Jaw-dropping revelations are exactly what the DCU show needs as it heads towards a thrilling finale

Creature Commands
Episode 4, “Chasing Squirrels,” adds a lot of tension and intensity to the series in the middle of the first season. Of course, the episode continues to convey James Gunn's signature sense of humor, but it also does a lot to move the plot forward. Up until this point, the series was fun, but it also felt similar to projects like The Suicide Squad. After the emotional ending of the last episode, Creature Commands takes intense, deliberate steps forward.

Just like in the previous two episodes, Creature Commands is focusing on one member of the team in each new entry, using their origin story to emphasize the events of their life in the present. This episode takes a closer look at how Weasel ended up in prison, and significant revelations cause Task Force M to embark on a very different mission. The use of different characters and individual relationships within the team are also developing significantly.

The plot thickens thanks to Circe's visions

While the series spent some time introducing the main characters, developing a style of humor, and laying the groundwork for the plot, episode 4 shakes things up quite a bit. Creature Commandos was being pulled in one direction, but now the story diverges from anything DC has done before. With big reveals, episode 4 feels like a major turning point.

However, as the situation unfolds, the team begins to show cracks. These misfits didn't form a team by choice, as they were forced to work together and play the hero. Now, each character is placed in a position where they need to make choices and actively move in a specific direction. With their diverse motivations and relationships, this creates friction and fragmentation within the team. This progression is very rhythmic. Arrives halfway Creature Commands season 1 and helps build up the drama that will carry the series over the finish line.

With the story developing at breakneck speed, the series is now putting more focus on specific characters. As a result, some important figures are less present in the episode, and time is not used as sparingly here as in previous episodes. That said, the areas of focus are well developed and the series continues to move forward with a renewed sense of urgency.

Blurring the boundaries of past, present and future

With the program having the heavy role of presenting a team of anti-heroes, giving context and origin stories to each one, and also pushing a current narrative, Creature Commands It's a juggling act. Attention is divided between the past, present and even occasionally the future to make the biggest impact possible. And most of the time he manages to do this with talent and humor, but all these opposing elements create a slight tension that needs to be balanced.

The monsters of Task Force M are trying to find a place in the world and acceptance when people immediately decide who they are after seeing their appearance. This episode emphasizes that message emphatically thanks to its exploration of Weasel's life before prison, as the creature is unable to speak and looks like a human-sized, rabid, flea-ridden dog. However, he is extremely loyal and enjoys forming connections with others.

The episode delivers a powerful message about how to judge a book by its cover and how often the outside appearance can belie something completely different once you look closer. This message is intelligently conveyed in both the past and present storylines, and with the stakes of the future being set, Creature Commands delivers the most tense and engaging moments of the series so far. If the balance had been a little more fine-tuned, the episode would have been even better.

New episodes of Creature Commands Drop by Max weekly every Thursday.