The DC Universe shows have had some troubles as we have watched the fans not really “get” the Titans, and then there was the Swamp Thing debacle. But the one show that really showed fans and audiences what the DC shows could really be was the brilliance of Doom Patrol.
The show picks up where The Chief (Timothy Dalton) has gone missing, but really, he’s been kidnapped by an old enemy, and that brings Cyborg to the mansion in search of The Chief. But what he does find is damaged people who need a reason to live and a purpose. In search of The Chief they discover who they are and who they’re meant to be.
At the heart of Doom Patrol is a rag-tag group of accident victims and marginalized outcasts whose powers are often manifestations of their traumas: Crazy Jane (Diane Guerrero) is a girl with 64 different personalities all with different powers, which were created as a defense mechanism to help survive her abuse. Rita Farr (April Bowlby) was broken by the Hollywood system of the ‘50s and now battles with keeping her blob-like body in one piece. Larry Trainor (Matt Bomer) and his self-hatred towards the Negative Spirit that resides within him is a not-so-subtle allegory for Larry’s internalized homophobia and regrets of the past.
Through their adventures, the Patrol meets a sentient, teleporting genderqueer street, a guy that eats hair, a talking cockroach, get sucked into a donkey farts words, breaks in and out of a government facility that holds carnivorous butts. You know, like ya do.
The show fully embraces its weirdness in a way that most shows won’t or know how to. But here the filmmakers figure out how make old themes seem brand new. The show has a way of hitting you on the head with a message, without beating you to death with it. Our characters continue to struggle and fight against the forces that work against them: the reality that wants them to be “normal” and be monitored by government, and the fight against “the man” who wants the keep our heroes in their place instead of letting them just be them.
The show has some wonderful moments and scenes that are absolutely beautiful. The episode “Danny Patrol” is one of the best episodes of TV in the last five years and is so on point to the world right now. Jane figuring out who she is and what makes her her is incredibly acted, and who knew we, as a society, would miss Brendan Fraser. All the performances are astounding and it’s a shame that the award people won’t even look at this, because some of the performances are so good, they deserve recognition.
Doom Patrol is better than it should be, and I am so grateful that it is what it is: a beautiful mess of characters trying to figure it out, figure who they are, and you know, save the world.
Doom Patrol stars Diane Guerrero (“Orange is the New Black”), April Bowlby (“Two and a Half Men”), Joivan Wade (“Doctor Who”) and Alan Tudyk (“Firefly,” Serenity) with Matt Bomer (Magic Mike), and Brendan Fraser (The Mummy), and a special appearance by Timothy Dalton (License to Kill). Based on the characters from DC, Doom Patrol is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Riverdale,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow)”, Jeremy Carver (“Supernatural,” “Frequency”), Geoff Johns (Aquaman, Wonder Woman), Chris Dingess (Agent Carter, Eastwick) and Sarah Schechter (“The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Blindspot,” “Black Lightning”). Doom Patrol is the second original live-action series from the DC UNIVERSE digital subscription service.
DIGITAL FEATURES
- Gag Reel
BLU-RAY & DVD FEATURES
- Gag Reel
- Deleted Scenes
15 ONE-HOUR EPISODES
- Pilot
- Donkey Patrol
- Puppet Patrol
- Cult Patrol
- Paw Patrol
- Doom Patrol Patrol
- Therapy Patrol
- Danny Patrol
- Jane Patrol
- Hair Patrol
- Frances Patrol
- Cyborg Patrol
- Flex Patrol
- Penultimate Patrol
- Ezekiel Patrol