Doom Patrol (Blu-Ray) – ★★★★★

Certificate – 18
Showrunner – Jeremy Carver
Starring – Diane Guerrero, Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, April Bowlby, Joivan Wade, Timothy Dalton, Alan Tudyk, Riley Shanahan, Matthew Zuk.
Running Time – 774 Minutes (12 Hours 90 Minutes)

When they were introduced in Titans, there was a lot of interest in the Doom Patrol as it became one of the most popular superhero years and breakout success. I’ve always been excited but without a chance to see it (it airs on DC Universe in the US and Starzplay in the UK) until now.

What’s Doom Patrol About?

Doom Patrol is a weird as balls series based off a little known comic. It follows Robotman/Cliff Steele (Fraiser/ Shanahan), Negative Man/ Larry Trainor (Bomer/ Zuk), Elasti-Woman/Rita Farr (Bowlby) and Crazy Jane (Guerrero) – led by the Chief aka mad scientist Niles Caulder (Dalton).

Each member has suffered a horrific tragedy leaving them scarred and disfigured, but with superpowers. When the Chief disappears, Cyborg/ Victor Stone (Wade) offers the reluctant heroes a mission impossible to refuse as they must battle Mr Nobody/Eric Morden (Tudyk) in hopes of saving the world.

Is It Any Good?

I can fully understand why everyone loved this series. It is a beautiful, emotional, funny, weird series that if you go with it, you’ll love too.

The beautiful thing about this series isn’t the weirdest of a talking cockroach called Ezekiel or a street called Danny (introduced in episode 8) that has an orgasm (no seriously and it’s hilarious), but it’s the emotions.

Every character will push in the heart from the pilot with Robotman and seeing his bad human find his heart, and I cried twice in the first half-hour. It’s down to Fraiser’s incredible acting and the acting of the body double. It also comes out during episode seven.

The character is boosted by Shanahan brilliant acting that brought out so much of Fraiser’s voice.

The other two MVP’s is Bomer, who also shines and deals with a lot about acceptance with both his abilities and identity, especially being a product of his generation.

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Additionally, Guerrero is a show-stealer. A lot is down to the different personalities you learn so much from episode nine that it’s Jane, who is the star as we finally see why she’s the person she is.

Meanwhile, we see the Wade’s Cyborg develop from a wannabe member of the Justice League to finding his home and significant development with his father (something we’ll see more in Zack Snyder’s Justice League). Finally, there’s Bowlby who plays a 50s Hollywood actress wonderfully as we follow her journey to finding herself.

The comedy comes out a lot to balance the emotions and the “heavy” stuff and does so brilliantly. Being Tudyk’s Mr Nobody ribbing of pop culture or Fraiser or the fact in episode 10, there’s a character called the Beard Hunter. Plus, there’s one scene that is superbly funny.

Anything Bad About Doom Patrol?

Not really, just that if you don’t accept the weirdness then you won’t like it and that would be a shame.

The only thing as a Titans fan it would’ve been nice to see Beast Boy make an appearance as a former member of Doom Hall.

Are There Any Bonus Features?

Yes. Each disc has an episode with deleted scenes.

Doom Patrol – Come Visit Georgia PSA
Gag Reel

Verdict

Doom Patrol incredible show balancing the emotions and humour with ease thanks to the fantastic storytelling and acting from the likes of Bomer, Fraiser and Guerrero. But again be ready for so much weird.