Episode 45: TROQ
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Cyborg: "TROQ? What does that mean?"
Starfire: "It means nothing."
Originally aired: May 9th, 2005
Written by Amy Wolfram
Directed by Michael Chang


A brave hero from outer space called Val-Yor comes to Earth, and asks for the Titans help in defeating an otherworldly menace known as The Locrix. But according to Val-Yor, Starfire may be the real problem ...


Stephen Root as Val-Yor


Stephen Root - voice of Val-Yor - also provides the voice of Bill on "King of the Hill." Root also starred as Jimmy James on the NBC sitcom, "Newsradio" and appeared in the movie "Office Space."
When the Titans hear a loud rumbling noise, one of the Titans guesses, "Giant worms?" - a reference to events in the episode, TITAN RISING.


In DC Comics, there was a great hero from the planet of Daxam known as Valor. He bears no relationship to Val-Yor except for the similarity in name only.

When Starfire returns from space, her hair is puffed out; Starfire's original comic book design featured a large, giant mane of hair.

For more information on the comic book versions of the characters - including many images - visit titanstower.com's meeting room page.


This episode harkened back to the first season. In season one, the series often used superheroic allegories to illustrate a life lesson for the viewers.

In TROQ Starfire gets a taste of subtle racism from a blustering space hero. The episode earns some respect for not taking a hammer-over-the-head approach. Val-Yor is an honest-to-goodness space hero. He's heroic. He's brave. He's also a racist. But his racism is something that does not become apparent immediately.

And using Starfire as his target is an interesting move. Cyborg - the African American member - could have been chosen as well. There is even a scene between Cyborg and Starfire discussing racism. Cyborg admits he has been a victim of it himself. Surprisingly, he cites his half-robotic form as the reason he had been prejudged in the past. It's like Cyborg's black-ness simply isn't a factor in the TEEN TITNANS universe.

The episode also had some inventive super-deformed reaction shots and frames. A solid outing that reminded me of those old days of season one. Grade: B

 




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