don't. For example, the series is considered a sequel/ follow-up to the original series. As such, all the actors who voiced the Titans in the original series return to reprise their roles. The series also references its parent series several times. Such as the inclusion of Larva M319 or "Silkie," the Titan's mutant larva pet, or the witch Mother Mae-Eye. There is some humor that older viewers would find enjoyable, like Starfire's confusion of earth phrases.
But, there are also aspects of the show that don't works. These aspects are what we, the viewers outside the age group of the target audience will notice first and turn us off the series for good.
One of these if the fact that it is aimed at younger children. Because of this, the show is light in tone. This is something that I felt took away from my viewing experience. Many of the stories in DC comics are considerably dark in tone. So to see almost a polar opposite of that was off putting.
Along with the lighter tone, comes an inaccurate portrayal of characters. Particularly Raven. In the original series, Raven was portrayed as a girl with a passion for darkness and tendency to keep an emotionless monotone to keep her powers in check (she said in one episode her powers were linked to her emotions). In this show, we see a Raven who has a secret passion for a show about glittery ponies. We see her having fun. (In the "Pie Bros" episode, she tells Starfire "This is the most fun I've ever had at a party as the team watches Beast Boy and Cyborg have a pie fight).
However, the show manages to capture Beast Boy's childish nature, Cyborg's in your face attitude, and Starfire's naivete.
Overall, I didn't really like the pilot and I do believe I will not be watching the series. Overall, I only give it a 3 out of 10.
However, I do recommend that you at least take a look. This is just my opinion and I advise you to develop your own thoughts and opinions.
As always, reviews and thumbs up are always appreciated.