Batman: Wayne Family Adventures
Blessed with Suck, indeed.
These sad moments are usually saved for Multi-Part Episodes, which just makes them hit harder.
- Duke’s sorrow throughout the last episode of the Crush mini-arc is palpable and melancholic. Many a fan can relate to his sorrow over being dumped from a relationship for seemingly no reason.Duke (crying): It doesn’t feel like it’ll ever get better.
- While the moment itself is played for laughs, Jason's dialogue in "Unaccompanied" implies that he still hasn't fully forgiven Bruce for refusing to kill Joker after Jason's death.
- Bruce spends the entire episode in a mad dash to finish his work as Batman so he can arrive in time for Cass’s dance recital. Unfortunately, he doesn't make it. The heartbreak on Bruce's face when he realizes he missed it, and his subsequently being racked with guilt over it. Thankfully, he's able to make it up to her.
- Slightly heartwarming, but Jason's insignia in the tracking app on the Christmas episode is his Robin one, not the Red Hood. For Bruce, he's clearly still dealing with Jason's death and resurrection.
- Dick realizes he has to give up his plans with Tim yet again, and Tim's frustrated at constantly being left behind because someone else needs his big brother more. Even Tim knows it's irrational to be angry when it's not Dick's fault, but as he puts it:Tim: Sometimes I just want to hang out with my big brother without fighting for his attention.
- Cass crying quietly to herself in "All-Seeing" after her inability to turn off her ability to read body language leads to her accidentally upsetting Stephanie. Made worse by the fact that said ability means she can tell just how bad Stephanie is feeling.
- Jason’s panic attack in "Strong Enough." After a certain scraping sound reminds him of when the Joker murdered him, Jason’s PTSD triggers, and he runs away, scared out of his mind and creating illusions of the madman himself. Thank God he has Bruce and the rest of the Bat-family to support him.
- Although the rest of the scene is heartwarming, Bruce admits that he went through something similar to Jason after his parent's murder. This Bruce may be better adjusted than other versions of Batman, but the original scars still remain.
- "Home Alone" begins with a dedication to Kevin Conroy.
- "The Choices We Make" was another dramatic two parter, this time focusing on Tim and Damian, reminding us that even in this kinder, gentler Bat-Family, a lot of the old hurts are still there.Tim: One day, I was Robin and I had everything. The next... I had nothing.
- Worthy focuses on how Duke (being the only metahuman in the Bat family) doesn't use his powers (he has yet to use them in the comic) because he wants to feel like he fits in with the Bats. Luke/Batwing gives him a talk about how Duke isn't defined by his powers, but why he chooses to fight. He says that Batman doesn't bring people into the family unless he has unbreakable confidence in them.
- The first part of "Holding Hope" is one massive tearjerker. Batman and Nightwing track down a runaway orphan girl who's clearly completely distraught over her parents' deaths, Nightwing fearing he'll make the situation worse if he tries to talk to her. Then we see flashbacks to young Bruce and young Dick shortly after their parents' deaths. Seeing the tearful horror on young Dick's face will completely break your heart.
- Episode 85 shows how much Batwoman has internalized her time in the military to an unhealthy degree. Though she manages to push aside many of Man-Bats assaulting the GCPD building, one straddling Renee and going in for the kill forces Batwoman to defenestrate with the Man-Bat, only saving herself from grievous harm by grabbing the window below her during the fall. This still leaves her with a nasty wound around the left of her midriff, and leaves her limping when she makes her way to the top of the GCPD building. When Renee (who, it should be mentioned, is implied to be in a relationship with Kate given their status as a couple in the main comics and the fact Renee knows Kate is Batwoman here) insists Kate should really go back downstairs and seek medical attention, Kate blows off the suggestion and then responds with this when Renee presses the issue on why Batwoman has to go so far;Kate: You of all people should understand. When the Bat-Signal goes up, it's a call to arms. A call to serve. What happens to me doesn't matter. I have my orders. I will fight.
- In Episode 90 and 91, Mad Hatter hypnotizes Cassandra to make her attack Damian. He taunts her about how she's a "weapon who thought she was a girl," claiming she'll never be able to overcome her past. It's pretty heartbreaking to see Cassandra's past thrown at her like that, as Damian desperately pleads for her to snap out of it.
- Kidnapping Call is about someone threatening to kidnap Duke. He tries to brush it aside (if only to look brave in front of Bruce), but it's clear that he's shaken up and isn't fine. Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian all have a talk with him about it. While this is heartwarming, it also all but states that, at any given time, all of Bruce's kids have been kidnapped. note
- What You Taught Me (episodes 106-107): Lucius Fox's Anger Born of Worry is, frankly, completely justified. Even if, yes, Jason came back, look at how much it's cost him. And while Lucas is also right about how it's possible to get hurt in Gotham just walking down the street, it's not exactly reassuring— and says something pretty sad about Gotham.
