Something That Always Devastates Me To Think About Is The Gotham Rogues Gallery Getting Arrested. Not

Something that always devastates me to think about is the Gotham Rogues Gallery getting arrested. Not because I don’t want to see my favorites locked up, or because I have some vendetta against Batman; but because of what I know Gotham thinks of them when they do.

What made me start thinking about this was BTAA, specifically when Riddler was surrounded by Batman and the GCPD on the boat and how he genuinely preferred to jump into the filthy, freezing Gotham harbor than go back to Arkham. To the rest of Gotham he was having a ‘tantrum’, he was being ‘bratty’ and throwing himself a pity party. To Gotham, he was being a baby and refused to go back to Arkham because he was cruel and mad his fun was ruined.

But to him, this was his worst nightmare. The second Batman said the word ‘Arkham’ it was no longer about the scheme, it was no longer about failing. All he could think of was the abuse and neglect he would face as soon as he was back in the asylum and all the abuse trauma he had already faced from his father. It was desperate self preservation that made him kick and flail and yell. Because what else could he do in that moment? He was caught.

His ‘tantrum’ was a cry for help and as far as he was concerned, everyone was brushing him off and refusing to listen. It also explains why the Rogue’s despise Batman — because despite Bruce claiming he wants to help, he doesn’t actually listen to the concerns they have about their treatment and environment.

And this goes for ALL the Rogues. It’s heartbreaking and goes to show the sad reality that the reason Gotham isn’t getting better is because they want to forfeit the health of anyone who is different or struggles with mental health. It’s why Gotham has such a broken system. This, of course, doesn’t excuse any of the Rogue’s actions. But it obviously doesn’t encourage them to want to seek help either because Gotham never cared to see them healthy in the first place.