Potential SPOILERS AHEAD regarding a weapon Jason has
The biggest problem Alfred seems to have is connected to Bruce. I mean it's clear that out of everyone Bruce is his favorite and backs him up more than the others. How far this goes varies from writer to writer. Under Tomasi Alfred criticised all of the bat family Bruce treated like trash while grieving for Damian as if they were to blame. Sometimes to ridiculous extents. (*1) Others have Alfred chide Bruce with different levels of success. He has misgivings about helping Bruce on his destructive path yet does it most of the time.
Some of Alfred' s most heinous actions come from his desire to protect Bruce. Such as lying about his own feelings on who he blamed for Jason dying to victim blame instead. Then we have his behavior during Snyder's Robobat period with Gordon acting in the Dark Knight's stead. Alfred purposely hides all evidence of Bruce's kids from him, not even informing some of them that he was alive to prevent Bruce from remembering his life. Did he ever apologize to them? What about when he created We Are Robin even after years of being against pushing children towards crime fighting? Was there ever any closure with that?
I'd like to see consequences of Alfred' s actions when he sides with Bruce or does some action that hurts others. There's kind of a thread in relation to Jason that I'd like to see built upon.
- The victim blaming bit is a storyline I'd like to see all of the family go through and realize it was entirely for Bruce's benefit. They didn't want him to blame himself. It could humanize all of them and for Alfred it could be a step in the right direction in preventing himself from blindly siding with Bruce. Granted how much of the victim blaming is still canon (beyond Jason's own thoughts) is unclear. (*2)
- Way back in DITF Jason overheard Alfred telling Bruce some personal information and seemed upset that his trust was betrayed. It's the only time I recall Jason being upset with him.
- We see Jason go to Alfred in RHATO when he's unsure about something. Usually he's encouraging even if he can't entirely quell Jason's concerns. Yet Alfred has nothing positive to say when Jason expresses his frustration and concerns with their missions.
- Alfred knows what's going to happen if Bruce goes after Jason. He still does nothing to stop him or even suggest an investigation first. I've seen this pointed out by someone else and their right. He says he's sorry it's come to this knowing full well what will happen once Bruce leaves. Which makes makes his passive attitude more unnerving. Others have called asking what they should do but Alfred doesn't even try to insist someone else deals with the situation instead.
- By now most of us RHATO fans should be aware of Jason carrying around a crowbar. Rumor has it that it's the same one that Joker used on Jason. Last time it was seen was after Dick recovered it from an auction for morbid collectors. Dick passed out on the way home where Tim found him and the weapon. Alfred asks Dick what he wants to do with it and Dick suggests Alfred throw it in the river. But we never saw what Alfred does with it. If this all connects it means Jason found it because Alfred didn't properly dispose of it.
I'm hoping that this is touched on especially since Alfred seemed to bond with Jason almost instantly in the flashbacks. And really I'd welcome a proper look into his faults.
*1 Tim was punched by Bruce and left to clean up his mess after Bruce left Frankenstein in pieces. The now retconned bit with Bruce trying to trigger Jason's PTSD by taking him to his death site doesn't seem to bother anyone besides Jason. Alfred feels the need to point out to Jason that his face was still there as if that means no one should be upset about DOTF. Made even more confusing because Jason was the only one that almost lost his face since it was burned by Joker.
*2 Damian blamed him when they fought and claimed it was information he heard from Bruce.
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