DCEU: 10 Times The Universe Tackled Deep Issues | ScreenRant
The DCEU is the largest superhero cinematic universe. While most superhero films put a lot of emphasis on special effects and epic fights, there is more to the DCEU than is immediately obvious.
This universe is not afraid to address some difficult issues many people face in the world. As a result, the films are often deeper than many viewers might have suspected.
10 Deadshot Has To Leave His Daughter
Saying goodbye to one's kids is never easy. Especially when their parent doesn't know when - if ever - they will see their children again. In Suicide Squad (2016), Batman catches up to Deadshot while he's with his daughter Zoe. Zoe persuades her dad not to kill Batman and Deadshot gets arrested. Considering his life as part of the Suicide Squad, it's unclear whether Deadshot and his daughter will ever get to live together again as a family.
9 Billy's Mom
Billy has spent years looking for his mom. The whole time, he's wondered why she left him and what happened. In the end, when he finally finds her and visits her, he's in for an unpleasant surprise. His mom isn't happy to see him and she sends him away. It's one of the saddest scenes in an otherwise mostly cheerful film. But it only proves what some children have, don't have the greatest parents.
8 The Loss Of A Parent
Everyone knows that their parents will leave sooner or later. But knowing it and coming to terms with it are two different things, and people don't take it well when their parents die before their time. The DCEU shows multiple examples of how it can affect those who prematurely lose their parents. From Superman to Batman and even Black Manta, all of them have been through tragic loss and it left a mark on them.
7 Ending A Toxic Relationship
Romantic relationships should be beneficial to people, not the other way around. When Harley and Joker finally break up in the DCEU, it's a cause to celebrate. Harley does so by blowing up Ace Chemicals.
However, even if she chose a more subtle form of celebration, there's no denying that cutting off the toxic relationship with the Joker was a good thing. After all, he's known for treating Harley awfully, and she deserves better.
6 Potential Abuse
Speaking of Harley, there's a scene in Birds of Prey (2020) where she gets drunk and a guy tries to take advantage of her and drive her away in his car. Abusing others is a serious topic and the film shows that people shouldn't turn their eyes away from it. Just like Black Canary doesn't when she decides to help Harley beat the would-be-abuser and brings Harley to safety. Dinah hesitated at first but in the end, decided to do the right thing.
5 Childhood Trauma
Birds of Prey is full of serious topics that not many superhero films address. Unfortunately, Helena Bertinelli aka Huntress doesn't appear that often in the film. Despite that, the story still manages to address her childhood trauma - the death of her family - and the impact it has on Helena. Not every traumatized child would decide to avenge their family and become a vigilante, but all of them would be influenced by such experience.
4 Coming To Terms With Oneself
In Justice League (2017), Cyborg doesn't quite know what to do with himself. He still hasn't come to terms with the accident that made him into who he is today. Self-acceptance is important if one should have a shot at living a happy life.
Luckily, Cyborg takes his first steps toward a new chapter in the movie. He helps to save the world even though he originally didn't want to join the team. And he also meets people who could be his new friends.
3 Losing A Loved One
There are many types of loss a person can go through. One of them is losing their partner. The DCEU shows how it can affect people's lives. Wonder Woman closes herself off the rest of the world after she loses Steve. And there's also Lois Lane who struggles with putting her life in order when she believes that Superman is gone for good.
2 How The Media Forms Someone's Perception
Most people view Superman as a hero. He saves people and risks his life on a regular basis to help them. However, the DCEU shows that the media has the power to change the public's perception of superheroes. Superman can easily be labeled either a hero to a villain, depending on the right or wrong byline. There's very little he can do about it - especially if the government chooses a similar approach.
1 Losing A Child
Finally, the DCEU also addressed another type of loss - the situation in which a parent loses a child. There are two significant examples but both show how devastating it can be. Albeit indirectly, Batman loses Robin and it drives him to a dark road. And Martha Kent loses not only her husband but also her son, which is twice as much tragedy as anybody would have deserved. Luckily, things work out well for her in the end but the pain is still there.
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