Those disappointed with the shift in Beast Boy’s character during the Terra debacle last season will be happy to know that Gar has returned to his old antics. Unfortunately for the rest of us, although it provides solid humor, his lack of depth here can be quite jarring at times considering the exposed emotions we witnessed in last season’s finale.

Here the plot centers on the return of the HIVE Academy, and they are once again up to no good. The intro sequence, depicting the Teens thwarting a Mammoth, Jinx, and Gizmo engineered heist, reveals that the HIVE has been busy conducting several raids over the course of the past week. In an effort to track them back to their base of operations, the ever-cunning Robin bugs one of the three HIVE graduates as they flee the scene.

The team decides to send someone in to infiltrate the HIVE and hopefully reveal the HIVE’s latest plot. They elect Cyborg, who in the wake of the T-Car’s demise seems to have been busy creating newer, less annoying, devices.

One of these new inventions is a remote controlled doppelganger of Cyborg himself. This RC Cy serves for most of Beast Boy’s attempts at comedy throughout the episode, and admittedly provides a few laughs along the way. Eventually this pseudo-Cyborg also juxtaposes Cyborg’s true form with a dream the HIVE promises to make good on, but more on that later.

Cyborg has developed the means to create holographic images so powerful that it could make him look completely human once again. It is this new toy that allows Cyborg to assume a disguise as a new HIVE recruit named Stone, in an affectionate nod to Vic’s surname in the comic book series. Which happens to be? You guessed it: Stone.

Once inside the HIVE Academy, we get the typical infiltration storyline. Cyborg must befriend his enemies, convince him that he is one of them, and ultimately suffer the trappings of feeling like a part of the HIVE community. We even get treated to a budding romance between Stone and Jinx.

Many fans will be quick to notice the first appearance of Bumblebee in the HIVE lunchroom, but seeing as how she has little to do with the story arc (at this point in the season), the real joy comes from the emergence of Brother Blood as the new headmaster at HIVE Academy.

Ok, so continuity-wise Brother Blood had nothing to do with HIVE, but it seems to work here considering that the HIVE has always sort of taken a backburner to the whole Slade storyline in the animated series. Having Blood helm the HIVE, even if by force, accomplishes two things.

We get to see the HIVE elevated to the status it should be, as a creepy yet dangerous presence in the Titan universe. In addition, we successfully add Blood to the Rogues fold, and maintain the themes of cult-like control so often linked to him in the comics.

This marks that subtle change mentioned before, because it slowly sinks in that this new episode marks the beginning of a Slade-less era for the Titans, at least for now. It would seem that Blood, voiced by Futurama’s own John Dimaggio, has stepped into the foreground as the series’ new primary villain, in combination with the HIVE itself.

Well, until Slade resurfaces (you know it’s coming!).

Blood has been altered for the animated series, but what else is new? His fanaticism and apparent control of younger super powered individuals seems to be on the right track for the series.

Brother Blood’s strength is fueled by the support of those who follow him. So having him usurp control over HIVE Academy only equips him with enough followers to make him a considerable threat, yet does not seem to cross the line for television guidelines in the depiction of cult leaders.

Of course, nixing the skull mask had to help as well.

A good season opener will propose some interesting concepts and question, which will hopefully come back around throughout the course of the season, and “Deception” appears to do just that. It was especially enjoyable to see Cyborg’s struggles with humanity resurface and factor into the plot here. The promised rewards for allegiance to Blood almost seem enough to turn Cyborg at one point, and this made the episode regain its momentum in the final act.

What are Brother Blood’s plans with the HIVE? How will the series creators handle the delicate subject matter of Brother Blood in the first place? What happened to the previous Headmaster at the HIVE, and how will that factor in later?

In addition, after laying the groundwork for Robin and Starfire, on the romantic level of course, why does it all of a sudden seem that Starfire is somewhat attracted to Cyborg in this episode? Are we working towards a love triangle pitting Robin and Cyborg, two best friends, against each other (hint, hint)?

Despite slightly dipping into mediocrity with the infiltration sequences, the episode manages to pull of a successful first adventure to start off the new season.

Next Week: Tune in next week for the return of Red X! Is Robin still behind this mysterious character, or is someone else pulling the strings?

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Mario Anima