Through two-plus amazing seasons, this show (mostly) succeeded in somehow staying on the tightrope they set themselves upon. Balancing often crude and profane humor on one side and touching character development on the other they avoided the overindulgence that would result in nothing but juvenile humor or maudlin grief-porn. And doing this in an absurd world where (basically) idiots have superpowers (well, not really all that "super" in many cases) they have no real idea of how to use!
Well, they have fallen off the rope in this Dada Sisterhood story arc. The humor falls flat because it rings true far less often, and the "fearless moral inventory" taken by the main characters is superficial and cliched.
I think part of it has to do with the departure of the Timothy Dalton character that deprives the show of its core, the reason for this merry band of misfits being together. They weren't a family as much as a four people living at the home their (manipulative and exploitive) mutual friend. Yes, there were solid relationships developing (Cliff/Jane, Larry/Rita) but so few shared experiences that "family" can hardly be applied to the collective - without the Chief to tie it all together.
The waste of the Michelle Gomez (and her character) is simply sad. Ms. Gomez seems to both understand what this show (and its characters) were about and tailored her performance to fit. Unfortunately, in the last several episodes that is all that remains of the original 'flavor' of Doom Patrol that I loved from the pilot into season 3.
Pretentious navel gazing at best and woketard preachiness at worst. Hopefully this has more to do with having a high-concept idea (the use of the absurd Dadaist movement to contrast and compare to both the Brotherhood of Evil and the DP) sounding a lot better in a development meeting than it has been for a second of the finished product.
With 2 episodes of season 3 left, I am looking forward to season 4 - this season has been an almost complete washout.