Warning: spoilers ahead for Titans season 4.
A major Titans villain return has seemingly been confirmed in season 4, threatening big trouble for Raven. In the Titans season 2 premiere, Teagan Croft's Raven tapped into her magical soul-self and prevented her evil demonic father, Trigon, conquering the universe, but Titans remained deliberately vague over exactly what happened to the devilish dad. Rather than dying outright, Raven seemingly returned Trigon to his own dimension, and the Titans largely assumed this was good enough, as Nightwing himself admits in season 4, episode 4, "You dealt with Trigon. He's done."
Titans season 4 has brought Trigon right back into the spotlight through the Church of Blood - an extension of the cult that hunted Raven in Titans season 1. Whether the demon himself would resurface or whether his minions would simply carry out his will had previously remained ambiguous, but Titans season 4's "Inside Man" proves Trigon really is back. During a moment of self-doubt, Mother Mayhem prays to her demonic master for guidance. Oddly, Trigon seems to reply. The Church of Blood's goopy red pool begins bubbling, Mother Mayhem starts sharing a two-way conversation, and the villain apparently instructs his baby mama to slaughter Gina as a sacrifice.
How Is Trigon Back In Titans Season 4?
Assuming Mother Mayhem really is conversing with Trigon in Titans season 4, rumors of his demise have clearly been greatly exaggerated. Trigon may not have a physical presence like he did during the Titans season 2 premiere, but his recovery has progressed far enough to at least make contact with Earth's dimension, handing out instructions to his followers and, presumably, arranging the necessary pieces for his grand return. This is likely only possible through Raven's stolen powers.
Previously in Titans season 4, Mother Mayhem vacuumed up Raven's soul-self and placed it into a glowing crystal that currently sits in her secret lair. Titans previously described Raven as a walking doorway between dimensions, explaining how she was able to banish Trigon in Titans season 2. If Mother Mayhem has now harnessed Raven's abilities, she may have exploited them to forge a direct line of communication to her vanished master.
Is Trigon Really Back In Titans Season 4?
One must entertain the possibility that the communion between Trigon and Mother Mayhem in Titans season 4 is not what it seems. As she commits mass murder and leads a cult that worships a universe-ending demon, it would be fair to say that Mother Mayhem's psyche is not at optimal health. Given the desperation in her voice and the years spent imprisoned, separated cruelly from her son, Mother Mayhem could feasibly be hallucinating Trigon's words in Titans season 4, episode 5. The bubbling red pool may be imaginary or her own subconscious magic, and the two-way conversation could be to herself.
In this scenario, either the Church of Blood currently lacks the power necessary to bring Trigon back to Earth, or Rachel's assault from Titans season 2 defeated Trigon so gravely, he still cannot even relay instructions to his followers. Whatever the truth may be, Titans is inching closer to a father-daughter reunion, and that outcome looks even more likely now that Mother Mayhem has Trigon's son in her clutches. Whether a whisper from another dimension or a figment of Mother Mayhem's mind, Titans season 4 proves Trigon remains as troublesome as ever.
Titans continues Thursday on HBO Max.