WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Titans Season 3, Episode 10, "Troubled Water," available now on HBO Max.
While it may have taken some time, fans are glad to see Donna Troy, aka Wonder Girl (Conor Leslie) back in the land of the living during Season 3 of Titans. Despite the fact that the Titans needed her help in Gotham, her first order of business was to save Bruce Wayne (Iain Glen) from killing himself. This moment suggested the Bat was irreparably broken, and come the last episode, as Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow (Vincent Kartheiser) moves into his new lair, he officially complete Bruce's destruction, with the aid of his sidekick.
Bruce left a last will and testament before trying to set himself ablaze, much to Donna's shock. This was, of course, a reaction to Crane shattering the family, and resurrecting and corrupting Jason Todd to become the murderous Red Hood. Luckily, fate sent Donna to save and hopefully inspire the veteran superhero to not give up hope.
We have no idea where Donna stashed Bruce or how he's coping, but his entire legacy and that of the Wayne dynasty seems to be on the verge of total ruin thanks to Crane, and what's worse, Scarecrow has now moved into Wayne Manor. Crane's plan to get the public and cops to turn on the Titans worked to perfection, which left the mansion empty and ripe for the picking.
He shows up there with Jason, starts sipping Bruce's liquor and makes it clear he'll have a blast using this as his new lab, in order to cause chaos. The Titans razed his old lab so this is just karma, as he needs a big space where he'll be undisturbed as he makes more anti-fear toxin. But the icing on the cake comes when he gives Jason a knife and goads him into cutting up the iconic picture of young Bruce and his parents that sits on the mantle.
Crane gaslights him, telling him that he needs to kill the Waynes to kill his past, as this will free him up to replace Batman and Nightwing as Gotham's protector. The people want Red Hood, Scarecrow adds, so this is a rite of passage to separate himself from the old days, taking back his agency from being an adopted Wayne son.
Sadly, an incensed Jason falls into the trap and slices up the painting. Bruce holds this painting close to his heart, as it's one of the last remnants of his parents. It represented a beautiful memory for Bruce, so when he comes back, it'll hurt seeing it destroyed, particularly once he finds out it was done by his protégé.
It's a massive betrayal and it once more hints at the fact that Jason cannot be redeemed, as he clearly has no respect for the home and family that saved him when he was at his lowest. This also proves that Crane's the ultimate puppet master with a degree of control Bruce could never hold.
The first 10 episodes of Titans Season 3 are available now on HBO Max. Episode 11 will be released Oct. 7.