Once the De-Creator is summoned that is it. This episode continues an upward trajectory for Doom Patrol. Despite a rocky start, this show has found its footing, and is doing well. A fine mix of cast performances, visual effects, and liberal F-bombs make for an enjoyable romp for the DC Universe’s second series. Here’s five thoughts on Doom Patrol‘s “Paw Patrol.” As always, beware of spoilers.
1. I Haven’t Even Been In the Last Two Episodes
Alan Tudyk is back and it was nineteen seventy-someting. Mr Nobody’s narration is wonderfully and purposefully annoying. Tudyk revels in his antagonist role here, playing with fourth-wall-breaking and being the voyeur’s eye to this menagerie of freaks. Time travel shenanigans are abound this week and they are played to great effect. No sharks are jumped here, only smart choices are made throughout the script which is executed with prowess throughout the episode, using Dr Harrison as the vehicle that drives it all.
2. Oh You Think You’re So Clever Don’t You, Jane?
I was heavily critical of the portrayal of Crazy Jane in the opening episodes of this series but the last two episodes really fleshed the character, or roster of characters as it were, out. Dr Harrison is sublimely creepy. “That is your hand, your pen, and you can jam it in you eye as many times as you like.” This line made me want to jam my own pen into my eye, and not out of boredom from this show like I felt watching Titans.
As actress Diane Guerrero bounces back and forth between Dr Harrison, Penny Farthing, and Hammerhead, she is given much more room to breathe and seizes the day at every turn. The casing of Kay that houses this menagerie of multiple personalities is getting a much better representation, and Guerrero is doing a fine job playing these parts.
3. Two Freaks on a Yellowbrick Road
The relationship between Cliff and the many faces of Jane is also on display here. “This is not my fucking life” resonates from the metal mouth of the robot man as it is met with a fantastic response. The father/daughter relationship being set up between Cliff and Jane works well, especially as it is opposed by the alternate personas that live within the same visage.
They’re not a fucking menu, and Cliff does not get to choose which version of Kay he is dealing with, no matter how much he needs her.
4. Ezekiel
No monologue from this series is as well presented as Ezekiel the cockroach yelling at a crowd who does not hear him. The rat who squeaks about cheese may be the most amusing part of this episode. We don’t need people to make cheese, and the least autonomous character begs this question and is answered with hilarity.
Pasteurization and mold, that’s all you need.
5. Let’s Not Turn This Two-Parter Into a Trilogy
Technically this is neither a two-parter nor trilogy. Doom Patrol has done a fine job spreading a long-reaching narrative across self-contained individual episodes. If this show continues to present the level of narrative competence and deft delivery from its cast, it will unquestionably be not only the best of the DC Universe, but one of DC’s best live-action series ever.
