Doom Patrol review: season 4 may not be all that super-heroic, but it’s still entertaining
A few nitpicks aside, HBO Max's Doom Patrol delivers the goods—and leads to a thrilling mid-season cliffhanger
Isn’t it just like the Doom Patrol to make the season when they finally decide to become superheroes the least super-heroic one yet? Sure, the gang never had the greatest grasp of their abilities to begin with, but in part one of season four, they are particularly de-powered. (Part two kicks off sometime next year.) It’s not a good time for them to be slacking on the job, either, as the team finds themselves staring down the barrel of not one, but two apocalypses. But that’s a big chunk of the problem: Whether they decide to call themselves the Doom Patrol or not, the apocalypses start coming—and they don’t stop.
Our heroes–now including Laura De Mille (Michelle Gomez)—are as charmingly irreverent and enjoyable to watch as ever. But the fact that they don’t really do anything can be frustrating. Vic (Jovian Wade) has traded in his Cyborg tech to try on being normal, yet for some reason, he’s decided to stick around to be the team’s IT guy. (A meetup with Vic’s estranged middle-school friends is both touching and provides the most natural opportunity that this version of the character has yet experienced for him to say “Booyah.”)
Similarly, Jane (Diane Guerrero) is aimlessly searching for a purpose that doesn’t involve protecting Kay (Skye Roberts)—nor does it involve much super-heroics from her other personalities. And Larry (played by Matthew Zuk and voiced by Matt Bomer) not only struggles to effectively put his new negative spirit into action, but actually spends much of these episodes separated from it. (You will tire of Larry plaintively calling, “Keeg?” as he searches for his missing adolescent spirit-child.)
Rita (April Bowlby) and Cliff (played by Riley Shanahan and voiced by Brendan Fraser) are similarly lost, but their goals are at least a bit more clear. (And notably, they’re the only ones who, besides Laura, remain most in control of their abilities.) Rita discovered a sense of self with the Sisterhood of Dada that she struggles to regain back with the team, which is made all the worse by the presence of her nemesis, Laura. Meanwhile, Cliff’s grandson Rory remains his north star, but he’s torn between making himself or the world better for his family. (If he improves the world through violence, how can he become a better man?)