In the Arrow episode of the fifth Arrowverse event in December of 2018, fans got their first glimpse of Ruby Rose’s Batwoman. With a possible Batwoman movie seemingly stuck in the production states on the theatrical side of Warner Brothers, the character has found a home within the plethora of CW shows already rolling. With characters like Superman making an appearance and Fox’s show, Gotham ending, there is room for the dark cowl to have representation on the small screen.
With starting a new show based on the Batman ethos, therein lies a conundrum. How do you pay homage and tie in the original ideas without muddying up the introduction of a new character? There must be a delicate balance. This was the challenge of director Marcos Siega and writer Caroline Dries. The pilot starts off with Kate Kane (Ruby Rose) as our narrator and continues with that throughout the episode. Batman has disappeared from Gotham for almost three years and the city has degraded in his absence. Feelings of abandonment, resentment, and longing hope accompany his sudden departure.
With the city in peril, somebody needs to step up and be a hero. Jacob Kane (Dougray Scott) has started a private security firm named Crows. His forces include Sophie (Meagan Tandy) who we find out has a past with Kate. Earlier in the episode, there is an inference on appearances. Jacob’s step wife, Catherine Hamilton-Kane (Elizabeth Anweis) stands as a metaphor of the upper class of Gotham who wants to construct an outline that all is well, even though it isn’t. Now, it wouldn’t be a Gotham without a maniacal antagonist and that comes in the form of Alice (Rachel Skarsten) and her legion, the Wonderland gang. Her origin is inherently intriguing because of the connecting threads that tie Jacob, Kate, and Alice together which slowly reveals itself through flashbacks and a clue at the end of the episode.
The performance of Ruby Rose varies as you watch. She’s able to portray a witty, cool protagonist in her interactions with people, but some of that leaks into the emotional scenes. As a character that has many emotional scars from losing her mother, presumably her sister, and the one person she loves, you want the performance to seem more vulnerable in conveying those feelings. Kate has a lot of inner demons to fight as Bruce did with loss. The distinction between her and her famous cousin is written in the physical and emotional strings of Kate’s character. Bruce Wayne is usually cold and brooding. He’s focused on the end game and not worried about tipping his hand to any emotionality. Kate shows that she can be tactical and intelligent as well, but her character fuels herself in both past and present emotions.
There’s the need to prove to her dad that she belongs. The ties to Sophie bring her back to Gotham and with a revelation at the end of the episode, will factor into her family life as well. It’s something that she draws strength from, but it also looks like it will lead her into trouble down the line. Also, her fighting skills aren’t as developed and the initial Batsuit is not tailored to her style. This not only shows that her character is still in training but gives her room to grow. People see that “a Batman” is back in Gotham, not realizing it’s her. That brings about a potential for a fruitful story throughout the series. Will there be any blowback from those who know about Bruce’s secret identity and the citizens of Gotham once they see that this is a different hero?
Throughout the episode, there are numerous easter eggs for Batman fans like a Wayne Enterprises password that’s still Alfred. In the first fight as Kate dawns the cowl, she uses the stealth grappling hook technique that Batman uses. Kate is sent away for training as a second chance like Bruce with the League of Shadows. Jacob even says to her, “You’re a female Bruce Wayne.” There is so much intertwining of parallel storylines between Bruce and Kate that may seem excessive at times like lines that tip of the changing of the guard from a man to a woman when we’re already rooting for Kate’s story to be told. This may be to a fault if they don’t show progression in later episodes. What Batwoman is striving to show its uniqueness in its progressiveness. That’s where most of the strengths lie.
Most of the major figures within Batwoman are women. Mary Hamilton (Nicole Kang) is Kate’s altruistic stepsister who helps her along the way. While reluctant at first, Luke Fox (Camrus Johnson), Lucius’s son and the lone male partner on this journey, serves as the eyes and history of Bruce Wayne. He’s here to fill in the blanks for both the audience and Kate. Within the heart of a story, it’s a lesbian relationship between Kate and Sophie. The flashbacks of both characters in military school and how their relationship frowned upon is a poignant critique on society and maybe some of those who look at the show in a lesser light because of the relationship. Upon realizing Sophie’s marriage upon her return, it will be interesting to see where both characters end up. Kate is veering towards a path of discovering who she is in a Gotham that’s drastically changed. Sophie has denied who she really is laying that at the feet of a career. How will this manifest for her down the line?
The end of the pilot sees Kate finishing the beginning of this story in one of Bruce’s discarded journals. It’s a metaphor signaling what is perceived to be the end of her story and the start of hers. While there’s an extensive Batman DNA within the introductory episode, it’s a necessary evil. (Kate is Bruce’s cousin, after all.) Upon her return, Gotham is again looking towards a hero amidst the face of evil. Batwoman gives our protagonist enough of her own obstacles and inner struggles to hopefully carve out a path. of her own. One without the specter of The Dark Knight hanging over her head as much.
Batwoman is currently airing on The CW Network.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ord34lMCFRU
