Re: In which I describe my one false note in detail... In fact, that's maybe why in my head it's beginning to form into a really strange, kind of creepy story: Alfred fastened onto Damian after Bruce's death, needing to see him as some spiritual heir (so basically encouraging Damian's own fantasy).
That's exactly the vibe I've been getting throughout this storyline, only I couldn't put it into words in quite that way. In fact, in my head there really isn't another explanation for Alfred’s unquestioning trust in both Damian’s inherent goodness and desire to do good, when I think we have yet to see any concrete evidence of either. It’s not something he ever had to question in Bruce, therefore there can't be any question in Bruce’s child. To assume otherwise would be an insult to everything Bruce ever was, perhaps.
In a way I sort of see it with Dick too, but in a different way. He could probably throw a rock and hit a kid more emotionally/mentally prepared to be Robin, and knowing that, his similar absolute conviction that Damian needs to be Robin regardless of all his shortcomings feels more than a little strange. On some level it sort of feels like he's trying to rebuild something resembling the early Bruce/Dick relationship through Damian, from the weirdly Bruce-like tone he takes while berating him to the slightly forced sense of camaraderie he seemed to be trying to establish in the last issue. He seems almost too confused and hurt at Damian’s callous rejection of his authority, as if it wasn’t what he might have expected being someone who had previously spent longer than five minutes with the kid.
It's strange, and it is a little sad, especially given that there doesn't seem to be anyone else anymore who could offer an objective perspective. (But at the same time I'm sort of glad there isn't right now, for fear that that perspective would be yet further unquestioned Damian-worship.)