If you prefer an ending where Dr. Horrible gets the girl and Captain Hammer is put in his 'proper' place, you're probably a pretty rotten person on some level. Not evil all the time (and certainly not evil like zombie Hitler or something), but you lack empathy for people who are unlikable. Chew on that.
There's only one reason why I want Dr Horrible to get the girl and Captain Hammer to be put in his place. That it's what both of them need. Captain Hammer needs a reverse - having not felt pain he has no empathy for it, and so will continue using and throwing people. Dr Horrible needs something that's not the League of Evil by which to measure himself. The compassionate and strong-minded Penny could provide him with that.
And ultimately few of the endings I've seen are any worse on Captain Hammer than the real one. Captain Hammer finishes a broken joke - which is what they tend to lead to anyway. What they all are is better for the other two leads than the official ending. And the people I worry about are (to plagiarise Lois McMaster Bujold) the fools who pray for justice rather than mercy.
While the 'hero' was an arrogant bastard he did not deserve death. It is really easy for geeks like me to identify strongly with the smart evil villain being beat up by the strong guy and mindlessly start rooting for the superhero's death.
The 'hero' was in addition to being an arrogant bastard a cold-blooded killer, more than prepared to use a death-ray on a helpless opponent. Dr Horrible never actually pulled the trigger when Captain Hammer was helpless. And I don't know that he could have done so when push came to shove. I know that Captain Hammer could because he did. Penny did not ultimately die because Dr Horrible decided to kill Captain Hammer. She died because Captain Hammer decided to kill Dr Horrible.
I'm not trying to say that Horrible was a good person. Or even someone I liked. But in your attempt to hold the mirror up (which I very much agree needs holding given some of the reactions) you appear to be downplaying Captain Hammer's role in the affair.
What I hate is ideas people throw around where Penny turns out to be a villain.
That bugs me too.
The ending I would have wanted is for Penny to cause Horrible to break his gun and burn his books (to plagiarise The Tempest) and instead work on a clean and cheap reactor to power Penny's homeless shelter.
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Date: 2008-07-21 02:25 pm (UTC)There's only one reason why I want Dr Horrible to get the girl and Captain Hammer to be put in his place. That it's what both of them need. Captain Hammer needs a reverse - having not felt pain he has no empathy for it, and so will continue using and throwing people. Dr Horrible needs something that's not the League of Evil by which to measure himself. The compassionate and strong-minded Penny could provide him with that.
And ultimately few of the endings I've seen are any worse on Captain Hammer than the real one. Captain Hammer finishes a broken joke - which is what they tend to lead to anyway. What they all are is better for the other two leads than the official ending. And the people I worry about are (to plagiarise Lois McMaster Bujold) the fools who pray for justice rather than mercy.
While the 'hero' was an arrogant bastard he did not deserve death. It is really easy for geeks like me to identify strongly with the smart evil villain being beat up by the strong guy and mindlessly start rooting for the superhero's death.
The 'hero' was in addition to being an arrogant bastard a cold-blooded killer, more than prepared to use a death-ray on a helpless opponent. Dr Horrible never actually pulled the trigger when Captain Hammer was helpless. And I don't know that he could have done so when push came to shove. I know that Captain Hammer could because he did. Penny did not ultimately die because Dr Horrible decided to kill Captain Hammer. She died because Captain Hammer decided to kill Dr Horrible.
I'm not trying to say that Horrible was a good person. Or even someone I liked. But in your attempt to hold the mirror up (which I very much agree needs holding given some of the reactions) you appear to be downplaying Captain Hammer's role in the affair.
What I hate is ideas people throw around where Penny turns out to be a villain.
That bugs me too.
The ending I would have wanted is for Penny to cause Horrible to break his gun and burn his books (to plagiarise The Tempest) and instead work on a clean and cheap reactor to power Penny's homeless shelter.