50 – Endgame

Man of Steel Answers Insight Commentary

Recorded January 27th. “I don’t know how to lose.” Sports and football in these films and how it informs Clark’s character. Issues with Lex’s endgame and how it reflects his psychology. Learning how to lose.

Answers, insights, and commentary on:

• I. Sports
• Sports as a part of culture
• Is Clark a sports fan? The cliché versus the evidence
• Qualifications of a sports writer
• Priorities over fandom, diversions, and leisure
• How does Clark view sports given his abilities?
• Is Zack Snyder a sports fan?
• What was the Metropolis State vs. Gotham City fight about?
• The Quarterback Kneel controversy
• What does that controversy illustrate?

• II. Lex’s Endgame
• Was Lex just a fanatic in the end?
• Lex’s doomsday perspective and plan
• Why the Doomsday plan has holes
• Lex putting his life at risk to Superman, military response, and Doomsday
• Why Lex uses his blood to create Doomsday
• Why Lex doesn’t try to get away with his endgame
• The Origin of Lex Luthor
• Lex has hope in his last scene

• III. Losing
• Illustrating a few principles
  • For anyone trying, failure is inevitable not identity
  • Embrace iteration instead of a God Complex
  • Review your endgame and have others check it
  • Persistence and resilience
• Expect setbacks, embrace the journey with patience, anticipate tomorrow hopefully
• UCLA Coach John Wooden

Examples of Superman lacking omniscience:

• Lois can’t get information to him in time
• Lois can’t find him after the bombing
• Lois can’t summon him at will in Nairomi
• Lois can hide the bullet from him
• Lois doesn’t whisper under her breath behind the barricade
• Lois doesn’t call out for him on the helipad
• Lois is surprised that he catches her
• Lois explicitly says he couldn’t see the bomb
• Lois uncovers the plot he didn’t know
• Martha doesn’t cry for him while kidnapped
• Martha doesn’t scream for him in the warehouse
• Lex knows he can kidnap Lois & Martha
• Lex knows he can keep them from Superman’s senses
• Batman relies on the element of surprise in his attacks
• Clark learns of the hearings from Lois
• Clark learns of Kahina and Keefe from the news
• Clark learns of the factory fire from the news
• Clark learns of the Batman’s brutality from the news
• Clark learns what the talking heads are saying from the news
• Superman demands to know “Where is she?”

To learn more:
Sports Fan Polling | Gallup
How Obsessive are Sports Fans | CBS
An Egghead’s Guide to the Super Bowl | Freakonomics
Nerds & Jocks Think They’re The Underdog | CollegeHumor
Sportsmanship: What’s Expected In Football | NPR
Cam is Superman, Snyder Interview | AOL
Ruby-Spears Superman | CBS
The Power and the Glory | NFL Films
Wicked problem | Wikipedia
John Wooden | Wikipedia
Such A Loser | Garfunkel & Oates

Web: ManOfSteelAnswers.com
Twitter: @mosanswers
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Proud member of the Superman Podcast Network!

Another three-parter released as one episode. Enjoy Super Bowl Sunday.