Teen Titans – Review: Mad Mod

The Titans awake to find themselves captured as prisoners of Mad Mod, a madcap bad guy in a psychedelic suit. Mad Mod has decided to teach the teens a lesson, creating a massive mind-bending school full of optical illusions and brain-washing hypno-screens. Will the Titans be “re-educated” and lose their minds in the process?

Review by Bird Boy
Media by Bird Boy

Titans Voices
Greg Cipes as Beast Boy
Scott Menville as Robin
Khary Payton as Cyborg
Tara Strong as Raven
Hynden Walch as Starfire
Malcom McDowell as Mad Mod

The song during the chase sequence was called "K2G". Written by
Andy Strumer, and Puffy Amiyumi, Produced by Andy Strumer and performed by
Puffy Amiyumi.

The positive feedback this episode has gotten astounds me. I did not like “Mad Mod” AT ALL. I think it is the weakest episode of Teen Titans yet and served as nothing more than a “look at how freaky we can be” instance. The humor was dull, the Titans were practically automated robots, and the constant black-and-white swirls were just plain annoying. One gets the strong impression that the minds behind “Mad Mod” were under the influence of some powerful drugs. Nothing else could explain the random and un-funny scenes which were stringed together to make this. An episode of the
Powerpuff Girls has loads more interest and intelligence than this installment.

“Mad Mod” doesn’t even bother to give you an introduction or backstory.
There are certainly times when dropping the viewer in the middle of the action is a good idea, but with the lack of plot or substance throughout, it’s just another example of the creators being lazy. Why has Mad Mod kidnapped the Titans? Because they’re “bratty do-gooders” of course. Isn’t that reason enough? Apparently, the viewers shouldn’t exercise that organ referred to as the brain when watching cartoons.

Robin was the deus ex machina element to this episode. He just happens to have a key that fits his locks…he just happens to be there in time to save
Starfire (ever notice he’s the only one who does?)…he just happens to fall through the tear Starfire inadvertently made in the funhouse. This isn’t the job of a superhero. It requires someone with dumb luck.

Starfire is increasingly annoying with her attempts to make Beast Boy laugh.
Cyborg takes the role of the idiotic jester since Beast Boy is out of commission for most of the time. As for Beast Boy himself, this is the most insulting episode to his character. Not only was he made out to be the only one weak-minded enough to fall under hypnosis, but his sense of humor now appreciates such words as “boogers” and “beeeeeeeeeeelch.” Hilarious, I’m sure.

Raven might as well have not been there.

To further the drug theory, there is a Scooby-Doo reference. However, even the most yawn-inducing episode of Scooby-Doo is more interesting and coherent than this mess. The song that plays during the chase is nice and upbeat, but nothing memorable. They also manage to recycle every single over-used and cliché “funhouse chase” technique.

Mad Mod is the central problem. It’s fine and good when a one-dimensional, slapstick villain shows up for a cameo or supporting role (Mumbo was a good example). But basing an entire episode around one leads to nothing but awfulness. If he never shows up again, it’ll be too soon.

One star. And I don’t think I’m being harsh or unfair at all.