These days, a lot of DC Comics fans are more interested in the animated and live-action shows available on the DC Universe streaming app than the many
Arrowverse shows that have been anchoring The CW weeknights for almost a decade. With shorter episode counts and drama skewed towards adults instead of teens, who can blame them.
While the first live-action show from DC Universe,
Titans, got off to a rocky start before finding its footing, its spinoff, the
Doom Patrol, has been firing on all cylinders since the pilot. It seems DC Entertainment wants to capitalize on those good reviews, as they've now made the pilot episode free to watch until May 23, a day before the season finale is released.
Watch the 58-minute episode below, and then let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Speaking of the DC Universe, we have ideas for 10 shows that the ambitious streaming platform should greenlight next. Click the Next button below to check them out.
DC UNIVERSE original series Doom Patrol has been lauded by critics as “heartfelt,” “sufficiently eccentric,” “refreshingly self-aware,” “a breath of life in the genre,” and is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and now all fans can watch the first episode for free. The episode will be available from Friday, May 17 - Thursday May 23 leading up to the season finale which streams exclusively on DC UNIVERSE on Friday May 24.
DOOM PATROL reimagines one of DC’s most beloved groups of Super Heroes: Robotman aka Cliff Steele (BRENDAN FRASER), Negative Man aka Larry Trainor (MATT BOMER), Elasti-Woman aka Rita Farr (APRIL BOWLBY) and Crazy Jane (DIANE GUERRERO), led by modern-day mad scientist Niles Caulder aka The Chief (TIMOTHY DALTON).
DC UNIVERSE: 10 TV Shows Perfect For The Ambitious Streaming Platform
10. Expand DC All Access
DC Entertainment's DC ALL Access YouTube segments are fun, engaging and informative videos covering all the latest news and developments across the company's many films, television shows and comic book series. There's only one problem, it's too short! For the online streaming platform, expanding DC All Access to a full-blown half-hour program should really be a no-brainer.
Want to find out what's happening with your favorite comic book creators? Turn to DC All Access. Itching to know what the cast and crew for Arrow thought about the latest episode? Check out DC All Access. Anxious for news on Wonder Woman 2? You get the idea.
09. Bring Back Beware the Batman
Fair warning, bringing back canceled DC animated shows is going to be something of a theme. But to be fair, the resurrection of Young Justice means this unlikely development is a real possibility for the platform.
Premiering in the Summer of 2013 as the replacement for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, the series started out behind the 8-ball as fans struggled with viewing the angular style of Bruce Timm rendered in CG. The series was pulled from its Saturday morning time slot just 4 months after airing but eventually concluded its run a year later on Cartoon Network's late-night Adult Swim programming block.
08. Jonah Hex TV series
With Josh Brolin back in the spotlight for his portrayal of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Cable in Deadpool 2, there have actually been renewed discussions about his previous comic book film, Jonah Hex.
When asked to compare his experience with DC and Marvel films, Brolin eloquently put it that one was a "complete failure while the others are a massive success." Ouch. Though he's not wrong about the Jonah Hex film, there's still plenty of interesting stories to tell about a time-traveling bounty hunter from the Wild Wild West. However, his convoluted origin and adventures are probably better suited for the long-form storytelling medium of television.
07. Bring Back Green Lantern: The Animated Series
Similar to Beware the Batman, Green Lantern: The Animated Series struggled out of the gate due to the unusualness of Bruce Timm's art style depicted using CG. However, the show was able to actually develop a devoted fan base due to its strong story.
Sadly, poor toy sales and the box office failure of Ryan Reynolds' live-action Green Lantern film resulted in WB Animation pulling the plug. The series finale definitely left things unfinished and a new season (even a truncated one) would be most welcome.
06. Bring Back The Original Teen Titans Animated Series
Teen Titans GO! gets a lot of hate. That's partly because the original version of the show that it's derived from had a strong following and a surprisingly mature storyline. You'd think that after 5 seasons, 65 episodes and a direct-to-video animated feature film, there'd be no plotlines left to explore in the series but you'd be dead wrong.
05. Live-Action Red Hood Series
There are rumors that in addition to the Doom Patrol appearing in Titans, Jason Todd aka Red Hood will also appear in the show. In what capacity remains to be seen. Will it show Jason's brief time as a Titan? Will it touch on his death and how that created a source of tension between Dick and Bruce? Even if that rumor ultimately proves untrue, Red Hood is a character whose origins and motivations are screaming for interaction with a wider audience.
04. Live-Action Gotham By Gaslight Series
General audiences might be thinking that they've seen and read all there is to offer on The Dark Knight. However, chances are they know nothing of the stellar one-shot graphic novel from y Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola. Just like the proceeding entry, Red Hood, Gotham by Gaslight was also the recent subject of a DC Animated Universe direct-to-video film. A steampunk, Victorian era Batman who's one-part Sherlock Holmes and one-part Allan Quatermain could be just odd enough to capture a massive audience.
03. Live-Action Mister Miracle And Big Barda Series
Two DC characters who don't get enough love outside of the comics are Scott Free aka Mister Miracle and Big Barda. Their story literally has everything from an heir-swapping peace treaty to a love strong enough to overcome years of brainwashing.
Comic readers themselves sometimes forget that Barda is just as strong as Superman and Wonder Woman and that Scott Free is a better escape artist than Batman. With both Apokolips and New Genesis filled with allies and enemies, recounting their love story in a live-action adaptation would be something wholly unexpected and refreshing. (Note: There's also a chance that one or both of the characters turn up in Ava DuVarney's New Gods film.)
02. Live-Action Wildcat Series
No, not the poor rendition that showed up in Arrow season three to be a punching bag for Brick. Let's discuss the real Wildcat, heavyweight boxing champ, Ted Grant. A key member of the Justice Society of America, Grant is literally Batman without the gadgets and the Eastern martial arts influence. That probably sounds like someone who more often than not gets their hat handed to them considering some of the heavyweights that the JSA come up against. Sometimes that's the case but Grant usually comes out better than his opponents thanks to his scrap and unquestioned toughness. In his twilight years, Grant would train several prominent DC Heroes including the second Black Canary, Batman and even Superman.
01. Bring Back Justice League Unlimited
Sure. It's great that Young Justice is coming back and everything but given the choice, most comic book fans would choose a continuation of the Bruce Timm animated universe rather than a third season of Young Justice. And with that era of DC animation ending with Justice League Unlimited, there's no question that news of its continuation would have fans signing up for the platform in droves. Timm is still very active in the direct-to-video side of the company so the possibility of a new season or JLU film is not out of the realm of possibility. Sadly, the show would have to continue without longtime DCAU voice director Andrea Roman, who retired last July.