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Tear Jerker / To Boldly Flee

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  • The opening scene recounting Ma-Ti's death and funeral can still bring a tear to the viewer's eye. Made all the worse by finding out that he became a Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds after he died. And they added Lonely Violin Music to make it even sadder.
    • It appears again later with only two images (Ma-Ti in pain and Critic about to cry) shown during the nerd-meld, and somehow manages to be even more heartbreaking.
  • That Sci-Fi Guy's death and Angry Joe's stricken reaction to it. Bet you didn't see that one coming.
    • Mitigated in The Stinger, which reveals that Sci-Fi Guy survived. His landlord's gonna be pissed, though.
  • The Critic still being completely broken by Ma Ti's death a year later, saying he never thought he could miss him this much.
  • After his first bad dream, Critic frantically looking around for someone else to be there and hanging his head when he realizes he's alone. Like always.
  • Critic looks about ten seconds away from a panic attack when he and Geek are watching the Ma-Ti and Spoony footage.
  • Critic confiding in both the Chick and Film Brain that years of being a Failure Hero have really taken their toll. Not only is he depressed over indirectly causing the death of a comrade for possibly the first time in his life, he is now on a mission to atone for his past sins and convincing the government from getting rid of all online movie/video game/comic critics in the country through the SUCKA Act.
    • "Do you ever wonder what it feels like to be forgotten? To be cast aside?" It hurt already with his curious, melancholy tone, but became all the more painful when part seven revealed that he wanted to die with nobody giving a damn about him.
    • While comparing the two conversations in his commentary, Doug brings up a sad point. Critic can totally confide in Film Brain because he feels like he won't get hurt. He and Chick might be more equal, but he's scared of what she'd say so only starts being serious at the end.
  • While he fully admits to everything they say being true, Critic breaking down when nobody trusts him and laying shit down on the line. Even Phelous is giving him a look of pity by the end of this speech:
    Critic: But this isn't about me this time, alright? It's about Spoony, and Ma-Ti, and whatever the hell is out there turning this world upside down! Something is going on out there, Ma-Ti is alive, and for once in our lives - for once in my life - I actually have a chance to account for one of my mistakes. I have a chance to actually do something right. Please. I'm- I'm begging you here.
  • Lupa's rejection of Todd is played surprisingly straight, and really gets you feeling for him. Almost makes you forget that he was stalking her.
    • And for Mickey to call her a "cold, heartless vacuum" afterward... ouch.
  • Luke and Snob's scene involving the future of online critics. If it doesn't hit you...
    Luke: Promise me something...don't let it end. Not like this.
  • The Chick's assimilation. Mostly because of how painful it sounded, partly because part one proved that she can be a good person when it matters.
  • Look at Critic after Paw tells him the enemy wants to discuss their surrender. Nothing is said, but from the long pause and Doug's face it's clear that he feels like he's failed everyone again.
  • Luke's devastated reaction when Cinema Snob is accidentally beamed onto the enemy ship.
  • Parody of Kirk's hamminess it may be, but Critic's response to thinking that Phelous had died was short but sad.
  • This conversation between Film Brain and the Critic:
    Critic: What if everything's been building up to this? All the reviews, all the madness, all the chaos in life...what if everything's been building up to one single choice? And what if that one single choice falls down to just one person? And what if that one person...is me?
    Film Brain: Well I can't think of a better person for it to fall upon than you.
    • The look the Critic gives Film Brain after that is just heartbreaking. You'd expect the Critic to be his egotistical self, but no...he just has this unbearable look of doubt on his face.
  • Todd begging Lupa for another chance, only to be brushed off yet again. Then, when she asks him to spy on Mechakara and SevenOfEleven, he does it only because it was her that asked. And then he ends up getting assimilated for it.
  • Critic's totally inwards Freak Out when Ma-Ti describes what he wants. He's flicking his eyes over at everyone, scared that they'll gladly sacrifice him, but at the same time is getting his need from the Plot Hole confirmed.
  • Luke learning Cinema Snob's fate: He's gone over to the enemy's side. She looks remarkably crushed.
  • Critic sitting alone in the corner, trying to cover himself so badly ("my contribution I'll give swiftly, once I think of it, in the confines of my triple-protected bunker"), and when that's enough for everyone, turns back with the worse look of pain in his eyes.
  • The Critic revealing to Film Brain that he'd never planned to come back.
    • Before that, him lamenting the damage he feels he has caused by being the Critic:
    "How many Ma-Tis will it take? How many crappy laws were invented because of my bullshit?"
    "Maybe it's something where I can be useful! Maybe it's something where I can make a difference! Maybe it's something where I actually do something meaningful and not just hurt people!"
    • Doug's analysis on the scene doesn't help at all.
    Doug: [...]with the fact that the Critic is kinda ranting, but he's also confessing something. That there might be something out there where finally all the stuff that's made him selfish, maybe that'll go away and he can be a good person somewhere else, maybe he can start over.
    • To make things far worse, Doug improvised a lot of the scene. He apparently has a talent for ad-libbing heartbreakers.
      • And while Rob's version of the events isn't quite the same, it's still pretty sad: Rob wrote the basic scene based on everything he hated about the Critic, but Doug (very likely not on full brain capacity due to depression, tiredness and starving himself) got upset and confused as to why Rob was calling him a bad critic. Rob had to explain he was talking about Critic being a bad reviewer, not Doug.
    • The scene was so emotionally raw that Critic Reloaded (who spent a lot of time calling this Critic a girl for telling his friends how he feels) passed right over it and acted like it never happened.
    • Film Brain also does a fantastic job in his two goodbyes to The Critic and Luke. You really feel his sadness that he believed in the critic, and cared for Luke, and now he's watched them leave to their dooms.
  • Critic making the others think he's not fighting because he's a coward, when really he's distracting them so he can try Suicide By Plot Hole.
    • Hell, this whole movie is one big downer for him! Poor thing!
  • The #1 Kryptonian hit of 1983, "Distraction" is about the singers giving their audience a last moment of happiness as the world is destroyed. And now just think about what planet it's from...
    • It's sadder when you take the apocalyptic message of the song and apply it to the current events, as the Critics fight what may be their final battle, especially for those who may be on their suicide paths. Even makes it foreshadowing since their world is coming to an end.
    • Chick singing "And nothing's gonna stand in my way, no matter what the people may say" while, unknown to her, her other half is on his way to kill himself.
  • The montage of Luke learning the ways of the plot. It was so heart felt and the scenes of cinematic master pieces in the background made tears well up in people's eyes.
  • There's a tear dripping down Critic's face when he's squaring off against Turrell.
  • The Critic standing in the doorway and looking upon the real world, accompanied by Gustav Holst's "Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity."
  • The remaining critics standing together on the bridge of USS Exit Strategy and awaiting their impending doom in the Plot Hole, talking about what a great run they've had as reviewers. Really, how can't you get teary-eyed at that?
  • Critic's apology to Ma-Ti. Like so many scenes in the movie, he's tearing up as he says it.
  • Sage and Film Brain telling Ma-Ti "you can make the choice to leave this place and be at peace" and "there's nothing more to hold onto, it's time to let go" is sadder when you make the connection between Ma-Ti and Critic. And Critic knows it too.
  • Critic's utter look of peace when he merges with the Plot Hole. Whether it's happy or sad tears is up to you.
  • Watching the USS Exit Strategy crumble when it goes into the Plot Hole is distressing, to put it mildly. Not helped by Critic's reaction, where he's gone through so much shit by this point that he just looks and sound numb at having just seen all his friends die.
  • The joyous reunion with Spoony at the end, knowing how he parted ways with TGWTG after the shoot.
  • The Critic's sacrifice to save his friends and the fact that not one them bar Film Brain and Luke seemed to know what had happened to him. After all his character development, not one of them was concerned if he was alive or dead or gave him acknowledgement for becoming a hero. What's more, the Critic seems perfectly fine with this.
    • When standing in the field before being reunited with Spoony, they actually do all seem to realize what happened to the Critic, and it's just that none of them want to say anything about it as it would be too painful. Snob's somber tone when he mentions that this is where "the Critic started this whole mess..." speaks volumes.
  • The demise of Mechakara, Zod, and Turrell was heartbreaking, they were all very lovable characters (well, Mechakara in his own, unfunny way), who even had some dramatic potential. It helps that they perished while quoting Shakespeare together, as if they were friends. "To be...Or not...TO BE!
  • The Critic's sacrifice from Doug Walker's point of view. He is watching his creation (essentially his child) take charge of his life and sacrifice himself to save everyone, with only him to witness it and really remember it. Reality Subtext makes this even more tearjerking
    • Hard to notice, but Doug's face when he tells Critic that his world with all the created characters will disappear. Any writer near the end of their story will identify.
  • How can we forget the Bothans?
  • The extra ending of the movie, where in-character Rob and Doug have no idea what to do now and so decide to watch and affectionately make fun of the Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue review.
  • If you think about it, this whole movie has "endings" as its theme. Critic complains about how he doesn't wanna review bad movies anymore in videos before this film, the critics are battling what could be the end of their jobs due to the government's law and online reviewers becoming extinct, the Critic tries to end Ma-Ti's wrath, the others try to end Clodd's rising, and it turns out it's the end of the Critic himself. Now we get confirmation from Doug that the film was created to retire the character, as he feels he's run his course. But you also notice that there's continuation after these endings: they keep their jobs despite the fate of online reviews in general being vague, Ma-Ti realizes the error of his ways, and the Critic still somewhat exists as the universe itself. This makes the whole film have a very bittersweet feeling, and really is the best special they made.
  • Even the "Crushin' Boots" video gets a kick in, by following up all of Phelous's Refuge in Audacity deaths with a shot of Critic going to commit suicide.
    • The DVD-only music video is even worse, as "this is your last trip, and I'll be part of it, cos in the end I owe you one" plays over Spoony/Critic, and "don't forget the memories, they make you feel alive" over Borged!Chick attempting to kill JO.
  • For the Bum Review of the movie, Chester grudgingly admitting that life is going to suck more now that the Critic is gone. Especially when you remember Critic was the only one to ever give him money and a place to stay.
    • And "now the reviewers are convinced they're living in a giant mistake. ...welcome to every day of my existence."

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