How Titans’ Jason Todd Changes Support Scarecrow Theory

Jason Todd’s drastic transformation in Titans season 3 is ridiculous, but rather than a plot hole, his rapid evolution proves his theorized ties to Scarecrow. Titans season 3 boldly opens with the death of Jason Todd, beaten to death with a crowbar by The Joker à la DC’s “Death in the Family” storyline. Dick Grayson barely has time to brood before Todd returns under the new, villainous guise of Red Hood, and it rapidly becomes clear that he isn’t working alone. Several contenders were in the frame, but Titans season 3’s fourth episode reveals Jason Todd’s co-conspirator is none other than Scarecrow.

Putting on a new mask is one thing, but Jason Todd is a totally different character in Titans season 3. Red Hood is more physically formidable that Jason ever was as Robin, and he even gets the better of Nightwing. As a student of Bruce Wayne, Jason has always been tough in Titans, but he’s now a one-man wrecking crew, with no clear explanation as to how. Jason’s suddenly a tactical genius too. His expertly executed attack on Hank was a strategic masterstroke, identifying the group’s weakness, luring Hank, then having the cunning to make Dawn pull the trigger. Jason Todd previously had one mode in Titans – charge in head first. Red Hood easily outwitting his former teammates using chess moves and bird names is extremely out of character. And in addition to growing stronger and smarter, Jason is also cooking up advanced chemicals and modifying state of the art Wayne Enterprises weaponry.

At face value, Jason Todd’s overnight glow-up is a glaring Titans season 3 plot hole. The boy who famously spent his evenings browsing pornography on the Bat-computer was dead for 5 minutes, now he’s suddenly Batman. In retrospect, however, Jason’s insta-growth serves as a glaring sign of Scarecrow’s involvement. The fear drug, the anti-Titan tactics, the chess-themed treasure hunt and Hank’s gruesome death – all can now be attributed to Jonathan Crane who, unlike Jason Todd, is a well-established genius in Batman mythology. The connection was already a popular theory following Titans season 3’s opening trio of episodes, but the inconsistencies in Jason’s personality were pointing directly to Crane right from the beginning.

With that said, Jason’s new skills are still a stretch. Titans season 3 might’ve confirmed Red Hood and Scarecrow were always in cahoots, but Gotham City’s sinister stoner was locked up in Arkham Asylum that entire time. There’s only so much Crane could’ve done for Red Hood’s schemes while behind bars. Even with Scarecrow’s guidance, Jason built the bombs, brewed the drugs, organized the Joker-esque bank robbery switcheroo – all of which required skills that Curran Walters’ character never once demonstrated as Titans‘ foul-mouthed Boy Wonder in previous seasons. Not to mention Scarecrow has no influence at all on Red Hood’s suspiciously-improved fighting ability.

Jason Todd’s Titans season 3 overhaul could perhaps be considered a narrative convenience. If Red Hood was just Robin in better clothes, he wouldn’t pose much of a challenge to Titans‘ heroes. Dick Grayson alone has asserted superiority over his successor on numerous occasions. But by making Jason Todd punch harder and think smarter, he becomes a worthy big bad for Titans season 3.

And yet the uncanny gulf between Jason as Robin and Jason as Red Hood still isn’t a full-blown plot hole. With Nightwing, Titans showed the positive effect a well-timed costume change can have on a superhero. As soon as Dick Grayson swapped the red and green for the black and blue, he transformed into a capable leader and a better fighter who could suddenly outmatch Deathstroke. Embracing a new persona apparently allowed Dick to unleash potential that was already present inside him… perhaps the same happened when Jason Todd became Red Hood. Combined with behind-the-scenes influence from Scarecrow, this would certainly explain why he bears zero resemblance to the Jason of past seasons.

About The Author

Craig Elvy
(3635 Articles Published)

Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig’s interest soon turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own.
Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS.

Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer.
Jim Carrey is Craig’s top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy.

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