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In the Season 3 finale of Titans, the big redemption moment is ruined as Bruce tells one little lie again, albeit it’s his most sinister one to date.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Titans Season 3, Episode 13, “Purple Rain,” available now on HBO Max.
In Titans‘ third season, we discovered a lot about Bruce Wayne (Iain Glen) and his manipulation of the Robins to create an army. He weaponized their fear instead of using compassion, hope and empathy to shape the proper breed of vigilantes, but the season does end with him finding the light again. However, the finale ruins the big redemption moment as Bruce tells one little lie again, albeit his most sinister one to date.
Nightwing helps Jason Todd find redemption as Red Hood works with his “brother” to bring Scarecrow down. With Bruce back in the mansion looking to rebuild, Jason shows up to say sorry for the trouble and deaths he caused. Bruce is forgiving, though, and as they have a heart-to-heart, Batman apologizes too for not helping Jason heal.
Jason accepts, eventually asking if Bruce killed Joker for him. Bruce says yes, as he did beat the clown to death with the crowbar to avenge Jason but this isn’t true. Bruce’s real reasoning was that he was ashamed and felt guilty as his lack of foresight kept letting Joker out in the first place. He blamed himself so this was his way of punishing himself rather than trying to fix the Jason dilemma.
If Bruce really did kill Joker for Jason, he wouldn’t have abandoned Gotham right after as he’d have cast his demons out. Sure, he mourned his charge but Joker was a personal thing from a place of ego as he broke the Bat. It’s a disappointing move to not admit the narcissism because this conversation with Jason is supposed to be honest and deal with exorcising the darkness inside.
Thus, this was the perfect spot for Bruce to admit he was selfish, emotional and bloodthirsty, relating to a Jason that killed Hawk. It would have shown a vulnerable Bruce, who lost control and gave in to rage, breaking down the symbol of the Caped Crusader and showing Jason they are both fallible men at the end of the day. This could have convinced Jason to stay and heal with Bruce, possibly moving past being murderers together as a family. It’d have paved the way for Bruce easing back into the cape and cowl, rehabilitating with Red Hood who did win over Gotham for a bit.
Jason could even have left afterward as planned, venturing on his own journey, but the point is, as he leaves and Bruce calls him his “son,” it falls flat. It’s not genuine and shows both are still afraid to be their flawed, open selves with each other. And it’s a shame because with Barb keeping watch as Commissioner again and A.R.G.U.S. around, the foundation was laid for Bruce and Jason to course-correct what Batman and Robin did, being introspective about their own problems rather than reactive and blaming the outside world.
Ultimately, both minds are in the right spots, as are their hearts, but Bruce’s words teach Jason vengeance is still an option. However, as this season showed, vengeance is nothing more than a poison that consumes their souls and won’t allow the mantle to be passed on.
All 13 episodes of Titans Season 3 are available now on HBO Max. The show has been renewed for Season 4.
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