7 Secrets Of The Dark Knight's Success

Now this one we don’t blame anyone for missing out on during their first viewing, but it’s nonetheless proof of the series’ ingenious writing and deeply clever plotting. When Rachel and Two-Face-to-be Harvey Dent sit down to dinner early on in this flick, they discuss some Roman history—as one does on any romantic date—with Dent drawing parallels between “what Gotham needs” according to him and Julius Caesar’s style of leadership.

Now, anyone familiar with their literal ancient history, which it’s fair to say not every viewer of every Batman film may necessarily be, will know Caesar was infamous for being a dictatorial ruler, running the city with an iron grip and subjecting its citizens to his own all-powerful view of good and evil.

Sound familiar? Like any of his contemporary’s in Gotham politics, maybe?

In case it doesn’t, try searching through Shakespeare for an account of the Roman dictator’s final moments—Caesar was famously killed when he overstepped his responsibilities, only to be seen as a martyred hero after his death. Now that definitely reminds us a certain duplicitious—even downright two-faced—public figure in Gotham politics…