Batman Telltale Series S2 Episode 3: Fractured Mask

Batman Telltale Series S2 Episode 3: Fractured Mask (Nov. 21st, 2017) Episode 3 of Batman: The Enemy Within, titled Fractured Mask, presents Bruce Wayne with some of the most difficult moral dilemmas of his journey so far. As the Pact inches closer to their true objective, Bruce struggles to maintain his cover while attempting to protect those he cares about. My choices in this episode shaped the relationships between Bruce, John Doe, Harley Quinn, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, Tiffany Fox, and Amanda Waller. The episode forced me to make difficult decisions that tested Bruce’s loyalty, principles, and survival instincts, leading to shocking consequences. Every action carried significant weight in determining the future of Gotham and Bruce’s place in it. Following their unexpected reunion, Bruce and Selina officially introduce themselves to the Pact, scanning Riddler’s retinal records and discussing their complicated past. However, tensions within the Pact rise as Harley, suspecting a mole, takes control and asserts her dominance. She assigns Bruce and John the task of investigating Riddler’s hideout for clues about his secret operations, with Bruce recommending that Catwoman accompany them. This mission sets off a chain of events that strains Bruce’s relationship with both John and Selina, as betrayal and suspicion begin to take hold. Despite working together to uncover the Riddler’s encrypted data, Catwoman ultimately betrays Bruce by stealing the decryptor, forcing him into a difficult confrontation with her. This moment reveals the first cracks in his delicate balancing act, as John begins to question Bruce’s true motives. Seeking to salvage his infiltration efforts, Bruce meets John at Café Trisle for a crucial conversation. Here, I advised John to be himself when expressing his feelings for Harley, a choice that significantly impacted his perception of self-worth. While John took my advice to heart, his frustration over failing to retrieve the laptop deepened his emotional turmoil. Meanwhile, Gordon’s increasing suspicion of Bruce leads to an ultimatum—bring Bruce Wayne in for questioning or risk damaging their partnership. At this crossroads, I chose to warn Catwoman about the GCPD’s ambush, ensuring her safety but further straining my bond with Gordon. This decision also led to Catwoman successfully stealing the laptop before John, creating further division within the Pact and leaving John guilt-ridden over disappointing his hero. The repercussions of these choices escalated when Bruce returned to the Pact’s hideout to retrieve the laptop himself. Forced to distract Harley while John searched for it, I encountered a growing power struggle within the group. Bane’s brutal interrogation methods and Freeze’s disregard for human life made it clear that the Pact was descending further into chaos. Depending on prior choices, either Bruce recovered the laptop from Catwoman in a rooftop confrontation, strengthening their bond, or John successfully stole it and reluctantly handed it over. Meanwhile, a confrontation with Tiffany at Wayne Enterprises led me to reveal Bruce’s secret identity, solidifying her trust in him and marking her as a valuable ally moving forward. However, this also placed her in greater danger, as Waller’s influence continued to loom over Gotham. As the tension reached its peak, Bruce’s most harrowing decision loomed over him. After discovering the true nature of Project Lotus, a dangerous biological weapon tied to the Agency’s past, Bruce was exposed as the mole. With Harley demanding a scapegoat, Bruce had to decide whether to frame Catwoman or take the blame himself. I chose to sacrifice myself, resulting in Bruce being imprisoned in one of Mr. Freeze’s cryogenic chambers, left to die as the Pact proceeded with their raid on SANCTUS. This act of self-sacrifice deeply impacted Selina, who was horrified by Bruce’s choice, and left John guilt-ridden, as he watched his closest friend suffer for his actions. Meanwhile, Harley’s anger reached its peak, setting the stage for inevitable retaliation. Episode 3 solidified the growing divide between Bruce and the Pact while strengthening his personal connections with Catwoman and Tiffany. John’s admiration shifted toward guilt, Gordon was left conflicted, and Waller’s patience with Bruce was wearing thin. By choosing to protect Selina at great personal risk, I demonstrated Bruce’s commitment to those he trusts, but at the cost of jeopardizing his undercover mission. His relationships with Tiffany and Selina deepened, but his future with John and the Pact was more uncertain than ever. With Bruce’s life hanging in the balance, the next chapter will determine whether he can maintain the delicate balance between being Gotham’s savior or becoming a victim of his own deception.