Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 12 Review: Done Patrol
The team faces off with the butt monster army and Isabel/ Immortus on Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 12, “Done Patrol.”
More importantly, though, “Done Patrol,” — written by Shoshana Sachi and Ezre Daniels and directed by Christopher Manley – is a touching goodbye to our favorite motley crew of misfits.
The episode wraps up the big showdown with Isabel/Immortus and the butt monsters pretty quickly. If “Done Patrol” were simply a season finale, that might be a little underwhelming, given the build-up to the final confrontation.
But “Done Patrol” is the series finale. Doom Patrol has a large cast of characters, and each deserves a proper goodbye. It’s not a big deal to spend less time on external battles to make time to give viewers that closure.
If the choice is between an epic final battle or doing right by a series’ characters, the correct answer is always focusing on the characters. This is especially true for a show like Doom Patrol, which has always been heavily character-driven.
It’s probably best not to think too deeply about the conclusion of the Immortus storyline. Getting bogged down in specific plot points is missing the forest for the trees. Just go with it. There are some handwavey explanations and unanswered questions, but none of it takes away from the overall episode.
Plus, it is perfectly on brand for Doom Patrol for the day to be saved because Isabel/ Immortus and the butt monsters bond over show tunes. What a sweetly ridiculous, wonderfully weird way to wrap up the series’ final big bad.
I love that Isabel and the butt monsters get a happy ending like everyone else. I didn’t expect that, but in hindsight, I can’t imagine Doom Patrol doing anything less.
Let’s also take a minute to appreciate the journey of the butt monsters. These characters introduced as a gag during season one kept coming back and grew to be part of the fabric of the Doom Patrol world.
They will always be one of the most absurd parts of the series. Try explaining them to anyone who doesn’t watch the show with a straight face. Yet, somehow, they became characters we invest in, fear, sympathize with, and maybe even root for. Brilliant.
As great as the singing butt monsters are, the heart of the episode is everything that happens after they disappear with Isabel/ Immortus. The most important part of “Done Patrol” is the conclusion of everyone’s story.
By the time we got to “Portal Patrol,” I was hopeful we would get a satisfying series finale. But to call “Done Patrol” a satisfying finale is a disservice to the beautiful sendoff that we get.
“Done Patrol” is heartfelt and moving. It is clear the people behind the series love these characters as much as we do. Everyone gets a happy ending that feels earned and true to their journey. Some of the endings are bittersweet but still right for that character.
Seeing our friends finally find what they are looking for, whether it be peace, love, purpose, or clarity, leaves viewers with full hearts and a sense of wistful happiness.
It even cast a new light on one of my most consistent complaints about the show over the years. The characters always fell back into old patterns, taking one step forward only to take two back.
But after Rita’s speech to the team, it’s clear that is the point. The team is their found family and a source of comfort, but it also kept them stuck. To move forward, they needed to move on.
If we had not watched these characters struggle to make their personal growth stick or felt the frustration of their selfish and self-destructive choices in past seasons, Rita’s speech would not have the same resonance.
While all the characters get wonderful sendoffs, perhaps the most joyful ending is Jane heading out to space with Casey. I would have loved to see more of that relationship play out on screen, but I can’t be mad at anything as adorable as what we get on “Done Patrol.”
They even adopt a cat together. It’s purrrrfection (I’m sorry, I’ll show myself out).
I am still not ready for Doom Patrol to end. However, if this has to be the end, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
What did you think of this episode of Doom Patrol? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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All episodes of Doom Patrol are currently streaming on Max.
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.