The Dark Knight Rises Alfred's character development in B3

[GregComicFan]

It occurred to me that Nolan's interpretation of Alfred is a guy who loves Bruce, but also sees Batman as something "greater" than Bruce... thus he makes decisions based on his determination to see justice done and Batman's mission continued... for example, setting on fire the letter from Rachel. So Alfred is not above working in the shadows and manipulating and controlling the behind-the-scenes elements that Bruce may be unaware of....So do you think we'll see more of this in B3? Will Bruce maybe come to realize that Alfred believes so much in Batman that he's possibly kept Bruce in the dark about a few things, or manipulated him in a certain direction... to keep Batman at the focus of Bruce's life? Or will he just be the loving butler and nothing more?

I like my characters to have faults, so I hope Nolan continues to show Alfred the way he did in The Dark Knight. He's a great man, but he wants Bruce to continue as Batman...

Just think about what he said to Bruce in the scene where Bruce decides to give up being Batman. Alfred tells him to endure... so basically, people are dying, Batman is being blamed for it, and Alfred says "screw that, keep on truckin'"! So maybe Alfred believes in Batman way more than Bruce knows.

 

[Ziggyman]

Alfred knows that Bruce is the only man capable and willing to go to these extents so...He is basically pushing him forward because as we know...Alfred has seen many horrible things in his life as well...

...Also...If the theme in the third film is redemption...We will definitely get a lot of Bruce/Alfred conversations...!

 

[Doc Samson]

I think Alfred might be the only one Bruce has left, really. And in a way, he'll be right back where he started from in Begins, with just the two of them getting everything off the ground.

I'm not sure how, or where, Batman can get in contact with Gordon now. The signal is destroyed, so it's not like he can just swoop down on the roof and everybody is fine with it. In order for Gordon to keep his job, he's gonna have to convincingly orchestrate a manhunt. Now in TDK, it seems that Bruce & Alfred have some of his personal information, like his cell phone, and Bruce does know where he lives, but I just find it will be difficult for them to communicate without jeopardizing Gordon. Rachel is dead, and Bruce never fully let Fox in on everything he did, or even his motivations. I think in the next film, it will shift the focus back alot more on Batman & especially Alfred. Alfred should get a whole lot more screen time to hopefully go over some things, like Rachel's note maybe, and his thoughts on Bruce taking the blame for the murders...

 

[The Demon's Head]

I really liked Alfred's character devolopment in TDK. In Begins, he seemd less supportive of Bruce's crusade, but in The Dark Knight, he really seems to belive in Batman being a symbol for the people.

 

[Melkay]

First of all, I really like this thread.

What Alfred could do in the third movie is at the same time interesting and puzzling. I want to see more of him, his role in TDK seemed reduced compared to his role in Begins. Maybe there was so much happening that Alfred had to be used that way. However, his best moments involve Rachel's letter and he bringing the breakfast (in the beginning and after Rachel's death). But where can be Alfred's place in a third movie.

Alfred has always been the voice of balance for Bruce. When Bruce is going to the limits and starting to lose the balance of things, Alfred gives him encouraging advices. What he did in TDK (burning the letter) was for Bruce's best interest... at the moment. But maybe in the third, now that Batman is completely apart from society, Bruce starts to los himself more than ever. Maybe he becomes dependant of the Batman persona, maybe he becomes self-destructive.
Then Alfred will have to talk him into sense again, and perhaps the loyal butler will come to regret burning the letter in TDK, encouraging his master to stay a course that ends up leading him to nowhere good. And maybe Alfred confesses to Bruce having burned the letter and what it said.

After all, the letter said it clearly: "... Now I'm sure the day won't come when you no longer need Batman." So, if Bruce indeed starts to lose himself into his alter ego, Alfred will have to step in and talk him out of it, even if it is with a shock.

Because, in the comics, Alfred has always being about keeping Bruce personal balance. He believes in the ideal of Batman, of course, but his advices always are to keep Bruce safe and sane... he may sacrifice lots of things for keeping Batman, but never Bruce. That's why he will have to act when the Batman persona starts to harm Bruce, and not other people.


And, if we really get to see a new love interest (Selina Kyle) then Alfred will be the first one pulling the strings to make the relationship happen. That's the one need that Bruce needs to get a piece of a 'normal life'. And, as Alfred said it in BB, he really really doesn't want Bruce to 'lost himself into that monster of his'.

 

[ThePoisonPuppet]

I'd like to see Alfred in some action maybe fighting with some bad guys and outsmarting them for a bit. We know he was in the British Army so why not show that he remembers some of his combat skills. I'd love to see him with a shotgun shooting at some villain in Wayne Manor.

They need to show that Alfred is not just a balancing father figure but a bad ass in his own right.

 

[TheScarecrow]

I think they need to give Alfred his own subplot.

Leslie Thompkins is perfect to introduce at this stage. As we saw in TDK, Bruce and Alfred do a bang-up job of fixing his injuries. We also need someone else to come in and 'replace' Rachel as someone who supports Bruce.

The way I see it, Bruce gets REALLY injured, Alfred takes him to Leslie and the two rekindle an old romance. By the end of the movie, Alfred gives up a last chance of happiness with her because he needs to devote himself to Bruce.

 

[Paradyme]

I just hope that Nolan doesn't kill Alfred off because I think Bruce has seen enough tragedy to solidify him being Batman.

I too would like to see more development. I never used to care about Alfred in the old movies but I really don't want anything bad to happen to him in these movies.

 

[cerealkiller182]

This might sound stupid, but I dont think Alfred has character development. There was just that one time where Alfred's transition from Bruce you crazy to Batman you brilliant. I think hes an amazing character that serves a specific purpose and probably shouldnt be tampered with. He's a father figure, comic relief, guardian and extra hand, and insight to all of the franchise's thematic elements. I think the only next step for Alfred besides being all 4 of the precedeing things is to push for a sidekick nonspecifically which porbably wont happen.

 

[GregComicFan]

I think one of the reasons why The Dark Knight was successful was because every character made CHOICES and ACTIONS that defined their character.

Lucius almost quit because he felt Batman had crossed the line.

Alfred burned Rachel's letter in order to keep the secret from Bruce.

Gordon does a lot... he sides with dirty cops to fight the mob, aligns himself with Batman even more so, agrees to lie to the public about Harvey...

Every character, no matter how big or small, had pivitol choices to make and I think that made The Dark Knight what it is... so I want to see more of that in Batman 3. Alfred shouldn't be one-dimensional and just the "helpful butler".... I would love to see him continue to maybe do things like how he burned Rachle's letter in Batman 3...manipulating the behind the scenes stuff, keeping info from Bruce, keeping him focused on his goal of being a symbol for hope, even at the cost of his own happiness.

 

[TimidationGame]

I do not think it is wise to take Alfred away from Bruce or the series. Every great super has a foundation, and even if evil were to strip away the physical symbol of that foundation, it lives within them spirtually...evil cannot win in this case. Alfred is Bruces symbol of conscious, family, and home. Alfred reminds him he must be Batman so evil cannot take away from anyone else what it stole from them in the beginning.

There are many ways to read Alfred and his interactions with Bruce, but that is mine.