Top 20 Best Teen Titans Episodes

If you’ve ever wondered how the Titans became the Titans, this is the episode for you. To start, Robin and Starfire’s first interaction is downright jaw-dropping. Considering “Go!” also features some early team quibbling, fun action, and lots of callbacks, it’s an easy winning formula. With the foresight of who these heroes will become, “Go!”’s straightforward origin story takes on a whole new meaning. It’s not about establishing Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy - it’s about reminding you just how far they’ve all come. Most shows don’t wait until their final season to divulge their character’s origins, but in the case of “Go!,” it was well worth the wait.

As bizarre as it sounds, one of “Teen Titans’” best outings doesn’t actually feature any of the namesake heroes. With the team around the world recruiting allies, it’s up to Jinx and her crooked lackeys to carry the episode. And, despite their proclivity towards evil, “Lightspeed” is anything but “bad.” Thanks to strong writing and a heartfelt relationship with Kid Flash, Jinx goes from a one-note villain into a fan-favorite in the span of twenty minutes. This antagonist spotlight is more than a refreshing change of pace, though. It expands the series’ world by proving that even the smallest characters have a place in the story. Titans or not, "Lightspeed" is a heroic episode.

Titans? Meet the Doom Patrol. They’re another group of ragtag heroes fighting the good fight. But, that’s not the only similarity. Way back when, Beast Boy was a member, too. While it’s nice to learn more about everyone’s favorite green hero, “Homecoming” really shines because of the Doom Patrol. Their cynical perspective forces Beast Boy to reevaluate why he fights with the Titans. And, considering both teams are coming face to face with the aptly named Brotherhood of Evil, his decision doesn’t come a moment too soon. “Homecoming” is the kind of episode that doesn’t make you choose between character growth and exciting action - it’s got both in spades.

When a snarky kung-fu villain beats his spandex in less-than-wonderous fashion, Boy Wonder decides to enroll in a martial arts crash course from the True Master. There’s no gadgets, no teammates, and nothing but fighting. It’s awesome. “The Quest” has more slick action scenes than most shows have in a whole season. Robin is really pushed to his limits, and it all pays off when he finally earns his stripes and gets to wipe the smug grin off his rival's face. Although, really, this whole episode is worth checking out just to see the other Titans pull out their best Robin impression.

It’ll take more than an “azarath metrion zinthos” to get out of this one. After watching a horror film, Raven’s suppressed fear turns Titans Tower into a glorified haunted house, complete with all kinds of creepy crawlies and nail-biting escapes. To make matters worse, the lights are off, and Raven’s without her powers. Did we mention all of her friends start mysteriously vanishing, too? Yeah, Raven isn’t just watching a horror film anymore: she’s in one. At the very least, the heart palpitations are worth it to see Raven reclaim hold of her emotions. As they say, there’s nothing to fear but… well, you get the point.

Cyborg has always wanted to lead his own team, and in “Titan’s East,” he finally gets one. Albeit, one that’s immediately brainwashed by Brother Blood. Talk about a rough first day, right? Brother Blood’s assault on Titans East is one of the most harrowing fight scenes in the series. But somehow, it’s immediately topped when Robin and the others show up, turning the episode into a legendary Titan v. Titan smackdown. It’s a sight to behold - and that’s without even mentioning Cyborg’s epic last stand against Brother Blood. Even though their team got off to a rough start, Titans East’s debut is one to remember.

Instead of a crazy fight, last-minute plot twist, or romantic sunset kiss, “Teen Titans” ends with heartbreak. Beast Boy spends the entire final episode trying to reconnect with Terra. Or, at least, someone he thinks is Terra. As she constantly reminds him, the girl he knew is nothing more than a memory. It begs a lot of questions: is this really Terra? Is she lying? Does it even matter? “Things Change” lives up to its title by acknowledging that nothing stays the same forever, and at a certain point, even superheroes have to move on. It’s a deeply bittersweet curtain call for the Titans, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Despite his name, this is the first and only time that Beast Boy really acts like, well, a beast. It’s not entirely his fault; exposure to some strange chemicals turn him and his nemesis Adonis into cranky, green Werebeasts. The monster-sized duel makes for a thrilling episode, but only because it also strikes Beast Boy’s deepest insecurities. After all, having him turn into a literal, rampaging monster is as obvious a metaphor as you can get. Later, a quick pep-talk from Raven of all people reminds Beast Boy that, Werebeast or not, he’s a Titan to the very end. Now, can someone please pass the tissues?

#12: “Mad Mod”

All it takes is one look to see why this is not your average Titan adventure. Then again, Mad Mod isn’t your average Titan villain, either. He’s very British, very evil, and very into optical illusions. By trapping the Titans in the villain’s trippy school, “Mad Mod” becomes pure, chaotic fun in the best way possible. The inventive setting lends itself to a trough of visual gags and exciting fight choreography. Plus, who doesn’t love a good, crazy chase sequence? Especially one that’s played over such groovy music. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser, “Mad Mod” is “Teen Titans” at its zany best.

After an entire season of recruiting heroes and foiling sinister plots, the Titans finally squared off against the Brotherhood of Evil in one, final battle. And it did not disappoint. Like its name implies, “Titans Together” brings in more guest stars, cameos, and returning favorites than you’d ever think possible. They have Kid Flash, Titans East, Jinx, Hot Spot… we could go on. The villain side is just as stacked. The staggering roster of characters make the confrontation feel suitably grand. Not that we’d expect anything less from what’s ostensibly “Teen Titans’” last fight. Beast Boy may technically save the day, but this one is a win for all Titans.

While there have been a fair few contenders for the title, by far the greatest foe the Titans have ever faced is Slade. Shrouded in mystery, his intention for the most part of the first season seemed to be hiring supervillains, masterminding crimes, and generally causing wanton destruction. As it happens, what he wanted all along was for Robin to join him as a successor. Unfortunately, the Boy Wonder doesn’t have much choice in the matter when Slade reveals he has infected the rest of the team with nanoscopic probes. As a result, Robin is forced to turn to the dark side in order to protect his friends, making for a dramatic two-parter.

We all knew that Raven’s powers were mired in darkness, and that she certainly had some demon in her heritage. What we didn’t expect is that it would be her destiny to end the world. We get our first little taste of this as she starts to experience hellish visions on the eve of her birthday. If that wasn’t creepy enough, Slade makes a return from the dead. Only this time he comes equipped with some satanic superpowers while acting as an envoy for Raven’s dear old dad. With its bleak tone and apocalyptic foreshadowing, this was the episode that had both Raven and us by the throat.

Starfire is a sweet, strong, and compassionate individual who would go to the ends of the earth for those she loves. Even if it means getting married. In a rather unexpected twist, the Titans discover that Star is to enter an arranged marriage for the sake of her home planet of Tamaran. As you might have guessed, Robin is none too thrilled that the girl of his dreams is about to get hitched, especially when it turns out that her groom-to-be is a massive slime monster. No surprise that the whole marriage was arranged by Star’s insidious sister, Blackfire. Heck, the episode even pays homage to “The Graduate” at one point!

Given the nature of her powers and the need to constantly suppress her emotions, one can imagine that Raven’s head would not be the happiest place to visit. Well, Beast Boy and Cyborg get a first-hand experience when they accidentally find themselves traveling into her mind by means of a magic mirror. While inside, they discover the physical manifestations of her closed off emotions, not to mention a glimpse of what we would later discover to be her demon father Trigon. A crazy adventure in and of itself, it certainly succeeds at bringing the three closer together as friends.

Ah Control Freak, out of all the villains on this show, no one brings us more entertainment than you. Unleashing his most nefarious of schemes, this super-powered couch potato traps the Titans inside of television itself. What follows is a hilarious dash across channels where the team finds themselves encountering kid’s shows, soap operas, straight-to-TV monster movies, commercials, and every other kind of satire you could expect. Bonus points if you manage to catch all the film references they manage to fit in, including “Gremlins,” “Star Wars,” and even “The Matrix.”

Hers is a tale of complexity and tragedy. While Terra seemed like the ideal candidate to join the Teen Titans, what with her rough-and-tumble personality and the chemistry she has with Beast Boy, she also held a shocking secret: she was Slade’s second apprentice. Following her betrayal, Terra manages to seemingly take out each Titan and lead the way for Slade to take over the city. As you might have expected, the Titans aren’t done yet, leading a full counter-attack against her. What follows in Part 2 is Terra’s most defining moment as Beast Boy tries to convince her of the good still inside her, leading to her sacrificing herself to defeat Slade. Terra, you won’t be forgotten.

Many agree that Starfire is the emotional core of the Titans, though who would have expected she was also the glue that held them together? During an encounter with the time-traveling villain, Warp, she finds herself projected into the future, discovering that in her absence the Teen Titans have disbanded. Heartbroken by the dismal fates that have befallen her now aged friends, Star does her best to make things right and alter time itself. All we can say is prepare to be hit in the feels in all the right ways.

What was once a guise used by Robin to try and get closer to Slade comes back to bite him when an unknown thief ends up stealing the high-tech suit for his own affairs. Now forced to literally fight his past failings, Robin ends up questioning the line between hero and villain. This line is further blurred by Red X himself, who, for all his selfish actions, proves that whoever is under that mask has some measure of honor left. With awesome action sequences, a provocative message, as well as the introduction of a badass new anti-hero, X truly did mark the spot on this one.

It may have been prophesied, but who would have guessed that Raven would have ended up fulfilling her destiny by summoning her demonic father? With the world set ablaze, the Titans are forced to team up with Slade to take down Trigon and restore what has been lost. Throw in a cataclysmic backdrop, evil duplicates, an adorable child-Raven, and a fight with a literal devil, and we get the Teen Titans at their best over the course of this 3-episode story arc. Goes to show that not even the forces of hell can beat good old-fashioned teamwork.

Robin’s obsession with Slade has been a running trait throughout the series, as it’s a toxicity that has caused no end of friction between him and his teammates. But what happens when that obsession turns to paranoia? In what has to be one of the most mature and genuinely unsettling episodes, Robin finds himself being hunted by his most hated enemy. There’s only one problem: the other Titans can’t see Slade and think their friend has finally gone off the deep end. As the attacks get worse and worse, we’re all left wondering if the Boy Wonder has truly lost it, or if there is something far more sinister afoot.

We know it’s tough to pick, but what’s your favorite episode of “Teen Titans?” Let us know in the comments below!