An in depth look of Slade and his Apprentice Complex

[Funkatron]

I noticed that a lot of people thought that Slade was out of Character when he started to beat up on Terra durung the end of the ep. I just watched Apprentice Part 2 last night and realised he was perfectly in character. In fact, both Apprentice and Aftershock mirror each other so much, its not even funny:

1. Slade gets an apprentice from the TT. With Robin, he gets and controls him with blackmail. With Terra, he played mind games and used her insecurity against her.

2. He controls said apprentice and uses his/her to further his goals. He uses the nanoprobes to keep Robin in check, while with Terra, though she willingly did as Slade says, he uses the suit to enhance her prowess and uses her as an extension of his own body.

3. Aprentice starts to rebel. Robin rebellion ranged fro verbal insubordination to a full out assault. Terra just didn't want to fight after the Titans whupped her good.

4. Slade "disciplines" his apprentice/adopted child. In both cases, he decides to discipline his apprentice by physical means. Though with Terra, he was a lot more raw with anger, it still mirrors his fight with Robin in "Apprentice Part 2".

So, in essense, He wasn't out of character at all. He was a bit more cool and controled with Robin than he was with Terra. Thats why it seemed he went apecrap over her not wanting to fight

Please comment, agree or disagree

[ArtificialIdiot]

It wasn't the fact he roughed Terra up. It was the fact he got so bloody angry and out of control with it. That isn't Slade. Also, the thing he beat her over was just PATHETIC! Slade kicking the hell out of her for running awa? Oh yeah! Real manipulative! That's REALLY going to win her to your side, isn't it!

However, when he was fighting Robin, it wasn't out of raw anger. It was self defence really, Robin started the fights, Slade defended himself and taught Robin some "manners" along the way. He didn't become this angry, raging monster when Robin smacked him in the face... yet got so annoyed over Terra not following an order? Yeah right.

I'm sorry, Say what you like, I just can't stomach Slade's reasoning in Aftershock. He was perfectly fine until part two, where he just became a slimmer version of sabertooth or something.

[Funkatron]

My thinking in the idea was that he put more work into making Terra his apprentice. He used blackmail with Robin and to me, anyway, thats a flimsy way to control someone, especially Robin. The way he was talking about it, he expected the blackmail to work untill he beat, retrain and brainwashed Robin into submission; look how that turned out

With Terra, he put lots of work into her. He brainwashed her into doing his bidding, using her insecurities against her. She was no Robin, skillwise, but she was more powerful than robin ever was. Plus, he had control using the suit. That and the fact he got so far in his plan: The city was his for the taking. He thought the Teen Titans were finished. The area around the city was ready to be picked off, one by one. He was actualy succeding with his new apprentice/toy and he was loving it.

So I'd expect him to be pissed, not only for the fact that she was wussing out and having second thoughts, but for the fact he failed at destroying the Titans in the first place.The normally cool and collected Slade let his anger gat the better of him.

[Borg4of3]

However, when he was fighting Robin, it wasn't out of raw anger. It was self defence really, Robin started the fights, Slade defended himself and taught Robin some "manners" along the way. He didn't become this angry, raging monster when Robin smacked him in the face... yet got so annoyed over Terra not following an order? Yeah right.

Thing is, Slade was actually impressed when Robin smacked him in the face. "That was vicious, dishonorable, and ruthless... Excellent work," Wheras, Terra's escape, while smart on her part, he saw as cowardly and a disgraceful move. Slade's values are completely screwed up that way.

Also remember that Slade hates losing no matter what, and since he identifies so much with his chosen Apprentice, when Terra ran, and failed to 'destroy' the Teen Titans, she forced him into a big loss, which in his view was inexcusable.

What I want to know is why Slade wants an apprentice so badly. Does he want some kind of heir? This his funked version of family? And I would like a look into his past and why he sees things the way he does.

[Fone Bone]

As others have pointed out in the episode talkback Slade wanting to take over the city was stupid. It was EMPTY! What good would it do him? Slade has gotten really pathetic this season.

[ArtificialIdiot]

What I want to know is why Slade wants an apprentice so badly. Does he want some kind of heir? This his funked version of family? And I would like a look into his past and why he sees things the way he does.

Well, I had a theory on that. But I doubt the teen titans creative team are that utterly insane... at least, I hope not

You all make good points, but I still can't shake the feeling that Slade was wrong in Aftershock. It's something that just bugs me, but then.. if I speant any leangth of time with Terra, I'd probably want to give her a good slap/beating within an inch of her life too.

[Kurtman]

He was rather calm (Yet still evil) with Robin but with Terra,he was just pure violent. Both ways,he's an evil villain.