Matt Reeves takes a big risk with Batman 2

Anticipation for Batman 2 reached unexpected heights after the success of the HBO crime series, The penguin. Although the audience was largely kept in the dark about what was going on or who it was appearing in the batman sequel director Matt Reeves recently shared a tidbit that puts the film at risk of avoidable criticism: Bruce Wayne would have found it “really hard to be Batman.” probably blaming himself for the devastating flood caused by the Riddler.

Extensively explored in The Dark Knight Rises, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Dark Knight Returns, and non-Batman IPs such as Spider-Man 2 and iron man 3, the audience is fed up “tired of being a superhero”. Feeding the Batman faithful a Bruce Wayne wallowing in self-blame will probably be off-putting. Given that Robert Pattinson's Batman is still in his prime, it would be an unwise choice to make him doubt himself at this stage, especially when the clamor for an active Batman with his rogues gallery is at an all-time high. Instead, Batman 2 it should double as Batman honing his detective and combat skills, cleaning up Gotham's streets, and refining Batman's image as Gotham's true protector.

Batman was noticeably absent from The Penguin

The first hint that something happened to the Dark Knight was The penguin. While the show did everything right, viewers couldn't help but notice one high-profile absence. Neither Batman nor Bruce Wayne appear in the series, even when the time calls for it.

In penguinColin Farrell's Oswald “Oz” Cobb tries to fill the void left in Gotham City's criminal underworld after the death of Carmine Falcone. After a series of murders, he successfully establishes himself as the top dog among the city's gangs. Throughout the eight-episode run, not only is Batman absent, but even mentions of him are sparse. The signal of bats piercing the horizon in the final image of the final episode was received by all fans. Given that Batman was on Oz's trail in the first film, it's doubtful that he was unaware of his atrocities.

While it's tempting to link this to Reeves' recent comments, the truth about Batman's absence in penguin it is quite simple. He and showrunner Lauren LeFranc didn't want to pull a Marvel act of fan service by injecting unnecessary cameos. A Penguin series with Batman stalking the screen could take the spotlight off Oz. Even a small taste of Batman's presence would deepen fans' disappointment if they didn't get more; it was one of those cases where none trumps a little.

A guilt-ridden Batman gets tiresome

Another sad Batman story runs the risk of being too repetitive

If a Batman going through an identity crisis and guilt only to be juggled by a defiant villain sounds familiar, that's because it is. Since the early days of Batman: The Animated Seriesa deeply introspective Batman—one who either struggles to balance his nightly duties with his personal life, or agonizes over the losses he's suffered from dealing with villains—has been the site of many Batman films. Some of them such as The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight Returns, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and even the Batman: Arkham games, are still fresh in cinema minds for how brilliantly, or stupidly, they approached the concept. The idea isn't limited to dear old Bruce either. A similar but not identical dynamic occurred Spider-Man 2 and Iron Man 3.

Batman is more than a burdened hero

Although Batman's character is mired in a moral dilemma, constantly pitting him against his conscience runs the risk of becoming tiresome. What makes Batman an interesting character is not emotional trauma, but complexity, discipline, skill, and most importantly, resilience and commitment. He's not one to back down when the pressures of living in one of the most dangerous cities on the planet and the losses associated with trying to save him come knocking. In any case, he is addicted to the cape and cowl, Bruce Wayne being his true mask.

Most fans would rather see Batman in his prime, in Gotham in his prime, taking on villains in his prime, rather than one who spends half the movie brooding while Gotham's streets boil. DC's latest attempt at not wanting to embrace the identity of a larger-than-life character led to significant backlash and a spectacular box office failure, despite some nuance.

Batman 2 should double down on anger, not regret

In the batmanBruce is eager to save the town; thus, there is less Bruce and more Batman. Being overtaken by the Riddler, failing to prevent the ensuing chaos, and Oswald Cobb's rise to power should fuel Batman's rage to seek justice. Having him go from that to an individual caught in a cycle of guilt without facing any significant threat or loss would be a hard sell, even for Matt Reeves. It's not hard to imagine an audience hungry for Batman penguin coming to Batman 2 and leaving unsatisfied after going through another over-the-top moral struggle of the Caped Crusader when the stakes in Gotham are at their highest. There was already displeasure among some fans when they heard the news, and more may join them as details surface.

Regardless, the success of the batman and penguin means fans will have little reason to doubt Reeves and his vision. The director's proven ability to write a character right means an even more emotional Batman than the first film may be just as well received. But it doesn't invalidate the idea that audiences are tired of the cliché and deserve something refreshing. Given that the scenario of Batman 2 is still unfinished (according to James Gunn on Threads) Reeves has time to reconsider the direction and choose a more compelling story from the vast Batman mythos.