It’s been a few weeks since DC Universe’s 2nd live action series ended its first season and with that comes a lot to discuss to say the least. To get right into it, Doom Patrol is easily one of DC’s best live action shows that they have ever done. With a premise that you can’t really describe to anyone other than the weirdest superhero show ever, this series does so many amazing things that none of us were expecting. From the cast, to the surprisingly deep character moments, a fantastic and charismatic villain in Alan Tudyk’s Mr. Nobody, and subject matter that is simply nuts, this series has truly become one of the most entertaining and emotionally griping shows I have ever seen.
Coming off the heels of Titans, I have to say I wasn’t as enthusiastic about this series as I was for Titans. Because of my limited knowledge of these characters and going simply off of the single episode they were featured in with Titans, it was hard to find the excitement to watch this series. After a single episode I was hooked to the show, line and sinker. I cannot explain in detail just how shocked I was at how amazing this show was. It is the first series in a long time that I could not wait to watch week to week. I know some people prefer the binging format of most online series, but for me the week-to-week format of Doom Patrol worked in its favor.
I think the biggest standouts of the series for me were the performances of Brendan Frasier and Matt Bomer. While both actors did a combination of voice and live action work for their respective characters, the work done was some of the best I’ve seen in television in a long time. With the character of Larry Trainor (Negative Man) especially, seeing his character struggle with his past, coming to terms with dealing with this other entity living inside him, and seeing how the series dealt with his sexuality as nothing more than just another part of him, all of these aspects together made for one incredible character and performance. While there is still a long road ahead for good representation for LGBTQ characters in media, this series in my opinion does incredible work of really showing us as the audience that he struggles in a lot of the same ways all of us struggle.
Brendan Frasier’s Cliff Steele (Robotman) is another character and performance that is simply incredible. In a character who for the most part cannot physically express his feelings or emotions, he ends up being the most human character in the entire show. His whole character arc in the season is so heartbreaking, you can’t help but feel sorry for him even knowing the mistakes he made in his past. That’s the great thing about Cliff, in the end he learns from his past and accepts it to be there for his new family. While we only see Brendan a few times outside of the Robotman suit, even his vocal performance is nothing short of fantastic. I am so happy that this was the role that he returned to Hollywood with. Robotman is officially one of my new favorite comic book characters now.
The remaining members of the cast that I haven’t mentioned yet, April Bowlby (Elasti-Woman), Joivan Wade (Cyborg), Diane Guerrero (Crazy Jane), and Timothy Dalton (The Chief), all do amazing work with their characters. That’s another thing I love about this series. Each character is extremely flawed in one way or another. Throughout the season they all grow and change together. No matter who it is or what the circumstances are, the team never give up on one another. Alan Tudyk’s 4th Wall breaking bad guy Mr. Nobody steals the show with every appearance. Giving us insight into his view of the show as well as his dynamic with the characters is nothing short of pure enjoyment from start to finish. With a charismatic villain, ridiculous plot lines that don’t make any sense at all, and characters no one thought would be relatable or enjoyable, Doom Patrol succeeds in being one of the best new TV shows of 2019.
4.5/5
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