Author: Paul J. Wares
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I actually began writing this piece in 2005, immediately following the release of BATMAN BEGINS. There had been plenty of talk across the net about Robin and whether Chris Nolan would include him in a later movie. I pondered this for a while and started writing. After repeat viewings of BATMAN BEGINS though, I decided that Robin just wouldn’t fit into the world that Nolan created.
Robin is a problematic character, particularly in this new movie universe. This isn’t exclusive to the movie world Nolan has crafted though. I’ve always had problems with the Robin character, mostly due to how he contradicts Batman. One of Batman’s mantras in my favourite comic book incarnations is the notion that he is Batman to prevent his tragedy befalling another. Robin completely contradicts that notion.
With BEGINS and now THE DARK KNIGHT, Nolan has given us a rich, layered and psychologically “realistic” version of Bruce Wayne. We understand his motives behind the path he has ultimately chosen, but if one of his guiding principals is to protect the innocent and prevent his tragedy befalling another, then there is no good reason why he would put anyone in harms way -- least of all a thirteen year-old boy wearing a brightly coloured costume. It makes no logical sense and the suspension of disbelief that Nolan and team worked so hard for in his two movies is thrown out of the window with the inclusion of Robin at Batman’s side.
Or is it?
After my third viewing of THE DARK KNIGHT, I’m now not so sure.
I can understand to a certain degree fan desire to include him in the franchise at some point. He’s been fighting crime at Batman’s side on and off for over 67 years and if this film series is going to be considered the definitive portrayal of the Batman, then at some point Robin will have to show up, right?
Let me say that I’m in no hurry to see Robin on screen again any time soon. I’m not a fan of the character at all, despite what the essay might allude to. I certainly didn’t want to see him make an appearance TDK, but after the events of that movie, I now wouldn’t rule out seeing him in the third movie of this series.
Why? Well, because Batman is very nearly broken in that TDK. He is at the edge of the abyss and his world is darker than at any other time in his adult life. His best friend and potential lover, the person to whom he pinned his hope on a normal life is gone. The man that he truly believed could make Gotham a better place is gone and he himself is being hunted by the police, believed to be a murdering psychopath. In the next film I can see Bruce Wayne all but disappearing into the guise of The Batman, being more obsessed than he ever has been and for the first time, battle worn and without hope.
He will need something or someone to bring him back from the edge, to remind him that he is human and that he does make a difference. He needs redemption, not only in Gotham’s eyes, but in his own. To that end, the Robin character would make an enormous impact in the world of Batman. Yes he might be an implausible character, but if TDK showed us anything, is that this team know how to make the implausible, plausible.
But how do you make the Robin character work believably on screen?
For what it’s worth, here’s how I would do it. Make it a subplot of the third movie, not the focus. Batman hears rumours of another vigilante in Gotham, like him it is said that this new vigilante strikes quickly from the darkness and is never seen in full view. This character though, doesn’t seem to proactively fight crime, but rather save people who are the victims of a crime in progress. Witnesses that have been saved by this person speak of seeing nothing more than a blur in a trenchcoat & hoodie and a red clad chest with an embroidered “R” sewn into the fabric. This causes the press to dub him “Robin,”
Batman pays these reports little attention, disappointed that he still appears to be inspiring copycats, until this “Robin” interferes with one of Batman’s nightly patrols. Like the other witnesses, The Batman sees very little of Robin aside from the fact that he is a boy of around fourteen years old and his acrobatic prowess is staggering. Robin escapes before Batman has a chance to question him, leaving The Dark Knight curious to the young boy’s identity.
Back at the Batcave, Batman launches his investigation into this young vigelane. After some searching, he uncovers the story of “The ‘Flying Graysons” and a photo. The photo shows the family all dressed in green and red – their circus costumes – with the first letters of their initials embroidered on their chests. “J” for John, the Father, “M” Mary the mother and “R” for Richard their young son. Batman reads how the boy was orphaned when his parents’ trapeze wire broke and they fell to their deaths, witnessed by Richard. It is believed that they were murdered as part of an extortion racket. The boy went missing days later, but it’s obvious that he has the same thirst for justice that Bruce had at that age. He is striking back at the criminals of Gotham and honouring his parents while he does it, by wearing his circus outfit.
Batman immediately empathizes with the young boy’s situation and events lead him to take him in. However, Batman does not train him, nor does he sanction him. Any Robin action after this point must not be with the consent of the Batman, or all plausibility will disappear.
However, the inclusion of the character brings Batman back from the edge and he is made whole again. At the end of the movie, Robin will leave Bruce’s care and be sent off to school. Leaving the door open for the next film to either pick up the adventures of Robin (or spin off to another movie) or drop him altogether.
Of course, fans will argue that it isn’t faithful to the mythology, or that this isn’t really Robin, but then Two-Face wasn’t burnt by an explosion and he was still “Two-Face.” The Joker wasn’t perma-white, but he was still “The Joker.” If Robin is to be included in this series, this is the only way I could see it working.
Then again, let’s face it. No one knows what may be in store for the next film and that’s half the fun, but if anyone can pull off the inclusion of Robin, it’s Team Nolan.
Oh yeah, did I mention, Catwoman is a must? ;)
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