ARROWVERSE ALLEY #01 – Batwoman

So it should have sunk in by now after the season two premiere of Batwoman we have a new person behind the cowl. This isn’t a discussion of Ruby Rose’s decision to leave or even the show’s decision to not pass the suit onto one of the existing cast. Instead, let us discuss the first two episodes of the new season.

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KATE KANE

I didn’t think they would go this way with the apparent death of Kate Kane. For me it makes me think of “no body, no crime” as by the end of the episode we haven’t found one. I was thinking they might just have her disappear like Bruce especially given the breaking of the Bat code. The obvious plus is that it points both the Bat Family and Alice at this season’s Big Bad. I’m happy with the decision even if it just kicks the speculation of is Kate secretly alive down the road, there is so much change in the Arrowverse currently it is best to take things season to season.

RYAN WILDER

In these two opening episodes, we learn a lot about our new hero. The show manages to condense her origin story while balancing the fallout of Kate’s disappearance (death) with the rest of the main players. Her first interaction with Alice was a lot of fun, I am happy it came early. Looking forward to how Alice might use their shared backstory. Call me cynical but the fact that she was saved by Kate, yeah felt like a step too far I can see why it might be just right for someone else.

BAT FAMILY

If there was one criticism I had concerning the early run of Batwoman season one was how long it took to turn Mary into a properly fleshed-out character. It is refreshing to see her front and centre at the beginning of season two as her fully realised self.

There is even a noticeable change in her style of wardrobe, she was always rocking the IT girl look when we saw her outside of her free clinic now she dresses older and reminds me of her mother. It makes me wonder who even owns Hamilton Dynamics. 

I am looking forward to seeing more from Luke this season I hope to see more growth there even if we don’t get him a costume. I want to see Luke outside of the Batcave last season at least we had him trying to get justice for his father. We heard of the good works of Kate and I think at least some of that was from Luke. I worry about him becoming one note.

ALICE

Alice was probably my favourite part of the first season and therefore my main concern was how that Batwoman/Alice dynamic would work now. With Ryan’s backstory though this seems to be leading to a brand new conflict that I am looking forward to seeing develop. Her new conflict with Kate’s killer should be interesting and how she balances the two. One question, where is her gang she seems to be just an individual now and not the leader of Gotham’s most dangerous gang?

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the final season of Black Lightning currently set to premiere on Monday 8th February 2021.

What did you think of the opening of this new Batwoman?