Before “Superman” releases July 11, fans get their first taste of what’s to come with the conclusion of “Creature Commandos.” The series follows a group of monsters, led by Rick Flag Senior (Frank Grillo), who are initially tasked with protecting Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova) from the wicked sorceress, Circe (Anya Chalotra). However, their mission goes awry when they come to learn that the princess may be intertwined with a conspiracy to bring down the Justice League and take over the world. Filled with laughs, style and fantastic characters, “Creature Commandos” works because of the visionary creator behind it – James Gunn.
To start off on a mixed note, “Creature Commandos” is Gunn through and through. He pulls from the same bag of tricks he’s been using since 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The series follows a ragtag group of misfits with sympathetic backstories. Although this is a cast of mostly new characters, their archetypes can often map one to one with the likes of The Guardians and Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” – The Bride (Indira Varma) plays a similar role to Gamora, and Rick Flag Senior fulfills the same duties as his son, Rick Flag, who led the Suicide Squad. Likewise, Gunn’s edgy and dark sense of humor comprise a bulk of the show’s comedic moments. For fans of Gunn’s previous outings, “Creature Commandos” delivers on more of what made those films and shows so special. For those who didn’t connect with those projects, however, it does nothing to try and win them over.
That disclaimer out of the way, the best thing about this series is the fact that it is Gunn through and through. His style, humor and artistic vision are in every moment of this show – he even cameos in the opening credits. The inclusion of perfectly fitting deep-cut songs such as “Coin-Operated Boy” by The Dresden Dolls or “Mala Vida” by Gogol Bordello, transforms the fight scenes from standard comic book beat’em ups into energetic brawls. Building off of Gunn’s signature style is how “Creature Commandos” isn’t just funny, but comedic on multiple levels. Doctor Phosphorus’ (Alan Tudyk) dry wit makes viewers laugh in a different way than GI Robots’ (Sean Gunn) fish-out-of-water comedy or Frankenstein’s (David Harbour) lack of social awareness. Since “Creature Commandos” is built upon Gunn’s clear and cohesive vision, this series oozes with flair down to the smallest detail.
On a broader scope, this series is exceptionally well-paced. Gunn’s specialty is working with united ensembles, so he knows exactly what fans tuned in to watch. The Commandos are together from the start, allowing for the banter and fun antics to begin right away. Also, since each of the seven episodes is devoted primarily to developing one singular character, audiences get to spend just the right amount of time with each of them to make The Commandos feel fleshed out. Even the weakest episode, “The Iron Pot,” has enough interesting moments to keep viewers engaged.
Speaking of the title characters, it would be impossible to talk about this show without praising how skillfully The Commandos are written. Despite having spent only a fraction of the time with them when compared to the Guardians of the Galaxy or Peacemaker’s crew from “Peacemaker,” they are instantly endearing because of how beautifully they are realized. While they are technically “monsters,” oftentimes, they have more humanity than the human characters. Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao) has a genuine tenderness about her that works to soften the rough exteriors of her fellow team members. Her natural ability to break down the barriers between these misfits acts as the glue for the entire show and makes The Commandos feel more like a family by the end of it. Similarly, GI Robot’s desire for companionship is surprisingly innocent for an android whose primary function is to murder Nazis. The audience grows to empathize with the character, so when he finally finds friends among his fellow monsters, his sacrifice is all the more painful.
While every member of the team gets their time to shine, Weasel (Sean Gunn) is, without a doubt, the underdog of this show. His episode, “Chasing Squirrels,” is genuinely heartbreaking in a way only Gunn can pull off. Having a non-speaking, kind of disgusting and all-around odd character who is accused of murdering 27 children somehow be the most tragic member of the team, is inspired. The audience only gets to spend maybe 40 minutes with Weasel, including his brief role in “The Suicide Squad,” but by the end of episode four, their perspective on him will completely change as they cry their eyes out when the credits start to roll. This level of care that can turn even the most bizarre villain into a sympathetic hero is a feat only Gunn can pull off – a feat that will be the base of his new DC Universe.
To wrap things up, “Creature Commandos” is a phenomenal series with laugh-out-loud jokes, style galore and lovable characters that sets a high bar for further DC movies and TV shows to come.
Rating: 4.5/5
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Featured Image Courtesy of Max
