Posted March 03, 2015
Lots of spoilers here about the end of the series.
So, I agree with a lot of people that the ending isn't terribly good. Or I would have preferred a happier ending at least. Criticizing it objectively, the ending did not tie up what would happen to Elysium or Deponia. And it did too little to explain why Goal pretended with Cletus, when she knew Rufus had fallen to his death. I wasn't particularly upset that Rufus died, but the author could have done something to make clear how that was significant to the remaining characters. The ending did, at least, do a good job of emphasizing that Rufus had actually made some progress in his final act.
Anyway, here is my rough outline of the material points from the ending I would have written. I felt I wanted to share it for some reason.
Per the regular ending but...
First, in the elevator, Cletus confesses that he is himself. Although Cletus is mostly recalcitrant, Rufus' act of self-sacrifice has begun to make Cletus believe that he could not be satisfied with living a lie.
Next, Goal acknowledges that she knew he was Cletus. Goal realized that only Rufus would have performed the misguided act of self-sacrifice in letting go of the blade to save her. Cletus pleads with Goal to love him in some way, but she refuses.
Sprinkle in cut scenes with amusing side characters to add some levity.
Goal and Rufus then separate and Rufus talks to the Elysian elders (dialogue not revealed to the audience, no pretending to be Rufus at least) while Goal goes off to the balcony to say something mushy to herself about what Rufus stood for and/or meant for her.
Add levity about something Rufus destroyed or messed up recurring.
Credits roll...
After credits, scene with Cletus visiting the cloning facility.
Monologue from Cletus about how Goal won't speak to him and how he will win her back once he has pretended to try to bring Rufus back via cloning. Long story short, he searches around for some piece of evidence to use to show it was fruitless and he accidentally clones Rufus. We don't see Rufus' face but we get a shot from the ground of the horror on Cletus' face, 'what have I done' and ' how did you come back with those clothes'.
Fade to black.
Something like that.
So, I agree with a lot of people that the ending isn't terribly good. Or I would have preferred a happier ending at least. Criticizing it objectively, the ending did not tie up what would happen to Elysium or Deponia. And it did too little to explain why Goal pretended with Cletus, when she knew Rufus had fallen to his death. I wasn't particularly upset that Rufus died, but the author could have done something to make clear how that was significant to the remaining characters. The ending did, at least, do a good job of emphasizing that Rufus had actually made some progress in his final act.
Anyway, here is my rough outline of the material points from the ending I would have written. I felt I wanted to share it for some reason.
Per the regular ending but...
First, in the elevator, Cletus confesses that he is himself. Although Cletus is mostly recalcitrant, Rufus' act of self-sacrifice has begun to make Cletus believe that he could not be satisfied with living a lie.
Next, Goal acknowledges that she knew he was Cletus. Goal realized that only Rufus would have performed the misguided act of self-sacrifice in letting go of the blade to save her. Cletus pleads with Goal to love him in some way, but she refuses.
Sprinkle in cut scenes with amusing side characters to add some levity.
Goal and Rufus then separate and Rufus talks to the Elysian elders (dialogue not revealed to the audience, no pretending to be Rufus at least) while Goal goes off to the balcony to say something mushy to herself about what Rufus stood for and/or meant for her.
Add levity about something Rufus destroyed or messed up recurring.
Credits roll...
After credits, scene with Cletus visiting the cloning facility.
Monologue from Cletus about how Goal won't speak to him and how he will win her back once he has pretended to try to bring Rufus back via cloning. Long story short, he searches around for some piece of evidence to use to show it was fruitless and he accidentally clones Rufus. We don't see Rufus' face but we get a shot from the ground of the horror on Cletus' face, 'what have I done' and ' how did you come back with those clothes'.
Fade to black.
Something like that.