Doom Patrol is populated by superpowered individuals, some of whom are always up to no good. With unique antagonists such as the Candlemaker and Mr. Nobody roaming around, everyone has to constantly look over their shoulder. And while such characters do plenty of despicable things, they are those that appeal to fans.
These characters are portrayed as adorable by not only doing deeds but also by having arcs that pull on the heartstrings. Most of the likable characters are primary and secondary protagonists but a few of the baddies have impressed too, thanks to their ability to either come up with superior schemes or by them simply injecting small doses of humor into the show.
Crazy Jane
Kay Challis's dominant personality maintains The Underground's state of equilibrium by controlling all the other personalities. Each of her personalities has its unique special ability.
Through Jane, themes of childhood trauma and neglect are magnified, making her an easy character to sympathize one. She proves resilient by overcoming the DID (dissociative identity disorder) that resulted from the abuse her father subjected her to and uses her powers to make the world a better palace. Her ability to tap into different kinds of powers also makes her extremely fascinating since even most of the traditionally popular heroes don't have the same range she does.
Rita Farr (Elasti-Girl)
The Immortus Initiative exposes Rita to toxic gases that alter her cellular structure. She thus acquires the ability to elongate any part of her body.
Rita's journey of reform is what endears her fans. Initially starting out as a braggadocious, self-centered, and fame-hungry actress, she scores popularity points by accepting her failings as well as her new look and setting herself on a path to become a better person. That she risks her own life to save Elliot Patterson shows she no longer puts herself first. The old Rita would never go on the risky mission to save The Chief either but the new Rita gladly buckles up. And with Cyborg having numerous challenges of his own. Rita erases his woes by acting as a mother figure to him.
Victor "Vic" Stone (Cyborg)
Vic acquires special abilities after his father Silas augments his body with robotic parts. After learning about The Chief's kidnapping, he joins the Doom Patrol.
Having initially been a member of the Titans and the Justice League, Vic commands plenty of respect not only among his peers but also among fans. Since his powers are not linked to The Chief, he isn't obligated to help him but he demonstrates just how good-hearted he is by going on the journey anyway. And despite having a strong resume, Vic isn't perfect, something that makes him relatable. He makes mistakes while fighting Mr. Nobody and also while falling in love. His girlfriend Roni Evesturns out to be a terrorist but he learns from his missteps.
Niles Caulder (The Chief)
The skilled medical doctor has been alive since 1913. In recent years, he has dedicated his life to taking care of the heroes and offering them shelter at The Manor.
Without The Chief, the Doom Patrol team wouldn't exist hence he deserves commendation for that. Even though the manner in which he granted them their powers is questionable, fans have come to accept the fact that it was necessary for the greater good. Another admirable things about The Chief is that he is always ready to make sacrifices. He sacrifices his immortality so that his patients can go free and also sacrifices his life to prevent his loved ones from turning into zombies.
Larry Trainor
The former United States Air Force pilot becomes a super-powered individual after the Negative Entity crashes into his plane and merges itself with him. The Bureau of Normalcy later takes him in and molds him to be a superhero.
Larry has one of the coolest looks on the show, His love-hate relationship with the Negative Spirit always makes for great buddy moments too as the two remind fans of Eddie Brock and Venom from the Marvel comics. And unlike some of his colleagues, Larry isn't too lost in the superhero stuff. A part of him wants to be a family man again and that's why he tries hard to make things right with his estranged son, Most importantly, he is one of the few LGBTQ+ superheroes on TV, laying the foundation for more characters like him to pop up in the future.
Laura De Mille (Madame Rouge)
Laura spends most of her life as a villainous member of the Sisterhood of Dada and the Brotherhood of Evil but all that changes when she time-travels to 2021 to steal plans from The Chief. She loses her memory, a development that turns her good.
There's always a need for celebration when a character chooses to reform and Laura's switch from baddie to hero transforms her from deplorable to adorable in the eyes of fans. Though her loss of memory makes her struggle to control her fans, it isn't much of a big deal because she is now part of a noble cause. Her ability to shapeshift makes her quite the sneaky character too as she is able to infiltrate villain bases and cause much damage without getting made.
Cliff Steele (Robotman)
Starting out as a NASCAR driver, Steele's body parts get damaged during a car accident. His brain is then transferred to a robotic suit, making him an indestructible superhero.
As one of the best-developed characters, there is plenty to adore about Steele. Being a robot doesn't limit him. he not only retains the driving skills he acquired during his NASCAR days but also the dancing skills he got by watching movies with his late wives. His unique mannerisms thus qualify him as one of the most lovable robots in TV history. Steele has a solid paternal nature too and this is demonstrated by his trying to be in his daughter's life despite not being a human anymore and his words of advice to Cyborg and Dorothy. Furthermore, he is proud of who he is, such that he even declines Mr. Nobody's offer to make him human again.
Flex Mentallo
Flex has one of the most unique powers in Doom Patrol. By flexing either his muscles or a tiny part of his body, he is able to control things around him. Having been initially captured by the Bureau of Normalcy in 1964, the Doom Patrol members free him and start working with him.
Described as the stereotypical "Golden Age Of Comics" hero, Flex wants nothing more than to do good and save lives. The resulting hilarious effects of Flex's muscle-flexing contribute greatly to the show's comic relief. Among the heroes, he is also the proudest of who he is. He is more than glad to showcase his abilities to children and the press. Furthermore, he doesn't bother to hide his identity.
Joshua Clay
The Metahuman physician is tasked with taking care of the heroes after their retirement. Despite having the ability to fire kinetic energy blasts, he refuses to use his powers.
The fact that Clay won't use his powers illustrates just how principled he is. The physicians' medical skills have come in handy several times when the heroes developed rare complications. And unlike the rest of the characters, he is ordinarily reserved and respectful, making sure to not offend anyone he comes across.
Steve Larson (Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man)
After learning about Fuchtopia and traveling to Paraguay to undergo Von Fuchs' complex enhancement procedure, tourist Steve Larson transforms into a weird fusion of vegetables, animals, and minerals. He then tries to commit crimes but his stint as a criminal goes horribly wrong.
While Larson isn't a good guy, everything about him is hilarious, thus making him a likable character by default. Driven by desperation, he tries everything to make his life better but things only get worse. The lack of coordination between his various body parts is interesting to watch, with his biggest inconvenience being the constant attempts by his second head to bite his real one.