IR TV Review: DOOM PATROL - EPISODE 11 (“Portal Patrol”) [Max-S4]

Coming to the finale of the series with "Doom Patrol", it is all about reflection of the path taken. One of the most crucial elements of the story was the influence that Niles (Timothy Dalton) had. With "Portal Patrol" (which leads up to next week's series finale), it is a question of where one goes when that point of exit is determined. Like "Loki", the storyline needs to look inwards which many of the characters still have trouble doing. But what is interesting here is that in trying to recover their longetivity, the Patrol is thrown into a context of portals which takes them to a specific period of reflection or pinpoint in their lives. Niles for many was that pinpoint. Some have a relevance of irony. Others are simply a perspective of growth where blocks prevented that before. The context of Jane which has been gnawing at her all season simply needed a different perspective but subtlety was needed.

The interesting element here is Niles and the way he was in different iterations. Dalton does an admirable job and definitely helps with closure in this series (even though he has been missing from the proceeding after the character's death). His motivation is clear and it is interesting how he sees his own trajectory despite how it affects other paths going forward or not. There is also a comeuppance that is ironic but again reflects back in the chicken vs egg scenario. Larry (Negative Man) has a slightly different scenario but, again, all the figures need to have is an essence of enlightenment (not resignation) as they approach the end. What is interesting is that one character (actually two) that have shifted over the seasons understands both their role but also their future in many ways. The duality of that is what drives that Doom Patrol, wherever they end up. B+

By Tim Wassberg