Doom Patrol review: 5 best moments from Danny Patrol
The team crosses paths with a living, sentient, gender-queer, teleporting street and Jane lives out her own rom-com from hell in this week’s weird, but surprisingly deep, Doom Patrol.
Last week, Doom Patrol pulled the rug out from under us by having a seemingly normal episode, only to have a final twist of a Batman-esque rat crawling out of Cliff’s mouth after swearing vengeance on him for running over his rat mom with the bus. This week on “Danny Patrol,” we start off at an 11 on the weirdness scale and just stay there from start to finish, and I got to say, it’s nice when Doom Patrol stays strange.
The true strength of the show is its ability to meld strangeness with genuine heart and the latest episode was a winner on both accounts.
Go ahead and check out the list below for the five best moments of “Danny Patrol”
5. Crazy Jane gets her fairy-tale rom-com moment
With Jane incredibly hurt by what Cliff said to her last week about nobody being able to stand her, a new personality took the wheel. Her name is Karen and she thinks her life is one big romantic comedy. Rita informs Cliff that whenever Karen comes out, she returns to a poor schmuck named Doug and the two rekindle their toxic relationship.
In the episode’s first great moment, Doug and Karen’s reunion plays out like a bad Hallmark movie, complete with rain-drenched confessions of love. Sure, one’s a crazy personality who talks like one of those annoying millennials and the other is being slightly mind-controlled, but that’s what love is all about right?
4. Danny the Street is everything that makes this show great
Forget Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man or Admiral Whiskers, because the show just introduced its weirdest character. Danny the Street is… well… an actual street that’s able to teleport anywhere in the world. But more than that, Danny is a positive and encouraging personality that just wants everyone to be happy and to be their true selves. Having someone like Danny both allows the show to continue its weird streak, but also show off the heart this show is capable of.
3. Bureau of Normalcy
More from HBO
- Hacks season 3 gets exciting release update: Here’s what we know
- Blue Beetle gets disappointing Max release update
- Friends snags No.1 spot on U.S. streaming services – and we’re not surprised
- Will there be a Steven Universe revival? Rebecca Sugar says “if there’s a huge amount of public demand”
- Industry season 3 is not coming until 2024: Here’s what we know about the release
Although a little underdeveloped, we got our first proper introduction to the shady organization that will probably be a thorn in the Doom Patrol’s side for many episodes to come. The Bureau of Normalcy is a group of agents that try to eliminate any sort of “abomination” that’s a little too strange or indecent. They are the ones responsible for experimenting on Larry back in the 50’s, and now they’re after Danny the Street. Yes, they are a little one-note, but they’re a good antagonist to have in this world of weirdos.
2. Maura Lee Karupt makes a stand
In a surprising twist, the Doom Patrol actually doesn’t do a whole lot in this episode to save the day. In a good instance of a guest character having a fully-realized character arc, the episode begins with an agent of the Bureau of Normalcy infiltrate Danny the Street, but then immediately finds their true self once around Danny. The agent-turned-drag performer, Maura Lee Karupt, represents the idea that Danny the Street welcomes everyone off all identities and deserves to be protected.
The final battle with the Bureau storming Danny doesn’t end with the Doom Patrol fighting them off. Instead, we get Maura fighting her boss one-on-one and emerging victorious. You go, Queen!
1. Larry Trainor rocks People Like Us
Larry Trainor has hopefully finally made a breakthrough. The self-proclaimed coward who hates everything about himself still has a long way to go to become a hero, but this episode went a long way into forcing Larry to accept himself. It culminates in the episode’s, and possibly the entire season’s, best moment when Maura Lee invites Larry on stage to sing Karaoke.
What we’re treated to is something magical, as the nervous walking band-aid stood up on stage and started a rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us.” Suddenly something changes in Larry. He’s into it and starts rocking the song. Danny the Street appears to alter perceptions and turns Larry back into his pre-burned self and we see Matt Bomer rock an incredible song and dance number where Larry’s happy and accepted by those around him.
If it sounds too good to be true, you’re right. The song ends and it’s revealed that the whole scene was in Larry’s head and he really didn’t stand up to sing. It’s a sad ending to one of the show’s most uplifting moments, but it doesn’t stay sad. By the end of the episode, we see Larry did finally step on stage to sing, and it’s hinted that he sounds nothing like Matt Bomer in real life, which is just hilarious.
Next. 5 Characters Idris Elba Could Play in 'Suicide Squad 2'. dark
What were your favorite moments from this week’s episode? Be sure to let us know down in the comments and we’ll be back next week for another review!
Doom Patrol airs Fridays on DC Universe.