The Little Moments
Why hello there, my fellow homo sapiens! I thought to honor the finale of Batman's second season, it might be nice to reflect upon and share some of the moments that defined our personal journey throughout the series. I feel that when these discussions rise, we tend to focus - understandably - on scenes that shook the foundation of the story or brought forth significant character development or relationship growth, ect. However, I know that subjectively, there were brief moments - perhaps shadowed by greater action or existing within the scene's background - that I attached emotional value to and that I felt influenced my perception of an event or a character and our connection, from the perspective of both Bruce and me, the player-entity.
I guess the question is, what are your favorite "little moments"?
While I don't know if this topic feels at all interesting, I'd like to include an example from season 1 to begin. More apparent than other ideas I'm carrying, Harvey's words during the siege at the mayoral debate truly resonated with me, my appreciation and investment in his character blossoming into irrevocable loyalty and love. Sadly, with player-focus allotted to navigating and infiltrating the scene, I know many skimmed over or missed the following dialogue (at moments even the subtitles waned! Or should I say, they Wayned...):
"You really want to hear what I think? Gotham is flawed, sure. What city isn't? Its flaws are what make it beautiful. The flaws are what drive me. I want to smooth over the cracks and make the city better. It's not too late to save this city!"
Words cannot express how touching and beautiful I found these words. I feel so much shields us from the intimate knowledge of a person's heart. Having it expressed here without question of its integrity was simply awe-inducing - a beacon amidst the chaos. I previously believed Harvey to be well-intentioned, truly invested in and dedicated to the improvement of Gotham, his home. But this, this meant everything! From the tentative, doubtful way he approached being asked his true beliefs to the pure idealism that underlied each breath (not to mention the spectacular voice-acting of Travis Willingham) - it's not difficult to understand why this character will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's made especially cruel to witness his eventual fall; illness and circumstances don't discriminate, not even against a person like Harvey.
I'm sorry if I came off a bit intensely, and I hope there's something of value in here. Hehe, I haven't held a discussion before!
Comments
In terms of little moments, I'm not sure if this qualifies but what comes to mind is a talk with Alfred in episode 5. My Bruce''s relationship with Alfred was pretty complex and tense after the Thomas was a criminal revelation. He holds a grudge that Alfred kept it hidden from him so when Alfred expresses his guilt about not stopping Thomas Bruce doesn't exactly comfort Alfred. When Alfred says things might've been different if he stopped Thomas, Bruce says "I guess we'll never know. Because you didn't have the guts." it was just such a tense moment so I liked it a lot.
There have been a few little moments this season with Bane that I really enjoyed. When you fight him at the Armory in Episode 2, he'll start to go on a monologue about how Batman is the first true warrior he faced since he escaped from Peña Duro prison. You have the option to either throw a batarang at him or throw one his goons at him. If you don't do either, you can listen to the whole monologue:
"I haven't faced a true warrior since I left Peña Duro Prison. And, there, even the fiercest of men were often subdued... or driven mad by brutal hours of cold, dark desolation. BUT NOT ME! No... It's different when you're born in it."
Throughout that whole speech Bane was loud and boisterous while his men cheered him on. However, when he got to the ending about him being born in that place, he sounded very somber. Bane isn't just any old inmate at Peña Duro, that was where he was raised. In the comics he had to serve his father's sentence for crimes against Santa Prisca that he did not commit. He had to do horrible things at a young age in order to survive. He was kept in isolation for most of his young adult life (in the comics). The reason he acts all tough and strong all the time is because that's all he has ever known.
I enjoyed that Bane seems to be the only one in the Pact that seems to genuinely like Riddler. He calls the Riddler his friend when interrogating Bruce about his intentions and when they steal Riddler's body he says "It is sad to see a legend so." Bane clearly has a lot of respect and admiration for Riddler for breaking him out of Peña Duro and promising him the Lotus virus to cure his Venom addiction (something which was forced on him by scientists experimenting with the prisoners of Peña Duro). I'm really hoping Bane has more to do in the finale or potential future seasons.
I have to agree about a lot of the things you said about Bane. Telltale's version is such a cool character! I like that there seems to be a sense of brotherhood with him and his men. He refers to them as "My friends" there's also quite a bit of loyalty from his men.
I know a lot of players accepted Alfred's confession in a heart-beat, but when Bruce bases this obsessive drive, his entire life around a loss that was buried by lies - well, it makes sense he may not immediately forgive even if he loves the person behind it. And leading in to his kidnapping... Woah, that does sound tense!
Don't get me wrong, I love Alfred but having their relationship be more tense is so interesting.
I love that too. He seems to genuinely care about them. Loyalty is the most important thing to him. Probably why he was losing his mind at the prospect of a mole on the Pact.
I loved the conversations between Batman and the Riddler. The one in the casino about what Batman stands for, the talk in the hideout about the agency and whether they created him, and the end on the ship when Batman and Avesta are in the trap.
To me this whole season has been about Harley and John, in that order. Their designs and voice actors have been superb. The plot is too far fetched, especially the Pact's acceptance of Bruce as a member. Speaking of which, where the hell is Batman? This is not Bruce Wayne, the Telltale Series.
Bruce Wayne is Batman
I can buy Bruce joining the Pact. They give some good excuses for why he would. Anything from thrills, following in his father's path and getting revenge on the Agency for snooping around Wayne Enterprises. Not to mention, as Alfred states, the Pact would want someone with Bruce Wayne's resources at their disposal. I'm just glad Bane remained suspicious of him the whole time, even when he seemed to accept him.
What?!
The_Scribbler_ will not remember this.
Bruce Wayne who?
John: I felt so much rage inside me, Bruce. It was terrifying. It was like -- it was like I became someone else. Someone... dangerous. But someone you want when your back's against the wall.
Bruce: ...
John turns away and looks toward the ground: Don't look at me like that.
One interesting scene is the last one you have with Alfred, before having to choose ultimately what path you will take, Alfred or Batman, the dialogue really reminded me of the Dark Knight Returns, where Alfred says " I've buried enough members of the Wayne family, I won't bury you to."
I found it very powerful that he loved Bruce so much, that he didn't want to stick around to see the end, and at the same time he knew if he stayed there wouldn't be and end except Bruce 6 Ft deep. The dialogue for Bruce here was also emotional, you had the option to say that he's a father figure to you, you're nothing without him etc..
That one line Vigilante Joker says at Ace Chemicals really sent a shiver down my spine and upped the ante on "wait ok i regret everything. why why why please dont. "
"If there's one thing I learned by watching you... VIOLENCE solves a lot of problems!!"
You know, going off what you said about Harvey, there's also the fact that he tries to save Hill; a guy that is corrupt to the core, who wouldn't in a million years do the same thing for Harvey if the roles were reversed. But he still tried to save his life anyways. And he did so by charging Penguin. Unarmed.
It's not really a little thing since you quite clearly see Harvey do it, but most people don't really stop to think about the implications of him trying to save Hill's life.
I've enjoyed reading everyone's moments!
Thank you for your input. I went on more internal monologues than I'd like to admit concerning that. Plebs on YouTube - the heart of all profound, respectful conversation - have filled me with rage by commenting on that sequence. Calling him "stupid" for intervening for someone like Hill and "weak" for being knocked down as he rushed, defenseless, against an armed man who had already killed in cold blood, to protect a life. RAGE I TELL YOU - not that I take those remarks seriously and not that I believe YouTube and its commenters should be dismissed entirely - BUT RAGE
But there's something powerful in the fact that he acted in that way when prey to his own impulses. This wasn't a decision so much as it was his true nature; when it would be its strongest, no code of self-preservation won over. No hesitation. Not for Hill of all people. God, I love Harvey.