A new supervillain called Bane appears on the scene, hired by some members of the underworld to take care of their nemesis. Bane proves his power by severely injuring Batman. Can the Dark Knight save the city from this newest menace?
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- And the Adventure Continues: In the last scene, another alert comes in, so a recovering Batman suits up and heads out.
- Anger Born of Worry: Alfred mentions that the few times that he has to pick up Bruce have not been happy times. Expressly, the first time was when Bruce's parents had died and Alfred had to go to the police station. He gets angry when Bruce insists on being the Batman even when injured and wheelchair-bound.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Alfred told a laid-up Bruce to move on with his life. Bruce does just that by heading down to the Batcave and working on a way to take down Bane.
- Conscience Makes You Go Back: With Bruce so badly injured and still trying to to be Batman, Alfred insists that he won't continue to be party to all this. He can't even get as far as inside the elevator, though, without thinking of his Heroic Vow and how Bruce is struggling to work.Alfred: Oh, very well then. Let's get to work, shall we?
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Batman vs. Bane, first round.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: Batman vs. Bane, second round. The Bat-bot is much more durable than the normal suit, complete with ammunition. Bane still crushes it like a soda can, nearly crushing Bruce again, and has to be stopped with brainpower.
- Early-Bird Cameo:
According to
Jeff Matsuda, Jim Gordon was the young officer seen in the flashback. - "Eureka!" Moment: About to be crushed, Batman spots a ripped electrical wire and realizes how he can use it to take down Bane.
- Flashback: Either Alfred's or Bruce's, to the night the Waynes were murdered.
- Heroic Vow: In the flashback, Alfred promises Bruce that he will always be by his side. It's why Alfred can't make good on his later threat to quit over Bruce continuing working in the Batcave.
- I Can Still Fight!: Bruce insists on getting back up and fighting Bane — with the help of a robot suit — even when he ought to be recovering from his broken bones and other injuries.
- Idiot Ball: Yin's ill-advised attempt to arrest Bane solo. She nearly gets killed.
- Mythology Gag: "So, the Batman returns."
- Oh, Crap!: Bane right before the electricity takes its toll.
- Oh, No... Not Again!: Alfred's reaction when Bruce asks for a pickup at the end of the episode.
- Powered Armor: Referred to as "the Bat-bot." This armor allows him to fight Bane a second time and survive.
- Pragmatic Adaptation: Of the Knightfall saga. The 22-minute runtime naturally leaves most the saga's elements Adapted Out, but unlike DC animation's last try, Bane at least gets to crush Batman in their first encounter.
- Revealing Injury: Batman talks Alfred out of taking him to a hospital for fear it would compromise his secret identity. Alfred protests until he sees the police cars at the hospital.
- 10-Minute Retirement: Alfred threatens to quit on Bruce when he sees the latter working on the Bat-bot, but he ends up helping him make it.
- This Means War!: Bane's attitude about the second round. He says he left Batman with some dignity before, but after all this trouble now, he vows to unmask him and break every bone in his body.
- Tragic Keepsake: In the flashback, Bruce is cradling his mother's pearl necklace.
- You Are Not Alone: in the Troubled Backstory Flashback, Alfred comes to pick up Bruce after his parents are murdered and promises that he will never leave him.
