CW's Batwoman REviews

I believe that this first episode was a good start to season 2. Even though Ruby Rose might not have been the best choice to play Kate Kane/Batwoman in season 1, nobody is perfect and to me, she looked the part. She will be sorely missed. The new Batwoman is Ryan Wilder played by Javicia Leslie. I think she might be a better character than Kate Kane, as she sets a lively presence throughout the episode and when the story got dark and violent Javicia was able to act accordingly. Who's better you might say? Javicia Leslie or Ruby Rose? to me Javicia Leslie might be the better actress but Ruby Rose will always be my Batwoman. 

At the start of the episode, we see that Kate Kane's plane crashes in Gotham, coming back from National City as she wanted to see if Supergirl could destroy the piece of kryptonite Kate had, as it's one of the things that could penetrate the Batsuit. Ryan was in her home-van near the plane crash and tries to look for survivors, she was able to save one passenger by doing CPR on him and found Kate's Batsuit. Now, this is interesting, Kate's body was not found, so it's possible that she survived and might come back in a later season or at the end of the series. It would be nice to see Kate and Ryan interact. 

Because Ruby Rose left the show, the writers needed to do some course correction to the series. This meant that they had to end Tommy Elliot's story in the first episode of season 2 because he had connections to Kate, not Ryan that was set in season 1. Tommy Elliot was portrayed by Warren Christie. I believe if Ruby Rose would have stayed to complete the series. Then Tommy Elliot would have been a more prominent character in season 2.  

What was great about this character in the first episode of season 2 was him pretending to be Bruce Wayne, this gave us a taste of what Warren Christie's Bruce Wayne would be like if the actual hero appeared on the show. Maybe this might happen at the end of season 2 or in season 3.

A villain that the writers were able to keep from season 1 that will be featured throughout season 2 after Ruby Rose left is Alice. The writers were able to ensure that Alice became relevant in this season as she was the reason why Ryan's adopted mother died, killed by members of the Wonderland gang. I believe that Ryan will be on a mission to avenge her loved one and I think that Alice might die at the end of this season. Another way Alice became relevant was when she revealed to her father: Jacob Kane that Kate was Batwoman. This is a start to more screentime between Jacob and Alice, which will be great to see.

A cool thing that was featured in this episode was the Batmobile. Some fans didn't like it as it looks like a normal car, compared to the movies, cartoons, and video games. However, I think it might get an upgrade in season 3 or the end of season 2.   

And lastly, at the end of the episode, we witness that Alice is connected to Safiyah the big bad of the season and apparently she is responsible for the death of Kate Kane. It could be possible that Safiyah and Alice will kill each other at the end of season 2 if Ryan fails to take revenge. 

In conclusion, this first episode was a good start in a new direction. Can't wait to see the rest of the season.

I think Alice is DC TV’s best villain, maybe better than Ra’s Al Ghul and Dark Archer from Arrow. Jacob Kane after episode 1 decided that Kate could join the Crows, but she respectfully declined; as she is Batwoman. Operating as a Crow will obstruct her operations as Gotham City’s Vigilante. The series also explores Luke Fox's story. I think he might become the Felicity of Batwoman or even Diggle of the series; or both: similar to how Adrian Chase of Earth 2 is like Oliver, Felicity, and Curtis in one, from the premiere of Arrow season 8. 

At the start of Batwoman, we find out that the Crows have been infiltrated by Alice and, Jacob Kane’s wife: Catherine Kane is like Moira Queen from Arrow and she funds the Crows. She might be the villain of season 2 and since she is funding them and if she gets arrested then the Crows might be disbanded. I know something happens to Catherine but she might come back in some capacity. I am not sure if the Crows are part of the Batwoman comics, if they're not then the Crows might not be part of the series in season 2. If they are part of the comics then they might stick around for the rest of the series.

A great story that was made at the start of the series is Alice being obsessed with Kate’s stepsister: Mary and tries to kill her. Seeing as Mary is a main character I don’t think that Alice will try to kill her again. Because of Alice’s obsession, Mary started carrying a gun; this might be the start of Mary deciding to become a crime-fighter. I hope this isn’t the case because every single character becoming a crime-fighter makes boring stories: this isn’t the case for Arrow even though almost all characters in that series became crime-fighters, they are an exception because I love the show. 

There are a few episodes where Ruby Rose’s acting was a bit off, however, the more times I watch the episodes the more I think the bad acting was okay or not bad at all. Ruby Rose’s acting might be bad because she might be under pressure as the first openly gay actress starring in the series, as the lead character being openly gay. Even when Ruby’s acting is bad I dismiss it because I sympathise with her and she is one of my favourite actresses. Some people have said that Ruby’s Kate is a weaker character than her Batwoman character, but I’m fine with it and maybe Ruby can prove people wrong when CW issues a second season of the series. What’s also great about the series is the soundtrack, because of it you get to feel the emotions of the scenes. In addition, the young actors who play young; Kate and Beth of the series did a great job to bring emotion to the scenes.

In conclusion, the series so far is great and Batwoman was just issued a full season 1 of 22 episodes, hope it gets a season 2. 

Episode 1 starts with you seeing Kate Kane’s tragic past, then the episode shows the present day with a life without Batman; for three years. The only security Gotham has is the Crows led by Kate Kane’s father: Jacob Kane, until Batwoman arrives, of course. The main villain is Alice and she is supposed to be the Joker of the series. When Alice makes her first appearance in Gotham her thugs kidnap Kate’s ex-girlfriend: Sophie Moore. Not only are there flashbacks of Kate’s tragic past; but flashbacks of Kate and Sophie in a military academy. When the series starts Kate has been travelling the world training with combat and survival specialists. So when she returns to Gotham she can join her Dad’s security firm. I hope this series does something different compared to Arrow so Kate’s Father doesn’t die. 

This episode has Kate’s voice-over like Oliver Queen in the early episodes of Arrow and I loved that part of Arrow, I hope Batwoman continues the voice-over past episode 1. Luke Fox is featured in episode 1, I hope he becomes Batwing later on in the series. So far Ruby Rose does a great job as Kate Kane. It's quite interesting that the entirety of the episode is a flashback in the Arrowverse, as in the Elseworlds crossover released before the Batwoman series has Kate Kane as full-fledged Batwoman. The fight scenes are great but not as great as Arrow, however still brutal. Apparently, in the comics Alice is Kate’s sister, I’m not sure if the series will do the same thing as the comics; either way the series develops, I’ll be happy with it. 

I was wondering if Alice will act like the Joker and she doesn’t and I’m grateful for that. Sure she acts manic but she doesn't have an obsession for the Batman and that how she differs. Portraying Alice this way is a fresh take on a villain. Kate’s and her father’s dynamic is pretty interesting, it's different from the dynamic between Oliver and Robert. Robert seems to show his love for his son Oliver, whereas Jacob has a hard time showing his love for Kate. We see more of the Batcave in episode 1 of Batwoman compared to the Elseworlds crossover and it's amazing. The series so far doesn’t feature Bruce Wayne, only mentions him and you can tell there is a bond between Kate and Bruce; that’s quite cool. There is a character named Mary: Kate’s stepsister who might be the Thea of the Batwoman universe, which is also cool. Alice is out to make Kate’s father suffer, in the episode they don’t say why but I'm sure it will be explored in later episodes.  

Kate’s prototype suit looks great, I don’t understand the fans' complaints. What is also interesting; is that near the end of the episode after Kate suits up, the citizens of Gotham City think that she is Batman. Throughout the episode it’s mentioned that Kate’s father sent her daughter away from Gotham to keep her safe and keep her away from working with the Crows, not knowing when she returns she would become Gotham’s new vigilante. This is quite cool as it reflects the training Bruce went through to become Batman. If Jacob Kane dies could Kate take over as the head of the Crows? Overall episode one is great and can’t wait to watch episode 2: The Rabbit Hole.