'Doom Patrol' Season 2 Episode 8: Did 'Dad Patrol' pay a tribute to Swamp Thing and Animal Man?
Spoilers for 'Doom Patrol' Season 2 Episode 8 'Dad Patrol'
DC Universe's 'Doom Patrol' is now almost at the end of its Season 2. And in Episode 8 'Dad Patrol', things get really bad for the world at large and that leads to what may have been a reference to the Green and the Red.
The Green is an important part of DC's Swamp Thing stories. The live-action 'Swamp Thing' series was one of the most beloved shows DC Universe ever created, even though it got canceled after only the first season. Fans have been clamoring for the show to be revived on HBO Max for a while now. But irrespective of whether the revival happens or not, it looks like 'Doom Patrol' is at least paying heed to the more mystical aspects of the show.
In the episode, the Knights Templar have a conversation with a rabbit who reveals that there's talk in the animal and plant kingdoms of an apocalyptic event on the way. Willoughby Kipling (Mark Sheppard) relays this information to the Chief / Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton) saying that there's chatter among the flora and fauna. As comic book fans would know, the Green is the mystical embodiment of all flora on Earth while the Red is the equivalent for all fauna. While the Green empowers Swamp Thing (Derek Mears) as its champion, the Red has Animal Man / Buddy Baker as its representative.
It is a possibility, however slight, that the impending apocalypse is causing a panic in the Green and the Red. And if those elements are part of this world, then so is Swamp Thing and Animal Man. Now granted, that's a pretty big stretch for a reference but Grant Morrison, whose take on 'Doom Patrol' heavily influences the show, also played a very important hand in crafting the Animal Man we know today. The character would be a great fit for the series, even if only as a guest appearance.
Ultimately, it's unlikely that either Animal Man or Swamp Thing will appear this season since there's only one episode left before Season 2 wraps up. However, it is comforting to think that they are somewhere out there in this world, ready to pop in at Doom Manor if ever the story needs them to.
'Doom Patrol' Season 2 streams on Thursdays on DC Universe and HBO Max.