Tear Jerker / DC Showcase – Batman: Death in the Family

Jason survives, but at great cost...

• Unlike his main comicbook counterpart, this version of Bruce clearly heard and still remembers his father's final words: a playful indictment of masked vigilante justice, chiding his son that they'd probably throw someone like Zorro in Arkham if he (or someone like him) ever showed up in Gotham. It's an innocent phrase that Bruce has had to carry in the back of his head for his entire career as Batman.
• Bruce's death in the Red Robin route. His dying words are telling Jason to be strong and that he loves him.
  Bruce: I love you, son...
• One of the routes has Jason slowly overcome his problems with the help of the Bat-family and the Justice League. He becomes visibly happier, even chatting with a stranger in a diner about Batman. Then the stranger starts telling a joke he once told Batman about two guys in a lunatic asylum. Jason flashes back to Barbara's injuries and gets very quiet. He gives a one-liner and kills the stranger...and in his final moments, he begins to laugh maniacally, revealing that he was in fact the Joker.
  • Arguably worse for Joker. He's clearly mourning Batman and is making efforts to act like a sane person. Then Jason gives the one liner and he smiles, finally recognizing his old foe.
    The Joker: It's just not the same joke without Batman here.
    Jason: Well, next time I see him, I'll tell the big man you said... hello.
    The Joker: ...Boy...Wonder... [Psychotic Smirk]
  • Joker's death is arguably even worse than the other one listed below. After recognizing Jason, Joker smiles, finally finding a reason to torment Batman's legacy again...cue Eye Scream. As his brain fills with blood, Joker laughs maniacally, not only knowing that Jason's gone against Batman's Thou Shalt Not Kill code, but also that Jason is probably never going to live a positive life ever again.
• Jason confronting Joker as Red Hood. Joker applauds all of Red Hood's killings, but Jason doesn't remember doing any of it. Joker ecstatically realizes that Jason has been repressing all of his murders, declaring it the best joke he's ever heard and taking credit for being the one who pushed Jason into madness.
  • The Joker's death itself reverberates across Gotham and beyond. Gordon informs Barbara, in a wheelchair, of the news and they both hug, knowing that the man who had terrorized them is no more. Batman (Dick Grayson specifically) and Alfred stare at the Batcomputer, taking solemn peace in the fact that the Joker case has been closed. Elsewhere in Metropolis, Lex Luthor himself is distraught, tossing away the newspaper informing that his greatest - and most dangerous - ally is dead. As Joker's body is cremated, who else to witness it firsthand than Harleen Quinzel, looking both stunned and absolutely crushed seeing her would-be Puddin' roast. The most evil criminal in all of Gotham City is gone...but nothing will ever bring back the thousands of lives he's taken, the millions of lives he's ruined.
  • What’s even worse is the route where Jason doesn't kill Joker. Despite still confiding in not killing Batman's greatest foe, the Batfamily shuns Jason for still killing others, showing that even when respecting Bruce's last wish, he still loses.
• Batman being resurrected by Talia. The process drives him insane and leaves him only able to repeat a corrupted version of his father's last words.
  Batman Zur... En... Arrh...