DC has had many successful series over the years, and one hidden gem makes for the perfect binge just waiting to be discovered. James Gunn’s DC Universe has already released one series, the animated Creature Commandos, with its first live-action TV show, John Cena’s Peacemaker season 2, set to debut later this week. This is a new era for DC.
The studio has many projects in development, with each of them being free to pursue the tone that best fits it. For instance, Peacemaker‘s raunchy humor and TV-MA violence differ a lot from what was seen in David Corenswet’s Superman movie. Those keen on catching up with DC’s many exciting shows might have missed a hidden gem, and this 4-season series is unique.
Doom Patrol Is An Iconic Superhero Show That Is Genuinely Like No Other
The TV show in question is Doom Patrol, which was originally released on the DC Universe streaming service. As the seasons went by, the streaming service would be transformed into a comics-exclusive app, with Doom Patrol moving to HBO Max. The DC series is made for an older audience that appreciates a healthy mix of absurd humor, dark themes, and strong personalities.
The series tells the story of a group of misfits who band together — reluctantly — as the Doom Patrol. All the characters have dark pasts, ranging from what was done to them to controversial choices made by the characters themselves. Doom Patrol has the perfect mix of raunchy, irreverent humor and deeply emotional moments. Teen Titans’ Cyborg appears in the show.
Most of DC’s live-action series either focus on bigger heroes or characters who are more aligned with traditional superhero/supervillain stories. Doom Patrol stars a group of odd individuals involved in freak accidents, who, most of the time, wrestle with the notion of being heroes and helping others. There are several absurd situations, like fighting butts, that make the show stand out.
Doom Patrol’s Place In DC’s On-Screen Empire Means It’s Been Criminally Underappreciated
Despite its unique status within DC’s live-action canon, Doom Patrol has not exploded in popularity like other DC projects have. I believe the main reason for that comes from a franchise issue. DC has had multiple major shared universes over the past decade. There was the Arrowverse on TV, which was the comic book giant’s most popular shared universe for years.
Then, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) made quite a splash, with some exciting moments and just as many controversies. Now, Gunn’s DC Universe is doing a fine job of rebooting the franchise and getting fans on DC’s side again. Given how Doom Patrol was not connected to those franchises, it fell by the wayside. That makes it the perfect DC hidden gem.
Doom Patrol
8/10
- Release Date
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2019 – 2023-00-00
- Showrunner
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Jeremy Carver
- Directors
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Chris Manley, Kristin Windell, Dermott Downs, Harry Jierjian, Rebecca Rodriguez, Omar Madha, Glen Winter
