Before The Dark Knight Rises: 10 Baffling Decisions By Batman Directors

2. Vicki Vale in the Batcave (Batman)

For a discreet character whose duel existence relies upon the preservation of his secret identity, prior to Nolan Batman was pretty blase about keeping a lid on his biggest secret. Not only did Bruce Wayne encourage the use of a Bat-symbol that shone indiscreetly into Wayne Manor, alerting everyone to Batman's presence on the estate, and presumably hoping they'd just assume he just happened to be a guest of the local millionaire with a tragic backstory and ample room for a cave of some sort below his house, his butler also allowed a journalist into the Batcave. Fair enough she was engaged in a physical relationship with Mr Wayne at the time, but if that was the only requirement to gain civilian access to the base, you'd have thought one of Gotham's various super-villains (especially the ones with the higher IQs) would have considered some sort of entrapment plan. Perhaps involving the shape-shifting Clayface or something... Why Alfred thought it was appropriate to let Vale into the Batcave will probably never be known, considering his master's infamously fickle affections (it was never going to be a long relationship) and the fact that Vale was an investigative journalist who came to Gotham with the express intention to investigate Batman. Shoddy story-telling to say the least, especially since by Batman Returns she has disappeared back to her own life, safe in the knowledge that she knows the biggest secret Gotham has ever seen, and will definitely never be hunted down and tortured by one of Batman's various enemies...
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