WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Titans Season 3, Episode 9, "Souls," available now on HBO Max.
Following a comical, acrimonious death last season, it wasn't any big secret Donna Troy would return to Titans in Season 3. With her body at Paradise Island and Raven working her magic, it was a matter of how and when she'd be revived. However, while Donna comes back with a purpose, there's a long-term problem. When Donna meets Tim Drake and Hank in the afterlife, she seems at peace with her fate. Sure, she's annoyed she died at a Carnival, electrocuted of all things, but as she talks to Hawk, it's clear Donna has had enough of the superhero antics.
He's desperate to get back to the land of the living, beat Jason Todd and restart his crusade for justice, but Donna's not interested. She doesn't mind going to Heaven because she doesn't see the need to go back and risk her life. She's disenfranchised with it all, as she asks Hank what's the higher meaning behind it when all they do is die, lose loved ones and leave others behind.
More so, their sacrifices don't mean jack, as it doesn't really dent crime, so to Donna, superheroism is a futile endeavor. Hank is shocked since he's never heard her so resigned to defeat, which clearly has to do with how Deathstroke killed Garth/Aqualad too. Donna felt like avenging him was in vain because apart from being empty inside, she died afterward, so to her, the entire mission doesn't make sense.
Eventually, she warms to the idea and gets back to life with Tim, inspired again by Hank sacrificing himself against the ghouls to save them. She does want to honor his ghost and respect his wishes to help bring down Red Hood and Scarecrow, but ultimately, there's a major issue if she's so unfulfilled.
All the job brings is pain and misery, which is what Donna was scared to return to. Knowing the Titans are now being stabbed in the back by one of their own doubles down on this, and it means Donna could get fed up quickly. In that sense, even if she sticks around, she won't be the leader or warrior of old. However, upon resurrection, she ends up saving Bruce, who seemingly tries to take his life too. Maybe they can heal and remind each other what their symbols stand for, but as it stands, other than a short-term fix, the idea of gallivanting for justice with her family is something Donna doesn't see as wondrous anymore.
The first nine episodes of Titans Season 3 are available now on HBO Max. Episode 10 releases Sept. 30.