Batwoman (2×07) It’s Best You Stop Digging Review

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

Synopsis: As Ryan’s condition worsens, she questions Batwoman’s “no killing” code when she realizes the opportunity to avenge her mother is slipping away; Tatiana fills in the gaps for Alice about her time on Coryana and her history with Ocean. (TVGuide)

One must wonder and ask themselves, does Batwoman realize that they have brought in a new actress to play the role of the lead character, but they’re choosing to spend all their time exploring the disappearance of a character that is supposedly off the show? Granted, Ruby Rose keeps alluding to “being okay with a return” and all, but it’s so unfair for Javicia Leslie who isn’t really getting a chance to shine as the new Batwoman.

In fact, the sole focus on locating Kate and tracking her down via Safiyah’s demands is taking over the entire show to the point that it’s hard to understand what the heck is going on. And then, of course, there is the whole “Ryan being poisoned with kryptonite” thing which makes zero sense to me. Now, there might be some larger point at play here but how is she not dead yet. If it was anyone else, like even Superman, wouldn’t he or she be dead?

In any case, the kryptonite embeds itself deeper into Ryan’s body which sends her into a state of hallucinatory psychosis. She begins having strange visions of her mother, Cora Lewis (Shakura S’Aida), which start off nostalgic but soon morph into a nightmarish experience as her mother keeps dying. Not to mention Alice, keeps popping up in the visions, which only fuels the fire Ryan has within her to punish Alice for killing her mother.

In her delusional state, Ryan goes to visit Angelique (Bevin Bru), but in her Batsuit, so she can hide her appearance. Can someone explain how no one recognizes superheroes when they’re that close? Those masks aren’t that concealing, so how does Angelique not know she is talking to the love of her life. The whole purpose of Batwoman’s visit is to learn Ocean’s (Nathan Owens) whereabouts, but Angelique isn’t exactly offering any information. Instead, she knocks Batwoman off the balcony when she’s too distracted by the fact that Angelique has a woman over at her place. What the heck is this betrayal? Also, is this tangent necessary in an already complicated relationship?

We last left Alice and Ocean in the middle of deceiving Safiyah and leading her to believe Ocean is dead. But the plan all along was to find out what happened to their memories, and why they were erased. So, when Tatiana comes to retrieve Ocean’s “body”, she is cornered by Alice and Ocean who demand answers about their missing memories.

As it turns out, Alice and Safiyah once shared a common enemy in the form of Katherine Hamilton, Jacob’s second wife. Naturally, Alice had a lot of resentment for the woman who “took” her mother’s place, and then there’s the whole she was abducted thing, and Katherine convinced Jacob to stop looking for her. Apparently, Katherine was also interested in Desert Rose, and given that’s Safiyah’s thing right now, she wasn’t too enthusiastic about Ms. Hamilton.

All this leads to the point that Safiyah has a power control issue, and essentially has control over everyone that lives on the island of Coryana with her. Tatiana also reveals that the plan was for Alice to take over Gotham for Safiyah and in exchange, she would get Ocean, whom she hated with a passion at first. But that hate turned into lust which turned into a desire for one another–a tale as old as time.

Of course, Safiyah sees them making out, and is immediately heartbroken because she is in love with Alice. And the whole story comes full circle when we realize everything was done from a place of wanting love and not getting it. And Safiyah apparently had so much anger within her that she stripped Alice of all positive emotions, leaving only the worst behind. This is why she’s such a different person in Gotham City! It all makes sense now! But that was a very convoluted way to get there. In any case, it’s off to Coryana with Tatiana and Alice!

After being thrown off a balcony, Ryan is rescued by Mary and Luke, and is immediately eager to get back to work finding Ocean. Let’s just remember this is all so they can find Kate and get her back, which normally would be fine if Ruby Rose was actually coming back.

The episode ends with Ryan coming face-to-face with Alice while wearing the Batsuit. She has no qualms about revealing her identity to Alice and is quick to tell Alice that she killed her mother. But with the kryptonite taking over her body, Ryan isn’t really in the best of conditions to take on Alice. She eventually stops herself from killing Alice when a vision of her mother reminds her that she wasn’t raised to kill someone just like that.

Letting Alice go isn’t ideal, but Ryan is one step ahead and puts a tracker on her, which will lead them right to the island of Coryana! Clever, clever girl but what a stupid, stupid plan. Can we move on from this Kate Kane nonsense yet or what?!

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