Well, whether or not you think it succeeds I think that is how Nolan clearly was going at it. Alfred always had all the "right" answers, and was full of memorable little words of wisdom and anecdotes that were perfect to the situation, etc. That was one thing that kind of got on my nerves about the movie to be honest. It was as if every conversation Wayne and Alfred had was a variation on that kind of conversation starting from the first film. Wayne says something, Alfred sees something from a completely different, and wiser perspective somehow. Tosses in a little anecdote. Wayne comes away the better man having learned a lesson or whatever. Even after the big blow-up in this film, you got the impression Wayne did learn something important, and ultimately of course he did what Alfred wanted.