History Recap / JusticeLeagueS2E19And20Hereafter

* RoleReprise: In addition to Dana Delany, Clancy Brown, and Michael Dorn (who'd previously reprised their STAS roles through Seasons One and Two), Brad Garrett reprises his role of Lobo for the first time since STAS. Efram Zimbalist Jr. likewise reprises his long-running role as Alfred Pennyworth (and for his first appearance on ''Justice League''.

* RoleReprisal: In addition to Dana Delany, Clancy Brown, Michael Dorn (who'd previously reprised their STAS roles through Seasons One and Two), Brad Garrett reprise his role of Lobo for the first time since STAS. Efram Zimbalist Jr. likewise reprises his long-running role as Alfred Pennyworth (and for his first appearance on ''Justice League''.

* {{Foreshadowing}} In lieu of Superman's "death", the League decide to start a membership drive. This becomes the premise of the {{Retool}} for the next season, and the candidates each of them suggested become full-fledged members.

* BadassBeard: Superman sports one in the future. When he returns to the present, Wonder Woman approves of his new look, but in a nod to StatusQuoIsGod, Superman refutes any idea he might keep it.

* TimePassageBeard: Superman grows a beard while making his way to the fallen Watchtower, indicating that the journey takes several months.

-->'''Comicbook/LoisLane''': [[HaveYouComeToGloat You've come to gloat!]] You've tried to get rid of him for years! Are you ''happy'' now?! Isn't this what you've always wanted? I hate you! ''I HATE YOU!'' (''[[CryIntoChest she starts sobbing into Luthor's chest, and he holds her]]'')

* BewareTheSillyOnes: For all the powerful members in the very brief league, Toyman was the only one to succeed at seemingly dispose of Superman.

* ContinuityNod: When the Leaguers discuss who should replace Superman, Green Lantern suggests his old buddy, [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E22And23Metamorphosis Metamorpho]].

* ShiningCity: Metropolis becomes this once Superman has SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong. Even as Vandal Savage fades out of existence, he's perfectly content with this.

* TakingTheBullet: Superman intercepts the Toyman's beam as it's fired at Batman and Wonder Woman, which is what sets off the plot. He returns JustInTime to catch a missile fired at Batman by Deadshot.

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Toyman when Green Lantern shows up first instead of Superman. Livewire concurs, fully expecting the other Leaguers to show up.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: This marks Vandal Savage's last appearance in the DCAU. Keep in mind that only the BadFuture Savage is remorseful and redeemed; no word has been said of his present counterpart.

* EleventhHourSuperpower: Near the end, when it looks hopeless for Savage (surrounded by giant deadly cockroaches and Superman falling to his apparent death), out of the crater flies Superman, his powers restored because of the yellow solar energy generated by the generator cell.

** The end of the world was caused by Vandal Savage [[ComicBook/TheAtom stealing a piece of white dwarf matter from a scientist named Ray Palmer]].

** Savage's time machine may in fact be the very same one he used to help the Nazis win World War I in "The Savage Time".

* HopeBringer: Superman as usual, the surprising part being that he became Vandal Savage's "second chance". Savage had a time machine, but he couldn't use it on himself, and comes to the realization that Superman ''can''. Savage decides to help Superman and prevent all this from happening, even if it means erasing himself.

* CallBack: Lobo recalls [[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS1E9E10TheMainMan once saving Superman's life]].

* EarthAllAlong: Superman is transported to a post-apocalyptic planet orbiting a red sun that he learns is Earth in the very distant future.

* IHatePastMe: Vandal Savage begs Superman to stop his past self from getting the piece of white dwarf matter and setting up the BadFuture.

* SurvivorGuilt: Vandal Savage developed this during 30,000 years of being alone on a dead Earth.

* VictoryIsBoring: Vandal Savage learned the hard way that being ruler of the Earth is meaningless if there's no one to rule over (save giant insects.)

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: This marks Vandal Savage's last appearance in the DCAU. Keep in mind that only the BadFuture Savage is redeemed; no word has been said of his present counterpart.

-->'''Vandal Savage:''' True, but that doesn't mean I'm not good company. ''({{beat}})'' Say, you wanna come over to my house?\\

* AntiHeroSubstitute: Lobo becomes this for Superman within the League.

* CarFu: Lobo defeats Kalibak with a few cars. While he holds another car, Hawkgirl tells him to put it down since Lobo already won. Lobo mutters, "I was gonna…" and throws the car into a building.

* DelayedRippleEffect: After Superman returns to his own time, Savage waits by his memorial... until he sees people begin to appear, after which he and his devastated surroundings fade away to be replaced by a peaceful future-Earth city.

* LegionOfDoom: The Superman Revenge Squad

* MythologyGag: The end of the world was caused by Vandal Savage [[ComicBook/TheAtom stealing a piece of white dwarf matter from a scientist named Ray Palmer]].

* PunBasedTitle: A subtle example, according to [[WordOfGod episode author Dwayne [=McDuffie=]]] -- Superman is presumed dead (the "hereafter") but has actually been transported to future Earth ("here, after").

-->'''Batman:''' I've got some things to say. I should've said them when you were here, but... despite our differences, I have nothing but respect for you. I hope you [[FreudianSlip knew]]... ''know'' that. You showed me justice doesn't always have to come from the darkness. I'll miss...\\

'''Batman:''' What did you always call it, Clark? [[MythologyGag "The never-ending battle?"]]

* WasItReallyWorthIt: Vandal Savage won, killed the Justice League, and finally rules the world... and accidentally killed everyone else on the planet. He's had 30,000 years to think about his actions and ask himself this question, and long since decided... no, it wasn't.

-->'''Vandal Savage:''' Green Lantern was the most difficult. I killed him right here. ''(points towards a spot, then walks towards another)'' No... it was over there.

Superman seems to be vaporized after making a HeroicSacrifice. The League attempts to cope with the loss of Superman by defending Metropolis in his absence and SelfDemonstrating/{{Lobo}} offers to be the replacement. Superman actually wakes up 30,000 years in Earth's future with ComicBook/VandalSavage, the only human left alive as the result of an attempt at world domination staged a few months after Superman’s disappearance.

* RealityEnsues: Vandal Savage learned the hard way that being ruler of the Earth is meaningless if there's no one to rule over (save giant insects.)

* ExactWords: Lobo promised Superman that he wouldn’t harm Earth’s people. So his solo fight has him taking on Kalibak, who comes from Apokolips.

* HeroicComedicSociopath: Averted with Lobo. He's as hilarious as always, but is CompletelyMissingThePoint with the whole hero thing.

'''Vandal Savage:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Like you've got something better to do]].

-->'''Comicbook/LoisLane''': [[HaveYouComeToGloat You've come to gloat!]] You've tried to get rid of him for years! Are you ''happy'' now?! Isn't this what you've always wanted? I hate you! ''I HATE YOU!''

* AntagonistInMourning: ComicBook/LexLuthor shows up at Superman's funeral. Knowing the history of the two, Lois has every reason to slap him in the face for just showing his face and says this:

* MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds: The future Vandal Savage ''accidentally'' threw the entire solar system for a loop with his gravity-control machine. As a result, he's now the only human left alive.

* WasItReallyWorthIt: Vandal Savage won, killed the Justice League, and finally rules the world... and accidentally killed everyone else on the planet. He's had 30,000 years to think about his actions and ask himself this question, and long since decided no, it wasn't.