DOOM PATROL:
THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON
(2022-2023)
Label: WBDHE
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 586 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.20:1)
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, April Bowlby, Diane Guerrero, Joivan Wade, Timothy Dalton, Michelle Gomez,
Synopsis: In Season Four of Doom Patrol DC’s unlikeliest group of heroes, the Doom Patrol, are ready to save the world... kind of. After suffering horrific accidents that gave them superhuman abilities, Cliff/Robotman (Brendan Fraser, Encino Man), Larry/Negative Man (Matt Bomer, Magic Mike), Rita/Elasti-Woman (April Bowlby, The Slammin' Salmon), Jane/Crazy Jane (Diane Guerrero, Orange is the New Black), and Vic/Cyborg (Joivan Wade, Titans) were each left scarred, disfigured, and ostracized – until mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton, Hot Fuzz) brings the outcasts together to treat and protect them. Gritty and irreverent, Doom Patrol follows this part support group, part superhero team as they take on evil, otherworldly forces determined to destroy humankind – even if it wants nothing to do with them.
The final season of Doom Patrol delivers the uncanny weirdness that the shows was known for, we get the return of Were-butts, big bad Immortus, time travel both forward and backward, Dorothy bringing characters from her favorite comic book to life, our heroes sucked into a movie world, and shape-shifter Madame Rouge taking over the reigns of the team, and even a musical episode. The show has always had a lot of heart to it mixed in with the superhero shenanigans, and we get plenty of that as well with the characters attempting to move on from past traumas. I've always thought the the characters were so dang interesting here, we have Kays struggles with her multiple personalities struggling for dominance, Negative Man's relationship with the alien entity inside him, Cyborg's struggle to maintain his humanity while having cybernetic enhancements, Robotman is outfitted with a new robotic body this season and can actually feels things for the first time, and Rita/Elasti-Woman a former Hollywood actress who struggles to maintain her shape and losing control of the team. The interplay between the characters is ripe with melodrama, the team as usual find themselves in an oddball assortment unexpected and surreal situations. The finale does seem a bit rushed even over twelve episodes, but I was largely quite enamored with it, even if there are dangling story and character threads that are not resolved, but it still hit strong and the final episode left me a bit dusty-eyed. The show maintained its weirdness for all four seasons, and I think that it's that bizarre, off kilter approach combined with the interesting characters that will keep this four season gem in the minds of fans for years to come.
Audio/Video: The final season of Doom Patrol arrives on Blu-ray from WBDHE in 1080p HD framed in 2.00:1 widescreen, the 12 episodes spread across three discs. The show is generally quite dark with lots of filtered lighting and digital components, but the HD image fares quite nicely with food depth and contrast, I noticed some banding in a few scenes, but overall a very pleasing stylized look with crisp visuals and lots of atmosphere. Audio by way of English DTS-HD MA 5,1 with optional English subtitles. Like the previous three seasons it's a nicely immersive experience with excellent fidelity.
The extras for the third season of Doom Patrol are disappointing, only three featurettes that add up to about 10-minutes of content - this show, the characters, the comic's legacy, the set design and the creators deserve to be celebrated, bit this is pretty anemic. The 3-disc Blu-ray release arrives an an eco-case with a flipper tray housing the discs, featuring a 2-sided non-reversible sleeve of artwork, the reverse side featuring an image of the Doom Patrol and a listing of the episodes and extras.
Special Features:
- Unsung Heroes (2:52)
- Transformation Patrol (2:43)
- Off-Off-Broadway (3:52)
Season Four Episodes:
- Doom Patrol
- Butt Patrol
- Nostalgia Patrol
- Casey Patrol
- Youth Patrol
- Hope Patrol
- Orqwith Patrol
- Fame Patrol
- Immortimas Patrol
- Tomb Patrol
- Portal Patrol
- Done Patrol
Screenshots from the WBDHE Blu-ray:
