YMMV / DC Showcase: Death

• Alternative Character Interpretation: While the people in Vincent's past might seem like jerks, an argument can be made that they wanted the best for him:
  • His teacher may have been a bit (okay, very) brutal in his criticism, but he might just have honestly believed that Vincent's future wasn't in art and that he could have built a better life with a different profession and he wasn't just mocking him.
  • His father may have been opposed to his artist career because he knew it could lead to Vincent becoming a Starving Artist, which is not something that any father wants for his child.
  • His boss at Arkham Asylum just wanted him to do his job. He wasn't opposed to Vincent being an artist—he just wanted him to knuckle down and do the work he was paid for.
  • His wife was probably fine with Vincent's passion for painting—she just wanted him to take care of the other aspects of his life as well such as paying the bills, paying attention to her needs, and staying in reality.
• Awesome Music: The soundtrack for the short is beautiful yet melancholic, fitting the short's themes.
• Fanfic Fuel:
  • Many fans began wondering what type of adventures Death's siblings could get into after this showcase, particularly since Vincent lives in Gotham.
  • The story behind Vincent's masterpiece could end up like this given how it's the only masterpiece that survived the fire in Vincent's department. What type of people would get involved behind the mystery portrait?
• Fridge Brilliance: A comment on YouTube brings up that Death's siblings had a hand in shaping Vincent's life:
  • Dream: Giving Vincent the dream to become an artist.
  • Destiny: Death brings up Vincent's fate in the "Book of Destiny."
  • Destruction: Vincent spiraling into alcoholism and drug abuse, and how his works (except one) go up in flames.
  • Desire: Same as Dream above.
  • Despair: Vincent becoming an alcoholic.
  • Delirium: Depression and despair, hallucinating the people who mocked him and his own self-doubt as demons.
• Heartwarming Moments: The ending is both tear-jerking and heart-wrenching beautiful. Upon realizing that Death will save his portrait of her from the flames, Vincent happily returns to his innocent childhood self and decides to go into the light with Death. Death comforts Vincent with a gentle guiding hand as they head into the mystery, all with a comforting smile on her face.
• Just Here for Godzilla: Most fans bought the Wonder Woman: Bloodlines Blu-Ray just for the bonus feature, given it was the first time any character from The Sandman appeared in animated media.
• Moe: Despite the bleak atmosphere, there's some surprising amounts of this in here:
  • Death herself, despite the name, is actually shown to be very sweet and playful towards Vincent, fully embodying how she's dark yet also very loving by acting compassionate.
  • Not so much in the present day, but as a child, Vincent was so adorable due to his love of art. He's still this when Vincent's ghost becomes his child self before going to the afterlife.
• Tear Jerker:
  • The ending. After Vincent realizes that he's dead from overdose and the cigarette in his hand will burn up the apartment and all of his work, he tearfully begs for Death to at least spare the painting he made of her. And upon realizing that Death gave Vincent the gift to create said masterpiece of her, to conquer his demons and will fulfill his last request, his ghost transforms into his innocent child self to thank her. Death takes his hand as they walk into the afterlife, all while smiling. The violin music makes it even more moving.
    Vincent: (tearfully as his apartment is catching on fire) I'm begging you...Just save the painting! Please...Grant me this final gift before I...
    (flashes back to when he started drawing an angel as a kid in complete understanding as Death smiles at him)
    Vincent: (smiling) You...you already have, haven't you? You've given me an extraordinary gift...(turns into his child self as the flames burn everything down) Thank you.
    Death: Shall we go then? (bends down and gives Vincent her hand) Into the mystery...
    (Vincent smiles and takes the hand as they walk into the light with Death smiling back)
  • The credits that depict Vincent's last and first portraits, along with the music, really hit home.
• Unexpected Character: Show of hands, who expected Death of the Endless getting her first animated appearance in this showcase?
• The Woobie: Poor, poor Vincent. Dude seriously needs a hug or two. Luckily for him, Death is anything but the standard Grim Reaper one would expect.