‘Batman Caped Crusader’ Gives Us a Surprisingly Different Version of Batman

The big picture

• Batman in
  Hooded Crusader
  is surprisingly harsh towards Alfred, reflecting unresolved trauma.
• The series explores a more distant relationship between Batman and Alfred, devoid of their classic bond.
• Despite initial friction, Batman begins to show interest in Alfred, hinting that their bond will be closer in the future.

One of the most shocking elements of the new Batman animated series, Batman: Caped CrusaderIt’s the relationship between Bruce Wayne/Batman (Hamish Linklater) and his trusty butler, Alfred Pennyworth (Written by Jason Watkins). Hooded Crusader is a brand new reimagining of the Batman mythos. The show features a look and feel reminiscent of the classic Golden Age Batman comics, and many characters have been completely revamped for the animated series. It also takes a different approach to the long-standing and well-known relationship between Batman and Alfred. It’s quite surprising how cold and harsh Batman treats Alfred throughout the series, but The show provides the motivations for Bruce’s contemptuous and mean behavior towards his trusted butler and confidant.

Bruce Wayne in “The Caped Crusader” is still deeply traumatized by the murder of his parents

The first season of Hooded Crusader establishes that Young Bruce Wayne was deeply traumatized and emotionally and psychologically scarred by the murder of his parents. At one point, a young Bruce wakes a sleeping Alfred, telling him, “They’re going to pay,” referring to criminals. Bruce continues, “All of them. I’m going to make them pay. And you’re going to help me.” This shows that, from a young age, Bruce Wayne has made it his mission to become a vigilante who terrorizes criminals. Alfred seems conflicted about how to deal with Bruce and concerned about his protégé’s well-being. He wants to be emotionally available and helps Bruce in his activities as Batman, both out of a misplaced sense of loyalty and perhaps out of genuine affection and regret for the childhood that was taken away from Bruce.

Unfortunately, Bruce Wayne has yet to adequately address or deal with his emotional traumaso he takes it out on Alfred throughout the series. He repeatedly treats Alfred in a shocking, cold, harsh, and direct manner. The first half of the series sometimes gives the impression that Batman has little sympathy for Alfred. Many previous Batman adaptations, and even the comic book stories, often portray Alfred as more than a loyal butler to Bruce Wayne. Many stories and adaptations portray Alfred more as a surrogate father to Bruce Wayne, acting as a strong mentor, emotional sounding board, and moral compass for Bruce Wayne.

Batman and Alfred haven’t yet forged their classic bond in “The Caped Crusader”

In the iconic Batman: The Animated Series, Batman and Alfred share a bond forged through many years of mutual trust and faith in each other.. Furthermore, Alfred knows Batman better than any of his closest friends, allies, or even enemies, as he has been with Bruce since he was born. This is best shown in the classic animated film, Batman: Mask of the Phantasmwhen a grumpy Batman tries to silence Alfred’s suggestion, “You think you know everything about me, don’t you?” Alfred quickly retorts, “I changed your ass! I really should… sir!” While Batman is a little angry with Alfred in this scene, Alfred uses his dry sense of humor to try to put the Dark Knight in his place. But that dynamic and that relationship, where Alfred can show some good-natured respect for his “Master Bruce,” comes from their mutual love and trust that they’ve built over the years together.

In Hooded Crusader, Batman and Alfred have not yet formed a close family bond. As a result, it is shocking to see Batman’s harsh treatment of Alfred throughout the series. When Alfred attempts to offer Batman/Bruce some wisdom, he is quick to dismiss the advice and won’t listen. Bruce’s trauma makes him razor-sharp in his war on crime, and this deep focus contributes to Bruce’s stubborn attitude and his unwillingness to look to Alfred as a mentor. It also causes Batman to act quite irritable. Some of these moments are hard to watch because Batman comes off as unsympathetic for his harsh treatment of Alfred when Alfred is simply trying to help and offer assistance.

Batman and Alfred’s relationship gradually improves later in the season.

Despite Batman’s harsh treatment of Alfred early in the series, it seems like things are gradually starting to improve in their relationship during the second half of season one. In episode 6, “Night Ride,” Alfred helps Batman deal with a supernatural villain, The Gentleman Ghost (Toby Stephen), who is preying on the poor and weak citizens of Gotham City. Gentleman Ghost takes over Alfred’s body during the fight, using him to attack Batman. Alfred tries to fight Gentleman Ghost, begging Batman to kill him before the Ghost can regain control, and Batman firmly refuses Alfred’s request. The episode finally offers a sign that Bruce Wayne genuinely cares about Alfred, as he fights to protect him. After defeating Gentleman Ghost, a concerned Batman tells Alfred, “You’re stupid! What the hell were you thinking? If you… I can’t do this job without you!” In his own way, Batman was telling Alfred that he caredand he wouldn’t want Alfred to jeopardize his well-being. Deep down, Batman knows he’d be lost without Alfred.

Their relationship also shows significant improvement towards the end of the season one finale, “Savage Night”. After Harvey Dent is physically disfigured, becoming Two-Face, and later shot to death by the corrupt police detective Flass (by Gary Anthony Williams), Batman candidly expresses his fear that he saw something of himself in Harvey Dent when Dent went nuts. Alfred then consoles not only Batman, but also Bruce Wayne, pointing out that he is not like Harvey Dent, and sees Bruce making strides towards improving his life. Alfred highlights Bruce’s alliances with Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon (Eric Morgan Stuart), and public defender Barbara Gordon (Krystal Joy Brown), who is also Commissioner Gordon’s daughter. As Alfred says, “You’ve made friends, too, in your own way.”

For once, Batman doesn’t callously dismiss Alfred’s advice. In one of the best moments of the series so far, Batman tells Alfred, “Thank you, Pennywo–… Alfred. Thank you, Alfred.” For the first time in the series, Batman finally calls his butler by his first name. Now that Alfred has moved into a first-person relationship with Batman, It looks like they’ll finally take steps to develop their usual, classic relationshipThe dynamic duo of Alfred and Batman are beginning to forge their close father-son bond, giving hope that next season Batman will treat Alfred with more kindness and respect, taking Alfred’s genuine wisdom and advice to heart as he did in the finale.

Batman: Caped Crusader is streaming on Prime Video in the US

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