JLU Waller: when you regret everything

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Implicitly Boring: / @implicitlyboring
Patreon: / implicitlypretentious
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Threads: www.threads.net/@implicitlypr...
|| CONTENTS ||
0:00 - introduction
0:52 - literature review
1:40 - character analysis
3:37 - enter batman
4:46 - Waller's change
7:36 - discussion
8:43 - credits and message
|| mystery song of the day ||
I don't remember the moment I tried to forget
I lost myself, is it better not said
Now I'm closer to the edge
It was a thousand to one and a million to two
Time to go down in flames and I'm taking you
Closer to the edge
No, I'm not saying I'm sorry
One day maybe we'll meet again
No, I'm not saying I'm sorry
One day maybe we'll meet again
No, no, no, no
Can you imagine a time when the truth ran free?
The birth of a sun, the death of a dream
Closer to the edge
This never ending story
Paid for with pride and faith
We all fall short of glory
Lost in our fate
No, I'm not saying I'm sorry
One day maybe we'll meet again
No, I'm not saying I'm sorry
One day maybe we'll meet again
No, no, no, no
I will never forget (no, no)
I will never regret (no, no)
I will live my life (no, no, no, no)
I will never forget (no, no)
I will never regret (no, no)
I will live my life
No, I'm not saying I'm sorry
One day maybe we'll meet again (no, no)
No, I'm not saying I'm sorry
One day maybe we'll meet again
No, no, no, no
Closer to the edge
Closer to the edge (no, no, no, no)
Closer to the edge
Closer to the edge (no, no, no, no)
Closer to the edge

[@EonStormcrow]

"Our enemies are never as evil and we are never as noble as we think" and "Angels need sharp swords too." are literally two quotes I have used in my classes. I know I'm paraphrasing, but I can't help share them with my students.

[@BlueSatoshi]

Let's just say when a biblical angel tells someone "be not afraid", it's because in any other circumstance, there's a very good reason to be.

[@Devlerbat]

​@@BlueSatoshiAlso because they glowing balls with an odd number of wings and rings made of eyeballs.

[@BlueSatoshi]

@@Devlerbat It's not so much that they look weird, and more that if they get in a fight, only God Himself can reign them in.

[@GDKF0238]

Idgaf what god says I ain’t letting no winged tumour beat me

[@Lucretia916]

Idk if this works for Americans lol we’ve usually been the objectively bad side

[@milkiassamuel780]

Amanda Waller in the DCAU might actually be the most fascinating take on the character as in most DC media, Amanda Waller is perceived as the most evil, cruel force of government control in the DC Universe who sees others as disposable, that even the villains think she goes too far. While yes, in this show, she is just as cruel and cunning as in other depictions, however, I really like how Waller represents the government itself in the face of noble heroism. Despite seeing the League as another threat, she can feel remorse and even guilt for her own actions and, remarkably, knows when she's gone too far, though it may take a while for her to truly see it. She sees potential in League and heroes but still doesn't trust their unlimited power without any amount of government supervision or control, which she can't accept, yet learns to understand that to create change, there are things not even she can control.

[@XSilver_WaterX]

Bravo, especially with the knowledge she had in the comics that the multi-verse is real, and it HATES humanity to the point it tests the League's morals and strengths until it grows bored and just stomps on even their most powerful. 7:3 Supermen exist as Confused Evil to Possible Avatar of Roa, Kryton God.

[@spongeyspikes09]

Ikr? As a kid I thought she was just an annoying politician sticking her nose into other people's business but now I realized that's just what makes her so villainous She's like the living embodiment of Political Corruption (in the Machiavellian power sense not material wealth) And I even forgot her first interaction with Batman revealing she knows who he really is

[@milli5968]

​@@XSilver_WaterXwhich comics?

[@eliasgorman829]

​@spongeyspikes09 PLUS years later...how amazing was that voice acting!? Knowing that it's mostly kids watching and yet a literal 1.5 decades later I can unequivocally say CCH Pounder (the VA) literally stands alone. Supposedly she did minimal rehearsals, which for the life of me idk how, so I can't claim to know whether she enjoyed the character/job but...she IS Waller just as much as Kevin Conroy is Batman. She's won major awards (multiple NAACP image awards- MULTIPLE!) but somehow not for JLU!? Whatever man, iconic voice acting and she deserves it!

[@posionwisp]

This is what I think the new DC’s Waller is lacking. As great as Viola Davis is, live action Waller is not as multidimensional and easily beaten.

[@marreco6347]

The old DCAU is far more mature than any live action WB will ever give us

[@yarc9]

I disagree with that take things you do in animation that you can’t in live action

[@user-kz7zp1xz6c]

​@@yarc9 thats why comics should not be made live action movies out of. I personally like the old new52 movies, flashpoint onwards, animation style.

[@kennethsatria6607]

​@@yarc9What like write compelling and likeable characters and profound emotional stories?

[@iandick1364]

​@@yarc9bad take.

[@pink_earthworm]

totally, live action can’t capture the true love and hope of Superman and the hopeful child within Batman.

[@jamesflowers1295]

Waller always struck me as the type to do the "wrong thing for the right reasons, right thing for the wrong reasons."

[@Jokie155]

Pragmatism at it's pinnacle.

[@kankeydong2500]

"The end justifies the means".

[@SilverHairedFreak25]

Someone who's too focused on the bigger picture to see what's right in front of her.

[@potatomongrel]

Oh she's going to hell no matter how she acts at old age. Redemption arcs won't convince me to get over all the people she's ended and ruined.

[@potatomongrel]

I'd like tho think she still has that used ticket to heaven.

[@RaptorJesus]

Here's a quote from a real-life, high-level intelligence operative(James Angleton, from 'The Secret History of the CIA'), for illustration on how remarkably realistic her character was in the beginning: "Fundamentally, the founding fathers of the U.S. intelligence were liars. The better you lied and the more you betrayed, the more likely you would be promoted. These people attracted each other. Outside of their duplicity, the only thing they had in common was a desire for absolute power. I did things that, in looking on my life, I regret. But I was part of it and loved being in it. Allen Dulles, Richard Helms, Carmel Offie, and Frank Wisner were the grand masters. If you were in a room with them you were in a room full of people that you had to believe would deservedly end up in hell. I guess I will see them there soon."

[@applesandgrapesfordinner4626]

That's an interesting perspective from an otherwise amoral individual. From what I heard, he was also dying of lung cancer when he said this. Seems like a poor sucker who caught himself in a nasty business.

[@TheEndKing]

@@applesandgrapesfordinner4626 Was he a poor sucker, though? If you put on a rhino suit and you gleefully fight Spider-Man, you can only place so much blame on circumstances and upbringing.

[@applesandgrapesfordinner4626]

@@TheEndKing I say "poor sucker" as a loose expression. Though granted, the fear from the Cold War did made some people make pretty irrational choices, not to excuse them.

[@CollinMcLean]

@@applesandgrapesfordinner4626 Some were irrational... some were calculated and baked into the plan... If I had to rank the most evil organizations in history, the CIA would definitely be near the top of my list. Especially for some of their actions during the cold war.

[@liamtuohy7355]

WOW. That is heavy.

[@elenadirectorofmiiss7942]

Waller is one of the top 3 most interesting characters in the DCAU, which is impressive when you have a Terry McGinnis searching for balance, a Bruce Wayne who is always obsessed with the mission, Virgil who is always looking for the best in everything and everyone, Shayera who is desperate for redemption, a Clark Kent who's a boy scout but willing to beat Darkseid to death with his bare hands, a Diana who has become a more violent version of herself by being in Man's World, and a Wally West who is the beating heart and moral compass of the League... It helps CCH Pounder was amazing in the role.

[@suzygirl1843]

I prefer if they tried to develop Vixen, Bumble Bee, Rocket, Black Lightning daughters: Thunder and Lightning. I don't want Waller to be the most prominent face of DC women of color when they overlook the rest who could make a positive difference.

[@thacobell4700]

YMMV, but I don't find, "Natonalist who commits warcrimes" to be very interesting.

[@suzygirl1843]

@@thacobell4700 I swear, Waller was meant to be a white man. But white Nationalism doesn't translate well in fiction anymore so they gender AND raceswapped her.

[@CrocsFortress]

@@suzygirl1843She’s a person who’s done bad things,her race dose not matter if she’s a good person or not.Shes a flawed individual just like the rest of humanity.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@suzygirl1843Jessica Cruz has been heavily used in everything except live action and that’s budgetary related, the Pierce sisters were central figures in Black Lightning, Batwoman 2 was black and if not for the damn virus she would have had a longer run in the character, and Vixen was featured heavily in Legends of Tomorrow that’s not even considering Iris West, one of their oldest characters, being black! how much more do you demand?

[@ericschuller908]

Unlike most takes on Waller where she is this coldblooded, almost heartless woman who is unyielding, vicious, and demanding, this is a more dynamic take on her character. She actually changes, grows, and acknowledges her mistakes, rather than constantly justifying her actions. It's a less grimy interpretation of her character than the animated suicide squad movies, where she's basically willing to kill anyone to get results. The DCAU is far more than what people saw at face value, being a show about superheroes. It's a show that actively challenges the morals and values of its characters.

[@motherplayer]

It's got the luxury of being able to have lasting elements because it's not trying to stretch the timeline over and over again like the mainline comics sadly are forced to.

[@ericschuller908]

@@motherplayer, which is sadly why I can no longer bring myself to give a shit about superhero comics. There's just no end to the story and no room for lasting character development.

[@A-TALKING-TOASTER]

@@ericschuller908 Yeah that was a problem before all the pandering stuff started to affect comics

[@huneylove5]

@@A-TALKING-TOASTER What do you mean by "Pandering" the whole point of comics was a reflection of the current world at the time. Xmen essentially being the civil rights movement, Captain America denouncing the vietnam war and quit being Captain America, hell even the drug epidemic with Speedy. What exactly changed now that you were okay with before?

[@MrNickPresley]

@@huneylove5The way characters were written. Tell me, what kind of character does Riri Williams have, or America Chavez? From what I’ve seen, you can sum them up almost entirely by their race, gender and sexuality. The writers need you to accept that those qualities are heroic in and of themselves, but they aren’t. Character is not an intrinsic quality, you aren’t *born* a hero. You’re not a hero because of your skin color, or your gender, or your sexuality. Character is action, it’s what you *choose* to do. You are virtuous because you choose to act virtuously. And in practice? Well, Riri and Chavez are a couple of petty, spiteful children, with power they never earned, pursuing personal vendettas that invariably put them into conflict with people who are politically opposed to the writers in a very “I imagined my bully from high school when I wrote this,” sort of way. People are right to call it pandering.

[@josephadorno92]

It really felt Dwayne Mcduffie incorporated a lot of his own philosophy through Batman, Waller and others when he was working on the show; ever since he passed away, we haven't seen this level of deep contemplation in anything since, at least directly.

[@christianponce7300]

He was one of a kind and the world is worst without people/creatives like him.

[@ericschuller908]

Agreed. The DCAU was very much driven by his more subtle take on the good and evil that exists in powerful organizations. His style as a whole embodied humanism in literature.

[@Gundam4]

​@christianponce7300 you are right

[@LucLightWolf121]

Dwayne McDuffie was outstanding as a writer. The DC projects, after his passing, have suffered without his presence. We will never see his like on this Earth again.

[@Kaiserboo1871]

@@LucLightWolf121 RIP to that legend of a man. I pray that one day someone as good as him rises up one day out of this sea of mediocrity we call pop culture to give us something fantastic.

[@kidtruck9157]

Waller and Cadmas very well illustrate the problem with the ends justifying the means. The threat of a rogue league imposing their rule on the world was very real, but in efforts to combat that, they created bigger threats, and pushed the league away, and towards that darker path.

[@ektran4205]

justice league doom and tower of babel

[@Gojirawars03]

“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”

[@Shapes_Quality_Control]

Luke created Kylo Ren by trying to prevent him.

[@NintyFan56]

Besides Batman came up with the contingency plan to take out the JL in case the the team went rogue. That further cements Waller's conviction as to why Bruce Wayne/ Batman is the greatest and most powerful DC character IMO.

[@cybertramon0012]

Cadmus was too paranoid for its own good. They were so afraid the League would turn bad that they created plenty of threats that went bad and the League had to deal with for them. One thing I consider one of the biggest signs that they were biting off more than they could chew was when Superman and Huntress rescued Question. According to Superman, the League had known their base of operations for months; as proven by the two of them heading there straight away. While it was not soldiers, Huntress kicked their asses despite being a normal human, while Superman barely reacted to anything they did. And when they moved locations, Batman immediately found them again. If the League ever did go bad, they would’ve torn through Cadmus before they knew what hit them.

[@saltiresamurai9215]

I like this Amanda Waller far more than the other versions. The ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my country’ thing always bugs me because of how hypocritical it ends up becoming. Like with General Eiling “protecting” his country by rampaging through a civilian area and not caring about the people he swore to protect. In my mind patriotism is living up to your countries values and not disregarding them during hard times or in the name of the greater good. Kinda like what I think Superman is meant to embody. Good to see a character actually reflect on their actions and come out a better person.

[@CollinMcLean]

I always liked the philosophy of it. Eiling who was a career military man was ironically someone who couldn't understand the idea of service and self sacrifice for a greater good. He was a jingoist who's only concern was American military superiority. A sharp contrast to the Heroes of the Justice League who for all their faults never took into account nationality or government affiliation with their actions. All they cared about was helping those in need.

[@LordTyph]

In this case, 'I'll do whatever it takes to protect my country' is taken to its logical conclusion. As in, it also includes acknowledging when she made mistakes and has strayed from the path. Eiling, however, did not include that.

[@waterking74]

Waller has regrets... but it doesn't stop her trying to reflect and fix her mistakes. I really like Amanda Waller character development in JLU

[@MrMrotaku]

You all heard him. Batman is more important than America

[@ranoutofgoodusernames8394]

Because he's Batman

[@johnnyqd6861]

Well, yeah that’s why I always fill in “Batman” on voting day!

[@albertthepeacock8020]

If Batman is more important than America then why is Gotham a shithole?

[@HelloThere-.-]

Let's all vote Batman

[@danisle4379]

Let's do it!! Let's start a movement to elect Batman as the new POTUS!

[@TevyaSmolka]

Honestly this version of Amanda Waller is probably my favorite version of her character at least for me on this show in my opinion.

[@caidencanales]

I really hope James copies it showing her relationship with Batman and the league, starting as plotting against them to believing in them, know that’s supers can be evil like in the boys but believing in what the League stands for and helping. Like over time seeing her end task force x.

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@caidencanales I hope so to as well.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

@@caidencanalesI like James Gunn but unfortunately he has already twice portrayed the Wall as a self serving backstabber with no much redeeming value.

[@mandalorianhunter1]

Honestly it was this show that made Waller more relevant then ever. After this, she would appear in the Arrowverse, though get killed off to soon, animated movies and the DCEU along with more shows. Though unlike the other medias, this one along with Superman/Batman public enemies, they would not go through the redemption arc they did.

[@ElvenRaptor]

The DCAU did a lot of work in laying the groundwork for the modern landscape of DC adaptations, no matter how much Warner Bros will never admit it.

[@the_well-known_stranger2275]

Waller in the DCAU is the best version of Amanda Waller in all media. Unlike comic Waller who has devolved into an unredeemable villain with no redeeming qualities, DCAU Waller operates in shades of grey and even undergoes an arc, working with heroes when necessary and building connections with the superhero community without losing her edge or role.

[@petermj1098]

Amanda Waller is basically Dick Cheney

[@MrRawrCEO]

@@petermj1098 Toss in Henry Kissinger too.

[@wdcain1]

I normally detest the necessary evil trope but JLU really explored it. It would have been so easy for Waller to be one-note bubthe writing and CCH Pounder's performance were perfect.

[@Death2all546]

It’s a good trope if it can be used correctly. It creates a gray area that can be explored. What I personally detest is when it’s done very poorly or a villain tries to invoke it without their evil actually being necessary or justified but keeps acting like it is and calling the hero evil for no real reason.

[@wdcain1]

@@Death2all546 I hated when Marvel pulled it with Ironman during Civil War. It was creepy how awful Tony acted and the books insisting he was in the right.

[@michaelgillespie9112]

​@@wdcain1Despite the problems the MCU has, it tackled the Civil War idea better. Both sides have points, both Tony and Steve have good motivation to chose the side they do. The fascinating part of it is that the sides would have been reversed if it was at the beginning of their stories. Tony was an irresponsible asshole who didn't understand the effects his actions could have. Steve would have absolutely believed that the government has the best interest of the people in mind, and supported the idea of the accords But both have had experiences which changed their views in a natural, believable way, and it lead to a natural clash. For all that some people don't like the MCU, I will stand by my belief that this was masterful story telling and character development

[@GerardoSantana]

IMO Amanda Waller is a fantastic example of Neccessary Evil. She is the one who is willing to do the bad things needed to let the truly good shine and do what they do best. It has a LOT of weight when she says "a world without batman is unacceptable" and it made her willing to go back to being a line crosser. but stopping herself because she knew she would disrespect Batman's legacy speaks so much to her growth. Batman went to her because he knew what she was and truly capable of. Fantastic character.

[@Athelind]

In the original John Ostrander Suicide Squad series, Amanda Waller was a complex, nuanced antihero, and JLU captured that perfectly. It rankles me that every 21st century media adaptation and every comic appearance since Flashpoint has Flanderized her into a two-dimensional villain with neither ethics nor scruples.

[@thacobell4700]

I love Waller's rationalization at the end about her past actions, "I've done a lot of bad things, but maybe the angels like warcrimes sometimes."

[@music79075]

I mean. Biblically speaking, yeah lol

[@thacobell4700]

@@music79075 Biblically speaking, no.

[@justinchandler1226]

@@thacobell4700it’s not a war crime if it predates the agreement making it a war crime.

[@thacobell4700]

@@justinchandler1226 Ha! Touche.

[@music79075]

@@thacobell4700 The Flood, Tower of Babel, Canaanites, Moabites, Canaanites again. Technically the destruction of the 2nd temple is a war crime.

[@wafagdplqs4421]

She was such an interesting character to me, even when I was just a kido !

[@historysuit9418]

Kido!

[@wafagdplqs4421]

​@@historysuit9418I mean, I'm still young but I'm not a kid anymore. (I know it sounds a bit "edgy" but it's actually the case trust me)

[@historysuit9418]

Im sure, I wasnt calling you a kido@@wafagdplqs4421

[@ChaosBloodNinja]

I was just watching My Adventures With Superman and remembering The Suicide Squad and started thinking "God dammit Waller, I hate you in every universe" but then you show me this and I'm like "Fine, I guess you are my little pogchamp, c'mere"

[@DarthKain0]

Cursed comment.

[@OrpheusSpyros5]

"Batman's greater than America....." Uncle Sam upin hearing this: *Angry Pikachu Face*

[@MrBigtank78]

Amanda Waller was a brilliantly written in Justice League Unlimited. Crazy how one woman's job had the League question their morals after goin to another universe

[@MattAnd]

Waller specifically has always stuck with me when I think back int he DCAU. She’s a fascinating character. Also, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this video seems particularly good (you always do a good job, but this feels especially so). Great job as always!

[@barneybrown2092]

Finally a fitting tribute to arguably the most interesting character in the DCAU. Really good job, Implicit.

[@geordie170101]

“They don’t kill.”?! I agree with everything you said, always do...Batman might not kill humans...but the league absolutely does kill...

[@potaterjim]

Waller, and the JLU series in general, was fantastic. It was a surprisingly mature and nuanced take on the moral dilemmas. You've got the Justice Lords, who killed their Lex, but stopped the killing there, and believed that just because they had eliminated crime, they were doing their jobs. And for a second, you can see where they're coming from: they didn't even kill their joker. Lobotomizing their villains seems horrible until you remember that our universe JL is just zapping difficult prisoners into the goddamn phantom zone, a nightmare dimension for eternity. You've got this Waller, who is the ultimate "right reasons, wrong methods", and who even questions herself! You've got the whole dynamic of Cadmus against the Justice League, with the League members themselves arguing between themselves on whether or not the government should, or even _can_ trust them without some kind of backup plan. Nowadays, you've just got Injustice, where Superman is apparently just one atomized Lois Lane away from melting child brains.

[@adeadfreelancer1846]

The only legitimate government is a man in a bat costume repeatedly punching a clown

[@francostevo9939]

This show was my very first introduction to Amanda Waller.

[@huzi990]

Now I can't help but think about how much more efficiently terrifying Batman would be if he just kept showing up while his enemies were taking a dump.

[@jaybone2321]

Every time you look into the future, in comics and media because you can’t do that in real life, it changes. Whatever future you saw was only guaranteed due to any actions you would have taken before seeing that future. Once you return to the present, because you have that knowledge, whatever you saw is still possible, but not guaranteed. I always loved the moment where Bats confronts Waller and leaves her visibly shaken because up to that point, the present JL took no action against her or the government. She likely realized that the actions she’s taking could incite a response from the JL to bring about the future she was so scared of. Like someone firing a nuclear kryptonite missile at an Island that Sups is on and actively trying to save.

[@SilverScribe85]

One thing I can say is JLU's version of Waller had more humanity than ANY of the iterations that would follow, both in animation AND in movies. These days; Waller seems more of a manipulative, cruel, by the book government twat that's more focused on the ends "justifying the means" than actually caring about anyone

[@obsidianfrost9514]

Waller in the original run she appeared in was basically batman with a looser moral code and not as good at fighting. She loved her country and loved the people. While she knew and accepted sacrifices would happen she would go out of her way to minimize if not outright remove as many sacrifices as she could.

[@SilverScribe85]

@@obsidianfrost9514So, what made her decide killing people for the "greater good" was okay?

[@toddbata8644]

The thing is Waller isn’t a bad person she’s just doing her job even in the comics she shows herself as knowing she does horrible things but she has to the dcau is great example of this where she knows she can’t be forgiven for what she did

[@lukedalton]

Depend, 80's Waller written by Ostrander? Yes she even surround herself of people that had the job to say to her: You have gone too far; basically she is the bluprint for JLU version of her that IMVHO is the best one. Unfortunely later comic flanderizated her in this amoral and sociopathic woman that will do everything to complete the mission and seem more happy when there is a lot of violence. From there Movie and TV Waller really become this unreedemamble monster

[@toddbata8644]

To be fair everyone got that later on because new writers aren’t that good at making characters deep anymore hell even the new 52 skinny Waller which I hated the design of had some form of self awareness about herself

[@bradhorowitz2765]

Why is it that the live action versions Fail? And yet powder’s Amanda Waller IS THE DEFINITE version. For me, it was the first time I ever saw her, thought she was created for the show. Amanda Waller is no doubt the VILLAIN of the justice league unlimited show. She is the leader of Cadmus. Her group allowed luthor to gain more power than he ever received, she violated human lives, indirectly caused murder, without her Robin dosnt become little joker. Waller runs the worst aspects of the American government. But Waller is NOT completely immoral. She has good points about the league’s power. She comes to trust the justice league and by the end, as you said, REGRETS her work. She DOES think she did help others at times and has gone through a mellowing/peaceful state. But it was gradual, she Afterall is still employed by the government (I know shock and it’s understandable that the U.S. government would protect her for violating laws), Waller dosnt change overnight. She was more complicated than most villains for kids cartoons at the time. For a character that was added in much later in the dcau’s lifespan, waller ended up having one of the most IMPORTANT impacts on a world that we’ve grown up with. THATS how you do a retcon.

[@ohdannyboy4727]

That episode made amanda waller my favorite dc character. At least that version of her. Great video. All your videos are great, they make me remember why i love this show.

[@repussified]

I wish "Epilogue" didn't have that nonsense about injecting Bruce's DNA into Warren McGinnis. The idea that only a biological offspring of Bruce could qualify as Batman undermines the early BB episodes where Terry fought to prove himself. If Waller had to be retconned as a manipulator looking for a new Batman, she could've screened potential candidates who didn't work out which would heighten the impact of Terry stepping into the role. Ah well.

[@brucardi]

Honestly I don’t think it really changes much or contradicts anything before epilogue. If Wallers plan actually went though as planned then yes I’d understand the frustration but because it didn’t it still left Terry to grow up as his own person. He might’ve had Bruce’s DNA but he wouldn’t have been his carbon copy. Him becoming Batman was completely by coincidence because of the events that happen with his father. If not for that one night he would’ve still had a normal life. So Ina way I still think it gives the message that anyone could’ve became Batman that night. It was just by coincidence it happened to be Terry.

[@eandlbloodflower6765]

@@brucardi I can see why people would prefer that Terry was not a biological son of Bruce since that felt like he was predestined to be Batman. However, I do agree with you since Terry becoming Batman and the role of personal agency is what was the central message of the episode "Epilogue"; highlighted in the part where Waller and Andrea discuss and agree that forcing Terry to go through what Bruce underwent was not the way. I've never looked at Terry any less for stepping up to the role of Batman because he was "Bruce's son"; in fact, I actually think he's better in a way since he CHOSE to wear the suit and be Batman in the series and he CHOSE to continue being Batman despite discovering he is Bruce's son in "Epilogue". I actually consider Terry as one of the best, if not the best iteration of The Batman. Not because he can outsmart everyone or because he can beat anyone in a fight but, because of the fact that despite taking on the mantle, he was able to find a way to live a happy life with the people he loved surrounding him -- something that none of the previous Batmen were able to do.

[@juliandacosta6841]

It's definitely worse for Terry's character and the show, but it's interesting in that even when waller is remorseful, has changed her mind, and is trying to do good, she still is a monster who violates people's rights and ruins lives.

[@zaberfang]

Nah, it's actually a great plot twist, especially when it comes to Bruce's relationship to Terry, how Terry conducts himself with his life AND Waller's eventual character development. Not to mention, Terry can be the literal inheritor of the Batman mantle in his time where Damian never existed.

[@mdotbeedot]

Big fan of this version of Waller, though this makes me question whatever happened to her presence in Justice League Injustice when they did started breaking bad beyond her: wildest expectations.

[@lukethepotatoking]

Out of all people in the justice league she could have cloned, she chose batman. If that doesnt show how fierce he is, idk what does.

[@Nickle_King]

It's interesting to me that modern writers can't conceive that the biggest threat to Superman and the Justice League was never Brainiac, Mytzlpitlic, or even Darkside. It was Amanda Waller. Not because she was the most heavy hitting or the most dangerous (though she was very dangerous), but because she was Humanity's fear of the Justice League given form. And it is a legitimate fear. Even the B or C class heroes could rule the world practically unopposed if the League wished it. Superman alone could end the planet in an instant on one very bad day. Amanda Waller is a Human facing off with Gods. And she could make Gods blink.

[@alhassanqadry]

bro, I strive to write essays like you. Every analytical essay I write,I use your videos as inspiration.

[@strikermodel]

6:03 Bro you got me dying. You simultaneously give good insight into the concepts represented while giving me an honest laugh too.

[@justarandomdude.9285]

idk how you always manage to save the day with your videos Leo. Just like a true hero would!

[@jesanne]

I love how you put this together and your commentary. Amanda Waller is such a good character

[@christianthrasher8677]

I definitely prefer this version of her character than the current version of her she realizes her mistakes and learns from them while she's not a big fan of the League she understands them and is willing to work with them for the greater good

[@stratometal]

A person so desperate to control everything, so ruled by fear and their own actions. Very interesting character, very nuanced, a true villain. She knew her deeds were evil, yet she did them despite that, because she "had" to. Pitiful, powerless and misguided. The true horror of what she is lies in the fact she represents people that right now are trying their best to do "good" by carrying out despicable act just as she did. She is a window to a reality we all know exists yet we do not want to think about. Because at the end of the day, she is right to think and act the way she does. And while those people grapple with inner demons, we sleep a bit more peacefully in our ignorant bliss.

[@pakistanball7916]

I love your videos as they somehow cover 30 minutes of lore and explanation in about 12 minutes

[@somerandomschmuck2547]

Something I always wonder about Waller from her last appearance, think she was always religious, or it’s something she picked up in her old age. She says “all these years” but I feel like that could be taken either way, especially seeing as if I understand things right Beyond takes place almost a half century after the events of JLU. Also Waller probably knows Heaven and Hell are real, she’s met enough supernatural and mystical beings, even the occasional demigod, and while I don’t think the DCAU ever confirmed things like the Endless or Constantine, if we assume they are canon, if Waller didn’t have a squad keeping their eye on a certain Bar I would be very surprised. Point is I think it’s an interesting aspect to consider with the character, how her faith effected her action, if at all?

[@TheRichmaster24]

I really loved the detail given to these parts

[@atarhejude136]

Just lovely watching the series again and listening in on this makes it while and gives it a whole new meaning❤ thank you

[@Halak014]

Waller in creating Terry also sowed the seeds of his mom and dad splinting up. A dark theory was that The Mcguinnes where both red haired. but there children have Black hair, and Terry's dad was a scientist, so he probable did a DNA test, left but never told and where still there for the kids. Overall Waller was a good antagonist for the League as said a reflection and fear of there power.

[@juliandacosta6841]

A dna test would match their dna to him and his wife. His dna was rewritten as bruce's.

[@redrum6316]

I LOVE your breakdown on DCAU. It's crazy how everyone is crying about there not being a good DC competitor to the MCU when it's existed for damn near TWENTY YEARS. JL/JLU is easily one of the greatest TV shows to ever exist.

[@dennisswaim8210]

Another example by Amanda Wallers' character arc of how damned good the Justice League animated series and the other DC animated series were. These shows were good and compelling and at the time I was just enjoying them I didn't really think about how well they worked. Not many shows did that then and even less so nowadays I can count on both fingers how few I will sit down to watch.

[@Sai4651]

It's ironic that Cadmus, the organization that was created to destroy the Justice League and defeat superheroes created Batman Beyond.

[@taraungoogle8482]

Which was morally wrong

[@Sai4651]

@@taraungoogle8482 Yeah it was, but the positives of Batman Beyond outweighed the moral consequences.

[@1998topornik]

This show had fantastic writing, so many well done quotes and interesting subjects plus very mature plotlines. To this day very few cartoons can rival its quality.

[@thegreatacolyt1277]

One of the greatest shows ever!

[@marcaddow7326]

Hey there Mr Pretentious how’s it going? Love these DCAU and Smallville videos! Thank you Sir for all these retrospective character studies of characters, so incredibly drenched in my nostalgic childhood. Could you do a video on Tony Maycheck, the Earth Mover and how he resembles an eerie painting of a nightmare. The relationship with what he thought was a friend in Bill. His daughter Jackie, and how the two of them never showed up in Batman Beyond and never showed up again, sheeeh that was creepy as well. Jackie and Bill just vanishing.

[@VerdeMorte]

Waller is best epitomized by the meme where someone is on a bicycle intentionally putting a stick in between the spokes and falls off. *Then they blame the stick or bystander...*

[@Shift_Salt]

I still think Terry is a better character if Waller didn't will him into existence but yeah neat character arc for her in JLU continuity at least.

[@ricardonb6375]

Here's a factoid: there were plans for a second straight-to-DVD Batman Beyond movie involving Catwoman being the main antagonist and revealing that it was HER who used Bruce's DNA to create an army of Batman clones with Terry being one of them, so this meant that the whole "Terry being Bruce's son" was never a retcon. It was planned from the beginning by the show's writers.

[@w00master]

Beautiful analysis - love your videos in general, but this one touched me for some reason.

[@kingdomknightx]

The nuance of AW was great. I was just quoting her statement to Terry.

[@madarchmage1151]

I like this. Thank you

[@jaacnalc82]

First time I ever watched your videos. I really dig what you done here. Keep up the good work 👍

[@Elijah668]

Hey, I know you probably do get this on occasion, but when I go into depressive episodes I put on your Videos, the audio mixing, the video editing, the simple jokes to break the tension for a great laugh. And it allways ends with such a beautiful conclusion that brings your whole video together. Ive started listening to the bands you use durring your videos as it brings a similar warmth. Anyways thanks for making amazing videos.

[@pocket7935]

This channel is truly a standout in this bleak life of mine

[@improbablyinnocent3291]

I like the intro and outro, the music is just chef’s kiss 😘

[@tylerwetz353]

Still love the intro, sets the mood

[@Aussie_Man]

“More important than American” that shit had me cracking up

[@crossgear3042]

My god DCAU had such good writing

[@francostevo9939]

Amanda Waller is a such a badass character.

[@CorbCorbin]

Tyler Perry’s Madea Destroys the Justice League

[@TheFoolishable]

The balance of power is too much in the supes favor. If they went rogue humanity including the government stands little to no chance. You need a person like Waller in this position because anyone else would give up after seeing the destruction that takes place after some of the fights the justice league leaves after a villain.

[@matiasjauhojarvi9551]

Great video it makes me wanna watch the DCAU again.

[@digitaladventurer2142]

She was a very real human in hindsight. When your younger yeah your always worrying about what might happen and try to take steps to prevent those things from happening even if it means getting your hand dirty, but then when your old and your days are numbered you can't help but sit back and take a long hard look at your life and regretting all the mistakes you made along the way.

[@jinchuriki7022]

Shes definitely a unique villian and ally.

[@mentisrelapse]

Love the vid.

[@note4note804]

JLU Amanda Waller is one of those cases where a character ends up better because censorship placed limits on writing. JLU was a kids show, so no Task Force X, no blowing up heads, no dark ops where secret murder with convicted murderers "for the greater good" is the goal. Because of that, they had to write someone who actually believed in the greater good and yet still acted as an antagonist.

[@deadknightarthus]

I think you did her justice, she started out corrupt and narrow minded but through her exposure to the morals of batman, superman and others she changed for the better

[@asinfulvirtue]

👏 gave me goosebumps

[@lordfreerealestate8302]

Amanda Waller is one of my favourite characters: complex, dark, and cunning.

[@ELFudgeOreos]

That final point is the most salient. There’s a whole movie to back up that point - Batman Forever 😂

[@ziggyu3667]

nice channel niche fam. makes a brother feel seen fr

[@greygremlin1248]

Do you know what I liked about Amanda Waller. She understood that there was a gray area.

[@BlackWingedSeraphX]

They should change General Eiling's Transformation to look like Omniman instead! XD Since he's voiced by JK Simmons too haha

[@Redfoxjack]

with the introduction of damian i all ways saw a fun dichotomy between him and terry two sides of the same coin both damian born and raised by talia to be batman in all his darker facets the league of shadows wanted and as opposed to terry who genesis lay with amanda waller and the goal that there would all ways be a dark knight the watchful protector the man who will use his mind body and will to save the day when all hope seems lost in a sense damian is the son of batman the symbol well terry is the son of Bruce Wayne the heart behind the bat

[@RedStar441]

Maybe in another world if Waller had powers she'd be a member of the JLU herself. A critical and unwavering scrutinizer, not unlike batman. That's what I like about her, at her core she has the heart of a hero.

[@pforgottonsoul]

best version of the character imo.

[@JebBushHimself]

I always thought Faraday replaced Waller, and that the Faraday stories were way after Waller

[@jabronijones90]

God I love this shooooowww!!!! ❤❤❤

[@_NIKOS9_NIKOS]

Literally the only animated version of Waller that got any character development

[@egthatyoutubes8094]

6:03 god level sick gamer quote

[@ryszakowy]

batman presented with multiverse ending threats and asked what does he have against that he'd legit respond with "hope"

[@HelloThere-.-]

I pledge my allegiance to the Batman of Gotham City of New Jersey

[@samusibadelekanjr8683]

The Goal is the same, the road to that goal are just different

[@Inhaledcorn]

I loved this Waller. She was the antagonist, but you can't help but see her side of the argument. In many ways, she is right, but the way she goes about it is wrong. She's such a fascinating and complex character, and I really didn't get that same complexity from the Suicide Squad's version.

[@takenname8053]

SUPER NICE

[@TheKillerman3333]

Amanda Waller is more menacing when she is fat then when she is skinny. People can say she slept her way to the top if she was good looking. They could use her race to explain how "a fear of racism" allowed her to get to the top. However, her being fat allowed her to be menacing, and the great writing of her character showed that those very clear training wheels to power were never applied. It wasn't until later that she shed the weight that it was like "you made such an obviously powerful character apear weak.

[@applesandgrapesfordinner4626]

Ironic that being less conventionally attractive actually makes her character appear more powerful.

[@nunyabiznes33]

Agreed that physical appearances somehow show hints of a character's strengths. Like, if I see a short thin dude being the head of some pre-gun criminal organization, I'm going to assume he got to the top not coz he's the best fighter but coz he's intelligent and brutal. Or nepotism. Both works. 🤣

[@Clepto_and_Co]

My favorite thing about Waller is that she's never really wrong. "All it takes is one bad day" she was made aware of what could happen, and started doing what she deemed necessary to have an answer if something like that ever did happen. She's in the wrong for how she went about it, but still kind of an anti-hero of sorts

[@Cyberdemon-9001]

I really like Amanda Waller as a character, especially in JLU and Batman Beyond. She is a phenomenal villian who is so complex with how her character starts and ends is so good. Really wish to see her properly done in a big budget work.

[@nathanieljefferies5491]

Honestly, her portrayal in JLU is the best one…she had growth and was practical

[@seirramoon388]

best version of waller ever.