Raven hasn't featured at all in Titans season 3 - here's why that might be a good thing for Teagan Croft's teenage half-demon. Since the very beginning, Rachel Roth has been at the heart of Titans' narrative. Discovering she's the spawn of a powerful demon in Titans very first episode, Rachel soon falls in with Dick Grayson and his Titans outfit, finding a family who accept her unique abilities ever after Raven's dad tried to kill them all. At the end of Titans season 2, Rachel departed to Themyscira, accompanying Wonder Girl's corpse to the mystical Amazon island with hopes of using the Raven's magic to resurrect her.
Through the first 7 episodes of Titans season 3, Rachel hasn't made a single appearance, and her absence is beginning to get awkward. Beast Boy mentioned the missing Titan once in the season premiere, but it's out of sight, out of mind as Nightwing's team battle against Scarecrow and Red Hood in Gotham City. We know from the Titans season 3 trailer that Raven does come back eventually, but it's not clear why her absence is continuing for so long. COVID-19 is always a possible factor in the current climate (Teagan Croft hails from Australia), but Raven flying the nest could also be a narrative choice.
Whatever the reason, season 3's Rachel-lite approach could be good for both the character and Titans as a whole. Through no fault of Croft's, Raven was a low-point in Titans season 2. When the character debuted, Rachel struggled to accept her growing powers and barely kept control as she learned the secrets of her past. An uplifting victory over Trigon in a father-daughter battle seemed to cement Rachel's long-awaited transformation into Raven, but when Titans season 2 began, she pinged right back to the beginning, undoing all of season 1's development. When she wasn't lingering on the sidelines, Rachel spent her sophomore year struggling with her powers and wallowing in uncertainty all over again.
After her on-screen vacation, Titans season 3 can re-debut Raven as a transformed woman - confident, assured, in control of her powers, and ready to do more for the Titans than just sulk and kill people by accident. The Titans season 3 trailer already offered glimpses of a new costume, and upon her eventual return from Themyscira, Rachel can finally be the Raven fans have been waiting for since the battle against Trigon. Like a backdoor time skip for a single character.
Rachel's absence is also proving useful to the current Red Hood storyline. Under the gritty darkness of Gotham City, the supernatural takes a back seat. The weird powers of Beast Boy, Starfire and Superboy have all been muted in season 3, with focus instead upon Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon's investigative skills. Keeping Raven away from the action suits Titans' current tone - much better to save her return for when things get a little crazier (and things inevitably will get crazier).
Ignoring Raven's Themyscira storyline in Titans season 3 also helps cover the cracks of Donna Troy's rubbish exit scene. Season 2's tragic ending was widely criticized for both the unconvincing manner of Wonder Girl's death and the blatantly obvious set up for her revival. Had Rachel resurrected Donna right away in Titans season 3, this would've underlined the pointlessness of her demise. By keeping Rachel and Donna hidden for an entire 7 episodes, however, Titans creates the impression of Rachel time passing, making Donna's return at least a little bit earned. Titans season 3 is doing just fine without its resident demon teen, but some time away can make Raven's return mean something when it finally happens.
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