The Deltoids of Compassion

Yes, the genius which is Joss Whedon has knocked another one out of the park. If you haven’t seen Dr. Horrible yet, your time is almost up. Check it out here. (Want to learn more? Visit the fan site.)

***SPOILERS***

*Spoilers for Acts I, II, and III below!*
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Absolutely amazing! When Act III ended, I was in complete shock. Speechless is truly the only way to describe my reaction. Sad? Yes. Slightly depressed? Oh yea. Inspired? Definitely.

Joss Whedon is the only director I know who can have you rolling on the floor in laughter until he decides the laughter should die. And then it’s gone. Just like that.

For the first 2 1/2 acts, we’re laughing and singing along, enjoying a lighthearted romp where the bad guy is actually the good guy and the hero is a SOB. Then, out of nowhere, it all ends. The show we thought we were watching changes from comedy to tragedy. Laughter is replaced with dumbfounded shock. Lighthearted lyrics are replaced with a dizzying need to figure out just what the hell is going on.

Part of me likes this because the emotions in a Joss Whedon production closely mirror life. (Ok, maybe not everyone’s, but definitely mine!) Have you ever been going happily along, positive your life is heading in one direction, whistling as you walk and then… BANG. In an instant, everything changes. The destination you were reaching is gone. Instead of heading to a Caribbean island, you find yourself harpooned on Siberia. I love how Joss Whedon can mirror those emotions so geniunely.

After just the first Act, I already cared a great deal about the characters. Some writers have a hard time getting their audience to care after several seasons! But Joss achieved it in just a few minutes. One reason most of us were so upset at the end of Act III is that somehow, in just a short amount of time, Joss developed characters that we cared about intensely.

It certainly helps that Neil Patrick Harris is an amazing actor.

As for Captain Hammer… His scenes were just priceless. He’s “that” guy. You know what I’m talking about… The one who believes his calling far eclipses everyone else. Oh sure, he pretends to care. But it’s all an act. Feeding the homeless? Just so he can look good. Serious relationship? Only so he show his girl off as a “trophy” to his friends and fans.

“Deltoids of compassion, abs of being kind.” Hammer’s song in Act III is pure ROTFL. According to him, anyone can rise above their circumstances (unless they’re a “freaking ‘tard.”) And we all have enemies (though none as cool as his!)

Of course, the show-stealer was Billy. Penny waited for him at the laundromat with an extra yogurt, but he never showed up. The message? Revenge destroys. Sure, you might get everything you wanted in the process. But in the end, revenge will only steal away what you love the most.

And that’s how it ended. Dr. Horrible got his dream, but the cost was too great. Now it all means nothing.

Remember Act II?

Billy: “Don’t say everything happens for a reason.”
Penny: “I was just going to say… Everything happens.”

Yes, it sure does.