I have to start this article by saying my DC knowledge is weak sauce. I’ll admit, I’m more of a Marvel girl in general. But even in the last 5 years, I haven’t been able to ingest superhero content. There’s just TOO much of it. Trying to figure out plot lines between a dozen movies and then add in shows, and I realized I just didn’t care to pay attention. My past coworker said this was a program I could enjoy with literally no DC knowledge and boy howdy, did I enjoy it.
The story follows a cast of creatures who have been held by the US government for varying reasons, usually crime or connected to something bad. Just like Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is in charge along with Rick Flag Sr (Frank Grillo). When Circe (Anya Chalotra), a goddess and Wonder Woman comic staple, begins causing mayhem, it’s up to the creatures to stop her. Casting here is off the charts and I was gushing. The Bride of Frankenstein is voiced by Indira Varma. An HBO favorite, she’s been in Rome and Game of Thrones. Her voice and vibes are perfect for this character. We meet Weasel and GI Robot, both voiced by Sean Gunn, brother to creator James Gunn. Listen, I know plenty of people are going to be all “nepotism this, 
and nepotism that,” and fine, you’re not wrong. But have you seen Gilmore Girls? Sean Gunn is an absolutely hilarious actor and I think the nepotism was well placed for this. Next up is Doctor Phosphorus (pictured), voiced by Alan Tudyk. Another nerd staple, his voice is the perfect edge for this atom bomb of a character. Then we have the one nice girl, Nina (Zoë Chao) who is a girl as much as she’s a fish. But she’s the least shitty of them all by a long shot and you kind of have to wonder how she ended up here… Oh and let’s not forget the character stalking the background. Frank…you know, the actual monster created by Doctor Victor Frankenstein (Peter Serafinowicz) who goes by Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour). First off, the name choice alone made me cackle. Harbour brings the perfect tone to this monster who seems kind but has a lingering dark side…But now, let’s dive in.
- The Collywobbles
Now that Circe (pictured) has begun her reign of terror with the men, called the Sons of Themysci, helping her she has to make her move towards where she’s attacking: Pokolistan. I love made-up countries like that. But the princess (Maria Bakalova)is in trouble and help needs to be sent. Might as well send the expendable monsters lingering in your jail. They’re all fitted with tracker devices so any wrong move and it’s a zap zone. The princess wants to make a move on Flag, but he resists. Yeah ok, horny boy. We’ll see how long that lasts. Phosphorus tries to make a move to take out Flag, but it doesn’t work out. And the Bride and Nina sneak out because the bride needs to return home for something…
2. The Tourmaline Necklace
Back in 1831, we meet Victor as he has now finished his first creation and is being pressed to make a second. Eric wants a wife. Man is not made to be alone. Victor has a whole house just for his work. And truthfully, he doesn’t want to do this. He feels conflicted with what he’s done already. But this big hunk of rotting meat 
could kill him, so might as well cooperate. The bride comes to life and immediately screams her head off. Victor eases tensions. She’s just been born. She has to learn everything. Give her some damn space. Victor begins teaching her, and there’s something there. He’s kind. They talk. They do other things…and sadly, Eric sees. In the end, Victor’s life is over and the Bride is left without her prized possession and in possession of a stalker. And I get it. In her position, I would never want him. He’s a monster. Clearly. And not just in the sense of being made out of dead body parts. He’s cruel. He doesn’t want to understand her or what she wants. In his mind, she belongs to him and it’s all just a game. Cue him following her throughout time and her just repeatedly beating his ass. However, back to the present, Circe has arrived at the castle. A rather clever fight follows and nothing is funnier than being able to turn your enemy’s arms into inflatable tubes in the middle of a fight. Peak comedy. You know what else is funny? How quickly it took for Flag to let his pants down. Phosphorus guarding the door? Well, only for another minute or so.
3. Cheers to the Tin Man
While the last episode gave us the birth of the bride, this episode focuses on our most robotic member: GI Robot. He was created in WWII to be the ultimate Nazi killing machine for the US Army. I’ll be honest, creating a robot that can identify Nazis seems complex but it also looks like we could use some right now… Back in the present, they arrive to rescue Bride and Nina, the latter being trapped in a bathtub. Of all the powers, hers truly sucks the most. How frustrating to constantly need to be in the water or be able to be trapped in a bathtub so 
easily because you just can’t get out. But GI Robot just carries the whole damn tub, so it’s fine. But back to the war…it’s over. He served his time, so he’s kind of obsolete now. He ends up on a shelf, going from collector to collector. Eventually, he gets bought by a guy named Sam and maybe he’s got a buddy again. Having not served in the military, I cannot speak to the bonds made between those in combat. But I can only assume under such moments of duress, there are some pretty solid bonds formed there. And even though he’s a robot, he misses that. Well, it’s not gonna be with this group because they aren’t on the right side, but the REICH side, and once he sees that flag wave, game over boys. And after murdering a room full of people, that’s how GI Robot ends up in jail. Frankly, it seems like he did humanity a favor. But in the present, Circe arrives and GI serves his final mission. Rest easy, chap. You made your boys proud.
4. Chasing Squirrels
I’ll admit, GI Robot’s story and especially his ending really got me. I was full-on sobbing and thought, there can’t possibly be a story that makes me sadder. James Gunn said hold my weasel. Circe has been taken into custody and the team is returning to the States. The Bride’s senses are up. Hard not to be on constant alert when your monster of an ex-husband or whatever the fuck he is to her is literally chasing her throughout all of time. She’s got to be exhausted from this shit. Flag has to say goodbye to his new lady friend. Keep your pants on, buddy. But it’s Weasel’s lawyer waiting for him that was giving me the giggles. Watching her throw 
dog treats at her client, trying to get any information from him when he instead eats the evidence. Absolutely cackling. What’s not funny is Circe’s insistence that she’s doing the right thing. Hard to be able to trust someone going on a full supernatural murder spree, but could she have a point? Waller gets a closer look and it puts the fear of god in her. Everyone back on the plane to Pokolistan! Weasel takes a snooze and in his dream, we see how he ended up there… A group of children are playing outside a school. Weasel emerges from the woods and makes friends. A looky-loo catches sight and immediately believes the children are in danger. While he goes to get help and a gun, the children end up inside the school. Sadly, alcohol and matches don’t mix. Weasel is trying to save the children and the shit hits the fan. Tears were streaming down my face watching things continue to go horribly, horribly wrong, knowing Weasel would end up in special prison for a crime he didn’t commit. “What do you think he’s dreaming about?” “Probably just chasing squirrels.” Insert sobbing emoji here.
5. The Iron Pot
In this episode, we get to see more of Eric Frankenstein’s life since his creation. After killing Victor, he’s shocked his love doesn’t want him. Well, you killed the person she was actually into so I’m not shocked she doesn’t want you, dude. In fact, you don’t seem like that great of a person…if I can even call you a person anyway. But Flag is determined to figure out Circe’s game and needs a helper. The professor who verified 
Circe’s message is acting odd. The duo takes a visit to her house only to find the real professor has been killed and someone acting in her place. Friend or foe? Hmm, definitely foe. The ensuing fight scenes between Flag and Eric and Clayface were brilliantly done. I have high hopes for Gunn’s role in the DC universe if he continues to deliver insanely well-done fight scenes and musical choices. But Eric has a one-track mind and delivers some of the funniest lines of the season in this scene. David Harbour was such a perfect casting choice. Absolutely fantastic. Flag barely makes it out alive. Back in the past, we see Eric cared for by a gypsy woman after one of his many beatdown, dragout fights with the Bride. “Gypsy shit.” She tries to tell him to start over. The Bride doesn’t love him. Don’t waste your time. But he has bigger plans Bogdana (Irina Maleeva), and they don’t include you.
6. Priyatel Skelet
“Won’t you get that through your skull?” Now it’s time for Alex, aka Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk) to share his story. That little whistle though, tops the intro moment. And I’ll also pause here to say just gorgeous animation across the board on this show. The fight scenes especially and the choreography even! Just exquisite. Anyway, back to Alex’s story: a researcher, the doctor made some deals regarding his research and funding. But when details of his findings are held back, his financier isn’t happy and seeks revenge. After 
killing his wife and child, Alex is at their mercy and the mercy is non-existent. Putting him into his own machine, Doctor Phosphorus is born and takes the man’s empire for his own, showing off some exceptional dance skills. Back in the present, Pokolistan is on high alert. Flag told the princess that Waller sent the commandos back to get her based on Circe’s vision. The Commandos have become spread out. Nina and the Bride end up in a whorehouse, saving the girls from some less than savory characters. Weasel ends up in a pack of wolves, finding his own family for a moment. But just a moment. Eric kills some folks and hijacks a plane to make his way to his lady. And Alex is just trying to find a place to lay low. Sadly, a little girl finds him and you just hope it doesn’t end badly. Luckily, it’s a moment for humor and the team makes their way back together again outside the castle.
7. A Very Funny Monster
And now, it’s Nina’s story, the little girl born part fish. Well, actually, she was born with her lungs outside her body, and her father, the very clever scientist, decides to try some stuff and infuses her with fish DNA. It seems to take just fine, giving Nina a more comfortable life to just be in the water than to wear uncomfortable machines around. Nina’s mother can’t handle it all and leaves, while Nina is still a toddler. Nina is smart, but she’s a fish so kids are horrible to her at school. Of all the characters we meet on this team, Nina is clearly the most normal and well-adjusted. She doesn’t want to hurt people. She doesn’t want to kill people. She just wants to be left alone. People killed her father and imprisoned her for being a fish. I completely 
understand the desire to just be left alone. But they have to kill the princess if they want to stop Circe’s vision from coming true and since she’s swimming, it has to be Nina. But things don’t go according to plan. Getting into the castle, some video footage was seen…is the princess really who she purports herself to be? In the end, the kindest of them is the one who we lose, which somehow feels like the bigger message in all of this anyway. But the Bride isn’t so easily convinced. Because she saw Clayface on the video and that would mean Circe was right about all of it. “I’m killing you because you took the life of the one friend I had.” Absolutely brilliant writing of this scene. They return home with the Bride now in charge of the team and GI Robot refreshed and ready to go.
At the end of the year, the show was greenlit for a second season. This means Gunn is likely deep in the writing trenches right now if it hadn’t already been in the works. All I can say is if he continues on this path, I will have a hard time not considering myself a DC convert because if this is what he continues to make? I’ll follow him anywhere he wants to take us.
