DC Fans Have The Same Complaint After The Creature Commandos Finale, But There’s A Silver Lining For James Gunn

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Throughout the debut season of “Creature Commandos,” accessible to Max subscribers, screenwriter James Gunn and his crew delved further into the past experiences of the monster team members. These personal narratives incorporated references to thrilling DC characters, such as when G.I. Robot (Sean Gunn) teamed up with Sgt. Rock and Easy Company. Each tale was heartbreaking, culminating in the narrative of amphibious Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao). While Episode 7 focused on Nina’s story, it also addressed numerous other plotlines – from Frankenstein’s (David Harbour) chase for The Bride (Indira Varma) to the impending military crisis in Pokolistan. Consequently, the need to resolve these storylines led several DC enthusiasts to voice similar criticisms following the finale.

Creature Commandos will always hold a special place as the inaugural production in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s revamped DC Universe. The summer is set to see a surge with releases like Superman, not forgetting the Max original series, Lanterns, and theatrical feature, Superman: Woman of Tomorrow. For the most part, the show did an exceptional job expanding the DC universe by introducing Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to introduce a fresh and exhilarating team of monsters. It also heightened the influence of Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) as a key player. I thoroughly enjoyed the origins of characters such as Weasel (Sean Gunn) and Dr. Phosphorous (Alan Tudyk). The mission undertaken by the Creature Commandos was engaging, and overall, it was a highly entertaining season that might have benefited from a few more episodes without any reservations.

As a die-hard DC fan, I must admit that the chatter on social media circles around our beloved comic universe has been predominantly centered on one recurring issue: the narrative – particularly in Episode 7 – seemed to move at an overly brisk pace.

The Creature Commandos aired for seven episodes during its debut season, and it’s clear why creators James Gunn and Dean Lorey chose to keep the number of episodes limited initially. After all, this was a new concept, and they might have wanted to test the waters first. Animation is time-consuming and costly, and no one wants to wear out their welcome by producing too much content at once. It’s better to make an impact, tell an engaging story, and leave viewers eager for more!

An alternative approach might have been to shorten some of the later episodes, particularly the finale, to allow for a more paced storytelling. For instance, expanding those episodes from an hour to approximately 45 minutes could have provided room for the narrative to develop more naturally. One scene that seemed particularly rushed was when Frankenstein finally found The Bride, only to be shot and left for dead. It’s possible that there were extensive plans for this interaction, as Gunn had been building up to it since the first episode. Given Frankenstein’s popularity in the series, besides G.I. Robot, I hope he isn’t deceased…

If the primary criticism of Creature Commandos is “I wish it was longer,” then that’s fantastic news for James Gunn and the DCU as a whole. The series showcases his distinctive style and talent for crafting endearing, lasting characters. I believe he will bring something fresh to Superman, and I can hardly wait to see where that leads. Additionally, since Creature Commandos Season 2 has already been confirmed, James Gunn will have another opportunity to work on this property. Perhaps we can hope for nine episodes next time around, with a more extended finale? Just throwing out an idea, for some friends.

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2025-01-09 20:40