I enjoy How It Should Have Ended. Based on the prominence of Superman (and Batman) at the Super Café, I think their affection for Superman is obvious and I generally take their offerings in the spirit in which I think they were intended: superficial lighthearted jabs at plotting meant to raise an eyebrow and chuckle. HISHE isn’t a serious indictment of or malicious bitterness towards the films (they do take a few more pot-shots at Man of Steel in later clips, but nothing too vitriolic).
I think they tend to humorously raise the questions the general audience might, under the short window of their production schedule (this video was originally published a little over a month after the premiere), but often those questions can be answered by those more invested in the work than general audiences. For example, the issue of the eagles with The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King.
They’re under time pressure to try to find a more seemingly rational course of action (and ending) while hoping that it’s received as funny. Their aim isn’t to test any film’s staunchest apologists. By the same token, the following isn’t meant to impinge on their intelligence, attack their efforts, or criticize their creation (never meant to do much more than make you chuckle) however it does address the questions raised by How It Should Have Ended.
The video basically raises these questions:
- Why didn’t Jor-El copy Lara’s consciousness too?
- Why didn’t Clark consult with Jor-El in response to Zod’s ultimatum?
- Why did Zod give Earth 24 hours to respond?
- Why didn’t Superman blitz the Black Zero with his vessel?
- Why didn’t Superman just do what everyone was expecting?
The biggest flaw in raising these questions is assuming too much about what characters know or don’t know. If we don’t make the same assumptions, let’s see how things could have ended!
