Doomies rejoice! The Doom Patrol has returned! And, this time, they’re ready to act as a team. Yes, it’s true, the residents of Doom Manor, located in Cloverton, Ohio are ready to show the Justice League how real heroism is done. While things seem uncertain in the space of DC properties amongst new leadership at Warner Brothers and even DC, it’s business as usual for Cliff, Jane, Larry, Rita, Vic, and Rouge, as things can most definitely get even weirder than before
Finding Their Groove in Chaos
When we last left our so called “heroes”, they were strapping into a giant red robot connected with Madame Rouge’s time-travelling drill, sending themselves halfway across the world to handle a giant floating testicle monster that began to wreak havoc within the Suez Canal. When we pickup this season we find the gang adjusting to their new lives as heroes but still struggling to act as one under the leadership of the one and only Rita Farr.
This season kicks off on a high note, with the team taking on none other than the DC Comics supervillain Codpiece, an emasculated fool with a laser cannon for a crotch who channels the energy of Macho Man: Randy Savage. Yes, you did indeed read that right. We see the team struggle to work together as even though they worked through much of their own personal traumas, they still haven’t worked on their dynamic together all that much, and Vic is just struggling to find his place following the removal of his cyber enhancements.
Joivan Wade gets a great story arc this season, as he struggles to find a place on this new team as he longer has his cybernetic enhancements that made him a prime candidate for the Justice League. In the past seasons, we’ve seen him struggle with an overbearing father and even contemplate his own privilege and beg the question, what is he without his cybernetics? Who is Victor Stone?. He gets back to his roots here, reconnecting with his childhood best friend, Derrick, whom he left behind when he became Cyborg. Wade is always a joy to watch and always brings his all to the role of Vic Stone.
Elastic Hearts, Iron Hands, and a Crisis of Infinite Asses
One of the season’s best aspects is the overwhelming feeling of freedom; you can really feel the new lease on life that many of these characters have to come to acquire after the past few seasons and working through the trauma built up over the years. They’re ready to enjoy the life they’ve longed for after spending so long shut inside and seeing them come together after three seasons was just so satisfying.
Bowlby, of course, comes charging into the room once more as Rita Farr, bringing a powerhouse performance that has long gone unrecognized and is certainly award worthy. Rita’s new lease on life and the ability to control her elasticity has given her the strength to come out from the shadows and work to lead this team of misfits into battle.
Like many actors and actresses today, Rita sees her chance to move from the controlled, an actress, and sets her sights on the directors chair seeing herself in control of her own path forward after spending years believing herself to be a fraud who’d never really earned anything herself. To me with each passing season Bowlby continues to prove that Rita herself is the beating heart of the dynamic between the residents of Doom Manor, she may not always be able to keep herself together but its her persistence that leads me to believe she may be the strongest of them all.
Cliff gets a much more personal arc this season, being given back a sense he has long missed, being able to feel in his fingertips again (but just in his right hand). Cliff is and has always been a family man, no matter how poorly he shows it, and he shows it quite poorly as we know. But the second he’s given this sense back he is determined to hold his loved ones again. Cliff has come a long way, his years in a cold, metal prison have just continued to prove what a big warm softie he is, and of course the legendary Brendan Fraser sells the hell out of it.
Cliffs relationships with the team have always been quite different, but its his relationship with Jane thats always been a personal favorite. The surrogate roles each of them fill for each other has always been an important part of their dynamic and continues to be one of the shows best. One moment in particular this season is quite possibly their best and it just wouldn’t be the same if anyone else besides Fraser and Diane Guerrero were playing Cliff and Jane.
This feels as if its finally coming full circle, without diving into spoilers this season answers a pretty big question thats been on the mind of fans since season one. Something that had never been explained and no one ever really questioned, it was nice to see it answered and the way it fits into the story works incredibly well.
Early on, we’re led to believe that the team must deal with the repercussions of a previous issue thought to be resolved, a “Crisis of Infinite Asses” as one character puts it. Yeah, if you missed the asses, the literal running jokes from season one make their grand return as they pose the threat of an asspocalypse in which the Doom Patrol must make sure never happens. However, as always, things don’t appear as they seem as we quickly learn of another impending threat, one that could destroy reality as they know it.
But, first, just a little bit of goofing off!
‘Doom Patrol’ Season 4 – Final Thoughts
Doom Patrol has always thrived in the space between chaos and catharsis, but Season 4 feels like a show finally embracing its identity with full confidence. With every character given meaningful development, tighter group dynamics, and a storyline that somehow makes room for both soul-searching and sentient butts, this half-season hits a sweet spot fans have long hoped for. It’s funny, freakish, and unexpectedly moving—a reminder that even the weirdest heroes can still pack the biggest emotional punch.
The first part of the fourth season of Doom Patrol is set to premiere on December 8th exclusively on HBO Max. You can check out the trailer for the upcoming season below!
The Review
'Doom Patrol' Season 4
Doom Patrol has always thrived in the space between chaos and catharsis, but Season 4 feels like a show finally embracing its identity with full confidence. With every character given meaningful development, tighter group dynamics, and a storyline that somehow makes room for both soul-searching and sentient butts, this half-season hits a sweet spot fans have long hoped for. It’s funny, freakish, and unexpectedly moving—a reminder that even the weirdest heroes can still pack the biggest emotional punch.
