A fan principle in regards to the authentic Batman movies suggests the Riddler’s scheme would possibly clarify the in-universe tonal shift in Batman & Robin.
The unique Batman movies had been a tonally blended bag, with Tim Burton’s overtly gothic movies finally transitioning right into a brighter and goofier take by Joel Schumacher. It is an overt shift in tone, which, coupled with the franchise’s frequent recasting of Bruce Wayne, indicated a really actual change within the movie collection most liable for inspiring trendy cinema’s superhero obsession (whereas additionally killing its personal collection).
That tonal shift, nevertheless, would possibly even have an in-universe rationalization courtesy of a intelligent fan principle. The Riddler’s plan in Batman Eternally truly is perhaps in charge for Gotham Metropolis’s extra ridiculous and goofy nature in Batman & Robin. If something, his scheme could have brought on everlasting injury to the psychological capability of numerous Gotham residents.
How Riddler’s Plan in Batman Eternally May Influence Batman & Robin
Whereas it might be extra brightly lit than Tim Burton’s Batman or Batman Returns, the neon-tinged Batman Eternally continues to be very a lot rooted in some darker story beats amidst Tommy Lee Jones’ infamously scene-chewing efficiency as Two-Face. The movie delves particularly into Batman’s psychology and mentality as a vigilante, with the character trying to divorce his pathological want for vengeance together with his real want to do good by the folks of Gotham. Whereas the movie is often-times ridiculous, it is not almost as bonkers because the extra overtly campy Batman & Robin, serving as a bridge from the prior two motion pictures to the foolish spectacle that got here to outline the fourth movie within the collection. That movie’s tonal shift away from the prior three entries within the cinematic Batman franchise has led some to take a position that Batman & Robin is simply an in-universe riff on the Dark Knight’s legend — a foolish film that exists inside the world of Batman & Robin.
One other fan principle truly makes use of a intelligent in-universe rationalization to justify the change in Gotham’s mentality between movies. As defined on Reddit by an unknown person, the idea facilities across the Riddler’s VR machine referred to as the Field. After most of Gotham’s inhabitants invests within the product, Riddler’s full scheme takes form. Utilizing the machine, Riddler can drain the intelligence of people that use the Field, including it to his personal and enhancing his personal psychological capabilities. Though Riddler is ready to carry out a large-scale mind drain on most of Gotham, Batman and Robin are in a position to defeat him and destroy the machine. The following overload breaks the Riddler’s thoughts — however the stolen intelligence does not essentially return to the residents of Gotham, probably leaving them extra dim-witted and simply impressed simply in time for the extra ridiculous occasions of Batman & Robin.
How the DC Idea Turns Riddler Into Batman’s Most Efficient Villain
It is a intelligent thought, as it will logically clarify how most of Gotham appears to totally embrace the weird components of Gotham by Batman & Robin. In Batman Eternally, one of many Riddler’s early victims is proven to have had his intelligence severely decreased by the villain’s expertise. It might clarify why the police are so overtly reliant on Batman in Batman & Robin, as their police pressure has been decreased in effectivity. The henchmen utilized by Mr. Freeze within the latter movie are proven to be even dumber minions than those who appeared in earlier movies, probably because of the Riddler’s large-scale psychological assault.
It might even clarify how folks within the metropolis can be caught unawares by figures like Bane and Poison Ivy, who barely attempt to disguise themselves within the movie. Batman & Robin is a much more cartoonish movie, with the folks of Gotham portrayed in a sillier mild. The Riddler inadvertently wiping out numerous mind cells in Gotham would handily clarify why all the metropolis appeared to totally embrace Gotham’s evolution right into a goofy neon setting. This offers his affect on this model of Gotham a better longevity than the likes of Joker or Penguin. It is a intelligent concept that ties collectively the latter entries of the movie collection whereas nonetheless discovering a technique to clarify the tonal shift within the tales.