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"Whatever you're planning, Slade, it's over!"
"On the contrary, Robin... it's just begun"
- Robin and Slade confront each otherOriginally aired: Sept. 20, 2003 Written by Tom Pugsley, Greg Klein
Directed by Michael Chang
Slade sends a team of robotic commandos to steal a high-tech chip. The Titans stop the robbery, but Starfire nearly gets hurt in the process. So Robin becomes more determined than ever to find out who Slade is -- and what he's planning. But while Robin is obsessively researching his arch-nemesis, a mysterious new bad guy called Red X tries to steal the same chip.With Robin following a Slade lead on the other side of town, the four other Titans try to stop Red X. But the mysterious masked villain seems to know just how to disable each of them. Matters get even worse, when Red X makes contact with Slade -- and suggests a partnership. Will the four Titans be able to stop Red X? Will Robin solve the mystery of Slade? Or does another unexpected surprise await them all?
Ron Perlman as Slade
This episode furthers the Slade arc and sets up the 2-part first season finale, APPRENTICE.
Producer/Story Editor David Slack on MASKS: "MASKS was a turning point. I think I said early on, Cartoon Network asked us to do something you rarely get asked to do; We were asked to take risks. Sam said "I want you to do things you're not supposed to do." So there are things that don't normally happen in kids' cartoon shows - such as the way Starfire leaves Robin at the end. She's basically saying, "You disappointed me. You screwed up." ""[...] Yeah. I really like that episode. And we've since found a way to bring Red X back."
Producer/Story Editor David Slack on developing Slade: "Originally, we weren't envisioning [Slade] to be as scary as he later became. For someone who writes kids cartoons, I have a surprisingly dark sensibility. I've told Sam [Register] and Glen [Murakami] a number of times: I'll go as dark as you let me; Just tell me when I'm getting too scary."
"Originally, we didn't even know we would do an arc with Slade. We just decided Slade would be behind everything. He'd be our Dr. Claw [from "Inspector Gadget"]. But after looking a few episodes, we decided we were teasing something. And if we didn't pay it off, we were going to disappoint a lot of people. That's when we got into the psychology of Slade. We had a really hard time figuring out how MASKS and APPRENTICE were going to work. We went down a lot of blind alleys and dead ends - trying to find something that fit. It was actually Bruce Timm who helped us make the breakthrough on that one."
In the comics, Slade [aka Deathstroke The Terminator] respected Robin more than any other Titan. Also, Robin would often shut out Starfire when he became consumed with a case.For more information on the comic book versions of the characters - including many images - visit titanstower.com's meeting room page.
A turning point for the series.Yes, this series can go to its dark little corner and stay there for a bit. And yes, the main characters can make mistakes in judgment, And no, we don't have to end the episode tied up in a neat little bow.
This episode really proved the show can handle some complex stories as well as telling comedic simple ones. I remember watching "Battle of the Planets", and one thing that irked me was that Mark - their leader - was infallible. If he had a theory or a plan, it was always the right one. So seeing Robin make a serious misstep made me applaud the courage of the staff behind the series. It throws the viewer for a loop... Robin messed up. And his friends don't entirely forgive him. The punch in the gut is worse than any beating from Slade.
We also get 100% Slade. And Ron Perlman drips with menace in the role. Plus, the introduction of Red X - who proves even more of a mystery in season three.
A pivotal episode - in plot and theme. Grade: A