Warning: Contains spoilers for Doom Patrol season 3, episode 5.
Jane has already seen a lot of changes in Doom Patrol season 3, and with Shelley Byron’s apparent offer, Kay’s primary alter might have new opportunities when it comes to control and Jane’s body. The introduction of the Sisterhood of Dada set up each member working to drive the story arcs of the Doom Patrol. The offer to Jane, in particular, must feel compelling as tensions rise in The Underground, and Shelley Byron’s plan could mean big changes for Jane.
Doom Patrol season 3, episode 5, “Dada Patrol,” showed Kay away from Jane in The Underground.
After Jane finds that the alters have locked Kay up, she symbolically eats a piece of candy that she finds in her pocket, seemingly showing that she is accepting Shelley Byron’s offer of help. In the comics, The Fog’s mind is filled with the minds of those they have absorbed, and it has a negative effect on their mental health and ability to communicate. This is acknowledged in Doom Patrol as Shelley Byron notes that she built this part of her mind to be away from all the noise of the others. With that idea established, her offer suggests that she can share that power and knowledge about mental spaces with Jane. That might mean that Jane will be able to lock away the other alters so that only she and Kay will ultimately share the body. The possibility of the destruction of the other alters is particularly signaled as Jane seems to become interested when The Fog suggests that “sometimes you have to set worlds on fire so you can make something new.”
As Kay has grown in strength after the alters temporarily defeated her trauma at the start of Doom Patrol season 3, she has wanted to take a more active role rather than being shut away and stoic as before. While this is seen as a positive by Jane, the rest of the alters seem to worry that they are becoming obsolete and are working to defend themselves from non-existence. Although The Underground are being set up as villains as they fail to prioritize Kay, Shelley Byron’s motives are not known, may come with strings attached, and might be part of the Sisterhood of Dada’s set up for the Eternal Flagellation.
Although Kay says that she would like to see Jane live her own life, only having to worry about her own thoughts, it is unclear how that would work in the current situation without Kay losing control. While Jane might be intrigued by the idea of shutting away the alters that are no longer necessary, she would be unlikely to take an offer that meant Kay being shut away and Jane becoming the sole identity within the body. Therefore, there is a possible implication that Shelley Byron is offering a way for Jane to have her own body, entirely separate from Kay, allowing them both to live their own lives independently.
Doom Patrol releases new episodes Thursdays on HBO Max.