HBO Max’s Titans and Doom Patrol, both currently in their fourth seasons, are done at HBO Max. This news is disappointing but not hugely surprising, given all the change at DC Studios of late. If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that—according to Variety—”both productions were aware that these would be their final seasons some time ago and thus both will have definitive endings.”
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The two live-action DC series both began life on the no-longer-in-existence DC Universe streaming platform (also the original home of the animated Harley Quinn), and moved to HBO Max at the start of their third seasons. Both were also produced by Berlanti Productions, the company of Greg Berlanti, who created The CW’s now mostly-over lineup of DC shows.
The same person who told Variety that both shows would have definite endings also noted that “these decisions were not part of the infamous cost-cutting decisions undertaken since the Warner Bros.-Discovery merger under David Zaslav that has seen a number of projects scrapped.” So, in short, they didn’t get Batgirled; it was just their time.
Titans presented itself as a more gritty, “edgy” version of DC’s Teen Titans, and was not met with universally glowing reviews—though it may have found its footing as it continued. Doom Patrol is an underrated, under-watched gem with an incredible cast and perfect mastery of a tone that’s both bizarre and heartfelt. Come for Brendan Fraser; stay for Dianne Guerrero’s brilliant array of characters. (And also for Michelle Gomez.)
The announcement of both shows’ cancellations did not say anything about whether they will stay on HBO Max, which has been removing various series which may or may not appear on other networks later. So maybe watch ’em now if you’ve been meaning to?