Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Priyatel Skelet

So far, it seems like Creature Commandos really works best when it’s focused on exploring its leads, particularly in those flashbacks. For example, Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 4 “Chasing Squirrels” gave us that with the most grueling story through Weasel’s tragic past.

For other characters, like the Bride and Eric Frankenstein, it could somewhat be a detriment as to only push the narrative forward. Specifically, Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 2 “The Tourmaline Necklace”, felt more adult, in a raunchy yet disturbing sense, with a weird love triangle.

Fortunately, Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 6 “Priyatel Skelet” brings us back to the emotionally compelling side of things through Dr. Phosphorus. While this cat-and-mouse mix-up with Ilana still takes center stage, Phosphorus’s backstory is a touching, if fun, adventure of its own.

However, to understand how Phosphorus became the pessimistic wise-guy, we have to get through the Commandos’ shenanigans.

Everyone here is still on the run: the Bride and Nina Mazursky run into a brothel that doesn’t fully accept their exile and Phosphorus is on his own. Meanwhile, Frankenstein got the word from Amanda Waller to eventually find the Bride in Polkolistan.

There are many moving parts this episode, and that’s not even counting Weasel trying to fit in with his new “kin”. All of it may seem initially messy given the heightened stakes. However, there’s an identifiable theme in “Priyatel Skelet” that really hammers in Creature Commandos‘s main idea of “fitting in”.

That message is simply this: “in the best case, do what you can for yourself and for others.” This is heavily made clear through the Bride and Nina’s arc, where it actually defines the Bride’s independence.

The Bride has had this resolute confidence when she left Frankenstein, but it’s made her distant to even those like Nina. Considering what happened in Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 3 “Cheers to the Tin Man”, you’d expect their relationship to somewhat improve.

However, because Nina has yet to actually build the confidence to stand on her own, the Bride is more of a protective figure. Of course, when the owner of the brothel points this out to the Bride, it’d cause her to be mad. Yet, the Bride’s reaction is somewhat justified.

For the most part, the Bride has been carrying the team as a leader alongside Rick Flag Sr. guiding them along. While there’s been gradual improvement with everyone else, Nina has been too empathetic to even be a killer. So, when the two meta-human drunks come along, it creates a necessary turning point for Nina.

Here, the misogynistic men try to take advantage of the workers in terrible ways. Nina, up to this point, has held back because she doesn’t want to be a killer unlike the Bride, Phosphorus, and the others. However, when the men get a little too close for comfort, Nina finally has the guts to do what’s best.

While this entire action scene is all bloody and gutsy, it maintains this sense of empowerment that really needed to be included. For the past few episodes, it certainly felt like the Commandos were just going in circles with this whole Ilana conspiracy.

As such, it simply felt like the overarching story was just continuing to push on through with little character development. Sure, the development that we do get is contained within the flashbacks and the overall chemistry of the Commandos was primarily on Season 1 Episode 1 and 2.

As a result, the brief moments in the present don’t necessarily build upon those connections or rush to quickly do so. So, when Nina does help the Bride take out these drunkards, it leaves a small feeling of satisfaction to take in.

However, since it also does help enforce the thematic idea through the Bride’s actions afterwards, that satisfaction slightly improves.

While the Bride and Nina were stuck dealing with superpowered men, Phosphorus found himself in a place that, for him, hits too close to home. What comes out of his backstory is perhaps Creature Commandos‘s second best character-driven piece.

With Phosphorus, a character most are unfamiliar with in DC Comics, some would assume that his backstory would be like the Brides’s or Frankenstein’s. Fortunately, “Priyatel Skelet” doesn’t get that euphorically bleak, but rather utilizes emotional pain to develop Phosphorus’s character.

This pain comes through the death of Phosphorus’s wife and child at the hands of Rupert Thorne. As a side to his character that hasn’t been explored, this slight rewrite of his origin actually works. It really captures how deeply he truly cared for his family, presenting the compassion the character once had.

By exploring that familial dynamic, it helps us not only understand why Phosphorus has to make this facade, but also empathize with him. Similarly to Weasel, by learning how complex Phosphorus’ character and influence is, he makes us someone we want to root for.

Eventually, he’s able to get what he wants: the death of Thorne and the acquisition of his riches. It’s all done in this clubbing montage that’s admittedly fun. Yet, deep down, you could almost feel his pain like with G. I. Robot and Weasel.

Phosphorus’s depression came into full swing when he hid in this house, finding a child that reminds him of his own. With this house and this family serving as a reflection of what could’ve been, it makes it all the more sad when he’s caught out.

However, if it wasn’t through him reflecting on his past, Phosphorus probably wouldn’t have rejoined the Commandos. It’s given him a renewed sense of understanding and humanity that really proves he’s the heart of the team.

As this is the penultimate episode of Creature Commandos, I have hopes that Season 1 Episode 7 will conclude with an impactful ending. While it may have a rough time balancing the past and present events, it still utilizes much of its potential to develop its leads successfully.

As a whole, Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 6 proves that, through Dr. Phosphorus’s backstory and the Bride and Nina Mazursky’s exploits, driving emotion through important message naturally creates a compelling narrative.

Stray Thoughts:

• Weasel’s arc picking up from Season 1 Episode 4 with him deciding whether to follow his human or animalistic instincts was so wholesome and SO CUTE!
• I honestly didn’t know Dr. Phosphorus was a Batman rogue. When he did show up in the night club, that left me kind of shocked at first. I still wonder who’s gonna play him in the movies!
• Frankenstein rough-housing with the private jet workers felt like it was just there on “Priyatel Skelet” in order to keep the audience hooked, comedy-wise. Honestly, Frankenstein has gotten little development this season, but I hope the conclusion has something more for him.

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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