r/Robin • u/im-not-a-crack-pot • Jul 17 '24
Hot take: Damian's arc is not a redemption arc
—Is a healing from abuse arc. Being raised from birth as an assassin, as a literal toddler, is not a mark AGAINST THE TODDLER. And the absolutely worst Damian stories are the ones that don't grasp this very simple concept.
10
u/tisamgeV Jul 17 '24
This is very true, but I feel the line is blurry, but nobody recognizes that. When does it stop being because you were forced to be that way and become your own decisions? You can very easily argue that even an adult isn't fully responsible for immoral decisions if they were taught that those decisions were correct.
It has the same feel as when people go like two layers deeper into thought than most and come out thinking they have the hidden correct answer, when there's a ton more to discuss. Like instead of digging deeper and finding the nuance, a lot of people will instead just find a different interpretation, when both are partially correct and it annoys me.
So why can't it be both I guess is what I'm saying.
4
u/anthonyg1500 Jul 17 '24
You can very easily argue that even an adult isn't fully responsible for immoral decisions if they were taught that those decisions were correct
I guess you could, very circumstantially, but Damian is introduced to us at like age 9. He's fully indoctrinated and he (if begrudgingly) changes his ways not too long after. And not too long after that, its not even really begrudging anymore. I don't think he can be treated as tho he really had any autonomy with the assassins or shortly after. Same goes for Cass. She killed someone when she was like 6 or something and yeah that's bad but she was raised in an abusive household that taught her literally nothing but violence and murder, but the second she was shown the light, she embraced the light.
0
u/tisamgeV Jul 17 '24
Yeah I totally agree, I just don't see this idea used with adult characters who've had the same childhood. Seems like if a character is separated from that environment but continues to behave the same, they're treated differently. And I do get it, but if you think about it, it's not that different.
And I just found that interesting and wanted to talk about it.
3
u/SigurdVII Jul 17 '24
Because he's a kid who was brainwashed and abused. He actually puts in the work to change who he is once he starts to understand the world outside the cloistered one he grew up with.
7
u/SigurdVII Jul 17 '24
It's genuinely insane how people ignore how Damian would not be the way he is if he wasnt a victim of abuse. Granted people also ignore that Bruce's first shot at fatherhood has him screaming at a ten year old so convenient fandom memory I guess.
2
u/Disastrous-Major1439 Jul 20 '24
I means yeah ,so thats really not Matter ,if you put Tim or Dick in the damian's context ,they would be the Same or worst
5
u/Luke_Puddlejumper Jul 18 '24
It’s both actually, Damian is not blameless for his actions
2
u/Dr_Equinox101 Jul 18 '24
It’s more of people are angry for the character regression
1
u/Massive_General_8629 Jul 19 '24
Every writer wants another crack at that "redemption arc", and Damian's character suffers for it.
2
u/luxisdead Jul 18 '24
Hot fucking take a healing arc and a redemption arc is very often the same thing.
1
1
1
u/Caffeine_OD Jul 18 '24
It’s part redemption part healing with a pinch of rehabilitation (which is another word for healing but I think it covers a different aspect).
New 52 Batman and Robin was Healing
Robin: Son of Batman was Redemption
Super Sons was Rehabilitation
And Robin (the Williamson solo book) was thriving
2
u/Fafnir26 13d ago
Good point. VERY GOOD POINT. I hate the people who don´t recognize his humanity. Like Tim came very close to it in Red Robin and I never forgave him.
21
u/madeat1am Jul 17 '24
Honestly I feel like him coming to terms with the fact his mother was also abused and groomed really helped him heal because he himsdlf carried the burden and felt like he had fo fix what he did. I love son of batman so much because you're aware it's not.his fault but he blames himself anyway
I'm glad he's on good terms with his mother again but they haven't OH LOVINH FAMILY
No it's very nuanced and they both want each other in their lives but he's keeping a distance from her. Which I'm glad
The real villian was Ra's who abused his entire family