Why Titans’ Edgy Tone Means It Should Officially Be Part of the DCEU

Titans is renowned for its edgy tone and that’s exactly what would make it the perfect fit for the DCEU. The very first show produced by the DC Universe streaming service, it debuted a little over two years ago but its inherently dark approach to its source material made it a rather divisive offering from the get-go. And yet, darkness is something that goes hand-in-hand with DC productions, with many of the company’s big-screen offerings adopting a similar tone – one of the many reasons that Titans actually belongs in the DCEU.

It’s true that Titans has received some criticism from audiences for what they perceive as the show trying too hard to be edgy. This all started back when the first trailer arrived as it featured that now-infamous clip in which Robin exclaimed “F*ck Batman!” Is this the result of the show being on an uncensored streaming service? Perhaps. But, again, a mature DC Comics property is hardly surprising, especially now that we know The Dark Knight himself will be venting his own uncensored frustrations on film in Zack Snyder’s Justice League and with 2019’s R-rated Joker.

Snyder himself has confirmed that Ben Affleck’s Batman will be using the word “f*ck” at some point in the much-anticipated Snyder Cut and, though the announcement was questioned by some, there wasn’t as much shock at the notion of Batman swearing. That could have something to do with the fact that it might seem more believable coming from the hardened veteran crime-fighter or maybe it’s just down to the fact that he won’t be using it in the same context as Robin, but the truth it’s really just more evidence to suggest the two properties actually belong in the same universe. Titans often feels more like the dark-and-gritty DCEU than the DCEU does.

As for how that could happen, the multiverse is undoubtedly the answer. The Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover confirmed that Titans is an Arrowverse-adjacent property, existing on Earth-9, but it never referenced the DCEU. However, we now know the DCEU could be tackling the multiverse in some form or another in The Flash, so that could be the key to bringing the Titans to that universe.

Regardless of how it could happen, the truth is that it should happen because the DCEU and Titans‘ similarities outweigh their differences. They were both initially criticized for being too grim, with some going as far as to say that it’s hard to enjoy them because of how gloomy, mature and unnecessarily violent they are. However, they also softened their edgy approaches a little over time, making for a somewhat more balanced viewing experience – even if both still had varying degrees of success with it. Snyder’s approach to the DCEU’s Justice League, however, is further proof that these two edgy DC franchises are indeed well-matched and Titans should be part of it.