Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 9 Review: Immortimas 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 team gets stuck in a holiday musical on Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 9,” Immortimas Patrol.”
The episode — written by Aliza & Talia Berger and directed by Omar Madha — finds the team trapped in an alternate reality created by Isabel/Immortus at the end of Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 8, “Fame Patrol.”
Unable to handle not being the center of attention at the hero parade, Isabel/Immortus creates a fake reality that traps everyone in a never-ending Christmas-like holiday called Immortimas Day. A holiday built around worshiping her, of course.
Pitch Perfect
The result is a sublime musical episode and one of the most delightful hours of television this year.
This episode shines extra bright, from the first notes of the acapella version of the opening credit music to the climactic finale number. There are more moments than I can recount that kept a grin plastered on my face while watching this episode.
First, there’s the opening Immortimas Day number with the whole gang that gets things started. Then, there are the sex ghosts acting as the perfect chorus line. And there’s the flawless sequence of Rouge signing it out as she realizes what’s happening during her duet with Rita.
This review would go on for paragraphs and paragraphs if I listed every single thing I love about this episode.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, though. Doom Patrol is an exceptional vehicle for a musical. Its gleeful irreverence is a perfect match for the silliness that is always a part of musical episodes.
Plus, Doom Patrol has already given us some brilliant musical moments. Most recently, there was the wonderfully weird butt monster rendition of Shipoopi on Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 2, “Butt Patrol.”
The more surprising thing about this episode is that a full-on musical episode didn’t happen sooner.
“Immortimas Patrol” isn’t great just because of its humor and whimsy. It is also a deeply emotional one for all of the characters. As has often been true, everyone gets their chance to shine on the episode. And once again, the standouts are Jane, Rita, and Rouge.
Jane
For Jane, the big development is the confirmation that the shipping vibes she and Casey were giving on “Fame Patrol” are real. I am thrilled with this development. It’s not just because Doom Patrol continues to be one of the queerest shows on TV — which I am absolutely here for — either.
It’s also because, as I mentioned in my “Fame Patrol” review, I am a sucker for a cynic-idealist pairing, and this is such a cute one. Plus, Jane deserves some happiness and light in her life.
Having Jane and Casey now be an official ship I can root for makes my heart happy.
It’s a bit of a bummer that Casey leaves at the end of the episode. Still, I understand why she couldn’t stay. As much as I would love to see that relationship blossom on screen, Jane’s intrapersonal story has to be the focus leading up to the finale.
It doesn’t make sense for the show’s tone for Jane to be happy in love this soon. We may be eager to see this ship happen, but it still needs to be earned.
I believe this ship is destined to set sail by the end of the season, though. Hopefully, patience will make it all the sweeter when they finally do get together.
In the meantime, Jane has a personal journey she is still on. She must figure out what’s happening with The Underground and that puzzle.
We do get a bit of a clue on that front, too. We see the painting Jane is working on of The Underground turn into some sort of kaleidoscope animation.
I have no clue what that means, but it seems significant. Hit the comments and let us know if you have theories about it.
Rita and Rouge
Rita has always been one of the most compelling characters on Doom Patrol. However, the addition of Michelle Gomez as Madame Rouge is the best thing to happen for the character since the first season.
Rouge brings out new sides of Rita. She challenges her in ways the other characters can’t. Since Rouge’s introduction and the development of their relationship, Rita has gone from being a favorite character on the series to one of the best sci-fi characters on TV.
Even when Rita regresses to familiar patterns, if Rouge is involved, those scenes still give viewers new insight into Rita.
Rita brings out the best in Rouge. Seeing Rouge try and sometimes struggle to be a better person because she wants Rita to see her that way is always a little heartbreaking. It’s also what makes viewers root for her.
Rouge can bring out Rita’s darkest instincts, but just as often, her presence gives Rita clarity about who she wants to be. It’s no coincidence that Rita grew into the team’s moral compass with Rouge’s introduction.
If there are any doubts that Rita is the heart of the team, the dinner scene with Isabel/Immortus on “Immortimas Patrol” puts those doubts to rest.
April Bowlby delivers each line with conviction and fire. It is a powerful scene that compels you to cheer out loud. There is no way the Rita of Season 1 or 2 could have given that speech, let alone with such authority.
Another thing I appreciate about Rita and Rouge’s relationship is how fraught it continues to be even after their emotional reconciliation on Doom Patrol Season 4 Episode 5, “Youth Patrol.”
The understandable struggle Rita sometimes has fully forgiving Rouge and her refusal to give Rouge absolution creates an electric tension during many of their interactions.
If they were all good after “Youth Patrol,” we wouldn’t get the scene on “Immortimas Patrol,” where Rita calls Rouge a monster. At the same time, though, that comment would not hit as hard if Rita and Rouge were still entirely at odds.
Their reconciliation not being a straight line, is more believable, too. Accepting that Rita could just move on from Rouge causing the death of the love of Rita’s life after one heart-to-heart is a stretch at best.
As the rest of the characters’ relationships have settled into comfortable and predictable dynamics over the seasons, the relationship between Rouge and Rita always keeps things fresh and interesting.
Overall Impressions
“Immortimas Patrol” is quintessential Doom Patrol. It is the kind of episode you point to showcase everything that makes the series great.
Excellent performances from an ensemble cast, ridiculous humor, superb writing, and tremendous heart wrapped up in an exciting sci-fi story have defined Doom Patrol for four seasons. All those things come together perfectly on “Immortimas Patrol,”
This time, though, there is the added benefit of getting all that through fun song and dance numbers. And really, what could be better than that?
What did you think of this episode of Doom Patrol? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Doom Patrol streams on Thursdays 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.