Great Debate: Does Robin Belong In The Next Dark Knight?

While doing press for The Dark Knight, Batman actor Christian Bale made the offhand remark, “If Robin crops up in one of the new Batman films, I’ll be chaining myself up somewhere and refusing to go to work.” This got us wondering how well a Nolan-handled Robin would be received, especially in light of how the sidekick was handled by the ‘60s series and Joel Schumacher. Cinema Blend’s Josh Tyler and Rafe Telsch yet again find themselves on opposite sides of the Great Debate Stage, arguing whether there’s a place for Robin in the new Batman franchise.

GIVE ME MORE OF ROBIN’S MILKY THIGHS.

-- Josh Tyler

What a lot of people seem to miss when it comes to discussing the Boy Wonder, is just why his character has always been such an important part of the Batman universe. It’s not because people love young boys in tights. When used properly, Robin isn’t some gimmick tossed into the mix the way Raven Symone was on The Cosby Show. That’s Batgirl’s role. Robin matters not because of who he is, but because of what he means to Batman.

Robin represents a natural evolution in the Batman character, he’s a part of the process, a part of Batman becoming who and what he is. And ultimately, isn’t that what Christopher Nolan’s films have really been about? In Batman Begins we saw Batman take his first steps to becoming the caped crusader, and in the sequel he comes to grips with the what it really takes to be a hero. Robin is important because he represents the next stage in Batman’s evolution. He takes Bruce Wayne to a place the character simply can’t go. Robin is more than just the guy who watches Batman’s back, he becomes the first person outside of Alfred that Bruce really trusts, while living to tell about it. He gives Bruce something to fight for beyond obscure moral concepts. He turns Batman into more than just a force driven by vengeance, with Robin in the picture Batman becomes a mentor, a teacher, and finally a true master.

Batman isn’t complete without Robin. Sure, there are other ways to move Batman’s character along to the next step on his path. Unfortunately those other ways all involve women, and that’s been done to death. For Batman to grow as a person, to continue along the dark and twisted journey Christopher Nolan has already laid out for him, he needs someone to care about who won’t end up dead. Sure Schumacher screwed it up, but that doesn't mean someone like Nolan couldn't do it right. Batman needs a son. He needs Robin.

KEEP THE BOY BLUNDER’S TIGHTS OUT OF THIS FRANCHISE.

-- Rafe Telsch

Batman and Bruce Wayne have finally been given a fair treatment on the big screen, why on earth would we want to mess that up by adding the Boy Wonder into the mix? There’s no reason for it, that’s why, so let’s not have it. Batman has already suffered in the hands of other director who didn’t get the primary character, let alone the rest of Batman’s world, with a shoddy sidekick eventually thrown in just to lend Batman a hand and let us know what was going on behind the cowl. A good storyteller can find a better way of continuing to explore Batman’s conflict without tossing Robin into the mix.

In the case of Batman Begins, the Nolans and Goyer have already fleshed out Batman’s world with wonderful portrayals of supporting characters like Alfred, James Gordon, and Lucius Fox - characters who, at best, barely got screen time in previous film incarnations. These are characters who are pivotal to Batman’s mission, and Nolan has given them a respectful position in his movies. With them, Batman has all the support he needs. Adding in Robin would just complicate character dynamics, most likely replacing someone who already supported Batman in some manor.

If Robin’s story is to be done justice, it would require a significant amount of screen time. Just like Nolan finally gave his audience a reason to mourn Bruce Wayne’s parents, the death of Robin’s family would need to be traumatizing, something to yet again trigger Bruce’s memories of the past and make him want to help Dick Grayson. That’s a pretty serious story. While I’m not saying I don’t want to see that eventually, there’s no reason to force it into a franchise that’s already moving forward so well. Doing a good job of introducing Robin would just cut into the Batman franchise’s momentum, which is the last thing we want right now.