The penultimate episode of Creature Commandos (of its first Season, thankfully) plunges the team into their darkest hour. Separated and hunted in Pokolistan by Princess Ilana’s Amethyst Knights, the Commandos are now fugitives with the fate of the world hanging by a thread, depending on their actions. With several storylines running concurrently, “Priyatel Skelet” masterfully sets the stage for what promises to be an explosive finale.
Last episode left Rick Flag Sr. battered after his and Eric Frankenstein’s brutal fight with Clayface. Now, Flag is in a hospital, revealed to have a broken back—a shocking development considering his confirmed appearances in upcoming DC projects like Superman and Peacemaker Season 2. While he’s recovering, Waller and Economos deduce that Frankenstein is heading to Pokolistan to intercept the Commandos, fearing he might derail the mission to assassinate Princess Ilana.
Despite Waller’s belief in Circe’s ominous vision of Ilana conquering the world, she remains unaware that Clayface had killed and replaced the specialist she enlisted to confirm the accuracy of Circe’s visions. As it stands, Flag might be the only one capable of preventing global catastrophe—if he can regain consciousness in time.
DON’T WORRY RICK. IF BATMAN CAN RECOVER FROM A BROKEN BACK, SO CAN YOU.
Eric Frankenstein, meanwhile, hijacks a private jet, single-mindedly pursuing his so-called “beloved” Bride under the guise of heroism, while killing several people with zero remorse. It’s kind of funny that, despite Eric’s relationship with the Bride, they have shared absolutely no screen time together in the present storyline. It looks like they’ll reunite in the finale (much to the Bride’s annoyance), but considering everything else that will be going on, it probably won’t be too important.
At her castle, Princess Ilana seems conflicted about her orders to kill the Commandos, acknowledging that they are pawns in a larger game orchestrated by Circe. This adds complexity to her character, raising doubts about the reliability of Circe’s vision and whether Ilana truly poses the existential threat she’s accused of being. But she’s still going to turn out to be Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, right?
Meanwhile, the Bride and Nina manage to find each other amidst the chaos, their growing bond providing some much-needed emotional grounding. They seek refuge in a brothel owned by Madam Gyurov (voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo of HBO’s The Penguin). While their story feels isolated from the larger plot, it showcases their contrasting personalities’ humorous dynamic.
The real standout moment comes when two metahuman thugs, the Craic Brothers, burst into the brothel, leading to a confrontation. Nina, who has avoided conflict throughout the series, attacks one of the brothers with a bottle to protect a prostitute. Though The Bride dispatches both Craics with ease, Nina’s bravery marks a significant moment of character growth. It’s a subtle but powerful setup for the finale, hinting at a larger role for Nina in the Commandos’ ultimate mission.
“ONE WRONG MOVE AND YOU’LL BE SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES. AND I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT ME.”
Weasel finds himself in a nearby forest, encountering a pack of wolves. What could have been a vicious battle turns into a surprisingly heartwarming sequence as Weasel plays fetch with the wolves. After playing with the wolves all night, Weasel dreams of the Princess, blending memories of her and the girl he tried to save in his flashbacks in “Chasing Squirrels.”
This scene hints at Weasel’s motivations, suggesting he might try to stop the Commandos from killing Ilana. The decision to leave the wolves behind in the morning is bittersweet, as Weasel finally found a group that accepts him, only to abandon them for a person he feels compelled to protect.
THIS IS THE KIND OF WEIRD YET HEARTWARMING IMAGERY WE EXPECT FROM JAMES GUNN AT THIS POINT.
And last but not least is Doctor Phosphorus, who finally takes center stage. Hiding in a house, he meets a little girl who isn’t afraid of his glowing green skeleton appearance, even calling Phosphorus “Priyatel Skelet,” which is Bulgarian for “Friend Skeleton.” The scenes are tense as Phosphorus contemplates killing her to ensure his safety, interspersed with flashbacks revealing his tragic backstory.
It’s revealed that Phosphorus was once a scientist named Alex Sartorius, who was experimenting with nuclear fusion to cure cancer. He was receiving funding from mob boss Rupert Thorne (voiced by Benjamin Byron Davis), who planned to exploit his research for nefarious purposes.
When Alex gave Thorne false data, Thorne has his family killed and tries killing Alex in a horrifying “suicide” that instead transforms him into the glowing skeletal figure he is today. Enraged, Alex begins his descent into villainy by taking revenge on Thorne, killing him and his family, as well as his henchmen before taking over his criminal empire.
IMAGINE HAVING TO CHOREOGRAPH THIS. PHOSPHORUS MUST’VE KILLED A FEW HENCHMEN FOR HAVING TWO LEFT FEET.
While the flashbacks are compelling, they feel more rushed compared to other Commandos’ origins, condensing a potentially rich narrative into a brief runtime. Alex’s wife and son are underdeveloped, as they each only appear with him for one scene before they die, and his abrupt transition from scientist to mob boss lacks proper reason.
Nonetheless, the episode effectively portrays Phosphorus as a genuine supervillain, a stark contrast to the misunderstood figures that make up the rest of the Commandos, though his decision to spare the young girl highlights a glimmer of humanity amid his monstrous persona.
The Gotham City setting in Phosphorus’s backstory also delivers lots of nostalgia for Batman: The Animated Series with its atmospheric visuals and music, as well as Rupert Thorne’s inclusion. And the Caped Crusader himself makes a cameo!
“I AM VENGEANCE! I AM THE NIGHT! I AM BATMAN!” – KEVIN CONROY, RIP
The episode ends with the Commandos converging at Princess Ilana’s castle, poised to complete their mission. While the pacing of Phosphorus’s flashbacks feels slightly rushed, “Priyatel Skelet” expertly juggles its multiple characters and effectively sets up a presumably intense and emotional finale. Each character is poised for pivotal moments, from Frankenstein’s obsession with The Bride, to Nina’s newfound courage, and Weasel’s sense of loyalty.
James Gunn’s Creature Commandos continues to defy expectations, and with only one episode left, it’s anyone’s guess how this season will conclude.
“OKAY EVERYONE, WE NEED TO LOOK COOL. LET’S WALK TOGETHER IN A STRAIGHT LINE.”
