As the third season of Titans on HBO Max opened, we knew things were going to be dark and deadly for our team of superheroes. But after the reveal that Jason Todd was not actually dead, but was instead the newest villain in town – Red Hood – we weren’t exactly sure how deadly it would get.
Now we know and it’s hard to imagine a show without Hank/Hawk. But what really stood out in the third episode titled Hank and Dove was the fact that as soon as we knew time might be running out for our hero, it was actually Krypto who was always at his side.
While everyone else was trying their best to save Hank, leaving him alone in a bed with a beeping machine at his side (with occasional visitors and an intense scene with Dawn), it was actually Krypto who was with Hank until the very end. And we mean that both literally and figuratively.
Of all the Titans, Krypto might be the most under utilized. He is a dog after all. He doesn’t exactly talk, even if he does have his own super powers. Often it feels like he understands what everyone is saying to him and asking him, and that’s great, but we don’t get nearly enough of him on our screens or see nearly enough interactions with him. But that all changed on Titans when it was Hank and Krypto until the bitter end.
Titans kills off Hawk and lets Krypto shine as his emotional support
Usually when we see Krypto he is with either the entire Titans team or alongside Conner/Superboy. But in episode 3, it is clear that he knew that someone else on his team needed him. And right up until the very end, Krypto remained with Hank.
Perhaps the most devastating aspect of this episode is the fact that Krypto literally sat with Hank until the bomb in his chest exploded, but that as he walked out of the fire and smoke, his first instinct was to go to Conner and lick at his hand. It was like a moment of support and comfort for both of them.
It’s tragic to see how Jason has played all of these people who he once worked side by side with and turned into a true villain the likes of which the Titans have never faced before. Unlike other villains, this is a person they once worked with. This is their former teammate. And knowing that a member of the Titans is down because of someone else on the team is going to be hard to come back from for everyone.
By the end of the episode, it became clear that Krypto is more than just a superdog or a superhero, he is a support for this team. He will be at the side of whichever member of the Titans needs him. And we can all appreciate the fact that in this case, Hank was never alone because Krypto was there for him.
What did you think of this episode of Titans? Were you surprised by what happened and that death? What did you think of how much Krypto we got in this episode after so many episodes without really seeing him? We want to know.