The Batman: One Ending Scene Would've Fixed A Bruce & Alfred Problem
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Batman
The inclusion of an additional scene towards the end of Matt Reeves' The Batman would fix the broken Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth dynamic present in the film. The gritty, noir rethinking of the Batman franchise makes many bold choices in its nearly 3-hour runtime and has received praise for its performances, script, and direction. Arguably one of its boldest and most unexpected choices, The Batman's relatively inexperienced Bruce has a strained, difficult relationship with Alfred, highlighting Bruce's feelings of isolation in Gotham.
The Batman introduces a relatively young Bruce Wayne who is still figuring out how to best wear the cowl of Gotham's defender. Alfred is aware of his nocturnal activities and disapproves of them, showing a paternal concern for Bruce during their interactions. Bruce is mostly standoffish, awkward, and cold to the man who has raised him since the untimely death of his mother and father. When the Riddler attempts revenge on the Wayne family and Alfred is caught in an explosion meant for Bruce, the young vigilante realizes Alfred's meaning to him and comes to understand that his greatest fear is losing someone he cares about. They share a brief moment of understanding and commiseration for their relationship.
Related: The Batman Uses Alfred Better Than Every Other Dark Knight Movie
In their first interaction in the film, Bruce tells Alfred that he's not his father and Alfred responds that he's well aware of that fact. That there is never a moment where Bruce acknowledges that Alfred has taken over the role of his father and done so in a meaningful way weakens the theme of fatherhood found in The Batman and leaves a dangling thread where
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