Does Batman Need Robin? | Batman The Animated Series

I make no secret of the fact that I prefer Batman as a solo hero to having his own expansive Bat Family. Batman is more than capable of handling pretty much any threat on his own. However, that doesn’t mean that the other heroes of Gotham shouldn’t exist.

In this video I look try to answer the question of if Batman really needs Robin. I’ll start by looking at the comic book origins of Robin and how he would go on to influence Batman the Animated Series’ version of Robin, Dick Grayson. I’ll then spotlight a selection of episodes that I feel best illustrate how necessary Robin was, including Robin's Reckoning, Fear of Victory, and I Am The Night.

#batman #batmantheanimatedseries #Robin #dccomics #dcau #btas

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:06 The Comic Book Robin
4:36 BTAS' Robin
6:37 Robin's Reckoning
9:52 I Am The Night
10:41 Fear of Victory
11:15 Robin's Role
11:59 The Adventures of Batman and Robin
12:34 Batman & Mr Freeze: Subzero
13:06 Robin's Role
14:07 Conclusion
14:25 Self-Promotion
14:52 Next Time!

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[BM-whqk]

Without Robin, Batman would never understand early 90s computer games.

[WarhawkBeyond]

Robin has been an important part of the Batman legacy since the 40s and adds so much to the character. As Dick Grayson, he brings out the fatherly side of Bruce Wayne and as Robin, he adds personality to Batman's brooding mood while helping to keep him grounded in reality by reminding him that there is a life beyond crime fighting. As far as the show is concerned, Robin adds the family dynamic and fun aspects to the mix but it also proves that the show is so strong that it can thrive with or without him but Batman having a young partner doesn't hurt

[andydrew]

Robin isn’t necessary but when written well, he doesn’t ruin any of the stories he’s in.
It’s all about how he’s used, not when he’s used.

[Lowkeylie]

Dick Grayson is an important part of the Batman lore to add some humanity and a softer side to Bruce.

But just as much, he is there to highlight Bruce’s failings, both to him personally, and by virtue of contrast with the way that Dick grows, often in ways that Bruce never could.

Unlike Bruce, while Dick is marred by trauma he is not defined by it. He is somebody that shows the softer side to Bruce, that shows he’s not all edged and vengeance. He’s an integral part of Batman, and I’m glad they included him.

[ThePlayTyperGuy]

Batman needs Robin. He’s sort of the junior detective to Batman’s seasoned veteran, which is a dynamic that has thrived in action movies and cop shows for decades. Batman needs someone to talk to and Robin is able to go out in the field with him, unlike Alfred. I also think the Batman and Robin relationship offers more storytelling possibilities than the more straightforward Batman/Alfred relationship -- Alfred is usually always depicted in control and like a paternal figure.

[The_Phantasm]

The idea of Batman and what Batman stands for, would never be there if he had never been there for Dick Grayson as the father he never truly had and it's because of that, that Dick was able to grow and form healthy relationships with people instead of lingering in the darkness which in turn helped make Dick an equally complex character. One of the of the aspects of Batman that I consider to be one of the most essential parts of the character is the concept of found family and how he is given a chance to be a father figure by raising them and inadvertently creating the family he never had. A lot of Batman's personal development is either undercut or non-existent without them. By them being there it doesn't mean Batman can't have stories where he more at the center. Batman is the best person he can be because of his allies, even though there are instances where it becomes a bit too expansive (take Duke Thomas for example). The truth is that Batman would simply not be the character we love today without his family and honestly to say that he can handle pretty much anything without any of them or that he should never rely on them seems a bit nearsighted and would feel more like character regression.

[goni]

Don't worry, The Teen Titans show in the 2000's did Grayson justice.

[Tacomster]

My fave Batman and Robin duo was 2000s The Batman, it was proper character growth for Bruce from angsty loner, to a caring optimistic mentor

Like we start as Robert Pattison but we age into Adam West

[tyraydew]

A lot of Batman’s character development in the Animated Series hinges on the conflict between his antisocial tendencies and his performance as a father figure.

Without Robin, Batman tends to become a static character who can gleefully court self-destruction because there isn’t anyone relying on him.

With Robin, Batman is forced to consider the future despite his death wish. He’s trying to rebuild the family he lost and he has to love, nurture and teach this boy to do so.

Batman can usually put the bad guy away, but he’s rarely up to the task of fatherhood. The question of his capabilities as a warped family man introduces more tension into the story. You don’t know if he’ll succeed in that regard or not.

It’s more dynamic and human even if the kid sidekick thing doesn’t make sense in a realistic context. Batman’s operatic and it becomes nonsensical if you apply realistic scrutiny to it. It works best when it’s emotionally resonant, not shackled to some vain attempt at “realism.”

[LoganTocker]

I like the way Robin talked in this show "thanks for saving my bacon robin (deep voice), Ay No Problamo Batman (normal voice)!

[Tuning]

I liked how they handled Robin in BTAS. He is not integral to most stories, but that is a positive because he's written as a separate entity instead of purely being the side-kick. Not integral to the plot, not a plot device, but a separate character that inhabits the same universe as Batman does. It always feel like a bonus when he appears. Robin's Reckoning was the only real story they had to do in BTAS, establishing that Dick while knowing the same pain, became a more rounded individual than Bruce.
I also liked how they used Dick / Nightwing to shine on Bruce's / Batman's dangerous aspects in The New Batman Adventures as was further developed in JL / JLU and Batman Beyond. The fallout was a good callout to how dark Bruce became, how much he was willing to sacrifice for the mission, and him becoming less aware on how deep he allowed his fellow team members to follow him down that path. Batman Beyond was possible because Terry was sufficiently light in tone (and mature enough) to not get himself dragged into the deep as cynic Old Bruce threatened to do. Same dedication, same devotion, but not as damaged as Bruce was and allowed himself to become.

I personally liked early BTAS Bruce more, but I don't think that Bruce would work in a world inhabited by superpowered villains and superhero's. That Bruce would have respected what he could do as Bruce more than the perils he would throw himself in as Batman, and would allow his JL teammates to do more of the heavy lifting, which would totally ruin the Trifecta of Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman.

[DonWeaselYeehawEdition]

I personally believe that Robin is necessary to Batman’s life— maybe not as a partner, but as a friend who understands what Batman does and the toll it takes on him. Alfred can comfort Bruce and support him, but really only Robin, especially Dick, can support BATMAN when he comes to close to the edge. “I Am the Night” is a perfect example of how Robin is certainly not essential to every episode or villain Batman goes up against, but he is essential to the show as a whole. When Batman has friends, whether it be the JL or Robin or whoever, he prospers. But by Batman Beyond we see exactly what happens when Bruce pushes those friends away.

Great video as always:)

[FirstLast-cgnk]

In a way, I think the episode Lockdown does a good job of demonstrating why Robin is needed. While Batman is fighting Lockdown, Robin is rescuing the people that Lockdown had taken prisoner. That's where Robin shines best, I think. Ironically, the darkly dressed Batman does a great job distracting villains while the brightly dressed Robin sneaks around saving people. Batman tackles the main threat while Robin deals with the problems that require more finesse and less force.

[jacktoma]

I really like the unique sounding voice that Loren Lester gave Dick. When I read him in the comics I always use that slight nasal sound to help distinguish him from Jason or Tim. I also like how he was able to alter his performance to sound more mature when he moved on to Nightwing. Him and Conroy had very good chemistry that sold the relationship. But overall I do agree if you cut him, the show wouldn’t be much worse for it.

[alexandrefrauches]

9:06 You're right! That's the whole point of Bruce training Dick Grayson, as well the other Robins. Bruce sees himself in those kids, understanding their grief and pain. So, in order for them to not become emotionally traumatized and unable to move from the pain like him, Batman adopts them and teaches how to use those feelings and energy to help others, while, at the same time, given them a sense of family and father figure to inspire the kids to improve and become better version of themselves.
Dick Grayson represents this better than any other sidekick, growing from the boy wonder role, to a independent hero, a leader who is respected by others instead of feared.

[jjwalker]

One scene I loved that you didn't mention was Bruce and Dick watching a Wonderful Life at Christmas. It was a great humanising moment between the two. It was just a really neat moment.

[cinemaarts]

I always wanted to see an animated series centered around the DCAU Nightwing, didn't like how he disappeared from this continuity when there was so much more story they could've told with him.

[Drekal]

I recently saw a youtube short discussing a case where Batman had a blind spot to a murderer, that Nightwing and Robin both worked out before him.

You see, Batman couldn't imagine that a young boy might do that to their own parents.

So yeah, I think he does need Robin.

[necro-esque]

As a big Robin fan, I’ve always been somewhat disappointed that Robin didn’t have much of a role in BTAS. That being said, the episodes where he was implemented used him very well, so I feel that the quality somewhat makes up for the lack of quantity.