REVIEW: ‘Doom Patrol’ Season 3 – Episode 6 “1917 Patrol”

Off the back of the most recent episode, titled “1917 Patrol” of Doom Patrol, we also got the excellent news from DC Fandome that the show has been renewed for a fourth season on HBO Max!

Developed and executive produced by Jeremy Carver, starring Diane Guerrero (Crazy Jane), Matt Bomer (Larry Trainor / Negative Man), Brendan Fraser (Robotman), April Bowlby (Rita Farr), and Jovian Wade (Cyborg), Doom Patrol tells the story of a dysfunctional group of metahumans that were the test subjects of a mad scientist on the quest for immortality. The episode is directed by Omar Madha, who also was responsible for directing “Sex Patrol” in Season 2.

In the previous episode, the team went looking for the Sisterhood of Dada and were hijacked along the way by a mysterious group of metahumans. Meanwhile, Rita and Laura De Mille spent some time connecting, but not before the former takes a ride in the latter’s time-traveling tunneling machine.

Now, in Episode 6, titled “1917 Patrol”, as Rita travels through time, the strain of the journey wreaks havoc with her memory, and as the years roll back, she forgets more and more until she’s a blank slate. Arriving in 1917, she is immediately picked up by the Bureau of Normalcy, at which point she meets some welcoming meta-humans and a familiar face from the future.

The rest of the team, however, are all focused on their internal issues, with some being far more intense than others.

Rita’s story essentially takes precedent for the episode, and so it should as it offers the potential for an interesting loop of a plot point in the coming episodes. There are a few scenes during this period that were absolutely bananas, and without naming names, the actors involved leaned into it and let themselves go, and it shows.

While the entertainment bar has been set quite high, there’s also the stark contrast of the danger that exists as this group is employed and housed by the Bureau of Normalcy. The very organization that hates meta-humans, and seeks to control them, will only be so tolerating for so long as the group pushes their boundaries to the breaking point.

Outside of the main plot point, however, the rest of the group gets very small side stories to deal with, with some of them surmounting to very random acts as a way to balance out the heavier topics. Such as Janes’ literal internal struggle with the other alters inside the underground. Kay decides to go up above for the first time in decades, much to the horror of the other alters, with Jane being her only advocate. The actual parallel of the battles and conflicts with each of us. The difference with Jane, however, is that her battle has alter-egos that exist with their unique meta-powers.

Past that, Cliff becomes addicted to the internet, Larry attempts to reconcile with his son (again), and Vic struggles with his appearance as Cyborg while wrestling with the revealing that an experimental skin graft was a possible solution after his accident.

Overall, Episode 6 of Doom Patrol “1917 Patrol” strongly focuses on the time-traveling journey of Rita as she suffers sudden onset amnesia. While the rest of the team struggles with their own personal issues. A fun episode that promises upcoming plot conflicts but is dragged down a bit with some loose side stories.

Doom Patrol Season 3 Episode 6 is available now exclusively on HBO Max, with a new episode coming next Thursday.