dragonsquillwrites:

stevenrogered:

#actual five year olds

I loved both the performances here.  Cory got to show us this utterly destroyed Ed; with his intelligence gone he is left with nothing.  But Robin, damn son.  He managed to look like he was about three seconds from crying almost the entire time.  He gave us catty and heartbroken and pitying.  And right here, for a moment, I think he gave us relief.

You’re not smart anymore!  You’re not Riddler anymore!  You’re not a danger, and look, you don’t even *really* want to kill me now that you’re not that name I won’t say anymore-

And then in just a few moments, he realizes Ed isn’t only not the Riddler, who is obsessed with killing Os …  he also isn’t Ed Nygma, the man Oswald can’t talk himself out of being in love with.  He says it.  Out loud.  You’re not Ed Nygma.

They’re both gone.

And that’s why he had to let him go.