In the original Batman comics, Alfred didn’t raise Batman after his parents were killed; it was actually Bruce’s uncle, who was a wealthy aristocrat. Alfred joined the Batman cast years later, after Dick Grayson/Robin first appeared.
For a Batman TV show, what if this actually happens: Bruce’s parents are killed, he lives with his uncle, then leaves at 18 and comes back five years later. His uncle hires Alfred Pennyworth as the Wayne Manor house manager, and he’s 10 years older than Bruce. So instead of a father/son dynamic, it’s more of a brotherly or best-friend type of relationship.
Now, if you aren’t a Batman fan, you might not care—but this question is mainly for Batman fans: would you want to see something like this?
I wouldn’t be against the idea. It’s not high on my list of Batman stories I want to see.
I think one challenge would be Alfred just showing up and Batman trusting him immediately. I think you’d have to have the older Alfred keep his role and then add in a a nephew of Alfred who shows up while Bruce is young. Then he can be in the older brother role while Bruce is young. Then Bruce’s parents die, then have Alfred die, but the nephew keeps looking after the house while Bruce is away.
