Doom Patrol has quickly become one of my favorite shows of all times. If you don’t have the DC Universe app, it’s worth the $6.99 a month just for this epically weird show. Not only is Doom Patrol strange, quirky, and all of the above, but it is incredibly on the nose at some points. There are tragic moments, absolutely heartbreaking scenes, and aware enough of itself to be sure to use it as a platform to include well…inclusivity. There is so much I could say about the show as a whole and the way they choose to highlight certain subject matters, but I want to talk about one episode in particular. Danny Patrol.
During the second half of the season, we are introduced to the Bureau of Normalcy. We should have already known that these would be primary adversaries considering how the Doom Patrol is a collection of beloved “weirdos”. We start the episode with an agent (Morris Wilson) journeying to a target of the bureau’s, but who quickly ditches the Bureau of Normalcy in order to truly be himself. What is the cause for Wilson to abandon the agency? Why, it’s Danny the Street. No, not Danny on the street; Danny the Street. Danny is a “sentient, genderqueer, teleporting street” and they are so incredibly welcoming that Wilson can’t help, but feel at home.
Due to the events of the episode, Larry and Vic end up on Danny the Street while still searching for the Chief. Larry, who has still been holding in his true nature this whole time; sees how free everyone is and how encouraging Danny is. We also see that Larry has had a run in with the Bureau himself and while the residents of Danny the Street see this as a safe haven to be who they really are, Larry is hesitant. He is hesitant to be himself due to his upbringing and how unacceptable being gay was during the 60s.
Not only does this episode allow Larry to freely express himself, but we have a genderqueer character in Danny the Street. In this episode and the other times we see Danny, we really do feel like this is a real character, and probably one of the best side characters Doom Patrol has.
We also see that the agent who was originally sent to help detain Danny decided to live there. As the drag queen Maura Lee Karupt. Becoming a Dannyzen allowed Maura to embrace who she really was on the inside. When Darren Jones, an agent from the Bureau; attempts to not only detain Danny but belittle everyone there as well, Maura gives him the ass-kicking he deserves. All while giving a proclamation of fabulousness and self-love.
Danny Patrol was one of the best episodes in Doom Patrol, so for this Pride Month please check it out and always be yourself.
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
