*This review contains some spoilers*
Watch my SPOILER review on YouTube
“Doom Patrol” is probably one of the most unique shows superhero shows of all time, full of zany humor, and yet still full of fleshed-out characters and emotional story arcs.
I knew almost nothing about Doom Patrol from the comics going into this series, so I had no clue what to expect. From what I researched, I think I would’ve been pretty satisfied by what we got. The lighter tone of the books is amplified here, with some bizarre visuals and a villain that breaks the fourth wall even more than the “Deadpool” films. While this is true for the entire season, it does get toned down a bit after the first couple of episodes. But, the show can get dark as well. It gets violent and bloody, but the personal hell our characters go through is where things really can get unpleasant.
The reason the series works so well is because of its lead characters. Everyone starts off in a really bad place, and even after making progress, they sometimes end up worse than before. But, the emotional journeys they go through feel earned, and watching them start to become the best versions of themselves is extremely satisfying. The strongest performances come from Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane, and Alan Tudyk as Mr. Nobody. Guerrero pulling off all Jane’s multiple personalities is impressive, maybe not as much as James McAvoy in “Split,” but still very well-done. Meanwhile, Tudyk injects a lot of fun, and some serious menace when needed, to the villainous Nobody.
The plot is deceptively simple. It’s just a search for the missing Chief, and the threat of Mr. Nobody. But the individual character stories are really the most interesting thing. And besides, there are a few fun detours to the main storyline, ranging from a giant killer eye in the sky, to the original Doom Patrol, to a sentient non-binary street named Danny, to a hero that can alter reality by flexing his muscles.
The first season of “Doom Patrol” is a fun ride, even more out there than “Deadpool” and “Legends of Tomorrow,” but with well-written and well-acted character arcs that make these unbelievable heroes seem real.
**** out of *****