The Finale
While everyone expected the film’s finale to feature the Caped Crusader having a showdown with the Joker and saving the city from disaster, Nolan had other plans. Yes, Batman did save the city from a tragedy and won the battle with the Clown Prince, but he also lost the war and fight for Dent’s soul.
You could say that he lost to the Devil, as Dent’s departure from Gotham’s White Knight to a coldblooded killer destroyed everything that the good guys had fought for. Batman wanted a better world – one that wouldn’t need him and could function as a better place – yet he got something worse.
As Dent held the gun to Gordon’s son’s head, it displayed a man who’d crossed a line of morality. There was no coming back for him after this. Everything changed at that moment and Dent had been corrupted.
There was a sadness as Batman had to take down his one-time ally. He put his own life on the line for Gordon and his son, and it resulted in the death of Dent from the nasty fall. No one wanted it to turn out that way, but it did.
Most importantly, the events that followed showed that Batman was more than his fists or gadgets. He also possessed heart. He was willing to sacrifice his name – and legacy – to ensure that Dent’s wouldn’t be tainted. Now that’s what a hero truly is.
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