TEEN TITANS GO! “Driver’s Ed”/”Dog Hand” Review

By Nathan Mark on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

I wonder which is more of a pain for people: taking your driver’s education course, or an unhappy family reunion? Actually, both happen in this week’s Teen Titans Go! Spoilers ahead!!

In the first segment, Driver’s Ed, Robin (Scott Menville) decides to finally get his driver’s license after his friends get annoyed with having to drive him around at his every whim. Unfortunately, Robin unknowingly ends up becoming the getaway driver of a criminal (Jeff Bennett).

Driver’s Ed is srz biznes.

In the second segment, Dog Hand, Raven (Tara Strong) is annoyed because her father, Trigon (Kevin Michael Richardson), is coming for a little family visit. Despite Raven’s warnings, the other Titans really like him. Of course, the fact that Trigon gives them powers probably helps.

The first segment has some pretty funny moments. Robin, a little too zealous for his own good, is given life by Menville. Menville gives 110% of his energy as Robin, and it shows. And the small details are nice; the Batmobile appears in one shot, and Hocus Pocus is apparently performing at one of the places that gets robbed. I also liked how Robin wasn’t as dumb as he seemed; in a plot twist, we discover that Robin always knew that the driving instructor was a phony. The ending might be a tad…dark for some people, and arguably out-of-character for Robin. Oh, and some of the actual driving scenes drag out.

The second segment isn’t quite as funny, but not for lack of trying. The episode tries to replicate the sitcom formula (notice the laugh track), which I didn’t care for. It worked in Scooby-Doo, but not here. Kevin Michael Richardson reprises the role of Trigon from the original series, and its nice hearing him ham it up. Unfortunately, Trigon and the Titans all end up looking like idiots once more. The climatic fight is lame and unfunny.

In summary: the first segment is funny, and the second less so. I guess they balance out. But like last week, nothing really awful. Oh, and look out for the Benny Hill remix!