Teen Titans: Do Robin and Starfire End Up Together? (2024)

While the 2003 Teen Titans series predominantly focuses on the action and individual development of its characters, the series acknowledges the presence of romantic feelings among its young characters. Beast Boy had an emotional love story with Terra, the honorary Titan who went on a date with him before betraying the Titans, eventually proving her allegiance to the group but losing her life in the process. Starfire and even the stoic Raven have less emotionally substantial crushes on the frequent ally Aqualad, getting literal heart eyes whenever he looks in their direction. Cyborg struggles with his feelings for Jinx, an enemy of the Titans, before she eventually has a change of heart and supports the team.

Most prominent, however, are Robin and Starfire's mutual crushes on one another that persist beneath the surface of the series from start to finish. Teen Titans is careful to stay away from sappy love triangles or romantic melodrama, choosing instead to feature just enough romance to make the characters feel authentic and human, without detracting from the show's dark and dramatic tone. Neither Robin nor Starfire have any major love interests besides each other, so what keeps them apart for so long, and do they eventually get their happy ending?

Robin and Starfire's Romance

Robin and Starfire's will they/won't they is evident right off the bat. Season one, episode two, "Sisters", opens with Starfire and Robin sharing cotton candy on a ferris wheel in a moment that is clearly charged with romantic tension. With some not so subtle implications, Starfire declares that she has learned to love Earth and its unexpected joys. Later in the episode, Starfire is pleasantly surprised by an unexpected visit from her sister, Blackfire, but she quickly grows insecure as she believes the rest of the Titans prefer Blackfire to her. The attention Blackfire gets from Robin is what stings Starfire the most, and the malicious Blackfire recognizes this in her short time with the group, making a point to target Robin and pull him away from Starfire. Still, Robin is steadfast in his affection for Starfire- he is the first one to notice her unease, pulling her aside and telling her one-on-one how important she is.

Small moments like this, confirming Robin and Starfire's deeper connection, persist throughout the series. In season one, episode six, "Deep Six", Raven and Starfire both find themselves smitten with the Titans' new friend, Aqualad. Beast Boy, already insecure about his status as a hero compared to their newfound ally, is irritated by the girls' attention on Aqualad. However, Robin also takes it upon himself to break up the socializing and get the team back to business. In season one, episode nine, "Mask", it seems that the risk Slade poses to Starfire specifically is what prompts him to create the persona of Red X and track Slade down on his own.

The solo mission is a misguided attempt to protect the rest of his team, something he takes upon himself without a word of warning to the others. It's Starfire who ultimately figures it out, rushing to stop the rest of the Titans from destroying who they believe is a villain. And once his secret is out, it is once again Starfire who is able to show him the error of his ways, gently approaching him after he admits the rest of the team has already chewed him out. She leaves him with the episode's final, meaningful line that clearly resonates with him.

While their unique bond and romantic tension is immediately established, things frequently come between Robin and Starfire, preventing their feelings for each other from being more than a mere suggestion. Whether it is an external force, like a green tentacle literally yanking Starfire out of the ferris wheel, or a psychological one, like Robin's obsession with Slade causing him to isolate himself from his friends, they are repeatedly kept from fully realizing the scope of their romantic feelings. Yet the ongoing tension is the very thing that establishes Robin and Starfire as the Teen Titans' primary romance.

Do Robin and Starfire End Up Together?

Season 5, episode 10, "Go", is a flashback episode depicting the formation of the Teen Titans, including Robin and Starfire's first encounter. At first, the two actually do battle as Starfire is lost on Earth, disoriented, scared, and wreaking havoc without full awareness of her surroundings. Predictably, it's Robin who first recognizes that Starfire may not truly be a threat, calming and freeing her. Abruptly, Starfire passionately kisses Robin on the lips. Unbeknownst to Robin, this is how Tamaraneans learn a new language; just as abruptly, Starfire pushes Robin to the ground, the kiss having meant nothing to her. Robin's deep flush at the unexpected kiss suggests that the romantic tension between them has been present since the day they met.

However, the two never officially become boyfriend and girlfriend in the 2003 series. It is only in the show's follow-up movie, Trouble in Tokyo, that their romance is explored directly. Much like in the show, romantic progress between Robin and Starfire is continuously interrupted; this time, however, Robin and Starfire have an explicit awareness of their mutual feelings. At long last, the pair finally shares a kiss in the rain, while the rest of the onlooking Titans confirm that this has been a long time coming. Near the end of Trouble in Tokyo, Robin and Starfire are again seen holding hands, suggesting that the kiss has led to a relationship.

Teen Titans

Based on the characters from DC Comics, Teen Titans follows the adventures of Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy as they fight to protect the world from various evildoers and make a name for themselves. The original animated series spans 5 seasons, and was the basis for the more comedic Teen Titans Go!