Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Titans season 3, episodes 1-3.
Titans season 3 saw the titular group theorize over Jason Todd's return, name-dropping Ra's al Ghul in the process — here's why they suspected a connection to the classic Batman villain. Played by Curran Walters, the second incarnation of Robin guest-starred in Titans season 1 before serving as a recurring presence in Titans season 2. After turning his back on the team, Jason returned to Gotham City and Bruce Wayne (Iain Glen) during the time jump leading into Titans season 3. Unfortunately, with his characteristic recklessness prevailing, Jason Todd was tragically killed by The Joker while going above and beyond to prove himself.
As Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) and others mourned the loss, Jason Todd was revealed to have already returned. Having adopted his iconic Red Hood persona, the former Robin debuted by violently seizing control of several criminal enterprises. In the aftermath, he used his new resources to wage war on the Titans. He first steered them into a stunning failure, walking away with $25 million while also diminishing their standing in the eyes of the Gotham public, former Batgirl Barbara Gordon (Savannah Welch), and her GCPD. Red Hood then lured the Titans into a direct confrontation — allowing Nightwing to discover his true identity.
After personally exhuming his grave to confirm it was empty, Dick reconvened with Kory (Mame-Anna Diop), Dawn (Minka Kelly), and Hank (Alan Ritchson). Together, they brainstormed over the true nature of Jason Todd's seemingly miraculous return. One of the options they suggested was that Jason had simply faked his death, to such an impressive degree that he fooled even Batman. Another idea was that "some kind of voodoo act" had been used to "raise him from the dead." Starfire then concurred that Bruce Wayne did know people. Given that Titans' Batman directly caused Joker's death in response, Dick dismissed the notion of him being knowingly involved. That led to Dove offering Ra's al Ghul as a suspect. Dick considered it unlikely, stating that he was in Khadym. As comic book fans will know, however, there would be a precedent for the Demon's Head being involved.
In the comics, Jason Todd was resurrected not by Ra's al Ghul but by Superboy-Prime, when the later inadvertently altered reality by causing parallel timelines to overlap. Regardless, the traumatized and amnesiac Jason was ultimately discovered by Talia al Ghul. In an attempt to restore his health and memory, she immersed the former Robin in the healing waters of a Lazarus Pit that Ra's al Ghul was already convalescing in. At the same time, the iconic villain used his League of Assassins to cover up all traces of Jason's return. 2010's Batman: Under the Red Hood, however, retconned and streamlined the story. It had Ra's al Ghul directly resurrect Jason Todd in remorse for his part in his death. As such, there existed on page and screen a connection between Ra's al Ghul and Red Hood that Titans season 3 could adapt.
Ra's al Ghul being involved would've also answered several questions the Titans had regarding Jason. As noted by Starfire, Jason was always troubled but never the kind of outright psychopath that would orchestrate the death of Hank (a.k.a. Hawk) in Titans season 3. In the comics and the animated movie, though the use of the Lazarus Pit differed, it nonetheless resulted in Jason being driven somewhat insane. Therefore, Ra's al Ghul being behind his resurrection could've explained Jason Todd's increased hostility towards his former friends.
Equally, it would have explained why Jason had suddenly gone from a street-smart hothead to a full-blown criminal mastermind. As Nightwing stated, Jason's level of book smarts was more cereal boxes than chess and chemistry textbooks. As such, the idea of Ra's al Ghul quietly pulling the strings would've filled a lot of gaps and perhaps shouldn't have been dismissed so quickly by Dick. Whether that twist will come to pass - or remain a fun, knowing nod from the writers to tease expectant fans - shall be revealed in Titans season 3's remaining episodes.
New episodes of Titans season 3 release every Thursday on HBO Max.