Artful Dodgers

Artful Dodgers is an episode of Teen Titans Go! Season 1.

Summary
The Titans confidently expect to win an upcoming dodge ball championship, even though the only thing they ever practice is their victory dance. Then they come up against an unbeatable dodge ball team – the H.I.V.E Fivers!

Plot
The episode starts out with the H.I.V.E. Five robbing a bank and the Titans confronting them. Gizmo gives the Titans a choice, stop the H.I.V.E. or save civilians from blowing up. The Titans say this isn't fair, but the H.I.V.E. says they don't care. The Titans point out that cheating is wrong and end up both stopping the H.I.V.E. and saving the civilians.

Back at the Tower, the Titans prepare for the upcoming dodgeball tournament by practicing their victory dance. They reflect on last year how they destroyed the competition (which was made up of much younger, non-super powered kids including the Little Girl). Then Raven and Starfire wonder why they won't be playing. Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy explain it's because Raven had demonically eaten the competition last year after she got hit and Starfire ate the dodgeballs. However, they will let them help out with their intro song and be cheerleaders on the bench.

The Titans enter the dodgeball arena with Starfire and Raven introducing them. As the Titans are overconfident and ready to play, they see that their opponents are the H.I.V.E. Five with See-More and Billy Numerous on the sidelines. The Titans are still confident they'll win. However, the H.I.V.E. destroys them in a matter of seconds. The Titans are annoyed by this because they apparently never lose.

Annoyed by this, the Titans confront the H.I.V.E. Five again as they're robbing a bank. They don't want to stop them (at least not yet), they just want a rematch, with Starfire and Raven still on the sidelines. Again, the Titans are destroyed by the H.I.V.E. in a matter of seconds. The Titans are even more annoyed that they've been beaten twice now. They even consider actually practicing, but think that would be too much work. Robin decides that they will resort to cheating which all the Titans agree with after a brief argument. Their form of cheating involved using their powers to enhance their dodgeball skills. They easily defeat teams consisting of Dr. Light and Cinderblock.

Then the Titans go up against the H.I.V.E. Five for one final time. Despite the Titans' cheating, the H.I.V.E. do ok and are able to dodge most of their attacks. They also point out that the Titans are cheating but the Titans don't seem to care. Then, while the Titans are distracted, the H.I.V.E. Five take out all five Titans in a matter of seconds. The H.I.V.E. are the dodgeball champions and receive the championship trophy. However, Robin makes a call and the police arrest the H.I.V.E. Five and the Titans win by default, which upsets the crowd. They celebrate with their victory dance, which now includes Starfire, Raven, and even Silkie.

Featuring

 * Beast Boy
 * Robin
 * Starfire
 * Raven
 * Cyborg

Also appearing

 * Jinx
 * Mammoth
 * Gizmo
 * See-More
 * Billy Numerous
 * Little Girl
 * Cinderblock
 * Dr. Light
 * Silkie (Cameo at the end)

Songs

 * Team Titans Theme Song

Trivia

 * This is Jinx, Gizmo, and Mammoth's third appearance (See-More & Billy Numerous's second) in the series as the dodgeball team the Titans face.
 * During the part when the Titans fight against the teams lead by Cinderblock and Dr. Light, the background song sounds very similar to Van Halen classic "Jump".
 * Starfire and Raven sing a parody of the original "Teen Titans" theme song by Puffi AmiYumi, changing the chorus, "Teen Titans" into "Team Titans". And also, the original footage intro is changed with balls instead of the Titans. The Team Titans are also an alternate Titans team from the future in the comics who consist of members like Kilowatt, Battalion, and the second Terra.
 * The title may be a reference and a pun on the character Jack Dawkins, known as "The Artful Dodger", from the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
 * The highly reoccuring music from Legendary Sandwich, Starliar and Staff Meeting returns.
 * The way Cyborg referes to practice is similar to how NBA player Allen Iverson talked about practice in a press conference.
 * The beginning of the episode, Jinx whistles the Harlem Globetrotters theme song.
 * Cyborg's victory dance is similar to the dance in Charlie Brown.
 * Running Gags:
 * When the other Titans get hit, Beast Boy is the only one left standing. He flinches, only to realize that he wasn't hit, then a ball hits him after that.