Ever wondered how the Teen Titans first met? What was Beast Boy's first joke? How did the romance between Robin and Starfire develop? Those questions will be revealed if you go back to the very beginning and find out that everything started with a certain alien girl who crash landed on Earth.
Plot
In deep space aboard an alien cruiser, screams ring out as reptilian alien warriors prepare to deliver a prisoner under the command of Lord Trogaar. The prisoner bangs hard on the door, shaking the entire prison block as the aliens stand guard praying the door will hold. The visor window in the cell door cracks open and a glowing pair of fierce green eyes stares. Then, the door finally breaks down and the prisoner steps out, a humanoid girl with red hair and orange skin.
The strange alien girl remains shackled yet engages her captors and sends them flying. She sets off an alert before flying off into space and escaping to Earth.
Starfire and Robin meet for the first time
In Jump City in the dead of night, a burglar is escaping federal pursuit with his score through an alleyway. However, he finds his escape short lived as he discovers he is being loomed over by some caped figure. He is then disarmed by a flying bird-shaped glaive. Bats swarm out of the shadows and after them, a caped teenage vigilante known by fearsome reputation. When he appears and takes him out, the burglar recognizes him and wonders what he is doing in Jump City. The young warrior explains that he has recently moved to the City and from now on, works alone. Their fight is interrupted when the warrior sees a flash of green light through the sky that crashes down a few blocks away and goes to investigate after hogtieing the burglar for the police. In the heart of Jump City, the strange alien prisoner has crashed to Earth in the middle of a street and is confused by the alien environment and unable to speak English. She lashes out, wrecking cars and buildings, as she tries to free herself from her manacles. Before she can capsize the upper level of the Pizza Joint with people still on it, the warrior appears and throws another one of his birdarangs to catch her attention. The warrior and the alien engage in an epic battle, but the warrior finds himself a little unprepared for her brute strength. From the shadows, another girl clad in a blue cloak watches the battle. And just when the warrior's retractable bo staff shatters like glass, another warrior with the ability to shapeshift into animals leaps into action send the alien flying. The shapeshifter introduces himself as Beast Boy, an ex-member of the Doom Patrol who offers his assistance, and immediately recognizes the warrior by reputation as the much-loved and admired hero known as Robin. When the alien regains her footing and throws a bus at the two heroes, another figure wearing a sweat suit to conceal his body, shows up as well and catches the bus with his own superhuman strength. Just then, the alien slams her manacles on the ground and shakes the whole city, finally knocking off the first layer of the shackles. With her hands free, she blasts a barrage of green energy bolts at the three heroes, missing but further devastating the city. When she weakens, the heroes take cover behind the bus and the situation appears grim as they seem to have no way of stopping her from destroying the city. Robin refuses to accept defeat on his first night on patrol as his own hero and charges at the alien one last time. However, the cloaked girl appears to them and raises a force field, suggesting that fighting might not be the answer. Robin approaches the alien calmly and carefully and manages to get through to her, calming her enough to free her from the manacles. When everything seems resolved, she then kisses Robin, gaining the ability to speak English, then tells them to leave her alone lest they meet destruction and flies off. With the battle finally over, the four teenage heroes regroup and Beast Boy is prepared to exchange pleasantries.
The city is in ruins from the battle and Beast Boy declares that the four of them made a great impression. Robin goes off on his own to track down the alien and the other three go their separate ways. Although Beast Boy still wants to hang out with his new friends. Robin respectfully declines Beast Boy's request to be his sidekick since he just went solo and not looking to join a team. When he approaches the hooded guy instead, pulls off his hood to reveal his cybernetic implants but Beast Boy is impressed rather than repulsed to be in the presence of a state-of-the-art Cyborg. As the heroes are about to leave on their own paths, an alien cruiser flies over the city then releases a holo-projector that lands on the island just outside the city. The alien commander announces himself and the aliens state they are here to recover their prisoner, and warns them to not interfere less they face absolute destruction. Hundreds of the alien soldiers fly out and ransack the city, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The others agree that Robin is going after the alien girl before the lizard aliens find her and agrees to let them join him – the cloaked girl is reluctant and warns that if they know who she was, they would not want her around. Robin accepts her anyway since he knows enough to believe she has what it takes to be a hero and they are off.
Robin intends to track the alien prisoner and each of the heroes do so in their own ways. The cloaked girl, known as Raven, telepathically senses her presence, Beast Boy picks up the scent as a dog, while Cyborg scans for her unique heartbeat with the sonic analyzer built into his right arm. They eventually find her in a video store binging out on candy and popcorn, who prepares to fire energy bolts on them, believing that they are not "friends". Robin tries to explain himself, but not very well. Cyborg tries a more direct approach and demands to know what the "lizard king" wants with her. She reveals that the alien soldiers, a race known to her people as the Gordanians, are delivering her to their Citadel where she will live out her days under slavery as their servant. Upon hearing her story, the others vow not to let her go with them and the Gordanians arrive. The five heroes fight back and drive them off. However, Robin announces that this battle is far from over, especially now that they have interfered. The Gordanian leader, Trogaar, immediately catches wind of the heroes interfering in their mission, which he gave specific warning as to what would happen if such interference would occur. With this, he sends another message announcing the city will be destroyed.
With the ship primed and ready for imminent obliteration of Jump City, the group starts to blame each other, until Raven interrupts and Robin resolves they need to get out of the mess together. Finally united as a team, Robin declares that they have a city to save. Raven teleports them aboard the ship and they head for the firing controls. While Raven still wonders if she will fit in, Cyborg reassures her, given the backgrounds of himself, Beast Boy and the alien. As the alien apologizes to Robin for the earlier argument, to which he does the same, she explains that she has never been shown such kindness before coming to Earth. Robin says that things are different on Earth and they are interrupted by the arrival of Gordanian soldiers. Meanwhile in the ship's bridge, Trogaar orders his men to prepare the firing sequence and gloats about how it would take more than "five juvenile heroes" to defy his will. However, his plans are interrupted by the arrival of the five heroes, who then rebut, "We're not five heroes. We're one team". With Jump City's fate hanging in the balance, the team engages the Gordanians for a final battle. The soldiers are beaten easy, but the "Mighty Lord Trogaar" lives up to his name as a formidable adversary. Raven saves Beast Boy by blocking Trogaar's attacks with a black telekinetic shield. Robin manages to take the upper hand, but not for long. The same goes for the alien and Cyborg. With the three warriors knocked back, Robin suggests Cyborg rewire his electronics and parts into some sort of weapon. As the trio are surrounded by Lord Trogaar and his soldiers, Raven sees her friends in danger and unleashes the full force of her powers, causing the ship to crash into the water, knocking out all the Gordanians except for Trogaar. He prepares to destroy her and Beast Boy, but Cyborg takes him out with his newly developed Sonic Cannon at the last moment from behind, with a simple triumphant statement of "Boo-yah."
Standing on the island where the Gordanians placed their holographic-transmitter, they congratulate one another and finally get to know each other better. The alien finally sheds off her armor, unveiling her fresh new look, and finally gives them her name in their English language: Starfire. She thanks them all for their bravery and help against the evil alien warlords and asks them if she can stay on Earth. They welcome her as a friend and decide to stay together, with Robin and Cyborg providing communicators for them all to stay in contact, with Robin's final words being: "When there's trouble, you know who to call."
It's possible that Starfire was exiled to Earth by her sister right before this incident.
In the scene where Starfire is destroying the pizzeria, animated versions of George Pérez and Marv Wolfman (the artist and writer, respectively, for The New Teen Titans comics) can be seen on the balcony.
The thief references Batman with the quote, "This isn't your town. Aren't you supposed to be with--?" before Robin interrupted him.
At the beginning of the episode, Beast Boy's boots and gloves are different from what they usually are.
Starfire's outfit in captivity seems very similar to Blackfire's costume, possibly implying in the episode "Sisters", Blackfire had recently escaped prison.
Beast Boy references an old accomplice, Robot Man, when he says Cyborg is like "Robot Man 2.0".
Raven appears to be much like Timid Raven in this episode, feeling extremely alienated and lonely when she first meets the Titans. However, Cyborg ultimately takes on the big brother role, and makes her feel better. This would explain why Cyborg and Raven have a healthy friendship with each other.
Beast Boy was rather excited when he meets Robin, and appears willing to do whatever it takes to impress him, implying that he knew the latter's background with Batman.
This is the only episode where Raven's forcefield takes the form of her soul self.
Robin says at the end of the episode, "When there's trouble, you know who to call." This references the initial sentence of the show's Theme Song.
This was the last episode to air in 2005.
This was the only episode in Season Five that was written by David Slack, the last being "The End - Part 3".
In this episode, we learn that Tamaranians learn languages through kissing people. While Starfire's use of the English language is broken, Blackfire's use seems to be perfect. This implies that Blackfire has kissed many people that speak English.
Continuity
The events that led to Starfire's capture are shown in a flashback from Teen Titans Go! issue #46 "Wildfire".
The Gordanians make their first and only appearance. However, they were mentioned in "Sisters".
This episode reveals how Robin and Starfire developed their feelings for each other.
This is fifth and final episode focusing on Robin and Starfire's romantic feelings for each other until their relationship is finally brought to a conclusion in the series finale movie, Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo.
This is the first time chronologically that Cyborg says his famous victory cry, "Boo-yah!" Although he claims this would be the only time he ever says it, Cyborg ends up saying it frequently throughout the series.
This might be where Beast Boy starts using the word "Dude" to refer to people as Cyborg calls him "dude" which Beast Boy is enamored by.
This is the second known time Raven has called Beast Boy funny, but the first time chronologically. The other time is in the episode "Nevermore" by Happy Raven.
Cultural references
The Gordanians' first appearance in Warner Bros. animation was in the Justice League two-part "Starcrossed".
Cyborg can be seen wearing a gray jacket in the movie "Justice League", a possible reference to this episode.
Goofs
Closeup, the original shot was much smaller than this.
As Robin walks towards Starfire to set her free, she can be seen with her regular clothing.
In some goof scenes where Starfire is wearing her black suit, her boots are still purple. An example of this is when Robin releases her from her handcuffs. The shot goes to the handcuffs falling on the floor and one can see that Starfire's boots had turned purple, but the next time they are in the shot, they turn black again.
As Starfire attempts to free her hands on Earth, three civilians can be found on top of the Pizza Corner with the upper half of their bodies over the restaurant ledge.
When Beast Boy asks Raven for confirmation that his mask is cool, he addresses her by name, despite the fact that she never formally introduced herself, nor was her name ever mentioned in the episode.
When Starfire begins yelling at Robin for it being his fault that the Gordanians would destroy the city, the middle gray stripe on the part of the suit covering Starfire's stomach changes color from gray to black and then gray again.
When Cyborg says "He's green, half of me is made of metal, and she's from space. You fit in just fine." to Raven, he is saying that all team members have something that makes them different, but he does not mention anything about Robin.
Continuity mistake: In the shot immediately after Beast Boy says "Uh, guys, I think they know we're here", where the Gordanians are entering the scene, Starfire is in her normal sleeveless outfit. In the shot immediately before and after this, she is wearing a full suit of Tamaranean armor.
When Beast Boy says "besides, we kind of made a good team," his mouth does not move.
List of instances where characters' mouth disappear for a split second:
When Beast Boy comments on the Gordanian ship positioning above the city.
As Robin is about to hand out the Titans Communicators.
We're not five heroes. We're one team.
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