The following contains major spoilers for Titans Season 4, Episode 5, "Inside Man," now streaming on HBO Max.
The latest episode of Titans fulfilled a promise for Tim Drake, aka Robin, that it's teased for the young hero for the whole of Season 4.
Over the course of the fifth episode, Tim and his crush, Bernard, shared a great deal of time together monitoring the survalence footage at S.T.A.R. Labs while the team tried to protect Sebastian from Mother Mayhem. After facing one giant snake that made its way into the lab after Connor threw it up at the end of Episode 4, another cursed serpent goes after Bernard when Superboy is freed from his curse. Tim manages to kill it with his bo staff, and the two share a look. Later, while conversing, they share a tender moment and kiss for the first time.
Titans introduced Bernard in the first episode of the season as a researcher and director at S.T.A.R. Labs. He becomes something of a Lucius Fox to the Titans, supplying them with new suits, gadgets, weapons and a tricked-out trailer to drive around in. Almost immediately, he and Tim appeared to hit it off, with the latter wanting to text him pictures of him posing with the new bo staff shortly after meeting. They met up in other episodes, primarily while Tim trained with his new staff at S.T.A.R. Labs with Bernard and Connor.
The fifth episode saw them become much closer, as they had multiple heart-to-hearts about Tim's slowly developing abilities as a hero. Though Tim felt down and as if he wasn't trusted, Bernard insisted on his own belief in him. The kiss came as a culmination of an arc heavily inspired by the comics, in which Bernard features as a love interest to Robin.
The History of Robin and Bernard in the Comics
Robin's romance with Bernard began with his coming out story in Batman: Urban Legends #6, written by Meghan Fitzmartin with art from Belén Ortega and Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque. The comic sees Tim come to terms with his developing feelings for his friend Bernard after the latter is kidnapped. With Bernard's life in balance, Robin realizes he feels more for his friend than he'd realized.
Titans even subtly acknowledge the comics by honoring the writer behind Robin's coming out. Bernard's last name in the comics is Dowd, but Titans changed it to Fitzmartin. This plays homage to Meghan Fitzmartin, who wrote Robin and Bernard's love story.
Episodes 1-5 of Titans Season 4 are available now on HBO Man, along with seasons 1-3.
Source: HBO Max