Ruhaan Shah
At first or even second glance, this may seem like an arbitrary build-up to a horrific death. But this harvests the tonality of a character that doesn't yet exist — Batman. This scene lasts less than a minute but doesn't need a second more to display the script's meticulousness.
Generations' worth of property is reduced to ash. And as Bruce's home turns into a literal hearth, he is knocked unconscious, trapped under a log. Ra's al Ghul, who steadfastly believes that justice is balance, is here to serve it.
Nolan's proclivity for airplanes is not unheard of. He used one here, another in Bane's entry, and is about to crash one in Tenet (not mid-air, unfortunately). But this, arguably, is the most fascinating use of one. I mean — the audacity of this!
What really can happen when explosive sadism faces rigid moral fibre? This is the Joker at his most unhinged. His menace is psychological — their fight may be physical, but the battle is of their minds.
He is in Bane's territory, an inescapable prison, "the worst hell." The pit is abyss-like, a breeding ground for hopelessness and despondency.
Bruce nodding to Alfred. It's his goodbye to us, those who've stood by the highs and lows of this trilogy for over half a decade. This is our bittersweet moment.