Batwoman (2×01) Whatever Happened to Kate Kane? Review

For our review of the last episode of Batwoman, click here.

Synopsis: While Kate’s friends and family hold on to hope that Kate may still be found, a homeless 25-year-old named Ryan Wilder stumbles upon Kate’s batsuit. (TVGuide)

A lot has happened since the first season of Batwoman concluded last year in May. The coronavirus pandemic made it near impossible to get back on set to resume filming and Ruby Rose decided she was hanging up her cape as Batwoman. Most of us were pretty upset over Rose’s exit because it meant the series was going to get a major makeover, and well because she was actually pretty badass as Batwoman. I’m happy to report that while no one can replace the Batwoman-sized hole Rose has left behind, we do have something great with Javicia Leslie.

Leslie steps into the role of Batwoman pretty seamlessly in the season 2 premiere, although it will likely take a few episodes for her to really settle in and jive with the viewers. But there is potential there, so let’s withhold any judgmental comments until we’re at least 3-4 episodes in. In any case, the season 2 premiere immediately answers the question–where is Kate Kane? It doesn’t take long for the premiere to reveal that Kate was in an airplane crash, and is now missing. Er rather, “missing”. It’s a bit open-ended for reasons that aren’t clear but it’s how Leslie’s character, Ryan Wilder, stumbles across the Batsuit.

Before we know it, Ryan is making her way around town as Batwoman, as we, the viewers, learn about her complicated past. Her mother died during childbirth and her dad wasn’t around, so she ended up in the system and was a hot mess until she was adopted. Unfortunately, her adoptive mother was murdered by a group of squatters–and she witnessed it happening. It was quite a traumatic moment to watch Ryan go through but it sets up her story leading up to when we meet her–her living in a van after being released from prison. Her life has clearly been more than traumatic and devastating, so perhaps finding the Batsuit is her one path to redemption, to make something of herself. But it’s also much more than that for Ryan because the suit gives her the power and confidence to track down those who killed her adoptive mother.

What she doesn’t know throughout the episode is that Batwoman had many enemies, including but not limited to her evil sister, Alice and the Wonderland Gang. And while we’re talking about Alice, before the episode comes to an end, we learn that she was responsible for the murder of Ryan’s adoptive mother. In fact, the Wonderland Gang were the “squatters” so we’ve unexpectedly come across an overlap in Alice and Ryan’s story which will make this season rather interesting as the truth comes out.

It will certainly be exciting to see Leslie’s take on Batwoman and in any case, the season 2 premiere gave us a pretty good idea of what’s to come. The episode saw her step into Rose’s place effortlessly. While the episode wasn’t perfect, it’s a solid start.

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Ariba Bhuvad