Doom Patrol Season One, Episode 11, “Frances Patrol”

As Doom Patrol enters the last third of its season, we find the major season’s story line get only cursory treatment, while some of the background threads are tied up or explored.

Jane leads the drive to find The Chief, wanting to follow up on the missing character from the comic book that was provided by Danny Da Street.  That lead in the case brings another confrontation with the Bureau of Normalcy.

Cyborg is having software issues, and it doesn’t appear that he can solve them by turning it off and back on again.  The IT Help Line won’t be much good.  Vic actually goes to the lengths of removing Grid from his body following the lack of control he exhibited with the Beard Hunter and discovers that his body is turning more cybernetic.  Vic is confused by this, because of no new metal body parts.  A bit of exploratory reveals how that is happening.

Cliff learns that his former friend and his daughter’s adoptive father (Bump) has died, and he sees this as his moment to reconnect with his daughter.  His anger leads to some awkward moments at the wake, even by Florida standards.  But, hearing the eulogy his daughter gives, I think he mellows some.  Of course, that doesn’t stop him from rushing into action for a misguided gesture to win his daughter.  In the end, he tracks down Bump’s killer, and succeeds in the basis of the gesture.  He just doesn’t take credit for it, and never tells his daughter who he is.

The best part of the episode to me was all of Larry’s time on screen.  In Larry’s dream when the Other is out of his body, he connects with his lover.  At first, I thought it was just Larry’s memory or desire of John, but the second dream makes it seem that John has some control over the dreams too.  This leads Larry to track down John.  Larry finds him on his deathbed, but they are able to make some peace with each other, which I think also leads to some peace with the Negative Man.

With another team member missing, what’s next for the Doom Patrol?