Jason Todd as a character is deeply sad in a way I think a lot of us are afraid of. Imagine you were a child, taken in and more or less beloved. Things weren't perfect, even more at the end, but they were the best years you've known. Imagine you're growing up, youre changing and with how your guardians act, you're scared they won't love who you're becoming. Imagine that when it's at its worst, you're presented with what looks like a silver parachute. Sure, your dad didn't love you and your mom died and your guardians think you're capable of murder (and if they're willing to believe that, who knows what they really think of you. They definitely want to be rid of you.) None of that will matter if your birth mom wants you. And she does! You're so sure of it you fly to Ethiopia! And you meet her, and she's a little rough around the edges but so are you and she loves you! ...but she doesn't. It was all a trick. And you love her still, and you're so sorry she got caught up in your life because now she's dying with you and it'll be all your fault, but only if Batman doesn't come. And maybe he's been upset with you lately, and maybe he thought you killed that guy, but he doesn't want you dead. He doesn't want anyone dead, so you know he will save you. You believe that as a fact, it's not faith it's knowledge, he's coming and he won't let you die here! ...but he does. He's too late. You tell your mom you're sorry, right before the fireworks and then... nothing.
Until.
You're back, and you're not you, but it's okay because Talia is willing to bring you back (as a favor to bruce, who doesn't know you're alive) and then you're you again or sort of, you're different, you're wrong and you're so so angry and hurt. She brought you back for bruce, Bruce who wasn't fast enough, Bruce who has another kid in your boots, Bruce who will never killed the joker, not even for you . The world marched on without you, and now you're back like a piece of gum on their shoes, and youre pissed that's all you are so fuck it all you can at least become a thorn in their side, if you can never be their beloved soldier again, you can at least become a problem. While you're at it, you'll save all the people batman never could, you'll clean up the streets permanently because there's already blood on your hands and they already thought you were a murderer anyway. And in the meantime you'll scare that kid out of your boots before he goes and gets himself killed just like you did.
You don't know they want you back. You're too scared to hope. But they forgive you for the blood. They're willing to work with you. You didn't know. And somehow it's not too late.
