The Ending Of Batman V Superman Explained

When we first meet Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne, he's cynical and untrusting of nearly everyone, and he has become particularly harsh in punishing the criminals of Gotham. Being Batman for 20 years can do that to you. Presumably, the Joker killed the last Robin (they didn't say who, but we're guessing that it was Jason Todd, the second Boy Wonder), and it's made the Dark Knight even more negative and angry than usual. In a conversation with Alfred, Wayne refers to the number of Batman's allies and other heroes that Gotham saw over the years. Unfortunately, most of them died, quit, or even became bad guys themselves. This veteran version of the Caped Crusader is jaded in the worst of ways. Luckily, he saw a bit of himself in Superman during the movie's titular fight.

Sure, the coincidence of both Batman and Superman's mothers' being named Martha might just be due to an oversight in the DC writing room decades ago, but it made a basic connection that sparks Bruce Wayne's empathy towards the Man of Steel. Bruce Wayne realizes that Clark Kent has the best intentions, and like him, just wants to prevent his mother's death. While it was too late for Martha Wayne, this feeling ultimately led to Bruce Wayne returning to why he became Batman in the first place: not to punish criminals, but to prevent tragedies like the one that scarred him for life. After that encounter and witnessing Superman selflessness during the fight with Doomsday, Batman has a renewed faith in other costumed heroes, which leads to...