We Need To Talk About The Episode Where Robin Loses Control...

Remember That Surprisingly DARK Teen Titans Episode That Covered PTSD?
Teen Titans is one of Cartoon Network’s most noteworthy shows that touched on a ton of subjects that would be considered Dark for a cartoon. For example, Teen Titans even had an episode that shed light on what it’s like to struggle with PTSD. In the episode, fans got to see one of their favorite characters struggle with what’s real and what’s not when he starts to fight against an enemy that only he can see. Still, that doesn’t explain how the writers managed to seamlessly mold something so complex into the plot of a kids superhero show.
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[@Spiritx1992]

I liked Raven’s line “I don’t know if he’s real or not, but he’s real to Robin and that’s all that matters.”

[@bradleychan5684]

And then Slade returns to life using her father's LITERAL devil magic...If I was Robin I would hold that fact over my teammates' heads for years.

[@dazzlethestar151]

Same, I also like the way Robin shouts "I know what I saw!" when Cyborg tries to tell him that Slade isn't real, it's so impactful.

[@agentmaryland1239]

That moment when she used her powers to link their minds so she could see the world as he did...only to get sucker punched in the face by a non-existent Slade was probably one of the best moments in 2D animation history. It's been a very long time since I've seen the show, but doesn't Raven connect with people on a spiritual level when connecting in such a manner? Because if so, that line makes it all the more powerful, since in that very moment, she would have felt just how real he was to Robin. Even if he wasn't real at all to begin with.

[@neonclouds9295]

​@@bradleychan5684yeah im that level of petty too

[@emmanuelotiki1555]

​@@agentmaryland1239not spiritual but emotionally she's an empath

[@bradleychan5684]

I thought this episode was about Robin's sheer Slade-related PTSD when I was a kid. Became really disappointed when it turned out to be Scarecrow's Fear Toxins messing him up. Now that I'm older I realised that it may have been both.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

It was both, slade counted on Robins obsession and planted a trap Robin couldn't let Slade go so the gas was designed to trap robin in his ptsd to the point he would destroy himself, unable to escape his inner battle

[@heyitsqueso3008]

I think it simply amplified the trauma that was already there.

[@jonathanwilson1539]

Wait, when was it clued that its Scarecrow's toxins? I mean it fits but it's also a reach. Scarecrow is never mentioned elsewhere as part of his show/universe.

[@bradleychan5684]

@@jonathanwilson1539 In retrospect, I guess it could be a stretch to automatically conclude that it was Scarecrow's toxins specifically. I guess I just remembered Boy Wonder's past rogues and made that connection. What IS a stretch is for his teammates to assume that Slade wasn't real...When they live in a world where villains return from the dead all the time as well as use magic and mind-based powers to mess them up on more than one occasion. Raven herself can do all this and more.

[@jonathanwilson1539]

@@bradleychan5684 I can agree with that.

[@jeremy1860]

Child superheroes are always fun until you stop and think about what they go through 😟

[@rainbowdragon1872]

im in teh process of rewatching all these superhero shows because they hit SO different as an adult. you see all the underlying themes/problems.

[@jhiaka9888]

Like Steven universe when he had his meltdown…

[@JM.piwz1]

@@jhiaka9888I know people think “oh it’s some kids show.” But he turned into a monster because of his own feelings and I feel like that is a way to open up discussion about feelings and emotions with children. Help them identify that certain feelings do not make you a monster.

[@haroldcruz8550]

Child soldiers is a more apt description

[@agentmaryland1239]

What makes it better is that his PTSD of Slade is understandable given who trained him and who he was around the most before the creation of the Teen Titans; Batman. Batman in the later animated series and even some of the games was noted to be incredibly paranoid and very skeptical of anything and everything; understandably so. Batman during the Justice League days was widely known for having contingency plans even for his contingency plans should the League ever be compromised, especially if *he* was compromised. So it stands to reason that some or even most of the Bat Family would share Batman's paranoid nature, one of the Robin's especially since Robin's were always closest to him. The writer's of Teen Titans were on a completely different level pretty much all of the time. The fact that they managed to hit just about every sensitive topic, without glorifying or overplaying/underselling it, is a testament to their skills. Teen Titans was truly a gem that can not be easily replicated.

[@ventexovakon2178]

It's also good to not forget that Batman is typically beaten by Slade when not specifically prepped for him. Slade is not one to be messed around with, as Slade is basically batman mixed with a less powerful captain America that happens to not be such a good guy.

[@AdolCoffee]

Dude who told you that?!?!?! Go read comics and play the game. Slade hates Bruce because he is WAY better than him. And Bruce slammed him many times in secinds

[@redshankyman4181]

​@@AdolCoffeeDeathstroke admits that Batman is more skilled than he is, but Slade's superhuman abilities make him a match for Batman and then some. They are very much on even ground with each other... when Batman is at the top of his game.

[@windywhistlesmlp2230]

Loved how they managed to hit every sensitive topic and whole topic including PTSD without glorifying or overplaying/underselling. That's skill. DC and WB is somehow usually better with animation and TV series's, but not so good with live action and films. It isn't say all their live action and films and bad.

[@SemiOmni314]

Just as a note, Batman being so paranoid to the point of having contingencies for the rest of the league because Zatara brainwashed him. Some of the league were essentially brainwashing villains, and when Batman found out, before he could alert the others like Superman, Zatara mind wiped him. This feeling of betrayal and anger towards the league would never leave Batman despite the reason for it being gone from his mind. So I guess it's apt that Robin in this episode also got hit with some type of mind-altering thing to the point where he'd turn against the Titans.

[@christheforsaken4287]

To me the wildest part about this episode is something easy to miss: When “Slade” tells Robin about him using cloaking technology, which is why the other titans didn’t see him, the fact robin believed him, despite Robin knowing at least Cyborg and Raven would’ve been able to bypass it, that shows how little faith he had in his team when it came to slade, which honestly makes this even darker…..

[@realjoemavro]

Or it was just Robin's rational mind desperately trying to invent an explanation on the fly. Maybe a bit of both.

[@christheforsaken4287]

@@realjoemavro probably both, Slade messed his psyche up beyond belief. It’s a miracle Robin never went this far off the deep end when Slade came back with DEMONIC MAGIC.

[@bethanymiddleton5758]

​@@christheforsaken4287I think that's partly because he actually was, tangibly back, so he knew for sure it wasn't just his mind or a chemical messing with him.

[@bigbossadidoss8678]

Honestly I don’t think any leader has more confidence in his team than he does himself. At the end of the day if your team doesn’t get it done, you must do it yourself. It’s got nothing to do with Trust or Faith

[@MayumiC-chan9377]

As a woman married to a combat veteran i seen my husband progressed from the times he suffered from nightmares and sounds that frightened my husband. PTSD is always my concern and i’m glad my husband got through it. Seeing this episode of Teen Titans struck a cord with me and my husband. Your family does help you rise above it.

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

He's one of the lucky ones. Most veterans don't have emotional support

[@elpsykoongro5379]

@@MASTEROFEVIL a lot of them get cucked

[@nickwang5237]

You earned my respect. I hope you’re both better now

[@A-Clear_View]

@@MASTEROFEVIL 30th like

[@pastexpiration2160]

Ty for your love and support for your husband

[@justmoonwithamustache]

Robin's obsession shows Batman truly trained him😂😂😂

[@JackGamer45-vi2ni]

He lost his mind.

[@Darktrap11]

​@@JackGamer45-vi2niyou think batman is so mentally healthy?

[@JackGamer45-vi2ni]

@@Darktrap11 Nope it isn't tho.

[@Darktrap11]

@@JackGamer45-vi2ni what?

[@Faithful.49]

thats what i was thinking, i feel like batman would react in similar fashion if joker was gone

[@brandonparson8821]

I remember this episode shook me to the core. Robin is a confident and capable leader, and he never gives up even when he's outmatched. But at the end of this episode, he pleades with Slade's ghost to stop. He weakly begs, "Slade, stop." That's when I realized Slade had nearly broken Robin.

[@seggenghirmay2236]

OH JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6:07

[@Cardlimits]

"no robin. I won't stop, not now not ever. I am the thing that keeps you up at night, the evil haunting every dark corner. I will never rest, and neither will you"

[@J0lDier863]

That's terrifying

[@FireLight_Zero]

Post traumatic Slade disorder.

[@jonbrewer297]

Oh, in the comics, Slade has his own issues. He was never properly adjusted to civilian life, so he became a mercenary. He refuses to negotiate with terrorists, resulting in his younger son's throat being slit, rendering him mute. Of course, Slade also molests Terra, and is generally an unpleasant person. His kids are what makes him interesting.

[@seggenghirmay2236]

Ptsladed 6:07

[@seggenghirmay2236]

Pssd Post Slade Stress Disorder 6:07

[@orkoskang7967]

Deadpool will give Slade a PTSD back then dance Bye bye bye.

[@caitlinpanettieri4957]

No matter how many times I've watch that episode it still puts me on edge whenever Robin just loses it. And it hurts that everytime cause in the in the show the other titans don't believe it, while us the audience do believe him makes it really hard for him. And seeing Robin unintentionally hurting Starfire was always unsettling. Tension was so real! Slade was basically Robin's Joker 😣😣 Best Robin episode in the series in my opinion.

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

100th like

[@caitlinpanettieri4957]

Jesus Christ whats with the love all of a sudden. I was just speaking my mind. 😳😭

[@RebekahSmithChildofGod7]

Exactly. It's one of my favorite episodes because of this reason alone. Still scares me a bit till this day

[@noorbohamad5796]

@@caitlinpanettieri4957 who’re you talking to?

[@caitlinpanettieri4957]

@@noorbohamad5796 Uhm... just the general comment section 😕

[@elisamuelorfilarosario4163]

What almost hit me, is that Slade messed up with Robin so much, he almost killed him without being physically present there

[@cockblockersupreme]

You know a villain is great when they're gone yet their presence is still felt.

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

While you could say that some form of trauma did have a role in this episode, I overall believed that it was the chemical messing with Robin's head, plus his obsession with Slade being put to justice, even after the guy's death. The scary theory I have is that it caused Robin to physically torture himself, thinking it was Slade doing all that.

[@jaydenrandolph3155]

It was the chemical, but the chemical represented trauma 😊

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

So he beat himself up?

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

@@MASTEROFEVIL I mean, if the cause was related to neurochemistry, what other explanation is there?

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

@@panda0x0craze27 To me, that was just predicting Slade's revival.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

@@MASTEROFEVIL What else would it be? Lol

[@PricefieldPunk]

The episode where you could really see how much Starfire loves Robin

[@theempoweredman7353]

Back when TV had that no holds barred in discussing and exposing the youth to life's harsh realities. It wasn't just ptsd per se, it was that a psychosis caused by the gasses in the beginning.

[@ram76921]

the creepiest part of the episode though is the epilogue where Cyborg explains that the chemical had to be activated from outside the tower.... never got an answer on who activated it and thats good writing.

[@saphiriathebluedragonknight375]

I always assumed Slade himself did, as it was foreshadowing to his return.

[@rosestar1324]

But Slade was dead. He activated it from beyond the grave?

[@noorbohamad5796]

@@rosestar1324so maybe he’s either come back from the dead or maybe he didn’t really die?

[@teleportingpotatoe]

so was slade dead? I thought he came back with terra

[@wearereligion2489]

​@@saphiriathebluedragonknight375It's possible he was resurrected by Trigon for a time and in-between his encounter with the Titans he activated the trap.

[@sarahsault6494]

It was a real portrayal of PTSD-and at the time this aired it spoke VOLUMES to me and felt WAY too real. Also-Robin's final line also pointed out that for him-Slade will always be there. This episode was also NEEDED at the time, not just for a bittersweet resolution to both comics and cartoon (in the comics Slade actually did some R-rated trauma to Robin before Slade died) but as a message to get help for those with mental trauma.

[@somedude9309]

What’d he do?

[@thunderstrum645]

Woah, what did Slade do?

[@iamaperson5246]

What comics, also what did slade do?

[@Raikeran]

what the slade doin

[@AsrarusSajidin]

Whatrrr he dooooo

[@vincentshadetree]

Man this episode was fire. If I wasn't into the show all the way before, I was locked in after this. This was dark. Robin begging Slade to stop did something to me when I saw it. To watch a proud hero be reduced to that. And the twist was it was all in his head. Crazy...

[@orlandoacosta2631]

On top of that, Robin's life has been filled with ptsd even before joining the titans. We see in this episode a shadow of the flying graysons' death and him swearing an oath to fight crime with Batman. All of those little things accumulate over time and explode

[@Kaepora2]

PTSD is scary man. I speak from experience. It's like a war-trance that you enter where combat is all your focused on. You either have to snap to your senses and touch reality again, or it gets worse and you re-enact a certain trauma in it's entirety as you would expect. We look over our shoulders for a reason. It's a pretty scary thing.

[@weirdbutnormal2295]

I have trauma stemming from multiple stuff, but always kept coping mechanisms so effectiveness of it didn't affect me much, until the last 3 occurrences

[@drakeramsey9514]

A subtle thing the animators did was show that there wasn't any rain falling onto Slade and Slade wasn't making any puddle splashes or sounds when running. Its not something you notice until watching it a few times over. Favorite episode from the series.

[@samuelsalvatore4511]

teen titans is honestly by far one of the best things to ever come out of the DC universe, literally everyone can fully enjoy it without knowing anything about the comics

[@shonbera5246]

Idk if anyone else could say they relate, but as a kid (I was like 5), this episode left me feeling extremely unsettled. Robin strapped in a hospital bed is something engraved into my memory and idk why.

[@KillaCheeto56]

"I am the thing that keeps you up at night. The evil that haunts every dark corner of your mind. I will never rest. And neither will you." One of the most chilling lines ever. Slade is such a good villain. I love this episode so much.

[@josecuestas7246]

One dreadful moment, was the final part, when Cyborg revealed to Starfire, Beastboy and Raven, that the Slade's mask was activated, for someone outside of the Titan Tower, like a mysterious and scary cliffhanger.

[@teamblack204]

It makes sense. When Raven got into Robin's mind, she also saw his parents' demise. She was searching for his past traumas, which means Slade indeed traumatized and "haunted" Robin

[@vigoroushero8623]

4:21 Starfire's eyes when Robin grabs her with fury. This was definitely her first experience with an abusive bf.

[@freddybear2005]

I don't think he meant to do that, at least I don't like to think that, but yeah, it's still pretty scary to watch him grab her like that.

[@realjoemavro]

It's a shame we never learned who triggered the chemical that made Robin hullucinate. There's a theory (silly me thinking I'm the first person to think of it) that the chemical was a modified fear toxin. If so, Slade could've commissioned Scarecrow to make it and then trigger it at a certain point in time. It could've been Rose Wilson, Wintergreen, or even Professor Chang getting back at Robin.

[@Bowiiihowdy]

Maybe Robin accidentally touched something on the mask

[@realjoemavro]

@@Bowiiihowdy Cyborg said whoever triggered it did so from "outside the tower" if I remember right.

[@rosestar1324]

I wonder how this person outside the tower knew the right time to trigger it. They had to be lucky that someone was by the mask or they had inside info that someone was close by.

[@Tonykinetic]

the portrayal of ptsd was amazing, tho when trigon revived Slade I imagine the first thing he did was activate the hallucinogen on the mask to mess with Robin,cyborg did say it was triggered from outside the tower only for Slade to show up later when it was time to mess with Raven instead

[@StardogChampion06]

This was a legit scary episode. It felt like I'm watching a thriller horror mystery.

[@hollowroxas4742]

Slade is just that guy. Whenever he interacts with Robin, he constantly reminds him that Robin is not Batman, and he’ll never be Batman.

[@LuisRPG8]

Even if it was a halucinogenic, it's really telling of Robin's trauma that it was exclusively Slade

[@SuperTiberian]

Out of a lot of the episodes in the series, I feel like this is one of those ones where they had more than enough justification for a Batman crossover. Mental trauma and PTSD are what shaped Batman so it would've been a good idea if the episode was written for one of the Titans to contact him as he was easily one of the only people who could understand and help Robin fight his trauma since he could easily relate and even realize that there was more than *just* trauma to this. It's wishful thinking now that the series is over but it's fun to imagine how things would've gone.

[@Sweetroll_Wolfie]

I was thinking that, myself! Props for thinking of that, too!

[@netrox0072]

This show was pure high quality back in the day. Too bad it got replaced with a joke.

[@Sweetroll_Wolfie]

Deeply sad and completely true.

[@Schooley96]

Ahh yes the Fight Club episode of Teen Titans

[@TheBombayMasterTony]

"I KNOW WHAT I SAW!" - Robin Great episode.

[@harristhesecondcomin]

The tension in this episode is fantastic. Even after seeing it a million times, i always fear for Robins life. It's definitely a stand-out episode in the series.

[@lexabkby...8626]

The fact that robins seriousness makes him more robin..idk why i love him so much-

[@darkwingedangel7216]

Starfire: "You're hurting me." 😢

[@dklounge7082]

"Haunted" is easily the best episode of Season 3 if not the best episode of the show

[@kouvang522]

Given that Robin is Batman’s son. He’s more like him than he’d ever like to admit.

[@richcast66]

I went through this myself, but with a sleep paralysis demon that felt so real, that I tried to convince my family that there was somebody secretly lurking around our house. I couldn't help but believe that it was real, especially that time it pushed something pointy into my shoulder as I was paralyzed. I went to a mirror and noticed a deep red mark where it had stuck me. I still second guess myself to this day

[@IDKwhyimhere675]

Yeah that happens to me alot. I don’t have sleep paralysis. But at night i hear things. And sometimes things will jump out and i’ll wake up with bruises on my arms and legs. Or pounding headaches on my temples. I’m not paraylised during these. But i can’t talk. And my head is so heavy i can lift my head up. Like i have a dead weight attatched to the back of my head.

[@nmoney6655]

I suffered from PTSD from something that happened to me about a decade ago and I’m still not over it even though I been to more therapy sessions than I can count and have been on more medication than I can remember

[@hakim6933]

This obsession with one's nemesis mirror's the relationship between Batman and Joker.

[@ConstantBit9]

Yeah. We need this show back. Maybe as a sequel, new titans and such. Maybe see other heroes and new threats in Jump City.

[@FBI_Not]

Just like how Joker haunts Batman, this one can too

[@BurningFlamesofDivineDragon]

Sunning job on this breakdown of this episode tells a lot with so little when it comes to PTSD. As well as how family and friends can help you through these things.

[@ericjohnson6120]

And we were never given an answer to who activated the gas, not in the show or the comics.

[@bignate5368]

Till this day i hate that they never said who it was that triggered the mask to spray the gas on robin

[@nathanaelbusset5998]

I'll bet the REAL slaid wouldn't know for sure if he actually the one who haunts him every dark corner of robins mind. If he does know that he probably wouldn't say.

[@julienmorozof8082]

Slade's mask was probably laced with Scarecrow's fear toxin if you ask me ! That fits a little bit too well

[@alakazamlover4908]

I vaguely remember seeing this episode with 0 context and not fully understanding it when it was in circulation on TV

[@joegover9452]

Robin would make a terrible jedi Obi-Wan never dwelled on Maul

[@Evoker23-lx8mb]

Not true

[@mattboy5296]

He did for a time after Maul first returned, but Obi-Wan's long-lasting PTSD was 100% towards Anakin/Vader.

[@saphiriathebluedragonknight375]

@@mattboy5296 Could you imagine Anakin/Vader's PTSD if Luke had saved him? No wonder he wanted to die.

[@alexdeghost2729]

He dwelled on Vader for a while

[@kendekorcsmaros8730]

My theory is with Trigons help Slade haunted Robin while got resurrected through his ptsd. Demons usually does this thing And that powder making everyone flashbacks what also helps

[@ARuiz-eu3hk]

Personally I would have just call batman and tell him to go get your boy. He losing it.

[@your72ndvirgin91]

“Imagine being a teenager and seeing or feeling like you or people close to you are going to die” -laughs nervously in veteran- yeah imagine that

[@andersonviana245]

this is one of the top 3 moments in which Robin suffers and I am upset, the first by far is the 90s animation with Clayface's ''Daughter'', Annie, that episode also leaves a disturbing scar on my soul

[@ItsyourboyPenguinboy]

“As much as it is NOW A DAYS?” Yeah that must be a joke, mental health is 200% worse then in 2004

[@Potential94]

I’m so glad this episode has been getting attention over the years. It’s the best episode in the ENTIRE series and has been my favorite since I saw it as a kid for the first time. Every episode has something that makes each one stand out. GOATED SERIES

[@KaijuForceNeo]

This was one of the best Episodes I’ve ever watched! Knowing how Mental Health is very impacting nowadays, it’s significance has certainly skyrocketed. It may be a little dated, but the PTSD factor alone makes it worthwhile to explore.

[@TheStrongVirus]

Even though they used an excuse for why he was seeing Slade, that there was a chemical in the dust. I feel it showed the negative of Robins ability to never switch off. Not like his over worked episodes. This is subtly relating to PTSD, I feel like because of the show and when it was made it’s not completely gone into it. I suffer from PTSD, though I look at others that suffer from it and don’t see it the same in each, I do know that an over active imagination and thinking you need to finish unfinished business does sound like something that makes “ghosts” real. I could see Slade’s Ghostly appearance in this episode being like that, light being how to shut him out because the mind projecting imagery on a blank black canvas rather than a colourful one. What weirds me out is Slade talks. Though Robin doesn’t try to negotiate, constantly on the offensive. Slade seems like someone who talks too much, but then again that is a comfort for a viewer. Having a silent or unphased presence appearing to simply ambush you is pretty horror like. But yeah, interesting episode. Interesting way to look at it.

[@ArizonaChuggar]

0:10 that joke was so nasty “shed light”

[@Darkrunn]

This and the scary movie episode where Raven's fears haunted the tower were both so good.

[@josalyngreer131]

This episode aired in my 3rd birthday

[@TheBestFruit]

Happy birthday

[@DragonStar524]

Quite a birthday present....

[@rinneganvision_quest9592]

Dude or chick 😅… your making me feel old I was like 7 when this episode aired

[@jd7337]

Who gives a flub

[@Rahimahah]

​@@jd7337give back the phone little child

[@jessicawilliams3849]

I know we never see it, but I wonder what the conversation was like between Star and Robin after that. I wonder (but doubt) she even brought it up.

[@IceCold_Carter]

Seeing a lot of Robin videos lately, something tells me he coming to the big screen soon

[@BobBob-up8fz]

I like how grounded Cyborg was. Considering 2 were named after birds. Star Fire could fly. And BB can turn into birds.

[@ms.wednesday263]

I remember watching this episode as a kid and getting chills. This video brought those chills back. Thank you

[@ciankeane6485]

I got a psycosis and man i was just like robin

[@gavintheg.o.a.t2001]

Somewhere a Ninja Turtle would have a similar dilemma in season 4

[@Wolfbros23]

Oh leo with the mushrooms

[@jpg_jaguar9984]

one little detail that i dont seem to find anyone talking about is how the rain does not reflect on slade at the forest. If you pay attention at robin and the other titans you can clearly see it, but when we see robin trying to hit slade while on the trees, we dont see the drops.

[@EngineerDJ_Julius]

iconic series in so many ways

[@foxanard]

The worst part about it is that Robin would've fought Scarecrow during his days with Batman, and so he would've known a lot about this kind of toxins. But he'd never considered the possibility.

[@delix787]

I literally watched this episode a few mornings ago. God, I love the dark elements. 😈 I love that Robin threatened his friends. I love how psychotic he was. I loved how slade was just beating him repeatedly, God I miss cartoons with dark writing. 👀

[@Rahimahah]

i love when that happens too!!! (I always tingle my toes in excitement 🤭🤭)

[@EthanKraemer-qp7vy]

“Your psychological damage is not service related”

[@rosestar1324]

I really like the little details that clue us into Slade not actually being there, like the rain effects on the other Titans but Slade doesn't have any and how the tree branches and the rubble from Slade's old lair gives when Robin interacts with it but not with Slade. Also, was there ever an explanation given to who activated the chemical from outside the tower? That plot thread lives rent free in my head all these years.

[@briasandifer210]

There wasn’t! They never found out who did it, and that’s the best part of the episode imo. It was super ominous.

[@ddraig206]

HOW COULD HE NOT HAVE PTSD this version of robin is Damian Wayne... ya know, Bruce's kid

[@shuckyducky3471]

At the time of this episode it was believed to be PTSD. However at the end of the episode Cyborg said someone from outside the tower was responsible. Then it cuts to slades mask and the eye is glowing red. Trigon was the one responsible for what was going on. Especially considering Slade came back officially not long after this episode.

[@uncutfandu3179]

The things is I never saw it as ptsd because they literally say he was under a hallucinogenic from the mask someone activated and that’s not the same as a mental disorder but I get that it’s possible they couldn’t outright say Robin a teen was suffering ptsd (despite jokers return)

[@yitzledee]

I love how Arrow shamelessly copied this episode, including Slade nonetheless

[@AdolCoffee]

The thing I dislike about the writing of the show is that it doesn't give us anything related to Batman or whatever Robin dealt with in Gotham. It explains everything more logically

[@darrylwallace2428]

This episode was really dark and at times brutal. But it also taught us the importance of controlling your mind, and not letting outside controversies control you.

[@kunlesanders]

Poor Starfire, I felt bad for her.

[@UndertakerU2ber]

It’s inaccurate to call this “PTSD.” Many assume that when tv shows show audio/video cutaways to “Vietnam”, for example, it means that PTSD causes one’s senses to be hijacked and they see and hear their wife as being an enemy soldier. In reality, PTSD is an avoidant disorder that causes past emotional trauma to flare up when one is presented with similar situations. For example, if a girl was touched by her uncle, she may forever wish to avoid traveling anywhere near the neighborhood that he lived in; even if that same uncle no longer lives in the area or has since passed away. What happens is that our minds try to learn what’s dangerous during high-stressed situations, and in the case of a war veteran, their minds may have it forever etched “When I hear a plane overhead, I’m in serious danger” because of an event where a plane flew overhead just before it dropped bombs on his squad and blew off one of his legs. Again, it’s not a visual/audio hallucination. It’s just past trauma resurfacing due to Pavlovian conditioning.

[@eeveefennecfox]

only cartoon haters will try to correct a cartoon expert

[@UndertakerU2ber]

@@eeveefennecfox ?????

[@rickmartinez3268]

Really dark stuff man

[@Dovwah]

given his fathers worst enemy keeps bullshitting his way back to life im willing to sympathize with damien here, death in the DC universe means nothing so everything is possible.

[@lordfreerealestate8302]

Robin also experienced the traumatic death of his parents as a child, and was brought into Batman's war on crime as a child. He has trauma outside of that, too.

[@HistorysRaven]

I'm glad they did, and I understand why they had to do with with a psychoactive powder, but I do wish they hadn't had such an easy hand wave to explain it off.

[@betawolfhd]

This was my favorite episode through the entire show

[@MichaelSpikes-pv6kl]

Excellent video review 😃

[@HipsterKhan]

This was before Slade came back as a literal undead emissary of Trigon, right? I'm pretty sure Slade was actually trying to get into Robin's head as an apparition.

[@yesno3621]

crazy how we went from one of the best shows on the network to one of the worst

[@Alina_the_Hedgehog]

Man Now I'm frustrated again that the German version of the show got cancelled

[@xgnik5334]

This episode threw me for a loop for years. Especially when some time later in the series Slade had come back from the dead. Made me think that before it was Slade's spirit haunting Robin until his eventual return.

[@DakotaofRaptors]

My great-grandmother's younger brother was sent to Vietnam when he was eighteen; about a year before he passed, he burned down his house and was subsequently put into a psyche ward. He wife and kids refused to speak with him in that span of time.

[@d1o2c3t4o5r]

Robin had the option to say that he doesn't know where Slade is, because he didn't even try to find him. It's over.

[@melaninqueen2413]

This episode aired when I was 4. I don't remember this episode, but I recently rewatched a lot of the Teen Titans episodes. I think the writers did this intentionally. I remember Raven saying, “I don’t know if he’s real or not, but he’s real to Robin and that’s all that matters", which ensues that Raven is aware of the traumatic effect Slade has had on Robin and in manifested into something surreal in his mind. This also means that Robin seeing Slade when no one else is able to see Slade, except for when Raven looked through his eyes, it makes it clear that Robin is suffering from some psychological issues from his past. PTSD is different for everyone suffering from it, but in Robins case, it's a bit severe. I also have a feeling that it's not just PTSD. At first, I thought maybe there is some truth Slade cloaking himself, but I also think it's a but deeper than just PTSD. Maybe Schizophrenia and or OCD, since Robin was constantly obsessed with capturing Slade and always looking over his shoulder, per se.

[@eksbocks9438]

I feel like Slade himself was a charicature of an abuser. All the tricks he played on the heroes make it pretty obvious. Which explains why Robin was going through this kind of stuff in the episode. It's just difficult for someone to re-adjust to society. After going through so much of it. Especially when the Adult World doesn't give them a break either. One day, the hero wins. The next day, it's straight back to work. Then add social media into the mix. Where people are always bragging about stuff the hero doesn't have. (Money, love, vacations, etc.)

[@DefConOnIt]

The only thing that got about this episode at the end. Cyborg says that somebody triggered Slade’s mask. So who did?

[@Retro-shru]

The position Robin has on the thumbnail makes him look goofy