Netflix Original Series Dead Boy Detectives

VotN, glad to see you! Hope all is well.

I never saw the Doom Patrol episode with Bash and the Tennent Targaryen twink, but heard it was pretty good and there was nice gay tension. I've enjoyed some of those Netflix occult shows like Hemlock Grove, Lockwood & Co, Locke & Key, The Bastard Son, Cabinet of Curiosities, & CAOS. I really enjoyed Sandman as well, so I'll definitely check this out when it comes out. It looks like the new actor Reveri might lay it on a little thick, but I'll save my judgements for the show. It also looks like the breathtakingly beautiful twink Charlie Besso might be in here (around 0:30), so that's certainly a reason to watch. Netflix is pissing me off with the constant price increases, but I'm a whore for shows with pretty twinks and/or occult stuff, also fresh anime like Castlevania: Nocturne. So, I guess I'll pay up.

I thought the Doom Patrol episode with this team was awesome and was pissed when I heard they recast the roles. Feels like it's been ages since that aired and now this spinoff is finally here, seemingly out of nowhere. I'll give it a shot, the two boys in the thumbnail look handsome af.

Crazy to think that Sebastian Croft maybe got too famous for this gig in just two short years, how small the world seems sometimes.

[quote]Crazy to think that Sebastian Croft maybe got too famous for this gig in just two short years, how small the world seems sometimes.

He didn't. His newest gig is a bit part in a BBC series.

Apparently I am not the target audience because it's way too dark and blurry for my 60 year old eyes.

Who is the lady with the instantly iconic delivery at 0:55?

Official trailer. Out April 25th.

The boys are both so faggy, I love it. Wish they made them into a couple, though. I'm actually more intrigued by this than I am by the next season of Sandman.

It's been ages since I read the original Sandman comics, but didn't this series spin off from a certain storyline (which I won't spoil) that hasn't happened on the show yet? If they've already appeared on Doom Patrol I guess it doesn't matter. But they must have a different origin than the one I know.

R7 Thought the same thing. So not tortured to death anymore?

I need to see and Charles kith before the season is over.

* and Charles

You thought that helped, r10?

r11 Oh dear, oh dear. I meant and Charles!

I clearly need to stop posting right after I wake up from a nap.

* and Charles!

Oh, okay, I see what's happening now: DL is censoring the name E...n, because his stalker wouldn't leave him alone through the years and he threatened legal action. It wasn't me being a damn idiot after all!

All is forgiven.

Looks fun. The characters are younger in the comics, yes?

They certainly were younger when they popped in for a cameo on Doom Patrol.

I guess the question is how gay for each other Rowland and Payne are able to be. Clearly, they’re setting up Rowland as one of the things DL hates (either “pan-“ or “queer”), but are they just going to queerbait with Payne or nah.

Obviously, Death will cameo in the finale to set up a cliffhanger in whether or not Payne goes back to Hell.

Oh, so Kirby is actually playing Death in this as well? I thought they just cast her here because Gaiman was already familiar with her. That's wonderful, I loved that character.

[quote] Oh, so Kirby is actually playing Death in this as well? I thought they just cast her here because Gaiman was already familiar with her. That's wonderful, I loved that character.

He said at the beginning that one of the Endless would be showing up. In the split-second shot of her in the trailer, she’s wearing her same costume from Sandman, ankh and all.

So will we get the origin story for these guys in Sandman season 2, and will they use the same actors?

Too similar to Lockwood and Co which Netflix canceled.

These characters first appeared in The Sandman back in 1991 and got their own comic book in 1993. Lockwood & Co. is based on a book series first published in 2013. They might be similar, but we know for certain which came first.

I hope it's good and people watch it. I've had enough of shows like this getting cancelled because no one watches them. Deadly Class, anyone?

[quote]These characters first appeared in The Sandman back in 1991 and got their own comic book in 1993. Lockwood & Co. is based on a book series first published in 2013. They might be similar, but we know for certain which came first.

They've been seen more recently. After Sandman: Overture, DC (with Gaiman's blessing, or at least a healthy payout for same) started publishing related titles under the banner Sandman Universe. Primarily limited series, but a few ongoings (that ran for about two years each). For the most part, they've been queer as hell. There were new volumes of Hellblazer and Lucifer (each with a bi lead), the volume of The Dreaming had a running plot where the Corinthian was banished to Earth to live as a mortal and got a human boyfriend, James Tynion wrote two limited series Nightmare Country and Nightmare Country: The Glass House that were about the Corinthian as well. And there was a Dead Boy Detectives mini as well, which ended with realizing he was in love with Charles.

Looking at the trailer, I'm wondering if the snippet of Charles telling "You are my best mate, I wouldn't want to be dead with anyone else" comes on the heels of Charles confessing his feelings.

I doubt they'd have the balls to have it be mutual.

Still, that's a brutally affective trailer. The combo of the subject matter with the My Chemical Romance song goes down smooth.

[quote]Looking at the trailer, I'm wondering if the snippet of Charles telling "You are my best mate, I wouldn't want to be dead with anyone else" comes on the heels of Charles confessing his feelings.

confessing his feelings.

E***n confessing his feelings.

Oh, let's just call him Paine, since we're going to be censored.

You had to mention "Deadly Class" dammit... I watched that and LOVED it and was SO depressed when it was canceled.

Yeah, that show was awesome, even if the constant and overlong narration wasn't that successfully translated from the comic book in my view. Great visuals, ever-present homoerotic ambience, and of course drop-dead gorgeous guys. God damn it.

The two leads are so friggin' charismatic even in these short clips, I can't wait to binge this come Thursday. I bitched when they announced the recasting of the boys from the Doom Patrol cameo, but they made a good call – these two are really good actors and have an insane chemistry together.

Just watched the first episode. I would give it a 6.5-7/10. The witch is deliciously campy.

OK so all i know of these boys is from Seasons of the Mist in the sandman stories. What is this Doom patrol thing you talk of?

In the comics, they are young boys who are tortured to death in a Private school, as Hell has closed and the dead are back on Earth. Death chooses not to take them, and they go off adventuring from there.

So, comic wise, what have I missed since then? And how they exsist before Sandman has adapted Seasons of the Miist.

How the fuck have you never heard of Doom Patrol?

R32 Heard of it, never watched it.

Back to the show, people. Back to the show.

I've downloaded it, shall watch tonight. Just see no connection with Sandman.

[quote]because his stalker wouldn't leave him alone through the years and he threatened legal action

He was the stalker.

One thing I hate about this show is the constant editing of different camera angles every 3 seconds? Can’t we just have a static shot for about 15-20 seconds?

Esther the witch is pure DL camp....she would be so welcome here!

I want Monty as my own pocket gayling

R38 so far she’s my favorite part and I wouldn’t continue to watch without her.

The witch was divine. The actress who played her made some really fun choices with her line delivery. I’m in love!

She showed up just in time too, the episode was starting to sag with that cheap made-in-soggy-Vancouver blandness that usually kills my interest in shows like this.

The two leads are awesome. I love these two characters from the comics so I had high hopes, and the boys are really quite fantastic. I quite like that they are now from different centuries, that’s a fun update.

I’m less charmed by the shouty angst psychic in the hideous wig. She’s not particularly convincing as a grump. I warmed to her when she softened up near the end of the episode, hopefully they’ll continue on with that path with the character.

This is the only project I actually adored Lukas Gage in.

The recasting was a bit of genius. I was disappointed to hear that Ty Tennant and Sebastian Croft were not to be this version of The Dead Boy Detectives (especially considering they kept Ruth Connell as Night Nurse), but George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri are terrific.

I honestly wasn’t expecting it to be this good. They knocked it out of the park.

I’ve only had a chance to watch the first episode, but for my money, I’m just going to repeat the same thing I said in the Sandman thread about the casting: Kirby Howell-Baptiste is Death in every way that actually matters.

They are, at least, more attractive than Ty Tennant and Sebastian Croft.

Jesus, Paine, a sexy cat guy wants in your pants.

That’s NOT a punishment.

I get being a prissy repressed ghost, but he needs to let the Cat King lick his cream.

I mean, I get it, he was programmed by Edwardian buggery laws, but he's also been out of hell for over 30 years at this point. He should have relaxed a little.

Watched ep. 1 and deleted it from My List. Not my cup of tea. I had no idea it was based on a comic, but I suppose if you were a fan, you might like it. IMO, it doesn’t cover any unexploited territory thematically or visually. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Beautiful credits.

(just rolling eyes at R47, who obviously never gives things time to breathe or establish themselves, but just snap-judges everything based on the most shallow of criteria)

Just finished it, what a blast! Had so much fun, I just want to go on an adventure with these kids. Well, I say kids...

The two leads are insanely good at this, it's like they've been playing these roles for years. More acting chops and facial expressions in just the premiere than Ackles or Padalecki managed in however many seasons of that damn show. Ed is femmy in all the best ways, he is so precious to me.

Which reminds me, this show is like a funner, campier, faggier version of Supernatural. I've always wondered how much Kripke cribbed from Gaiman, and I've also always had a suspicion that American Gods would've killed it had Supernatural not come along sooner.

Niko felt like a cartoon at first, but she developed into a lovable character later on.

Never found Lukas Gage all that attractive, but he looks smoking hot with those cat eyes. Is that weird?

Actress playing Esther was something else – like Cruella de Vil if played by Jennifer Tilly, her line delivery was delicious. Is it just me or was the older version of her at the very end just a man in a wig?

Please make another season of this!

Oh, and I forgot to mention the most important thing of all: Monty's hairy arms are a marvel! What a cute little twink.

I didn't like it at all. It wasn't very gay. Missed opportunity to not make Charles gay imo. This show would have been much more interesting if Charles and were both gay.

If Charles and were both gay*

E**** is censored? Lol. Why?

I loved it. I had no idea what it was, going in, but I found it disarming. Wonderful cast, get chemistry, and I was glad Charles was not gay or at least not yet, since it leaves the door open for possibilities in future seasons.

Is that Lukas Gage as the Cat King?

Yes, Gage is the Cat King.

[quote]E**** is censored? Lol. Why?

Shares the name with long-standing DL troll so the name is verboten around these parts.

Obviously Charles should be gay.

E.d.w.i.n. could go either way, but I'd rather he be straight.

R56 Yes! The cat king was one of the best things about this show. He wasn't pure evil, but he wasn't entirely good either. I've seen some people say they hated the character, he was "creepy" with the way he came onto E****. I'm like... are we watching the same show? The cat king obviously knew E**** was gay. He knew E**** was secretly into it. There was nothing creepy about it imo. E**** kissing the cat king on the cheek in one of the last episodes clearly showed he wasn't sexually abused, like the fraus think.

[quotet]ere was nothing creepy about it imo

I don't find it creepy, either. It was seductive. But even the male showrunner says Cat King is a predator and he was coercing E**** and he's an antagonist.

I see it differently because while his first interaction was a hinted at sexual proposition in exchange for E****'s freedom, clearly E. is just as intrigued by Cat King: it's in the way he reacts to his nearness, it's how he wouldn't tell Charles what Cat King told him and how kisses Cat King - albeit on the cheek.

I read that, in the comics, Charles is bi, so there's still hope for them getting together. I think they set up the 'best friends to lovers' trope pretty well too.

I finished it, but I didn’t love it. It’s the same old crappy adaptation that Netflix churns out by the dozen. The two actors that played the ghost detectives were great, however.

A shame, because The Sandman was one the greatest works of literature in the past few decades and those two ghost boy characters I remember fondly.

R62 Same. Such a tormented start.

Couple more thoughts...

I could always clock a fabulous diva from a mile away, check my reply at r5 for proof of that.

There was some pushback from fat activists when The Sandman show came out because Despair was portrayed by a fat whore. Glad they stuck to their guns. Could have used some CG shimmer or something so she wouldn't look so human, though.

The hell scene with that boy who was tearing out the pages hit strangely close to home for me. I also was falling for those Ed-type artsy femmy homos at college and uni, but they always looked down on me because I dressed like a lumberjack and was too poor to look as stylish as they did. I didn't bully them like the guy on the show, though. Dare I say I was triggered by that scene?

People on Reddit are saying that Lockwood & Co. show was even better than this one, which I doubt, but I'll check it out regardless.

I’m not liking the character of Niko. She’s just kind of there and takes time away from the other characters.

The stalker drama with the butcher lady was so timely, what with the current Baby Reindeer craze. I honestly didn't see it coming, but glad it was handled the way it was. As someone who has been stalked and has stalked others, it's high time we talk more openly about this subject matter.

Caitlin Reilly's YouTube impressions are so good, I wish her dandelion sprite put-downs were wittier. Have been familiar with Max Jenkins since Special and later Dead To Me, I quite like him as well.

R64, Lockwood & Co. was great, I loved it, and I was so pissed off Netflix canceled it after just one season.

I love the Night Nurse!

I love the Voice of the Night!

There was this article about its bad ratings and uncertain future posted on Reddit a couple of days ago and the response was largely: a) serves them right for recasting the boys and b) show isn't what I signed up for. Am I taking crazy pills or are these two actors much better than the original ones? Also, the second point seems like coded homophobic language to me.

There’s a lot of resentment due to Lockwood and Co. being cancelled because reportedly Netflix didn’t want it competing against Dead Boy Detectives.

I like both but I wish both could have existed.

Both should be able to exist side-by-side. I don't know why people think they can't. Yes, they're similar. But they're different. I loved Lockwood and Co.

I also very much enjoyed Dead Boy Detectives. I cannot wait for season 2.

[quote]There was this article about its bad ratings

I saw an image where someone measured the ratings for Dead Boy Detectives against cancelled shows like Lockwood & Co, The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself (Half-Bad) and if that information is correct, I can see Netflix announcing its cancellation in the coming weeks. Though, I'm curious of the completion rate. Netflix takes that in account as well. If the 28 day mark or 90 day mark has a decent completion rate, I hope that would save it.

[quote] Am I taking crazy pills or are these two actors much better than the original ones?

I think they're vastly better and I loved the DOOM PATROL version. I don't see how people could get so connected to the Doom Patrol version when they only appeared in one episode. Yes, they were good, but the Dead Boy Detectives series gives their actors so much more to do and more depth.

The current lean streaming environment is another complication. A new show with weak ratings might have still scored a renewal for at least one more season even two or three years ago, but those days are over now.

[quote]I think they're vastly better and I loved the DOOM PATROL version. I don't see how people could get so connected to the Doom Patrol version when they only appeared in one episode.

Exactly my thinking. And I also loved the original boys and threw a bitch fit when they got recast. But these two are just on another level, they don't miss a beat from the first second of the first episode.

I could imagine Netflix giving it a second chance by merit of being somewhat tied into the Sandman series.

I was immediately turned off by the chick with the Scary Spice look. Is she in every episode like that?

I thought the show was great! Cast, direction, design and story were wonderful.

Joshua Robert Colley!!!

Joshua is strutting and voguing in every scene, making sure the light hits his lip gloss just right. And his hairy arms are the cherry on top of that adorable lil' femmy twink cake.

I enjoyed it. A step above the usual.

Building the confusion of have actors in the their mid-20s playing "boys" who are 16 when the original characters are 12 is peculiar, but works for permitting adult issues while maintaining a safety zone. It's a kids' show with adults playing the kids, so there are happy endings while horrible things are going on.

The acting is quite good, except I tire of Asian "Luna Lovegood" on-the-spectrum characters. Nancy Drew did it better for that demographic. The Cat King, Crow Boy, the leads all make for a fine gay context, and the actress playing Crystal Palace Etc. manages, against all the odds, not to be someone one hates for being the usual stereotype of a proud African American with a pack of dead female ancestors giving her power like a super princess. The bad guys are great, and seeing Rowena MacLeod is always a pleasure.

For young audiences, seeing the two Boy Detectives working out their straight/gay friendship/boyfriend-crush tensions with honesty and affection is a very good thing.

I don't binge watch shows. I binge-watched this.

And having a limited number of episodes did help keep focus and reduce the usual lassitude and bullshit that happens with longer seasons.

R76, I have no clue what you're talking about.

[quote]I could imagine Netflix giving it a second chance by merit of being somewhat tied into the Sandman series.

I would be satisfied with at least one more season.

The new Netflix leadership isn't mucking about because The Umbrella Academy has managed to survive 4 (with this upcoming season) seasons with consistently dropping ratings, but it still survived. Yet Netflix axed The Brother Sun and The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself within a month of its airing.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Netflix mandated an appearance of the two Dead Boy Detectives in season 2 of the Sandman in order to bring in more of the successful series's audience. Gotta build that "cinematic universe"...

R83 The characters so appear on this season of Sandman, as hell is closed. However the comic boys differ greatly, so fuck knows how it will play out.

How does it "differ greatly"?

R85 Spoilers, obviously. In the comic Hell has closed, and the dead are coming back. One of the DBD has beend ead for awhile, killed in a devil worshipping scene, I think. They other is being tortured by dead boy and masters who are dead, but back. In the end, the live boy is tortured to death, (I remember a bbq fork through his nipple), and the boys decide, as Death does not have the time to take them, they shall go on adventures.

They are also around 11 to 12 years old.

Happy Birthday to George and his thick eyebrows today. Hope they get renewed soon 🤞

I have this horrible feeling that we're all living in fantasy land and this show got cancelled a week ago already, they're just waiting to drop the news.

The photo at r43 is just the cutest shit ever.

When does Joshua Robert Colley appear? He's the only reason I want to watch. And Lucas Gage. Saw Lucas last night looking particularly ghoulish.

Colley sashays onto the scene in the second episode. Gage is there from the start.

R86, that's not THAT different. Yes, the boys are older here, but they kind of have to be.

I lasted 10 minutes watching the first episode. Really, really lame.

You are why we can't have nice gay things, r92. I will blame you personally when this gets cancelled.

^ Happy to take the credit.

Some of y'all hate joy and it shows.

I see why Cat King wants to fuck him.

r96, Cat King is lusting after the other guy.

r96 That place looks so nice. Look at those trees in the back!

I wish we could zoom in on his legs.

Never mind, found them!

[quote] Cat King is lusting after the other guy

Cat King is lusting after played by George Rexstrew who is pictured in r96. R99 is Jayden Revri (Charles).

I thought that was Revri as well. The lesson here is not to take photos from that far away, it's too confusing.

[quote] The lesson here is not to take photos from that far away, it's too confusing.

The lesson here is that you should put on your reading glasses, you old queen! :p

Maybe the Netflix brass will be compelled to renew if the guys keep getting their tits out.

Sorry, R102, but I'm with R101. That looks like Revri. Even zoomed in, wearing my reading glasses. It absolutely does not look like Rexstrew, even after being told it IS him, it doesn't look like him, it looks like the other guy. That's a really bad photo.

I liked when E.d.w.i.n. asked what a hand job was and Charles just said "Oh, bloody hell." In my mind, he would have followed that up with "I'll show you later mate."

I just finished this series. It was very good and they set it up for a fun season 2, but I'm worried there won't be a season 2. Plus, I want Monty to come back and hookup with E. I also want E to hookup with the Cat King. I also want more Night Nurse and Esther.

I really hope it gets a second season. Not only do I want the protagonists to end up together, I want it to be more outrageously gay and weird.

We need more Monty for sure!

Monty is seriously hot. I'd even say beautiful. Joshua Robert Colley. And he can sang, too. Saw You Tube clips of him on Broadway.

Every morning, I open the main television subreddit with trepidation, thinking I'm going to see the news of this show's cancellation. Same thing happened just now when I saw this threads bumped.

Joshua needs a series all his own. Set in high school and sort of like Square Pegs or Mean Girls except for the Gays.

He sho is pretty.

Looking good.

That's a (male) who could all have their way with me!

^ (male) cast

George is so hot. His chin mole is perfectly placed.

r113 Beautiful outie. It's a shame we didn't get any shirtless scenes with him in the first season and now we might never get one.

Why is the one who died in 1989 dressed like it's 1982?

It's been four months now. It's not looking good for our boys, is it? 😕

Alas. We can't have nice things.

Canceled.

Damn, a pity. Hopefully, they'll show up in Sandman again.

Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all knew it was coming, but it still sucks. They waited almost exactly four months since it came out to announce the chop.

First time in a long while that I'm genuinely upset by a show's cancellation, I enjoyed both of these faggy boys so much. But who's surprised by the low ratings when even the gays don't watch gay content?

This show wasn't very gay and it wasn't very good either. I'm not surprised it got canceled.

Dead wrong on both parts, as per the usual.

There is a grease fire with R125, name all over it.

R127 WTF?! was de-gayed. He was supposed to be in a relationship with Charles, but because the producers thought it would be too gay to have two main characters, they made one of them straight and the other wasn't even allowed a boyfriend. It was offensive.