“He’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.” -Jim Gordon in The Dark Knight
This quote never fails to give me goosebumps, no matter how many times I watch The Dark Knight. It’s the quote that narrates this epic ending.
The impact of this quote is aided by what we are witnessing. Watching the Dark Knight ride away into the dark of the night, knowing that he just saved Gotham and will become the villain because of what he has done, is heartbreaking. Gordon’s words and the bewilderment of his son only further to show the injustice.
Gordon’s words sum up the darkness which is shown by Nolan’s Batman films. Batman will help the city. It is his calling, and they need his help. They just aren’t ready to admit that they need his help.