The Titans, of course, realize Control Freak’s latest scheme and follow him into TV land. The episode sets up a moral because Beast Boy has been spending too much time in front of the television, yet in the end Control Freak’s scheme would never have been noticed or thwarted had he not spent hours upon hours in front of the idiot box. The episode addresses this, and plays it for laughs, which works for the most part. In any event, this episode is a big step up from "Bunny Raven"…or "How To Make A Titanimal Disappear."

Here, the creative team is freed up to actually make self-reflexive commentary on television, animation style, and the very series itself. As the Teens traverse their way from homage to homage ranging from Dukes of Hazzard, to 007 style scenarios, to Looney Tunes inspired sequences, we get to see the animation change to suit the various formats employed, the highlight being a Road Runner inspired sequence between Beast Boy as Wile E. Coyote and Control Freak in place of everyone’s favorite Road Runner.

The Titans also square off against various movie monsters, created specifically for the series, but recalling classic matinee style creatures. This episode actually de-rails at times, which is welcomed because when this occurs the show seems to point the microscope at the Titans series in a humorous fashion. In one instance, Cyborg announces that he knows where they are. “This is the first episode of Season Four!”

References abound throughout this episode, and its likely that Fanboys will at least get a kick out of the final showdown with Control Freak, which is set in a cross between a Jedi lightsaber duel and Superman II. Yes, it would seem that Beast Boy is banishing Control Freak to The Phantom Zone at the end of the episode.

Overall, this is a pretty irreverent episode, and it works this time out. The only real problem is that this series seems to be relying all too heavily on irreverence as opposed to progressing the continuity and developing our heroes along. In previous seasons, episodes such as this were interspersed with episodes that established a thread throughout the course of the season. Now it would appear that the roles might have been reversed.

Perhaps these episodes are more of a fan favorite than one would believe? I’ll turn it over to you, the fanbase: Character Development and Plot Threads or Irreverence and Mayhem? Let’s talk it up in the FanboyPlanet Forums! I’ll go on record, the fun is fun, but I like my Titans sprinkled with derision, not drenched in it.

Many would have to agree with Cyborg when he closes out the episode with “It was all completely meaningless,” yet no matter how “meaningless” it may be it is a fun ride when it everything clicks.

Next Week: We finally get to put a close on Season Three with the second part to the excellent Titans East. Will Cyborg stay on as the East-siders Leader? Well, if Episode 257-854 is any indication, he doesn’t. However Sam Register has gone on record in stating that we will be seeing much more of the East-Coast Titans in Seasons Four and Five, so who knows. See ya in Five!

Mario Anima