TV Review: Doom Patrol, “Dead Patrol,” “Undead Patrol”

When we last left our heroes, most of them had died.

Fortunately, they appear to be only mostly dead, and help is on its way– not Billy Crystal, but Crystal Palace, and some characters from Sandman.

Click through for an account of the afterlife, zombies, cannibalism, killer buttocks, and a time-lost amnesiac. In short, a couple more episodes of Doom Patrol.

Title: Doom Patrol: “Dead Patrol” and “Undead Patrol”

Cast and Crew

Directors: Christopher Manley, Kristen Windell
Writers: Jeremy Carver, Steve Yockey, Tamara Becher-Wilkinson

Cast:
April Bowlby as Rita Farr / Elasti-Woman
Matt Bomer / Matthew Zuk as Larry Trainor / Negative Man
Diane Guerrero as Kay Challis/ Crazy Jane
Riley Shanahan/Brandon Fraser as Cliff Steele / Robotman
Joivan Wade as Victor Stone / Cyborg
Timothy Dalton as Dr. Niles Caulder / The Chief
Michelle Gomez as Madame Rouge
Abigail Shapiro Monterey as Dorothy Spinner
Ty Tennant as Edwin Payne
Sebastian Croft as Charles Rowland
Madalyn Horcher as Crystal Palace
Leela Owen as Kay Challis
Mark Sheppard as Willoughby Kipling
Shoni Baker as Doctor Gammon
Wynn Everett as Shelley Byron / The Fog
Michael Harney as RJ Steele
Charmin Lee as Elinore Stone
Rose Bianco as Grandma Jane
Chantelle Barry as voice of Baphomet
Jon Briddell as Darren Jones
Micah Joe Parker as Monster Man
Ruth Connell as Night Nurse (but not the one from Marvel)
Timothy Dalton as voice of Niles Caulder

Premise

The bulk of the Doom Patrol, having been felled at the conclusion of the previous episode, find themselves wandering between life and afterlife. Larry and Dorothy, still among the living, enlist the Dead Boy Detectives to help bring them back.

Madame Rouge, timelost and suffering from amnesia, annoys the Doom Patrol in a plot that involves mage Willougby Kipling, zombies, several were-bums, and the severed head of Miles Caulder.

High Points

“Dead Patrol” gives us some smaller character moments with the main (even if one gets interrupted by flying horses) and some strong performances by the guest cast. Edwin Payne (Ty Tennant), Charles Rowland (Sebastian Croft), and Crystal Palace (Madalyn Horcher) worked very well.

I wonder if we’ll eventually encounter Death, or will we have to wait for the forthcoming Sandman series?

Low Point

I enjoyed “Undead Patrol,” but it felt like it was trying a little too hard to out-weird the first three episodes. Absurdities cluttered the plot without the internal connection found in the stronger episodes.

The Scores:

Originality: 4/6 The series continues to pull from DC sources, but few shows offer quite so many well-handled WTF? moments.

Effects: 6/6

Acting: 5/6

Story: 5/6 I remain amazed that Doom Patrol can throw many odd twists and still keep the thread of the plot.

Production: 6/6 The fact that the Dead Boy Detectives had their own, distinct theme music was a nice touch and a signal that they’re probably going to get their own series.

Unsurprisingly, HBO Max has ordered a pilot episode.

Emotional Response: 5/6

Overall: 5/6

In total, “Dead Patrol” and “Undead Patrol” receive 36/42