Aaaaah, family. Family is one of the best things in the world. Family is also one of the worst things in the world. Good or bad, family is all that we have in this world. That is really the crux of the second season of DC’s Doom Patrol. Released early this year on DVD and BD, the series’ second season is an interesting continuation for the series. That is due to the noted story featured in this season. It will be addressed shortly. The cast’s work throughout the season is also of import here, and will be examined a little later. The bonus content, as little as it really is here, also plays at least some part in the set’s presentation. It will be discussed later, too. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of Doom Patrol’s second season. All things considered, they make this season one more of this year’s gradually growing list of the year’s top new DVD and Blu-ray box sets for grown-up audiences.
The second season of DC’s Doom Patrol is an interesting outing for the series. The series, and group is among the lesser-known of DC’s properties, but this season is sure to help bring both much more attention. That is proven in part through the season’s story. The story, as noted already, is on the importance of family. Even as emotionally heavy as the story is throughout, that emphasis remains. Audiences will be moved as they watch Larry (a.k.a. Negative Man) try to make amends with his family following the revelation of his son’s death. Viewers will be just as moved (albeit in a more lighthearted way) as they watch Cliff try to make amends with his daughter after finding out that she survived the wreck that led to him becoming Robot Man. On yet another note, Rita facing the demon that is the trauma caused by her mother is just as engaging and entertaining because of the subtle way in which it is tied into the whole of the story. Crazy Jane even has her own family of sorts in her head that she has to deal with over the course of this season. Looking through this, the first thing that one might feel that there is a lot going on. That would be right. However, even as much as is going on in the bigger story, the ability of the writers to balance all of these interweaving story lines is on full display. What’s more, the depth in each character’s story and the very stories themselves prove relatable to so many audiences. Case in point is the revelation of who Cliff’s daughter is marrying. His reaction to that revelation is reflective of so much of America in the current age. Most people likely will not admit to it, but in a case such as that of Rita, lots of people deal with the emotional trauma brought on by toxic relationships with their parents during their formative years, so even that is believable. Larry’s case is similar to that of Rita, just in a different fashion, which perhaps is why the pair bonds so well this season. He made his son feel like he was not good enough, being a hot shot pilot in his normal life, and that led to the rift between the pair.
Through all of the emotional issues that the Doom Patrol faces this season in dealing with their pasts with their families, they grow as individuals. As a result of that growth, viewers see the group, including Cyborg, start to develop into the heroes that they will be as the show continues. Speaking on that note, the series is currently in the midst of its 3rd season. Its home release will likely come early in the new year just as this season was released early this year, considering the air date for Season Three’s finale. Getting back on topic, the character development that audiences see this season makes the season, in hindsight, really a transitional season of sorts. It is a continuation of Season One, and in turn is sure to lead to something even more interesting and exciting in Season Three. Keeping that all in mind, the story featured in the second season of Doom Patrol is reason enough for audiences to give the season a chance. It is just one of the season’s positives. The cast’s work adds its own appeal to the presentation.
Brendan Fraser leads the way once again in terms of the cast’s work. His general personality and sharp tongue brings a much needed looseness and unique comic relief to the show. Given, every other word out of his mouth is made up four letters, but just his sheer delivery in every scene is so great. His nonstop declaration that he’s going to kill the chief after being launched out of the chief’s space ship and landing in a fiery ball into a random field is a prime example of his expert timing. Audiences know that he is really made, but there is just something about his delivery that makes audiences laugh as hard as ever even as they feel sympathy for Cliff. This especially considering the heart that he developed for Dorothy shortly before that happened. On a similar note, the chemistry that he shows alongside Dianne Guerrero (Crazy Jane) creates its own dynamic. The way he just casually accepts that she has so many personalities is funny in its own way because of the very subtlety in that relationship of sorts.
Similarly, the aforementioned onscreen work between April Bowlby (Rita) and Matt Bomer (Larry) is just as enjoyable to see even with it being more of a secondary performance of sorts. The duo knows that its wok is secondary, too, and makes the most of it as their characters lean on one another.
Staying on the note of the pair, Bowlby is inspiring as she takes Rita through her emotional journey in facing her own past. There were so many opportunities for Bowlby to really go over the top, considering all of the drama in this season. Thankfully she did not go that route. The end result is that she makes Rita that much more of a sympathetic character throughout the season.
Much the same can be said of Bomer’s work as Larry. The moments when he is in the shed next to his son’s home, reading the letter that his son wrote as a child is absolutely heartbreaking. Because his face is covered with bandages, Bomer is forced to do his emoting more through his actions, and they do so well to reveal the depth of Larry’s remorse for the past. It is just one more way in which the cast’s performances make for so much depth this time out. Between the performances noted here and so much more exhibited by the cast, the cast’s overall work here is so enjoyable to watch. When the whole is considered along with the depth in the season’s story, the two elements join to make for that much more reason to watch this season of Doom Patrol. It still is only a part of what makes this season engaging and entertaining. The bonus content that accompanies the season in its home release rounds out the most important of its items.
The bonus content featured in the home release of Doom Patrol’s second season is limited to say the least. One of the bonuses is just one of the show’s creative heads talking about shooting the show in Georgia. The brief discussion is basically just an advertisement for filming in Georgia and is honestly irrelevant. The other bonus feature, which focuses on the season’s makeup and special effects gives audiences at least a brief glance into the work that went into this season’s look. Audiences will appreciate the determination that the show’s makeup and costume heads had for something as minute as the freckles on Dorothy’s face, making sure that they stayed the same in each episode. Such dedication to the show’s look is admirable to say the least. Understanding that the twin brother duo has always been so serious about makeup, going all the way back to its childhood, makes for even more appreciation for the pair’s work. It will lead, in hindsight, to even more appreciation for the look of Doom Patrol in its second season. One can only hope that considering this is the season’s only other bonus feature, there will be more bonus content in the third season’s home release. At least this bonus adds a little bit more appreciation for this season, if only for its aesthetics. Keeping that in mind along with the impact of the season’s story and the cast’s work, the whole becomes that much more engaging and entertaining. It collectively makes the season in whole a great continuation for the series and one more of the year’s top new DVD and Blu-ray box sets for grown up audiences.
Doom Patrol: Season Two is an overall impressive offering. Its appeal starts with its story. Yes, the story is extremely emotionally heavy, but in understanding the character development hat takes place throughout the season, it makes the heaviness that much more understandable and bearable. It shows the group on the verge of becoming “super heroes” of sorts. Hopefully that growth and change will become even more evident in Season Three, considering this. The cast’s work interpreting that development adds to the season’s appeal. That is because the group’s work is just that believable. Being so believable, it ensures viewers’ engagement and entertainment that much more. Keeping in mind the positive impact of the cast’s work and of the story, there is just one more item to note. That item is the bonus content. The bonus content featured in this season’s home release is minimal to say the least, but at least one of the bonuses offers more appreciation for the season. In this case, it focuses on the season’s look. That item works with the season’s other noted items to make the whole well worth watching and one more of this year’s top new DVD and BD box sets for grown up audiences.
Doom Patrol: Season Two is available now. More information on the season and other DC Universe series is available online at:
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