The story
A crash victim whose brain now lives in a robot shell, a man inhabited by a being of negative energy, a woman whose body keeps dissolving into goo and another with many personalities share a secluded mansion under the care of the enigmatic Chief. When their guardian is snatched by a malevolent villain, these battered outcasts must reluctantly play the heroes, facing absurd threats and their own painful pasts.
Why it matters
Launched as a DC Universe exclusive, Doom Patrol is a textbook case of a streaming series switching homes: it shared its second season with HBO Max before moving there outright for its final two. Its profane, surreal and emotionally raw take on damaged misfits set it apart from more conventional superhero fare.
Notable facts
- It was announced in May 2018 as a planned spin-off of Titans for DC Universe, though it ended up in a separate continuity. (source)
- Season two premiered simultaneously on DC Universe and HBO Max on 25 June 2020; seasons three and four followed on HBO Max. (source)
- The COVID-19 pandemic halted production before season two's tenth episode was completed, so that season ran to nine episodes. (source)