The DC Universe / HBO Max superhero drama, “Doom Patrol” was not a property I was familiar with – I mean at all, – but I had heard Alan Tudyk (Harley Quinn) was in it so I checked it out. Having Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart), Timothy Dalton (Penny Dreadful), and Brendan Fraser (Condor) is not too shabby but Diane Guerrero (Jane the Virgin), April Bowlby (Two and a Half Men), and Joivan Wade round out the cast. The series was developed by Jeremy Carver, who has it turns out written and produced a lot of shows that I like (Supernatural, Being Human (US), Frequency, Prodigal Son). The show is based DC Comics superhero team of the same name written by Arnold Drake & Bob Haney, and artist by Bruno Premiani.

Premise: An idealistic mad scientist, the chief, gathered a group of super-powered individuals, who all received their powers through tragic circumstances, to threat and protect them. But when the chief is abducted by Mr. Nobody those super-powered outcasts, the Doom Patrol, will discover secrets about the chief, and themselves while trying to save him.

Review: If you like weird and bizarre shows just go ahead and watch it, if not stick with it because you might enjoy that mind-bending ride. Doom Patrol is a strange show, I had to hang in there for a bit at the beginning but as the episodes went I totally got into it. It sounds like I’m talking about some gateway drug that you get hooked on but it’s better. There is a sameness to the shows in the television landscape right now, particularly superhero shows. This one is different, a real breath of fresh air.

Although some characters have a familiar “been there, done that” aspect to them – or to be accurate, their abilities do – they stand out with their personalities and the group dynamic. A lot of the things about them and around them are surreal, but at their core, they feel like real people that those surreal things have happened. The cast is as great as the characters they portray – shout out to Diane Guerrero – just like the story they don’t pull any punches.

The aesthetic of the show is also something to behold. The costumes, scenery, cinematography, and special effects are amazing. They perfectly fit with the show and balance everything

Doom Patrol dares to be different, go further, and get quirky and dramatic. It might be the show you didn’t know you wanted, some kind of game changer, better than what you’d expect.

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