Neo Ultra Mike
Creeping Shadow of "15000"+ Posts
So jpb681991's thread about "Epilogue" got me thinking: JLU is one of those series where you could argue it has TWO finales that serve not only of the climax of that show, but the DCAU as a whole. There's "Epilogue" the season two finale that was meant as the original series finale before the last second pick of another season and then of course "Destroyer" the Season 3 finale and by technical measures, the end of the DCAU.
However we don't have to be technical here and can instead determine which is the best through our own personal feelings and investment. And I think that's a good idea to discuss here especially with "Epilogue" about to turn 20.
Might as well talk about "Epilogue" first as that was the first one that came out and the one that takes place the furthest in the timeline. Now the four part end to the two season Cadmus arc "Divided We Fall" you think would be the big climatic end of the show being the one with the huge spectacle fights and well focusing actually on the Justice League. The Team though when thinking that season 2 would be it for their universe wanted to focus on Batman their starting character and tell a story idea that had been in the back of their minds for years at this point they wanted to fully confirm; the fact that yes technically in Batman Beyond Terry McGinnis is actually the BIOLOGICAL son of Bruce Wayne. Not only explaining how that would be possible but going through the gigantic emotions and theming that come with that idea. Like "Epilogue" isn't meant to be a major action episode but instead a super character focused episode with a lot of focus on conversation, sometimes even imaginary ones about this sort of idea. And on that level works really well. I feel this is what really cemented me into liking Amanda Waller (who I don't think has really had much of a sympathetic story in other medium since this. Maybe her own James Gunn show will change that guess we'll see) with her having this heart to heart with Terry and even when I first saw this as a teen and didn't know the full connection between having Andrea/Phantasm pop up still really liked the idea of Waller trying to initate a Batman esque backstory but someone who knew Bruce pointing out how he would NEVER go with that idea even if it still in a twisted faith sort of way happen. Plus yeah this is still the episode with that Ace bit and you know in "Wild Cards" having the Royal Flush Gang have Teen Titans voice actors was a gimmick but man does this show how great Hynden Walch can be as an actress when really allowed to lay on the drama that yeah nowadays you don't get but this example was great. So yeah there is a lot really to love here and how this parallels the start of BTAS at the end is really cool but...
To me "Destroyer" is the better ending for this universe. "Epilogue" is a really cool story but at the end of the day not only is it a Batman story but not even the Batman we've mostly been following throughout this show. I mean it does make it fit the larger universe but the Batman focus also makes it feel really narrow. This meanwhile is a huge send off for everyone in the cast. And granted with most of them it is mostly in dramatic action scenes. I mean I don't really think you get any character moments for John and Wally even with Wally's out there plan or Shayera but you know getting to see such a spectacle with every member of the league fighting and taking out foes is really cool. Plus the fact that Parademons do offer a big threat but you also see taking out one by one means something gives a bigger feel then say "Dark Heart" that had a lot of scenes of Leaguers just taking out this army of foes. Plus the way they're doing it here and getting to see the full team is really solid and honestly there are still good character moments like the return of J'onn and reuniting with Diana and actually seeing the Martian Manhunter finally trying again and getting a life if you remember how backstory started in "Secret Origins" does mean something. And of course the main spectacle of Batman, Luthor and Superman vs Darkseid is where the main meat of this story hides. And I don't care who you are; if you don't think Superman's "World of Cardboard" with leading up to him delivering a full powered punch to Darkseid's face is cool at all I don't know if you can consider yourself a superhero fan of any kind let alone a DC one. But I also love Darkseid getting the edge through trickery and then Luthor tricking Darkseid with seemingly offering the anti life equation to get him off the board like it's what made that idea to me seem so cool and yeah even this teasing at it is a 100 times better then whatever teasing the DCEU did with that story. To me though what makes this feel the most like the finale is the sort of corny but still triumphant ending of the leaguers giving the villians a bit of a head start after coming together and then seeing all the heroes run and fly off to stop them showing off the full team. And yeah "let's pan around and see all the entire cast and see how many characters we had around" is a pretty common ending but it's all in execution. And though something like say Ducktales 2017 also did that well I feel this did it better and really landed for me to call it the better overall finale.
What do you guys think though: "Epilogue" or "Destroyer" of JLU/DCAU endings? Or is there something else you think fits more. Put it in your posts below and get the discussion going!
However we don't have to be technical here and can instead determine which is the best through our own personal feelings and investment. And I think that's a good idea to discuss here especially with "Epilogue" about to turn 20.
Might as well talk about "Epilogue" first as that was the first one that came out and the one that takes place the furthest in the timeline. Now the four part end to the two season Cadmus arc "Divided We Fall" you think would be the big climatic end of the show being the one with the huge spectacle fights and well focusing actually on the Justice League. The Team though when thinking that season 2 would be it for their universe wanted to focus on Batman their starting character and tell a story idea that had been in the back of their minds for years at this point they wanted to fully confirm; the fact that yes technically in Batman Beyond Terry McGinnis is actually the BIOLOGICAL son of Bruce Wayne. Not only explaining how that would be possible but going through the gigantic emotions and theming that come with that idea. Like "Epilogue" isn't meant to be a major action episode but instead a super character focused episode with a lot of focus on conversation, sometimes even imaginary ones about this sort of idea. And on that level works really well. I feel this is what really cemented me into liking Amanda Waller (who I don't think has really had much of a sympathetic story in other medium since this. Maybe her own James Gunn show will change that guess we'll see) with her having this heart to heart with Terry and even when I first saw this as a teen and didn't know the full connection between having Andrea/Phantasm pop up still really liked the idea of Waller trying to initate a Batman esque backstory but someone who knew Bruce pointing out how he would NEVER go with that idea even if it still in a twisted faith sort of way happen. Plus yeah this is still the episode with that Ace bit and you know in "Wild Cards" having the Royal Flush Gang have Teen Titans voice actors was a gimmick but man does this show how great Hynden Walch can be as an actress when really allowed to lay on the drama that yeah nowadays you don't get but this example was great. So yeah there is a lot really to love here and how this parallels the start of BTAS at the end is really cool but...
To me "Destroyer" is the better ending for this universe. "Epilogue" is a really cool story but at the end of the day not only is it a Batman story but not even the Batman we've mostly been following throughout this show. I mean it does make it fit the larger universe but the Batman focus also makes it feel really narrow. This meanwhile is a huge send off for everyone in the cast. And granted with most of them it is mostly in dramatic action scenes. I mean I don't really think you get any character moments for John and Wally even with Wally's out there plan or Shayera but you know getting to see such a spectacle with every member of the league fighting and taking out foes is really cool. Plus the fact that Parademons do offer a big threat but you also see taking out one by one means something gives a bigger feel then say "Dark Heart" that had a lot of scenes of Leaguers just taking out this army of foes. Plus the way they're doing it here and getting to see the full team is really solid and honestly there are still good character moments like the return of J'onn and reuniting with Diana and actually seeing the Martian Manhunter finally trying again and getting a life if you remember how backstory started in "Secret Origins" does mean something. And of course the main spectacle of Batman, Luthor and Superman vs Darkseid is where the main meat of this story hides. And I don't care who you are; if you don't think Superman's "World of Cardboard" with leading up to him delivering a full powered punch to Darkseid's face is cool at all I don't know if you can consider yourself a superhero fan of any kind let alone a DC one. But I also love Darkseid getting the edge through trickery and then Luthor tricking Darkseid with seemingly offering the anti life equation to get him off the board like it's what made that idea to me seem so cool and yeah even this teasing at it is a 100 times better then whatever teasing the DCEU did with that story. To me though what makes this feel the most like the finale is the sort of corny but still triumphant ending of the leaguers giving the villians a bit of a head start after coming together and then seeing all the heroes run and fly off to stop them showing off the full team. And yeah "let's pan around and see all the entire cast and see how many characters we had around" is a pretty common ending but it's all in execution. And though something like say Ducktales 2017 also did that well I feel this did it better and really landed for me to call it the better overall finale.
What do you guys think though: "Epilogue" or "Destroyer" of JLU/DCAU endings? Or is there something else you think fits more. Put it in your posts below and get the discussion going!
