Jesus Christ Superstar/YMMV

• Alas, Poor Villain: So long, Judas. Poor ol' Judas
• Alternative Character Interpretation: You are supposed to sympathize with Judas.
  • How much you end up sympathising with him is, of course, up the the interpretation of the audience. Either he was a pawn in God's/Jesus' plan, a pawn in the Pharisees' plans, or misguided but ultimately chose his fate. (Or a mix)
  • Word of God from Tim Rice says that his aim as far as presenting Judas' character was more to with showing what he might have done in the same situation rather than making him interesting.
  • Pontius Pilate was also given some different perspective. In the musical he does not want to execute Jesus, thinking he is just another nut case who doesn't deserve death, and is utterly baffled why the mob wants him killed. He only goes through with the execution because he was given no other choice.
• Awesome Music: The soundtrack topped the charts before the play came out.
  • "Heaven On Their Minds"
  • "Superstar"
  • "This Jesus Must Die"
  • "Gethsemane"
  • "The Last Supper"
  • "Damned For All Time"
• Non Sequitur Scene: King Herod's Song.
  • And, in the original movie, that bizzare scene with Judas being chased through the desert by helicopters and tanks.
• Broken Base: Either you love the original movie, or you love the 2000 movie. There is no middle ground. Both sides say the other is a vile mockery. Or you think both are good in their own regards.
  • Fans of Ian Gillan vs. fans of Ted Neeley. This is Serious Business.
  • As well as Murray Head vs. Carl Anderson.
• First Installment Wins: Fans of the original LP concept album point out that it set the standard for all subsequent versions.
  • Literally, in the case of the vocal score, which in many places merely transcribes what was performed on the original album.
• Funny Moments: It's not really a funny show, but "Herod's Song" is hilarious.
  • In the 2000 film, Simon's Oh Crap look when Jesus sings "this is my blood you drink" just as he's sipped from the wine.
    • At the next line ("This is my body you eat"), the apostle handling the loaf of bread stares at it and then quickly wipes his hands.
• Germans Love David Hasselhoff: Both the movie and the musical were quite big in 1980's USSR. Yeah, you heard that right.
• Ho Yay: Judas and Jesus. Oh God, the Judas and Jesus... Depending on the Production.
  • A few of the live productions play up the gentility and respect in their relationship - they're like brothers.
  • The 2000 version seemed to do this as blatantly as possible. All the apostles wore tight ripped shirts, leather pants, and very frequently caressed and hugged each other. While the women all wore pretty modest ankle length dresses and their hair held in a ratty bun.
    • To compare, in the 1973 version Judas' kiss of betrayal is Judas sneaking up from behind, giving Jesus a very quick light peck on the cheek. In the 2000 version, the two are looking each other directly in the eyes while crying. Then Judas gives him a deep, long, smooch and Jesus responds by briefly wrapping his arms around him before Judas pushes him off.
    • There's also the clinging and crying during "The Last Supper".
• Jerkass Woobie: Oh Judas, you're so troubled.
• Memetic Mutation: A well-known parody. "Jesus Christ... Superstar... Burning 'round the corner on a Yamaha!"
• Narm: In the original album, during Temple Before Pilate when a roman soldier says "Someone chrois', king of da jeeewwwsss" in the cockney accent.
  • The 90s Aussie production in spades. Strange Thing Mystifying sounds like a hair metal anthem.
  • Narm Charm: "King Herod's Song" in the film Crosses the Line Twice past Narm and goes straight into ridiculously awesome.
• Nightmare Fuel: The Crucifixion and preceding torture in the 1973 version.
  • The stage version includes a sequence so traumatizing that it's the visual/musical equivalent of swallowing an ice cube too fast. Immediately after performing the first half of "The Temple and Lepers," Jesus is accosted by a whole horde of lepers, cripples, and various other blighted folk. Pretty heart-rending in itself. But did I mention that they are covered in SPIDER WEBS? That they're so wrapped in rags that you can't see their faces? And that they graphically describe all their injuries and infirmities IN SONG? True, it's not Michael Jackson's Thriller, but it's pretty grotesque in itself. You can hardly blame Jesus when, in a What the Hell, Hero? moment, he screams: "HEAL YOURSELVES!!!"
    • Not forgetting that the song they're singing? It's the same tune as the merchants', only... different. And in 7/8 time, one of the most unsettling time signatures.
• Tear Jerker:
  • "Gethsemane"
  • "Judas's Death"
  • "Could We Start Again Please?" if the production includes it.
• The Woobie: Mary Magdalene. Depending on the production, Jesus and/or Judas could be as well.