Doom Patrol
I'm a little late with this one. I hope you all did a little research on the Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man and next you'll have to do some on the Decreator. That's your homework. Now without further adieu, let's get into the fourth episode.
Episode 4: "Cult Patrol"
Cliff: "Who is this guy? Someones uncle?" [motions to Willoughby]
Vic: "We don't kill kids."
Cliff: "Or burn books. He's both."
Occult detective, Willoughby Kipling, shows up at the Doom Patrol Manor looking for Niles, instead he finds "the team." Willoughby has come to try to stop the Cult of the Unwritten from summoning the Decreator and ending the world. The cult needs to read from the Book of the Unwritten to do that and the book is actually a human, Elliott, who just turned 18. They retrieve him, but Cliff and Jane are sucked into a portal that takes them to the lost city of Nurnheim. With assassin's heading their way and two of the most powerful members gone, can the Doom Patrol stop the Decreator from ending existence?
"Doom Patrol" continues to be amazing. Just when you think this ensemble can't get any better, they add "Supernatural's" Mark Sheppard to the mix. If you thought that Willoughby Kipling felt familiar, maybe like a certain chain smoking, bisexual shaman that is currently hanging around with the Legends of Tomorrow, well you'd be right. Willoughby was introduced in Grant Morrison's "Doom Patrol" run and he had wanted to use John Constantine. At the time, Constantine was only allowed to be in Vertigo Comics which was a different universe than the regular DC Universe. Morrison did the only reasonable thing, he created a Constantine for the DCU that was basically Constantine with a different name. Sheppard brings a lot of his Crowley energy to the role. It works because Crowley was basically a demonic Constantine. I loved the various magical items pulled from rock history. It was a nice touch.
Even with the threat of world extinction looming over their heads and the Chief still missing, this episode is more about this band of individuals coming together. They may doth protest a little too much when Cyborg keeps referring to them as a team, but it's clear they are in the beginning stages of functioning as one. That doesn't mean they don't all have their own shit to deal with because they do. Cliff and Jane are not close after what happened Fuchtopia. Jane hasn't been out and Hammerhead isn't afraid of cutting Cliff down to size. It's clear that Cliff has latched onto Jane as a surrogate daughter and it's pretty much spelled out by the high priestess of Nurnheim when she's torturing Cliff and Jane.
Larry learns a little more about his "roommate" and they are starting to form a more cohesive bond. It's interesting that the one word that "negative man" uses when the Chief is able to talk to him is "torture." It seems like this isn't great for either.
We haven't talked a lot about Rita in these recaps, but she really steps into the spotlight in this episode. April Bowlby does a great job of showing both sides of Rita. She says that she's not interested in being part of a team, but she always comes back. She shows up. She does't leave. Watching Rita grow is really great. I cheered a little when she stretched her arm out to stop the assassin's. I think one of the best parts of this debut season will be watching Rita start to really embrace her powers and use them in new and different ways. She had a great chemistry with Elliott and the writers deftly handle their exchanges. They could have came off really cloying and cliche but instead they are really genuine and heartwarming.
This episode is a little light on action, especially considering the big brawl from last episode, but we still get a nice showdown between the Doom Patrol and the assassins. It's nice to see Cyborg let loose and that arm sonic cannon was super cool. I loved the effect of them turning into pages from a book when they were killed.
Another thing "Doom Patrol" does well is cliffhangers and this one is a doozy. The book is being read and the Decreator has arrived. I'm genuinely excited to see how the Doom Patrol is going to get out of this one.
Grade: A
Another killer episode. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows and I really didn't think it would be. What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments.
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| Cosplay gone wrong. |
Even with the threat of world extinction looming over their heads and the Chief still missing, this episode is more about this band of individuals coming together. They may doth protest a little too much when Cyborg keeps referring to them as a team, but it's clear they are in the beginning stages of functioning as one. That doesn't mean they don't all have their own shit to deal with because they do. Cliff and Jane are not close after what happened Fuchtopia. Jane hasn't been out and Hammerhead isn't afraid of cutting Cliff down to size. It's clear that Cliff has latched onto Jane as a surrogate daughter and it's pretty much spelled out by the high priestess of Nurnheim when she's torturing Cliff and Jane.
Larry learns a little more about his "roommate" and they are starting to form a more cohesive bond. It's interesting that the one word that "negative man" uses when the Chief is able to talk to him is "torture." It seems like this isn't great for either.
We haven't talked a lot about Rita in these recaps, but she really steps into the spotlight in this episode. April Bowlby does a great job of showing both sides of Rita. She says that she's not interested in being part of a team, but she always comes back. She shows up. She does't leave. Watching Rita grow is really great. I cheered a little when she stretched her arm out to stop the assassin's. I think one of the best parts of this debut season will be watching Rita start to really embrace her powers and use them in new and different ways. She had a great chemistry with Elliott and the writers deftly handle their exchanges. They could have came off really cloying and cliche but instead they are really genuine and heartwarming.
This episode is a little light on action, especially considering the big brawl from last episode, but we still get a nice showdown between the Doom Patrol and the assassins. It's nice to see Cyborg let loose and that arm sonic cannon was super cool. I loved the effect of them turning into pages from a book when they were killed.
Another thing "Doom Patrol" does well is cliffhangers and this one is a doozy. The book is being read and the Decreator has arrived. I'm genuinely excited to see how the Doom Patrol is going to get out of this one.
Grade: A
Another killer episode. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows and I really didn't think it would be. What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments.
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