Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 7 Review: A Very Funny Monster

The gruesome misadventures of Creature Commandos Season 1 has led up to a turning point that changes the games. Does it have a strong enough influence to determine where the rest of James Gunn’s DCU goes? Maybe, but one thing’s for certain.

Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 7, “A Very Funny Monster”, delivers a solid conclusion that not only answers who’s really behind everything, but also who really has the guts to do what’s needed to be done. With only one Commando left to follow, with Nina Mazursky, this episode fully rounds out her arc.

With “A Very Funny Monster” being the season finale, there are some expectations that it would leave a resounding impact. While that’s true to a certain point, this episode definitely goes by very quickly. Still, its focus on Nina is able to create a compelling story that makes her a character with so much depth.

This in-depth examination of Nina’s transformation in confidence begins all the way back in her childhood, where her reasons for pacifism begin to make themselves clear.

Unlike most of the Commandos, Nina was actually born human with this rare medical condition where her lungs are outside her body. As such, this puts her mother in a precarious situation despite her father’s optimistic hopes. Though they both want the best for Nina, her mother knows she can’t take it anymore.

Without her mother, her father decides the only thing he can do is save her life by making Nina undergo an operation that turned her into who she is now. It’s an intense scene: as Nina takes on his monstrous transformation, her father tries everything he can to save her because he loves her.

He still views her as his own, much like how Weasel was in Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 4 “Chasing Squirrels” and G.I. Robot in Season 1 Episode 3 “Cheers to the Tin Man”. They were accepted because of who they were and their supportive actions. It’s like the saying: “Never judge a book by its cover.”

Yet, still, even in school, Nina gets bullied and faces prejudice from all sides, whether it be the students or her counselor. In a way, it definitely feels like Nina’s backstory is a more grounded version of Weasel’s backstory.

Whereas Weasel had little comprehensive skills due to his animalistic nature, Nina has retained her humanity. As such, the interactions between her and the students, especially one who tries to relate to her bullying situation, are much more subtle.

One later interaction really stands out, that being the discussion Nina has with her father later on. This conversation the two have about her situation really captures the emotional core that Creature Commandos should have. It hammers in the overarching theme of acceptance and finding that community.

Unfortunately, for Nina, as well as the rest of the Commandos, their outwardly grotesque appearances lead others to assume they’re just monsters. This undeniable norm is the main driving force that causes Nina to abandon her father, the last thing that she wanted to do in the end.

It all ties together in the present, where the Commandos finally track down Ilana and prepare to kill her. Everyone takes their position, yet Nina is the one who has to drive the blade in because Ilana’s going underwater. As the hand that’s forced, Nina’s introverted personality holds her back.

In fact, this trait of Nina’s has been ever present throughout the entirety of Creature Commandos. It began in Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 2 “The Tourmaline Necklace” and felt more prominent in Season 1 Episode 6 “Priyatel Skelet”. When she finally took action against the drunkards previously, she did so because she found an emotional connection with the Bride.

Nina finally let go of her nervousness and anxiety then. However, with a more important objective placed in front of her, it’s actually nerve-wracking.

There’s this feeling where it’s undecided whether she’ll succeed in assassinating Ilana or not. It’s loosely woven with moments in the past, when Nina gets found out by some townspeople who try capturing her, adding to that tension.

Yet, Nina’s got everyone, including Dr. Phosphorus and Weasel, supporting her in this moment. Similarly, Nina’s father tries to support her when she gets captured by animal control in the flashback.

What results is perhaps a truly heartbreaking moment as Nina briefly hesitates, allowing Ilana to take advantage and kill her. Though it was abrupt at first, the emotional outbreak slowly reels in, both for the Commandos and us. As the most innocent of the entire team, Nina had so much going for her.

Does it feel like Nina’s demise was inevitable? Maybe so, but it also feels like Nina’s death was more so for emotional shock factor. Nonetheless, it did work as not only did it impact the Commandos, but also how we view them.

All of this collides when the Bride finally confronts Ilana about the conspiracy surrounding her, picking up on the little details. From the guard from “Chasing Squirrels” to Clayface’s reveal, the Bride realizes Ilana was truly evil all along.

However, when the Bride finally kills Ilana, it’s not out of any other heroic motivation. Rather, she’s doing this all for Nina because of those bonds they’ve developed over the past few episodes. Sure, that bond was only fully formed in “Priyatel Skelet”, but it’s still a needed turning point for the Bride.

She’s gone through too much pain at this point and the only way to rectify that is by doing this as a dedication. As a result, Ilana’s death at the hands of the Bride is more compelling thanks to that antiheroic tone.

Overall, Creature Commandos Season 1 Episode 7 “A Very Funny Monster” is a solid conclusion that hits the right spots with Nina Mazursky’s backstory.

Sure, there are some areas that could’ve been emphasized more, especially those set in the present. Yet, Creature Commandos, as a whole, was successful in making these minor DC characters memorable.

Stray Thoughts:

• Of course, there had to be a Marvel reference somewhere. I mean, at least it’s kind of cheeky with Ghost Rider!
• Nina’s death at the hands of Ilana and intercutting it with how her father died in the exact same way was kind of sad. I was hoping we would’ve gotten more of Nina, at least ahead of Creature Commandos Season 2.
• Looking back on it, Rick Flag Sr. was way too romantically compelled by Ilana unlike his son, Flag Jr. I’m really surprised they didn’t let him do more in this episode, though I’m still confused by what he was trying to say.
• I honestly thought Frankenstein would’ve been dead when the Bride decided to attack him, but I guess he’s here to stay! I see this as both good and bad.

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

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All episodes of Creature Commandos Season 1 are now streaming on Max.

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