GayTV Recap: Doom Patrol (Episode 1x3)

This week's new episode of the DC comics series Doom Patrol put some major focus on Larry Trainer a.k.a. Negative Man (played by Matt Bomer & Matthew Zuk). He began the episode plagued by memories of the night before his crash in 1961, where he spent time with his secret lover John (played by Kyle Clements). With nerves over his test flight mounting, he pressured John, a member of his Air Force crew, about whether everything had been checked. John assured him with a kiss that everything was ready for him to make history.

Back in the present, the members of Doom Patrol met to discuss their next move in trying to locate their mentor Chief, discussing options and ultimately landing on traveling to Paraguay to locate the doctor that created their enemy Mr. Nobody. Meanwhile, Larry's flashbacks continued with John telling Larry that he applied for discharge from the military, tired of hiding his sexuality and serving a country that hated who he was. He suggested Larry leave with him after his test flight, which he refused, saying he had too much to lose by giving up his life.

An angry John prepared to leave his love behind, but Larry stopped him, promising him that he would make everything right with them, after his important test flight was completed. John agreed to give him time, but told him that no matter what his decision was going to be, John was leaving and not coming back.

Back in the present, the Doom Patrol headed off to Paraguay by bus. With a long road ahead, they took turns driving. Larry's turn behind the wheel led to trouble, as he attempted to reason with the negative energy spirit living within his body. The angry spirit left his body and sabotaged the bus, stranding the group and leaving Larry to try to figure out how to co-exist with the energy being inside him.

More flashbacks showed Larry arriving home to find his wife Sheryl waiting up for him. She confronted him about his long nights away from home, behavior that he promised would end when they moved to their current home. Larry apologized, promising to change after the test flight, but Sheryl admitted she was tired of waiting and perhaps needed a change for herself. He urged her not to give up on him, swearing that her love and their children were his primary motivators for success.

Back in the present, Larry ended up in Paraguay with fellow Doom Patrol members Jane & Cliff, thanks to some instant teleportation. They found the doctor's laboratory, discovering that he was a Nazi enemy of the Chief, and they planned their next move. More flashbacks revealed the hours after Larry's flight crash, which left him severely scarred in radioactive quarantine. He was visited by Sheryl, who revealed to him that she had to move on to find real love. She hoped that he would heal and be able to do the same, as he begged her not to give up on their marriage.

After learning of Dr. Von Fuchs' technology that could transform people into a better self, Larry entered one of his chambers, activating the machine, which allowed him to experience an existence without his radiation burns and bandages. He was even more taken aback to see that he had been separated from the negative energy spirit that had been living inside him.

Finally feeling free of his burden, Larry attempted to leave that reality, only to be blocked at every turn by the negative energy spirit. He confronted the spirit, wondering why he was trying to stop him from leaving. They were finally free of one another, which he figured was what they both wanted. It could finally be over.

Larry wondered why the spirit was trying to keep them tied together, screwing up their lives. It was then that he was surprised by the appearance of his lover John, who claimed that it was Larry who had messed everything up. Larry approached John but when he reached out to touch him and get more answers, he was pulled from that reality by Jane & Cliff, who ripped the machine door open, leaving Larry back under bandages with the spirit still inside him.

With the laboratory's destruction, the group headed back home. During the flight, Larry thought back to his time in radioactive quarantine when John visited him, with others from their crew. The upbeat John revealed that he changed his mind and re-enlisted in the Air Force to remain assigned to Larry. He promised to be there for Larry when he got out. Overcome with emotion over John's loyalty, Larry ordered him to go. Holding back his anguish, John took the order and left after telling Larry that they were all still cheering him on.