In Defense of Teen Titans Go!

Of all the animated shows made this decade, Teen Titans Go is arguably the most divisive one of them all. People either really enjoy it or utterly despise it. In either case, people can't stop talking about it. I'm one of those people that thinks the show on it's own is actually pretty good. Not the best animated series on television, but definitely better than it's infamous reputation made it out to be. If I could have a few moments of your time, I'd like to talk about why I like Teen Titans Go despite its polarizing reception.

The first thing that people seemed put off by is it's 180° tonal shift from it's previous incarnation. While the 2003 Teen Titans show had it's silly moments, it was primarily focused on action and character drama. Teen Titans Go, meanwhile, squarely focuses on the comedy. I understand why people were critical towards this direction, but I'd argue TTG handles it's comedy very well. This is a personal taste, but I love slapstick humor and this show has that in spades. I also like how self-aware the show is for being goofy and nonsensical.

Another quality this show has going for it and something that's not often discussed is the voice acting. The talents of Scott Menville, Tara Strong, Greg Cipes, Khary Payton and Hayden Walch are utilized to their fullest potential and then some. In addition to having perfect chemistry with one another, they also breath new life into the characters they previously voiced before. I particularly like how the voice actors have the freedom to be as eccentric and over the top as possible while also selling the more heartfelt moments.

Then of course, there's the animation, which is fitting for the tone this show set. It's simple, yes, but it's very loose and fluid, not to mention bright and lively. Some of the best moments of the animation are the action scenes as well as during the musical segments. I particularly like the episodes where they change up the style of animation, such as the one with puppets or the most well received episode 40% 40% 20%.

Lastly, there are the characters themselves and how they're portrayed in the show. I understand many people's frustration with how thr characters are depicted; Robin being narcissistic, Cyborg being an obnoxious frat boy, Starfire being an airhead, all of these are understandable criticisms. That said, there's still some redeeming qualities to these characters. Robin is smart, athletic, a determined (if a bit over his head) leader and he can be helpful to his friend. Starfire is just so bubbly and optimistic to a fault and I especially like how she turns Robin's advances on her down gently. Cyborg is smart and fun while also being loyal and caring. Beast Boy is clearly the youngest, but he matures and sometimes shares real words of wisdom. Then there's Raven, the voice of reason. She's mainly deadpan and cynical, but there are times where she'll get in on the fun and silliness. 

Overall, there are legitimate criticisms with the show, but it's definitely not awful. On it's own it's a fun show with funny gags, good animation, great voice acting and solid action and musical numbers. True, it's silly and nonsensical, but that's the kind of show I like and many other do as well. It's perfectly fine if you don't particularly care for it, but constantly ragging on it isn't gonna make it go away anytime soon. My advice, talk about how much you like another show more than TTG. It'll be much better for you, trust me.