REVIEWS

Episode #33 - Revolution Original Airdate - October 16th, 2004 The Titans Fourth of July festivities are cut short when Mad Mod crashes the party, declaring the American Revolution a hoax and reclaiming the city for Jolly Old England. If that wasn't enough, old Mod uses his high-tech cane to steal Robin's youth, making "King Moddie" young again, while Robin turns into a withered, dried-up old man. Reviews by Amazing Spidey, Bird Boy Media by Bird Boy

Titans Writers Written by John Esposito Directed by Michael Chang Producer Glen Murakami Producers Linda M. Steiner, David Slack Music by Kristopher Carter Casting and Voice Direction Andrea Romano Animation Services by Dongwoo Animation Co., LTD. Titans Voices Greg Cipes as Beast Boy Scott Menville as Robin Khary Payton as Cyborg Tara Strong as Raven Hynden Walch as Starfire Malcolm McDowell as Mad Mod "Fourth of July Parade" Written, Produced and Performed by Andy Strumer

Screen Grabs Additional HD Images Pans

Commentary Review Bird Boy (BB): Hello, this is Bird Boy, a resident of the USA, and with me is... Amazing Spidey (AS): Amazing Spidey, England's favorite son. AS: Bird Boy and myself work on The World's Finest Teen Titans site together. I write the reviews, and Bird Boy creates the media, such as screen grabs and sound bytes BB: The whole point behind this is because, since the episode involved both countries, and I had a momentary brain fart, I thought this would be a cool thing to do BB: Now, as an American viewer I found the episode hilarious. What exactly was it that you didn't like, AS? AS: I found that the jokes were ridden with clichés, the same types of jokes I hear all too often BB: Are they clichés, or just what Brit's are known for? Or is Mad Mod himself a giant cliché/stereotype AS: I'm aware they were poking fun at us, it wasn't distasteful, it simply wasn't very funny. It's been done before, and it's been done better. AS: Mad Mod is a British stereotype, simple as that. The ginger sideburns and bad accent are common when British people are depicted in American television BB: Been done better in British or American television? AS: Both AS: Austin Powers would be a great example. They make fun of Austin's British teeth, but it's done in an amusing way BB: What were the main qualms with the episode though? In terms of the clichés? The only thing I really picked up on was the Cookie/Biscuit thing, the Beast Boy thing, Monty Python and Beatles... AS: People seem to think Monty Python and The Beatles are the only good thing to come from Britain. Lest we forget the likes of The Stone Roses and The Office BB: I know I have BB: In fact, aside from very brief instances, I've heard of neither BB: So, British stereotypes aside, how was the episode? AS: It doesn't compare to other Teen Titans episodes BB: I love the backgrounds on it--it felt sort of like the video game Viewtiful Joe. Though the constant British flag got on my nerves after awhile (mainly due to the fact I did nineteen pans and almost all of them had it in the background). AS: I prefer the Robin episodes, but some of the more humor orientated episodes have been far better than this. AS: The backgrounds weren't typical of England, they were a little too old fashioned, but it's not something which irritated me BB: Yeah, Robin's episodes are good, but I'm getting tired of the Slade angle. Hopefully his future episodes either delve into his relationship with Starfire (FANSQUEEL: they hugged in this episode! But where was the Raven/Beast Boy love? Oh noez!)... BB: but, enough about Robin, the main focus of this episode...well damn, there was no real focus. I guess it was about Titans/America's unity whereas Britain just comes in and kicks everyone’s butts? I don't really know. I don't think there was a message... AS: I would like to see Slade concluded. Haunted left a lot of angles for further exploration, but I too would prefer to see something happen between Robin and Starfire AS: I didn't see one. AS: What jokes did you find funniest? BB: I thought some of the British stuff was rather humorous, to be honest. Beast Boy's laughable accent--though that armpit farting Starfire did... BB: and Gerbils! What a great idea... AS: I actually found Beast Boy to be pretty funny in the episode, which is strange, as I can't stand Beast Boy. His accent was laughably bad, but it wAS supposed to be. One of the better jokes. AS: The funniest joke was undoubtedly when he got hypnotized again AS: great stuff BB: I dunno, that was sort of redundant. As soon as that hit, I thought we were gonna relapse into the last Mad Mod appearance AS: Then again, I loved Mad Mod BB: Though the fact they only used it once was great AS: I thought it was nice and quick. If he had kept doing it, then yeah, it's simply treading over old ground BB: I was laughing uncontrollably at the Monty Python thing. What was that whole foot-squish fart thing about? I was quite in the fit of giggles on that one too AS: I've never seen Monty Python. I've been told I can't legally declare myself a Brit until I do though... AS: Damn you SJJ BB: That...wow I think we should end the conversation here then BB: You're the second person I've talked to that hasn't seen it AS: I've been told I'm missing out AS: Same with Star Wars BB: You are. Go get the Holy Grail BB: This episode did follow the last ones formula quite a lot though BB: We got another music video section in it again. AS: The chase sequence BB: Yeah BB: was interesting to see the team operate without Robin though BB: Obviously Starfire didn't know what to do without him, since that was her only plan--to free him so he could formulate a plan. AS: Different personalities, why they work so well together AS: It also gave us some interesting alternatives. At one point, Starfire is leading the time. Never happened before AS: All that was missing was her shouting TEEN TITANS GO! BB: Does Robin even shout that in the cartoon? BB: All I ever recall is "Titans GO!" BB: or maybe my minds cloudy. I know it's said all the time in the comic adaptation though AS: You're right AS: I haven't heard him do it in a while ever AS: I don't read the comic BB: I think the last time I heard it was "Aftershock". Forget which episode AS: Yeah, "Aftershock" was pretty forgettable AS: XD BB: I thought that was the one you were all excited over AS: no AS: I didn't really care about Terra AS: I liked "Titan Rising" BB: ah. All righty then...I guess I'm not alone in not liking that story so much then BB: The major qualms I have with the fan community of this show is the massive love of Terra and anything relating to love triangles. The only tolerable one is Robin/Starfire...and that can be taken too far sometimes BB: but I digress... AS: Like "OMG, Raven smiled at Beast Boy. ROMANCE!" BB: Pretty much, yeah... BB: At least there was none of this in "Revolution". Aside from the hug from Starfire BB: But that was expected BB: I'm sure you'd barrel into your significant other if he/she was turned into an old person too AS: Well yeah, she quite clearly adores Robin BB: Does she love Robin for Robin or for his looks? Oh the questions abound... BB: Would've been interesting if Robin wasn't turned back to normal BB: to see the team operate without him for awhile AS: not really BB: Then again, the series has never really carried any sense of bridge between episodes, aside from Terra and Slade AS: true BB: We have yet to see Brother Blood again, though I'm sure we will AS: networks aren't fond of season long storyline BB: Actually I know we will, I read all the episode descriptions AS: Not missing much BB: Yeah BB: Come to think of it, BTAS never had anything ever tie into each other either AS: This season is supposed to be Cyborg's right? AS: I don't think they were interested BB: The first time we ever saw anything overlap was TNBA/STAS/BB/JL/JLU AS: it wasn't until X-Men came along were anyone was BB: I don't know if this is supposed to be Cyborg's season--it may very well be BB: Well, any closing thoughts on the episode? That you didn't touch upon in your review anyway... BB: I thought it was another fun romp--I enjoy these nonsense episodes more than the serious ones, most of the time. BB: "Fractured" still reigns in as the weirdest episode of Titans yet, I think... AS: Weird can be good AS: I know it's a kids cartoon, but kid’s cartoons can be enjoyable BB: Anything that Cartoon Network has done in the "children’s cartoon" range has always had the ability to be enjoyed by everyone, I think BB: And with that, we'll let the readers (assuming anyone read down this far) go look at the media from this episode. Any closing comments? AS: not really BB: Insightful as always BB: Later everyone! AS: Bye Bye. BB: [Remove Later] End BB: well that was somewhat entertaining AS: I want to end it differently BB: tough [bleep] AS: we should plug the site AS: tongue in cheek like BB: they're at the website already… BB: What the hell, this things still running

[ Back to Reviews ]