The Dark Knight Rises Do You Think Commissioner Gordan Suffers from Depression?

[Shpati]

I feel bad for Commissioner Gordan because I think he is suffering/suffered from depression. His wife and kids left him. And Batman left him hanging. And then Bruce Wayne/Batman teased him in the end of TDKR. You can see it is Gordan's face when they reveal the Batman statue at the City Hall.

Of course Gordan loved Gotham City as much as Bruce Wayne did, so I think he is lighted with joy to see his city persevere, but he still lost his best friend.

After Batman took the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes and left, I think Gordan was depressed until the Batman returned in TDKR. Then I think he became depressed again after the Batman died.

Maybe he becomes happy again with John Blake being the Symbol.

What do you guys think? Do you thank Gordan is suffering or suffered from depression? If so, when?

 

[Anno_Domini]

Seeing that rebuilt bat signal, I don't think he thought that Bruce had died though. His depression, however much he had, was probably lifted off his shoulders.

 

[TDK elbowstrike]

I think depression comes from a feeling of helplessness, which Gordon certainly would have had at the end of TDK. His greatest ally was forced to go on the run and essentially abandon him in a way. Harvey , his second greatest ally, kidnapped his son and completely snapped. Harvey abandoned Gordon for the darkside. Gordons wife packed up the kds and abandoned him as well. Maybe abandonment issues even fueled his depression further.

I think a big part of the Batman mythos is the psychology of the characters. They are all on edge and suffer some sort of mental afflction/disturbance. And i think it is a good catch on your part Shpati to recognize that our dear Comissioner Gordon is not exempt from this. The war on the mob turned war against homicidal clown prince of crime turned fight against former White Knight took its toll on poor Jim.

 

[Shpati]

I think depression comes from a feeling of helplessness, which Gordon certainly would have had at the end of TDK. His greatest ally was forced to go on the run and essentially abandon him in a way. Harvey , his second greatest ally, kidnapped his son and completely snapped. Harvey abandoned Gordon for the darkside. Gordons wife packed up the kds and abandoned him as well. Maybe abandonment issues even fueled his depression further.

I think a big part of the Batman mythos is the psychology of the characters. They are all on edge and suffer some sort of mental afflction/disturbance. And i think it is a good catch on your part Shpati to recognize that our dear Comissioner Gordon is not exempt from this. The war on the mob turned war against homicidal clown prince of crime turned fight against former White Knight took its toll on poor Jim.

Thanks! And great post.

So do you think the years of depression he had has been cured at the end of TDKR? (anyone else is free to answer)

As much as I would like to say "yes", I do not think so. He does not have anybody. The city has recovered. Batman is gone. What is he going to do now?

I would have liked a small scenes showing Gordon's family coming back to Gordon. Just like Bruce Wayne, Gordon made a bunch of sacrifices as well. But in the end, Bruce is in Florence with Selina, while Gordon is puzzled in Gotham. I wish it just showed Gordon moving on.

I guess the initial message was that Gordon would continue to protect Gotham with John Blake. But that is not ultimately clear, since John Blake or Bruce could have installed that new flood light.

 

[Doctor Who]

What do you mean Gordon isn't happy with his life?!?!?!?!

 

[RAINMAKER]

After watching it again, why was Gordon in the hospital so long. Did he get shot?

Does he suffer from depression? Probably. Most law enforcement suffer from depression. True story.

 

[JackWhite]

After watching it again, why was Gordon in the hospital so long. Did he get shot?

Does he suffer from depression? Probably. Most law enforcement suffer from depression. True story.

Yes, in the leg. Plus he nearly drowned.

 

[Anno_Domini]

3-4 days isn't too long for someone who's in their 50s to stay in the hospital after being shot in the leg as well as almost drowning. It was probably best for someone of Gordon's age to even stay in a hospital for that long, or ever longer if Bane didn't end up blowing crap up. A day after being shot, Gordon was still drugged up, so there were probably complications after almost drowning.

 

[Polaris23]

Poor, poor Gordon.

 

[AnneFan]

Seeing that rebuilt bat signal, I don't think he thought that Bruce had died though. His depression, however much he had, was probably lifted off his shoulders.

I don't think completely - it would have been a nice surprise that excited him. The scene kinda takes on a mystical touch, firing his imagination as he looks around almost longingly.

Events in life cannot be undone, and we carry them with us. But…life goes on. After a while we settle into a new norm.

 

[frakkingoff]

Yes, I think that living and evangelizing the lie about Harvey Dent had become a cancer in his gut, eating him up on the inside and poisoning his soul. Foley and Blake both commented that he acted like he was still at war, when the War on Crime had already been won, and that's probably due to the fact that he had nothing left in his life but his work and his lie.

It's one of the many things that the movie really should have explored more in-depth, but shirked on because there was just too much to cram in.