Justice League Unlimited "Epilogue" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Bird Boy]

The season finale for Justice League Unlimited has arrived!

Episode #26 - Epilogue
Original Airdate - July 23rd, 2005 - Second Season Finale

50 years in the future, the history of the Justice League is the key to Batman’s darkest secret –and his final destiny.

Note: Due to a forum error, the original talkback for "Epilogue" was erased. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

[Caswin]

Just watched it again. Still awesome.

In retrospect, though, to someone who doesn't happen to be the Internet show-researching type... figuring out the nature of the black-and-white sequences just doesn't seem too likely.

How'd this one manage to not get a commentary?

[Wonderwall]

Just watched it again. Still awesome.

In retrospect, though, to someone who doesn't happen to be the Internet show-researching type... figuring out the nature of the black-and-white sequences just doesn't seem too likely.

How'd this one manage to not get a commentary?

Because when JLU season 1 features were being done WB decided to add the now unofficial 2nd season, but there wasn't time to do anymore commentaries, which then lead to the CADMUS feature on the 2nd season. Though with all the talk that this one episode generated, I wonder if a commentary would've been necessary. Woulda been nice still tho

[Caswin]

Though with all the talk that this one episode generated, I wonder if a commentary would've been necessary.

For the people who don't frequent World's Finest and such? (That is to say, easily most of the people who bought this DVD) Yeah, I'd say so.

[theRedDeath]

Man, I thought this was such a terrible episode. I'm so glad JLU got picked up for another season so this wouldn't really be the "final" episode.

I hate the Terry as Bruce's son/clone angle, I think it totally belittle's Terry's character. And for a JUSTICE LEAGUE episode, it was practically ALL about BATMAN.

Now, and I realize i'm in the minority here, but I don't really care for Batman anyway. I liked JLU for other characters and for the team dynamic. If Batman was never in a single episode I would have liked the show just as much, maybe even more. And here we have the JUSTICE LEAGUE finale and it's "Batman" this and "Batman" that. bleh.

The show is called Justice League Unlimited. Is it too much to ask for the finale to feature...oh I dunno...THE JUSTICE LEAGUE!?

I realise they were trying to do a bookend type sendoff of the entire DCAU, which starts and ends with B:TAS to Batman Beyond, but I just think the finale to the Justice League show was an inappropriate forum to do so.

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[Caswin]

And for a JUSTICE LEAGUE episode, it was practically ALL about BATMAN... The show is called Justice League Unlimited. Is it too much to ask for the finale to feature...oh I dunno...THE JUSTICE LEAGUE!?

Try "Divided We Fall". I get the impression that that was meant as an end to Justice League, with "Epilogue" piggybacking on JLU as the finale to everything.

[Michael24]

Yeah, "Divided We Fall" is the Justice League finale. "Epilogue" is like an additional 'bonus episode.'

Personally, I was bored by "Epilogue," but that's only because I was never a fan of Batman Beyond in general. It's my least-favorite DCAU show, so naturally I didn't care for "Epilogue." But even then, the idea of Terry turning out to be Bruce's son (one way or the other) seemed lame beyond belief, from the way it was done to just the very idea of it. Though it was nice to see the Phantasm again, as well as the Grey Ghost reference.

[Mr. Mxyzptlk]

'Epilogue' is one of my all time favorites, and I get so sick about people saying the episode made Terry into Bruce's clone. Yeah, so every person in existence is a clone of their father right?

Anyway, I thought it was great, and it's actually getting me interested in 'Batman Beyond', which I used to despise as a concept. The episode itself featured some great animation, rich dialogue, and perhaps my all time favorite Batman scene, the Ace swing-set moment. I, in no way, think Terry's identity as Bruce's father changes his strength as a character; I mean, the whole point of the episode was that no matter how Terry came into existence, his fate is, and always has been, his own. Yeah, so anyway, 5/5 for me.

[HaagenDas]

One thing I loved about this episode was right at the end...how Amanda Waller of all people helped a man, Terry McGinnis, feel that he was significant and had something to contribute. That this man can step out of the shadows of Bruce Wayne, even with being his son, something that Tim Drake couldnt do and Dick Grayson even had a lot of trouble doing. For me the last scene is always chilling and a great window to life...that people grow old, they pass away and leave us, but life does go on and the chapters turn in the book of human civilization. The legacy of Batman keeps on going...well after Bruce Wayne gives up the cape and cowl.

[Mr. Mxyzptlk]

That this man can step out of the shadows of Bruce Wayne, even with being his son, something that Tim Drake couldnt do and Dick Grayson even had a lot of trouble doing.

Whoa, great mention there. It makes you think of Terry as a total contrast with Bruce's former sidekicks. Even though they are not his children, they have trouble being their own person. Terry is his child, and yet he has the strength that they lacked. Not only is this neat to think about, but it gives more meaning to why the 'Terry as Bruce's' son twist is actually good.

[EazyV]

Great episode.

[Shadowmask]

Waller's motivations (and maybe redemption?) in this episode were interesting, but the whole "Terry is Bruce's son" bit feels too much like fan fiction for my tastes. And the scene where Terry is talking to Waller is painfully masturbatory. Waller's dialogue is pretentious, but it's as if Terry thinks he's Hamlet. It's not one of the worst DCAU episodes, like "Love is a Croc" or "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot," but it's still pretty bad. 2/5

[EazyV]

Waller's motivations (and maybe redemption?) in this episode were interesting, but the whole "Terry is Bruce's son" bit feels too much like fan fiction for my tastes. And the scene where Terry is talking to Waller is painfully masturbatory. Waller's dialogue is pretentious, but it's as if Terry thinks he's Hamlet. It's not one of the worst DCAU episodes, like "Love is a Croc" or "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot," but it's still pretty bad. 2/5

Dude, the title alone for "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot" makes it a bonifide classic.

[dc_gothamite]

great episode IMO that capped off what Timm & Co. started all the way back in 1992...

"Divided We Fall"/"Destroyer" will always be the definitive finales of JLU in my book... but as Michael24 said, "Epilogue" was more like a bonus.

Given the whole point of the story, i didn't mind that the JL itself took a backseat to the story. At least we got good final looks at Star, Dr. Light, and Red Tornado... frankly, i found it to be a nice change of pace. For a show based on so-called 'kiddie-books,' it was dialogue-heavy, and didn't insult the viewers' intelligence... i guess beauty's in the eyes of the beholder, cuz i thought it was great.

As for the whole "Terry being Bruce's son" thing... i'll admit, it caught me off guard at first. I kinda thought they ruined Terry's character, but I gradually came to accept and even adore the idea.

To me, the 'bombshell revelation' was basically a symbol for the curse of Batman. One of the most interesting aspects of "Batman Beyond" as a series was the fact that it really provided a somewhat grim fate for Bruce Wayne. When u go back and watch "Mystery of the Batwoman" or see Batman flirt with Wonder Woman, you can't help but feel bad knowing that Bruce will ultimately end up a lonely and bitter old man. This is where his crusade has taken him. For all the good he had done, he left nothing for himself emotionally and became a detached figure. The Batman name would become synonymous with the brooding, loner archetype.

Terry always wanted to prove himself as his own man, out of the old man's shadow... however, by being his 'son,' he felt that this was it... as much as he wanted to, he could never escape the 'genes' or the 'curse'... balancing the life of a man and a BATman has been too difficult. If this is what i'm destined to do, I'll do it... but I won't be happy about it... you screwed me over...

the thing I love about this is that ultimately, it doesn't even matter. Death and chance created the first Batman, and it did so again with this one. At the end of the day, Warren McGinnis raised Terry. Derek Powers had the elder McGinnis murdered WITHOUT any Cadmus machinations. And most importantly, Terry is not Bruce Wayne. He says f*** it, I'm gonna marry Dana, and still keep the Batman alive. The 'bombshell' just represented the curse of Batman, and how even that can be overcome.

[Alex Weitzman]

?

Um, where'd the extremely huge talkback go?

[BCVM22]

Note: Due to a forum error, the entire talkback for "Epilogue" was erased. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

?

Um, where'd the extremely huge talkback go?

Yup.

Do the "View Post" and "Multi-Quote" buttons come up broken for anyone else?

[Alex Weitzman]

Yup.

Ouch. (Both the inconvenience and my inability to read new edits on old posts.)

I really hope this can be salvaged and restored.

[Aldrius]

The only thing that'd make this episode better for me is if Amanda and Andrea had an actual conversation instead of Waller's narration.

CCH and Dana are both A-list actors and their voices REALLY suit each other. (CCH being very monotone and powerful, Dana being more emotional and softer.) Plus it'd be neat seeing how crazy Beaumont's gotten over the years.

[The Old Maid]

Noticed we lost the poll too.

Can we merge this with the the Canadians saw it first talkback thread? That one is just as long, some 20 pages. The only reason it was not made the Official Thread is because an official thread was coming when the episode aired in the States.

[Spider-Man]

I think th is episode gets alot of unnecessary flack for the big revelation that Bruce Wayne is technically Terry's father. Some felt it was forced on but I didn't see it as such especially since the creative team said they were working ont his idea for a second possilble DTV that did not happen. I think this was great timing for the revelation because the Cadmus arc really led into it and provided the perfect backdrop for it. I still think this is a great episode with simply beautiful animation and a compelling story.