Barbara Gordon (episode)

*For the eponymous character, see Barbara Gordon.*

## "Barbara Gordon"

"*When Jason left the Titans to return to Gotham he was alone and angry, and I get that, but... Dick was hoping he figured things out with Bruce but he never did. He clearly just kept making the same mistakes over and over, and it finally got him killed. Jason never evolved. He never grew past his own worst instincts. Don't let that happen to you. Keep learning. Keep growing. First Donna and now Jason. I'm sick of losing people.*"
—Koriand'r
"**Barbara Gordon**" is the first episode of the third season of *Titans*, and the twenty-fifth episode overall. It premiered on HBO Max on August 12, 2021.

## Synopsis

Desperate to leave his mark, Jason Todd confronts the Joker once and for all. But when fatal consequences ensue, Dick Grayson is forced to step away from the Titans and return to Gotham City.

## Cast

### Starring

* Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson/Nightwing
* Mame-Anna Diop as Koriand'r/Kory Anders/Starfire
* Ryan Potter as Gar Logan
* Curran Walters as Jason Todd/Robin
* Joshua Orpin as Conner/Superboy
* Savannah Welch as Commissioner Barbara Gordon

### Guest starring

* Jay Lycurgo as Tim Drake
* McKinley Freeman as Dr. Justin Cole

### Co-starring

* Dov Tiefenbach as Gizmo
* Ryan Allen as Jack Drake
* Chantria Tram as Janet Drake
* Vinson Tran as Stephen Chen
* Danny Waugh as Detective Jones
* Sangita Patel as San Francisco Reporter #1
* Robin Schisler as SFPD Officer #1
* Graham Parkhurst as SFPD Officer #2
* Marco Timpano as WGCN Reporter #1
* Joe Matheson as Street Cop #1
* Nabil Khatib as Street Cop #2
* Dylan Rampulla as Drug Dealer

## Trivia

* Starting with this episode, elements of two iconic Batman storylines, *A Death in the Family* and *The Killing Joke*, are used, as well as *Batman* #436.
* Barbara Gordon makes her debut in this episode, taking her late father's mantle as police commissioner much like her animated counterpart in *Batman Beyond*. Also, in line with the comics, it is revealed that she once operated as Batgirl before being shot by the Joker, leaving her wheelchair-bound.
* During the first scene of the episode, an officer named Alvarez is mentioned as being one of the cops injured by the Joker following his breakout. In the DC comics, Carlos Alvarez is a detective in the Gotham City Police Department who is mostly known for his association to Catwoman.
* The Titans are seen at Dayton Labs, where they battle Gizmo and his men for the virus known as the Clench.
	+ Dayton Labs is a company owned by Steve Dayton in the comics, a member of the Doom Patrol under the name Mento and frequent ally of the Teen Titans.
	+ In the comics, Gizmo is a member of the long-standing Teen Titans supervillain group, the Fearsome Five, where he is a genius inventor with dwarfism.
	+ The Clench is a virus which, in the comics, was created by the Order of St. Dumas and unleashed upon Gotham City in the Batman storyline *Contagion*.
* Conner is seen wearing a leather jacket, an homage to his iconic nineties look from the comics.
* The Titans are seen being interviewed by WGCN, a news broadcasting company often seen in *Batman* comics.
* Tim Drake, as well his parents Jack and Janet, make their debut in this episode. Tim is depicted as a fan of Batman and Robin, a nod to his comics counterpart who goes on to become the third Robin following Jason Todd's death.
* A newspaper from the *Gotham Times* is seen. In the comics, the Gotham Times is a newspaper publisher, having also appeared in many *Batman* media.
* The entrance to the Batcave is revealed to be a grandfather clock, much like the 1943 *Batman* serial and subsequent comics.
* It is revealed that Batman allies Alfred Pennyworth and Jim Gordon are both deceased in present day.
	+ In Alfred's case, he likely died during the events of Season 2 or between both 2 and 3, as he was last mentioned as alive in "Trigon".
	+ In Jim's case, it is revealed that he was frozen by Mr. Freeze and died of a subsequent heart attack.
* The scene where Dick confronts Bruce about Jason's death is adapted from *New Titans* #55 (June, 1989). Furthermore, Dick ends up missing Jason's funeral, which is also seen in this episode.
* Shortly after Jason Todd's death at the hands of the Joker, Bruce Wayne is revealed to have a shortlist of possible successors, all of whom originate from the comics as follows:
	+ Carrie Kelley, who in the comics becomes Robin in the universe of *The Dark Knight Returns*. This version is seen sporting black-rimmed square glasses and ginger hair, like her comics counterpart.
	+ Daxton Chill, who in the comics becomes known as a member of the We Are Robin movement under the name DaxAtax. In contrast to his comics counterpart, Daxton does not sport a mohawk.
	+ Stephanie Brown, who in the comics is the daughter and foil of the Batman supervillain Cluemaster. Beginning her vigilante career as Spoiler, she later became Robin after the brief retirement of Tim Drake.
	+ Duke Thomas, who in the comics led the aforementioned We Are Robin movement as Robin before discovering his metahuman abilities and becoming The Signal.
* When Dick Grayson enters the Batcave, a number of trophies are seen, alluding to various iconic Batman villains and adventures:
	+ A near-full size dinosaur. In the comics, the dinosaur is a mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex and was taken from Dinosaur Island. In contrast to the comics, this version is a hologram.
	+ A giant penny. In the comics, the giant penny is a trophy taken from the Penny Plunderer. Much like the dinosaur, this version is also a hologram, unlike the comics.
	+ A giant Joker playing card. In the comics, the giant playing card came from a confrontation with the Joker, though this version is also depicted as a hologram in juxtaposition to the comics.
	+ Penguin's umbrella, which is one of the primary weapons of choice for the villain in the comics. In addition, the umbrella sports the same look as the one used by Danny Devito's Penguin in *Batman Returns* (1992).
	+ The gun used to kill Bruce Wayne's parents. In the comics, it was used by Joe Chill, for varying reasons depending on the continuity.
	+ A mallet which, in the comics, belongs to Harley Quinn.
	+ A top hat, which belongs to Mad Hatter in the comics.