Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 5 Review: The Iron Pot

Throughout Creature Commandos Season 1, Eric Frankenstein has always been this somewhat comedic, if sad, character who’s been lurking around. However, in Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 5, “The Iron Pot”, the original monster really gets himself into the thick of it by teaming up with Rick Flag Sr.

Unlike previous episodes, Frankenstein was presented as this highly confident, intimidating figure. Although he wasn’t a full threat to the Commandos like Circe, his impact was still felt by the Bride, specifically on Season 1 Episode 2 “The Tourmaline Necklace”.

There, we truly got to see what Frankenstein was capable of in his emotional outburst. What resulted of his creator’s maliciousness in manipulating the Bride led to some really devastating consequences. However, that was only one side of the story.

In “The Iron Pot”, not only do we get to see how Frankenstein comes around to accepting what he’s done, but also how it’s given him almost a new perspective on things.

Of course, Frankenstein’s new way of thinking isn’t necessarily a full 180-turn from trying to reach the Bride. Rather, it’s more of a self-reflection of the meticulousness of trying to accomplish that task. This is already seen in the first few moments, when Flag Sr. and Frankenstein are trying to spy on Professor Macpherson.

While Macpherson is weirdly more uncaring with a really weird joke, unlike her more composed self on Season 1 Episode 4 “Chasing Squirrels”, this scene gives us a better perspective on what Frankenstein really wants.

He innately believes that the Bride still loves him, even though that’s not the case, and Macpherson’s the only one who can help him. Though Frankenstein’s relationship problem isn’t a top priority for him, Flag Sr. is cunning enough to know it he can benefit from this.

The bond between Frankenstein and Flag Sr. has improved slightly, yet it still feels as if it’s lacking that natural charm. Of course, one’s a monster and one’s a human, but the dialogue between them initially feels somewhat over-emphasized.

However, Flag Sr. and Frankenstein do get a hilarious back-and-forth later on when they try to figure out the mystery behind Macpherson. Once they figure out she’s been killed, they have this banter about trying to decide whether to make a run for it or not.

Being blunt as he is, Frankenstein does the most Frankenstein thing he can do: slide and wait. Soon enough, all is revealed as the two of them discover who’s really behind this facade: Clayface.

Though it was expected Clayface would show up as soon as possible, it’s somewhat of a shock. Sure, Macpherson was only a minor character in “Chasing Squirrels”, but the radical change almost makes it feel like a characteristic whiplash. However, it’s clear that she was nothing more than a plot device to keep things moving, but it’s still weird she was killed off.

Nonetheless, Clayface is heavily driven by this meta-ness that Creature Commandos has. He’s essentially a couch potato that only does what he does when he’s told and is definitely not the eccentric playwright Harley Quinn made him to be.

However, he’s still the menacing threat he could be once he catches Flag Sr. and Frankenstein out. The fight between the three of them is composed really well and the back-and-forth between the other fight we get later on is impressive!

To get to that fight, which involves the rest of the Commandos in some other way, there’s a lot of that humor to fill in the silence. What we get between the Commandos and Ilana’s guards feels like it mostly serves to keep the plot in “The Iron Pot” moving.

Not much is necessarily done here to expand or go more in-depth with the dynamic the Commandos have with each other. Most of the dialogue is relegated to the Bride trying to hide their new goal from Ilana’s right hand man, Alexi.

The huge action set piece that cuts between the fight involving Frankenstein and Flag Sr. is still exciting to keep you hooked. However, the Commandos’ role this episode really takes a backseat as Frankenstein’s story comes into light.

In “The Iron Pot”, it’s discovered that after Frankenstein blew up his creator’s castle, he was found by an old gypsy woman who took care of him. She cared for him until he got to full health, teaching him an important lesson along the way.

Even in his weak state, Frankenstein still makes it all about him and his Bride. However, the woman teaches him that his relationship with the Bride is what keeps his sanity in check. It’s a cute moment as this scene almost makes you believe he’s much more human than you’d think.

Though Creature Commandos centers around the idea that there’s humanity to be found behind the monsters, Frankenstein’s story doesn’t feel as impactful as others.

Sure, it helps round out his arc that was seen in “The Tourmaline Necklace” and finds that emotional roundedness. However, his all too literal “frank”-ness holds him back.

In a way, it feels like Gunn is trying to replicate what he did with Drax’s character from the Guardians of the Galaxy films with Frankenstein.

Both of them have this straightforwardness in their dialogue and jokes, though Frankenstein is more messed up than Drax. They have this tug for longing and a close relationship with the people they’ve lost. While Drax followed the right path, Frankenstein can’t seem to overcome his emotions.

Thus, what results in the end of “The Iron Pot” feels all the more awkward. After being treated and cared for by this woman, Frankenstein decides the only thing he can do, for his safety, is to kill her. While he does so in a graceful way, there’s this feeling of bleakness that comes with his leave.

Then again, Creature Commandos serves as the antithesis of what Guardians of the Galaxy is while spiritually succeeding The Suicide Squad. Not all of the characters, in this world, get that whimsical ending to their arcs. Yet, they’re supposed to feel emotionally compelling.

While “The Iron Pot” did its job in giving more complexity to Frankenstein’s character, it still feels as if there’s more potential to explore. As such, that emotional compulsion is somewhat less impactful than, say, Weasel’s arc from “Chasing Squirrels”.

As a whole, Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 4, “The Iron Pot”, is still exciting enough through Frankenstein and Flag Sr.’s interactions and the details of Frankenstein’s renewed life. However, there was still some more room to give Frankenstein a bigger push into being more “human” in the end.

What did you think of this episode of Creature Commandos? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New episodes of Creature Commandos release Thursdays on Max.

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