Doom Patrol
Dad Patrol
Season 2 Episode 8
Editors Rating 4 stars ****
Photo: Warner Bros.
A lot of this sophomore season of Doom Patrol has been a waiting game. The biggest wait, of course, has been regarding Dorothy and her whole thing. Her whole thing is the best way to describe it, honestly, because even now, eight episodes in keep in mind, this is a nine-episode season its not too clear. Shes definitely a special, dangerous little girl even the talking bunny knows this. But the whys of everything arent all too clear, and cryptic magic talk can only be interesting for so long before you start wishing everyone involved would just speak plainly. British accents can only do so much heavy lifting, even if they belong to Mark Sheppard and Timothy Dalton.
Some clarity is provided in this episode, though, in the sense that Dorothy isnt just naturally forever 11 years old: She maintains that age and youth because Niles continues to treat her like she is 11 years old (and even younger). Technically, she could grow to an older appearance, but her father very much hasnt treated her as old as she actually is at all this season, or in their past. And as it turns out, that is for good reason beyond just a fathers inability to let his little girl grow up. (Yes, the metaphor is there, but the show is making the metaphor literal. This is how TV works.) Dorothy has been doing everything she can all season to grow up with a lot of nudging from the Candle Maker, who ends up having a vested interest in that which is very much at odds with her fathers desires. The result is a little immortal girl getting her first period and all hell breaking loose. Again, the metaphor becomes literal, the subtext becomes text, and now puberty rears its ugly head as the true Big Bad of Doom Patrol season two.
Another little girls demons are at the forefront of this episode, as Dad Patrol (an episode title that takes on a less fun connotation when you apply it to this plot) opens with a flashback to young Kay, as we see how her monstrous father punished her by making her spend the night in a well. Its in that well that Kay prior to having the comfort of her multiple personalities loses her stuffed lamb (and best friend) Harry in the watery sludge, which brings us to Janes mission for the episode. Dad Patrol makes clear that the deal hasnt been completely done, and Miranda hasnt officially taken over the role of primary. Its more like a test drive. But the episode also reveals that more personalities are disappearing, as Lucy Fugue has gone now, too. Miranda chimes in from up top, telling Jane that its a little tragic when [she] cant see hope staring [her] right in the face, while also giving us a clearer understanding of what Mirandas deal is: Shes basically Jasmine from Angel season four. The conclusion to this plot in the episode confirms it, too, as it reveals shes been killing off personalities by dumping them in the Undergrounds well. (No, theyve not moved on, as Baby Dolls lifeless underwater visage makes very clear.)
But before thats officially confirmed, Miranda spouts off nonsense about the personalities moving on as a result of Kay finally starting to heal, which is, of course, the point of the personalities, right? While Jane tries to figure out from Kay if thats actually whats happening, all Kay can think about is Harry the stuffed lamb and how much she wants him back. While every personality is afraid to go search from Harry including, seemingly, MirandaJane decides shell do it, to prove why shes still the primary. To prove that shes the one who can really get things done. What follows is the rare pairing of Jane and Larry whos struggling with the idea of leaving his past behind to finally know peace with his negative spirit on their way to Kays family farm in Arkansas, as they bond over not wanting to fade away.
Jane finds Harry, but she also finds a letter from Miranda to Kays father, again showing just how formidable and strong Miranda was but also suggesting to Jane that Miranda was scared to come back to this place. Which is why Jane decides to fall in line with Miranda when she returns to the Underground and even gives her Harry to return to Kay herself. Instead, Miranda chucks Harry into the Underground well and then does the same to Jane (where Jane sees the dead personalities). Pretty sneaky, sis.
In terms of the potential for fun in the title Dad Patrol, the Cliff and Clara Steele plot is the one that really delivers although, due to the gloom and doom of the rest of the episode, it really does feel like the other shoe is going to drop by the end of it. But blissfully, it does not: Cliff reconnects with his daughter, accepts that she is a lesbian, gives her good life advice, and then gets invited to her wedding. He even learns hes having a grandson and sings some Mike + The Mechanics The Living Years in the process. The only bad thing that happens in this plot is that he cooks up his beloved severed finger with the sausage he makes Clara for breakfast. But the rest of it? Everythings coming up Cliff, baby.
Except for when it comes to Doom Patrol spin-offs with Cyborg, that is, as Ritas imagined Beekeeper & Borg spin-off a riff on the Emma Peel version of The Avengers, not the Marvel one might actually have Cliffs Steele & Stone beat. Rita is, of course, on a high from saving a mugging victim in Dumb Patrol, and now shes back on her superhero kick. Vic is also back on teasing her about that, as though hes not part of this ragtag bunch of misfits and being called a member of the peewee Justice League by FBI agents. Glass houses, Vic Stone. On the other hand, as hyped as Rita is about her new superhero persona The Beekeeper an upgrade from Blob Lady, surely and about accompanying Vic to Detroit to figure out what happened to Roni, when it finally comes down to possibly confronting Roni (after shes taken down the established Cyborg), Rita is obviously terrified. Your run-of-the-mill muggers are one thing, but ability-infused villains are actually super hero things.
Also, remember when Roni taught Vic about systemic injustice? Remember when they were in a support group for PTSD? Remember Vics PTSD? Remember any of the genuinely interesting aspects introduced in the Vic/Roni storyline that were apparently just a means to an underwhelming fight scene in this episode? (Roni punches Vic a bit before he just draws Cyborg arm at her. Its impressive what a little uma jelly from the Scants can do shes no longer dying, thanks to it as this episode reveals she definitely didnt even ingest all of it.) While the Niles/Dorothy plot this season suffers from being vague, the Vic/Roni plot suffers from rushing this relationship and skipping all the actually interesting components in favor of telling an epic love story thats missing some important parts. Its kind like the Robotman of Doom Patrol plots.
The other issue with this plot is that, in Vics black-and-white view of the world, even though hes right that cold-blooded murder is wrong, Roni taking out the head of one of Doom Patrols many shadowy organizations offscreen isnt the type of thing thats going to really make anyone turn on the character. In fact, its that she gets caught on camera and there isnt even a possibility she didnt that straight up hurts the character, not the fact that she killed this guy. Roni does make a good point that shes told Vic the whole time who she is while he still thinks its a matter of who she was but the story also relies on Vic simply ignoring that.
Plus, the pinnacle of romance for them was apparently eating at a sub sandwich shop. A tale of true heartbreak, this is not. If theres any plot in Dad Patrol that needed more daddy issues, its definitely this one.
This week, in Im Cyborg: Actually, its more like, This week, in Im Cyborgs partner. Vic definitely one-ups the FBI agent who insults him, but Rita gets the most out of the whole Cyborg thing due to her excitement over being The Beekeeper. Its early, so no one questions the lack of bees or bee-related abilities when it comes to Ritas superhero alter ego. But they really should.
Also in the Cloverton newspaper? Our Towns Our Town! Is A Conduit For Clovertons Chaos. The article must not have mentioned Rita, though, so it makes sense she doesnt mention it.
Niles uses a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup as a burner phone, and it is truly the best thing Niles has done since he created a bunch of immortal weirdos.
Clara calls Cliff dad on her way out, and Cliff almost cries as much as robot men can cry, that is.
For all of Niles worry about Dorothy getting into trouble and destroying the world, he sure lets her run off by herself all the time. That the gas station scene turns into a touching period moment instead of a massacre over people pointing at the freak is impressive. But then he lets her go off alone at a county fairs funhouse, where she ends up being haunted by her mothers spirit and the Candle Maker, so way to go, Niles.
While Niles remains a bad dad, at least episode writers Tom Farrell and April Fitzsimmons know what theyre doing. Case in point? They have Niles cough a bunch into a handkerchief, revealing blood and the fact that Niles is dying. Again, this is how TV works.
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