This article contains spoilers for The Batman. In the DC Universe, there is an endless supply of formidable teams and duos. The Caped Crusader is a fundamental piece of many of these pairings, one of which includes his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. The Batman establishes many of Bruce's relationships but doesn't spend a ton of time delving into his relationship with Alfred. Alfred's limited time on screen is sparse, making it difficult to see the typical partnership between Bruce and Alfred.
In The Batman, Alfred is played by Andy Serkis. Instead of Alfred and Bruce, the relationships between Batman and Catwoman, Batman and the GCPD (particularly James Gordon), Batman and the citizens of Gotham, and of course, Batman and the villains, take precedence. With his limited screen time, it is impossible for Serkis to compete with the previous portrayals of Alfred from Michael Gough, Michael Caine, Sean Pertwee, or Jeremy Irons.
Within Matt Reeves' adaptation, there are plenty of things to appreciate. The characterization of all the characters The Batman encompasses is an insurmountable feat that isn't easy to get right. Iconic Gotham characters like James Gordon, Selina Kyle, Penguin, The Riddler, and Carmine Falcone, are all huge pieces to the massive puzzle The Batman sets out to solve. Each of these characters is fundamental to uncovering the core of The Batman's massive mystery, but Alfred doesn't appear to play that much of a role in the man Bruce has become. Instead, their dynamic shows a completely different side of the pair that typically operates as a strategic team.
It's worth mentioning that Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne isn't the version of the character that is often seen in live-action Batman films. Bruce isn't a playboy who flaunts his wealth and often finds himself in the public eye. Instead, he is rarely spotted in public and somehow, still manages to be a beloved member of Gotham. With this change of Bruce's persona, it's impossible to keep those close to him the same. This version of Bruce (and the change in his relationship with Alfred) gives a breath of fresh air to a pair that has been repeated for years. Therefore, Alfred isn't as light-hearted and quick-tongued as most know him to be.
Oddly, Bruce and Alfred only share a few scenes together in The Batman. Near the start of the film, Alfred tries to talk to Bruce about his nighttime excursions, but it's clear that he has no idea what Bruce is up to. Alfred tries to pry, but it doesn't get anywhere with Pattinson's close-guarded Bruce. Bruce doesn't ask for Alfred's help or advice and the only time Alfred involves himself with Bruce's extracurricular activities is behind Bruce's back. The only time the two seem to work together is for a few moments, where Alfred helps Bruce crack The Riddler's ciphers. The pair is somewhat disjointed, but there's a reason for that.
Bruce and Alfred's progress together is cut short abruptly after Alfred is nearly killed by a bomb The Riddler sent to Wayne Manor. Alfred isn't killed by the explosion and his time in the hospital actually delivers the most impactful scene between Bruce and Alfred. Through their dialogue, reasons for their odd relationship are given, and they make Alfred incredibly emotional. Alfred tells Bruce, "You needed a father. All you had was me." As simple as the line is, Serkis delivers it in a way that demonstrates his own guilt and peeks behind the curtain to explain why Bruce is as unemotional and guarded as he appears in The Batman.
The explanation for the tense relationship between Bruce and Alfred in The Batman is best exemplified by the hospital discussion that brought Alfred's emotions to the surface. Throughout The Batman, it is evident that following his parents' murders, Bruce has become very recluse and isolated himself from society. Citizens of Gotham (including the GCPD) are stunned to see Bruce at the Mayor's memorial because he so rarely makes any sort of public appearance. Based on the dark, damp workspace Bruce spends most of his time in, it's obvious that his isolation from the public didn't include a ton of bonding time with Alfred.
The scene in the hospital further supports the tense relationship between Bruce and Alfred, as it is learned that Alfred has known the identity of the man who is likely guilty of killing Thomas and Martha Wayne. While Alfred had no solid proof of his suspicions that Falcone was guilty, the guilt Alfred harbored for not protecting them, got in the way of his ability to properly care for Bruce. Therefore, the lack of partnership between Alfred and Bruce fits well in the context of The Batman, even though it isn't what is typically seen between the two characters.
In The Dark Knight trilogy, Christian Bale and Michael Caine exemplified one the best performances of the mentor-mentee, father-son relationship Bruce and Alfred typically have. The Batman's Bruce and Alfred have reasonable grounds not to try and mimic this relationship, but it doesn't change the fact that Alfred is still a fundamental part of Bruce's past. Serkis' limited screen time in The Batman doesn't give him a chance to make a solid name for himself as Alfred. Despite that, Serkis does make the most of his time and interactions with Pattinson on screen. Now that Alfred and Bruce are aware of their treatment of one another, it's possible that they will slowly establish a partnership where they can protect one another in future projects.
The Batman is now playing in theaters.