Since you've said you like Brutalia, can you talk a bit about what exactly you think Bruce sees in Talia? I want to like them, but I've always struggled with that. (You can also talk about what you think Talia sees in Bruce if you want, but I have an easier time imagining that.)
Hi! So, great question and depending on what era you came in on(in?) then it’s a super easy answer: so back before Damian was born, like over 30 years ago the Al Ghul family was portrayed waaaayy differently in the comics. Ra’s was a radical environmentalist, Talia felt the same way and was deeply loyal to the cause of ‘protect the earth humans have ruined it.’ They were still obsessed with power but not in the ragh ragh Lazarus pit fight fight monster way, iykwim ;) and then once upon a time, Bruce Wayne goes to train under Ra’s al Ghul, the man who’s not insane but passionate. Ra’s sees great potential in Bruce to become his very successor, and almost by osmosis Talia feels that Bruce is not only a hot man, but devoted to saving his city and a strong warrior. Bruce, sees a beautiful and kind hearted strong woman who is devoted to protecting the earth and strong enough to pull it off. There’s a lot of sexual tension between them as they hunt down Talia’s mother’s killer I believe, the two talk. With Ra’s clear blessing, Talia’s long gone, she wants this man dancing naked yesterday, and Bruce, always the closed-off one, returns the feelings if a little less but doesn’t act on them. It’s only when Talia and Ra’s leave after some fight (it’s been a long time I forget what the fight was about) that Talia can’t resist her urges and gives him a big fat forbidden kiss. Ra’s later drugs Bruce and forces him to marry Talia, the wedding is official but they don’t really, like, call it official… a little later and Bruce wants to do the wedding again but the right way, so they do, and then they have sex, cue Damian’s entrance back in the late 90’s if I’m remembering correctly (was it late 80’s??). Talia is ecstatic but after a few months she sees Bruce’s role as Batman is suffering, the news of a baby is affecting him. So out of love for her husband, she tells him the baby dies during delivery and hides dames in some random farm till it’s safe for her to come get him again and raise him, only showing him to Bruce ten years later as a mini assassin. (Fun fact, she left a necklace of jewels with Damian when she left him at the farm.)
So while I thought it would be easier to explain what the ORIGINAL story was, the answer is kinda… well, Bruce saw the Talia who debuted. The Talia that we all claim as canon, not this new pos who tries to kill her son to piss Bruce off. Like, no, Bruce loved the Talia who was daughter of radical environmentalists Ra’s Al Ghul. And Talia saw a devoted warrior who was unlike anyone she’d ever met or saw and who had her father’s overwhelmingly approval on most things. She had no chance.
And to add on, haha, the new stuff we see between Bruce and Talia is obviously just being used even tho it’s shit since Ra’s and Talia’s new character changes like ‘Talia rapes Bruce’ and ‘Ra’s doesn’t care about abut living forever’ ruin Brutalia. I don’t think the Brutalia of today’s age is healthy if that’s what you’re stuck on. Brutalia of 30 years ago sure, but Talia is a character I don’t we’ve give the time of day anymore, she’s to far gone with her writing. Dc writers, you know who I’m talking about you horrible man, they ruined her and in turn ruined Brutalia. :( the Al Ghuls used to be so different
