Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 10 Review: Tomb Patrol
This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
The dawn of the Buttpocalypes is upon us on Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 10, “Tomb Patrol.”
The episode, written by Kaylah Ellison and Tom Farrell and directed by Omar Madha, opens with the much-anticipated return of the butt monsters. This time, they are organized and out for retribution, specifically against the Doom Patrol.
For all their effort during the first half of Doom Patrol Season 4 to prevent the Buttpocalypes they saw during their trip to the future on Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 1, “Doom Patrol,” things seem to be playing out exactly as they did before. And, in dramatic fashion.
However, that dramatic opening and an even more dramatic conclusion bookend a relatively subdued, moody episode. The episode focuses on the emotional fallout from the team losing their longevity more than the looming battles ahead.
With the exception of Rouge and Vic, no one has much interest in being a hero. They reject all of Rouge’s efforts to get them to keep fighting. They are all emotionally exhausted and want to make the most of their now-limited time for themselves.
Their feelings of defeat and desire to retreat are understandable. They have been through the wringer emotionally for years in a cycle that always sees some new catastrophe strike every time they are on the cusp of victory.
Add to that the physical exhaustion of rapid aging, and the team can hardly be blamed for feeling done.
Coming off the fantastic musical episode, Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 9. “Immortimas Patrol,” and the excitement of “Tomb Patrol’s” opening, the bulk of the episode can sometimes feel a bit slow.
However, it’s an important chance to breathe and establish the team’s emotional state before we head into the final two episodes. So, while the episode is slower than viewers likely expect, it is still impactful.
Per usual, everyone’s stories on “Tomb Patrol” are compelling. Vic’s scene with his dad and his decision to become Cyborg again on his terms is especially satisfying after watching him struggle with his identity for so long.
His big return as Cyborg, when he swoops in to save the team from the butt monsters, is the most cheer-worthy moment of the episode.
There are no weak links on “Tomb Patrol.” It is some of the strongest character development for all the characters this season. However, Season 4 continues to be Rita’s season. Every one of her scenes on “Tomb Patrol” is an episode highlight.
Her exhaustion and resignation at the beginning of the episode, her heartbreaking argument with Larry, and her selfless determination to save Rouge before collapsing are all fantastic.
Even on an episode with so many vulnerable and emotional beats for other characters, Rita’s are the standouts that viewers will remember most vividly after the episode.
As I discussed in my review of “Immortimas Patrol,” Rita has become the heart and moral compass of the team.
Rita couldn’t convince them to put their personal battles aside to save Rouge, but it doesn’t take much to convince them to do that to save her. There is probably nothing else that could convince them.
The episode ends on another great cliffhanger as the team is tossed into the time stream by Isabel/Immortus and into another pretty precarious situation. It seems there is no rest for the weary. At least not yet.
What did you think of this episode of Doom Patrol? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Doom Patrol streams Thursdays on Max.
Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.