Summary

Blue Beetle’s focus on family resonated with critics and made the film standout in the revamped DCU, showcasing the importance of exploring the central role of family in future films. The DCU superheroes need emotional stakes and something to fight for, as demonstrated by Jamie’s desire to protect his family, highlighting the importance of establishing strong relationships for the heroes. Blue Beetle has the potential to bring a sense of humanity and diversity to the DCU, instilling a feeling of family and community among the heroes, while also potentially redeeming past failures and bringing hope to the universe.

Blue Beetle has solidified itself as one of DC’s best-reviewed films. The story focuses on Jamie Reyes coming into his own as the hero Blue Beetle. His journey in the film could not be completed without his family. All the Reyes’s (Damián Alcázar, Elpidia Carrillo, George Lopez, Belissa Escobedo, and Oscar-Winner Adriana Barraza) have a role in Jamie’s journey. The central role of his family is a newer concept that the revamped DCU can explore in the future. Making that relationship the heart of Blue Beetle helped it resonate with critics. That leaves only one question remaining about the characters role in the future. Can Blue Beetle redeem the heart the DCEU was sorely missing?

Some loved the darker stories told throughout Zack Snyder’s films. Others felt the dower tone made the characters hard to connect with. Blue Beetle focused on the characters, making the stakes feel important. While the plot of Blue Beetle was not world-changing, it focused on someone (Jamie) wanting to protect his family. Fleshing out those supporting characters made Jamie someone audiences could connect with. He had something to fight for as he explored his new heroic role. It goes to show that within the DCU, the heroes need to be invested in something to fight for.

Related: Blue Beetle Box Office: Previews Bring in $3.3 Million on Thursday, Film Kicks Off Weekend With $9.8 Million

There Have to Be Emotional Stakes
Warner Bros. Pictures

In Matt Reeves’s Elseworlds Batman, he wants to dive into the emotions of the characters. James Gunn needs to follow that sentiment while he is building out his DCU. To build that world out, other heroes need to have something to lose. In the lore of DC, every character has something that grounds them. Batman has his Bat-family and Alfred, The Flash has Iris West, and Superman has Ma and Pa Kent and Lois Lane. Each of those relationships makes the heroes who they are. Jamie can learn from these heroes, while the heroes can learn from Jamie.

There have to be serious stakes that could affect every hero. In this new DCU, Batman is going to have his own bat family. It’s obviously going to be a family that is just getting started for the caped-crusader. He could see Jamie’s family as something he wants to emulate with his own.

The same could be said for The Flash, who is fighting to get his father out of prison. Jamie’s love for his family could be something others aspire for and want to protect. No matter how deeply that love is formed, there have to be stakes to want to maintain it. This can only be done with a proper villain.

The heroes of the DCU need to fight a serious and dangerous threat. Only characters like Darkseid, The Joker, or even Lex Luthor could be an effective menace. If any of those villains hurt the hero’s loved ones, it could be detrimental. Batman, The Flash, or even more obscure characters like The Authority could have those stakes by learning from Blue Beetle. For the stakes to feel real, Jamie needs to be the emotional center. Simultaneously, he needs to be mentored by the other heroes in the universe. For that to be effective, there need to be actionless moments.

Related: What Does Blue Beetle’s Post-Credits Scenes Mean for the DCU?

The Heroes Need to Get to Know Eachother
Courtesy of DC Comics

The first Avengers after-credit scene is something that changed superhero films. It was a rare moment without action that involved the heroes sharing a meal. There was not any dialogue, but it provided a needed moment of levity. Jamie could provide that overarching levity in the DCU. The difference would be that such a scene would involve more dialogue between the heroes. In the late DCEU, such an idea was in the after-credit scene for 2017’s poorly received Justice League.

Justice League’s last after-credit scene gave their own “shawarma” like final moment. It was a scene that involved the heroes getting to know each other. The scene involved The Flash and Superman being jovial. That tone is something Jamie could carry alongside the other heroes of the universe. He can instill a sense of family and community that the DCU has never seen before. An obscure character like Blue Beetle can give the universe a needed humanity. Jamie’s love for his family can convey and transfer the needed emotionality to other corners of DC.

Blue Beetle has a unique position within the new DC universe. Jamie Reyes gives a needed diversity to an archetypal genre. He can share his deep familial connection with other heroes (Like Batman) that lost it along the way. It’s a heavy role for the Blue Beetle to carry, but his first film shows that Jamie Reyes is up to the task.

While his future is unclear, the Blue Beetle could help salvage DC’s past. The film gives the idea that this universe is much more hopeful and less dower. His wide-eyed optimism is a new and exciting element that could help redeem past failures. Only time will tell about Blue Beetle’s role in the future, but the possibilities for the character are endless.