Spellbound

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Template:EpisodeInfoboxSeason3 "Spellbound" is the thirty-second episode of the Teen Titans series and the sixth episode of the third season.

Synopsis

Feelings as if no one truly understands, Raven starts to isolate herself from the team and wishes she could find someone who does understand her. Until she comes across Malchior, an incredibly powerful sorcerer trapped within one of her spellbooks. Claiming that only she can release him, Malchior starts to teach Raven the strongest of spells that will liberate him into the real world and soon Raven starts to fall in love with him. But Malchior is not everything he claims to be.

Plot

Raven reads the story of Malchior's titanic battle with the evil dragon Rorek. The story captivates Raven so much that she brooks no interruption, may it be due to an emergency (such as Kardiak trying to kidnap children from a playing ground) or her teammates trying to make her ease up. A remark by Beast Boy about her being "creepy" stings her, though, and she wishes that she could meet someone who could truly understand her and someone she could talk with. And to her immense surprise, the book responds.

"Go away!

The book introduces itself as Malchior the wizard, imprisoned within his own spellbook by Rorek the dragon's last evil curse just as he was being defeated himself. He proclaims to understand Raven and thus touches her heart. She tries to get him out of the spellbook, but with the magic she knows so far it proves impossible. As a result, Malchior teaches her his immense knowledge of magic, and step by step Raven manages to get the curse broken. At first she succeeds in giving Malchior a corporeal form of sorts with the pages of the spellbook as a "body." But in order to be truly free, she has to greatly increase her own magic all the more. As time passes, Raven begins to grow closer to Malchior than to anyone else before.

After a week, Raven finally comes out of her room wearing a white cloak, and seeming much happier than usual, humming to herself. Thanks to Beast Boy's snooping (mostly out of worry), the other Titans learn about Malchior's existence, but before they can ask more, Kardiak strikes again. Raven attempts to stop him once again, but she uses her new magical powers, which promptly go out of control, threatening to consume both Kardiak and his latest victim; and just in time, Beast Boy manages to prevent worse. Outraged, Raven confronts Malchior for having taught her dark magic, but again Malchior touches her heart by asking her whether she wants to be misunderstood and thus lonely once again.

Malcheior's true self

Raven performs the final ceremony which fully releases Malchior from the spellbook, but as Malchior is about to be released, Raven realizes -- to her shock and hurt -- that he has deceived and double-crossed her: having swapped their names in the book, it turns out that Malchior is, in fact, not the wizard, but the dragon! Before she can reverse the ritual, Malchior breaks free and flies out of Titans Tower.

Raven finding comfort with Beast Boy

The Titans try to stop him but fail against his might. Furious about this betrayal, Raven engages Malchior in one-on-one combat and manages to banish him back into the book, which she locks away; never to read again. The desolation in her heart is soon alleviated by Beast Boy, who makes her realize that she is not alone after all. She walks out of her room, and for the first time, embraces Beast Boy with heartfelt emotions.

Characters

Main Characters

• Raven
• Beast Boy

Supporting Characters

• Robin
• Starfire
• Cyborg

Villains

• Malchior
• Kardiak

Credits

• Written by:
  • David Slack

• Directed by:
  • Alex Soto

• Starring:
  • Greg Cipes as Beast Boy
  • Scott Menville as Robin
  • Khary Payton as Cyborg
  • Tara Strong as Raven
  • Hynden Walch as Starfire

• Also featuring:
  • Greg Ellis as Malchior (first appearance), Rorek (first appearance)
  • Dee Bradley Baker as Kardiak (first appearance)

Trivia

• As Cyborg and Beast Boy tries to invite Raven into a game of Stank ball, the background turns into two panels that resemble a typical home shopping channel.
  • The text in the yellow box states part of the theme song.
  • The words "Item 257-486" references the production code of this episode.
  • Two icons to the right resemble the logos of Visa and Mastercard.
  • There are Japanese text in the speech balloon which translates to "This guy talks!"
• As the book flips through the pages by itself for the first time, the text appear to be similar on all pages.
• In this episode, the 'Bank of China Tower' from Hong Kong could be seen in the Jump City skyline.
• If you listen closely, when Beast Boy is hit with the Stank Ball, it sounds as if a fart was let loose.
  • Cyborg once again ruins a tender moment, further emphasizing his role as the third wheel.
• Kardiak's design shares similarities with the Dark Heart from the show Justice League Unlimited. Both also utilize nanoscopic technology
• This is the first time Raven is seen crying, for not wanting to be alone.
• It's rather odd that Raven thinks that the Titans don't like her, as she and Starfire bonded back in "Switched", Cyborg over the T-Car In "Car Trouble",and with Beast Boy back in "Nevermore".
• This episode strongly hints throughout that Raven and Beast Boy have feelings for each other, as obvious when Raven hugs Beast Boy.

Continuity

• This episode marks the first episode that shows true affection between Beast Boy and Raven. At the end of the episode, Beast Boy ensures Raven that she is neither creepy or alone because she has him, and the rest of the Titans. Raven throws her arms around him in a tight, sincere hug which surprises him. Though their moment is interrupted by Cyborg who knocks Beast Boy off his feet with the stankball.
• The way Raven's cloak changes back to a blackish purple from white suggests that it changes color based on her mood. As she bonded with "Malchior/Rorek" her cloak got lighter until it reached white. At the end of the episode, because she is mourning and is feeling sad and angry, it changes back to a blackish purple.

Errors

• If you look extremely closely, you can see that when Beast Boy was struck by the Stank Ball, it appeared through Raven's head instead of offscreen. This was likely due to the result of an animation error.
• As Raven boards the T-car, the vehicle was missing its roof.
• After the fireworks scene, the screen dissolves to the Titans Tower in daytime. However the next shot would show the Titans' ops room at night.

Gallery

Click here to view the gallery.

See also

Spellbound (Transcript)