Batwoman, season 2, episode 2: "Prior Criminal History"

—>>> back to: Batwoman, Season 2, Episodes 1-6 <<<—

[SPOILERS ahead, I recommend that you watch the episode before you continue!]

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“General”:

My highlights from this episode (without particular order):

1 – Ryan gets saved by Batwoman! Damn, that was a really good idea. First of all, I loved that Ryan was wearing these cat ears to Halloween. Could be seen as a Catwoman reference 😉 . It was also cool that Ruby Roses’ stunt double had a short appearance because she can’t be booked as the stunt double for Javicia. Also, the idea that Batwoman would save Ryan was a good reference to her own backstory. After all, Kate was in the comics saved by Batman and then decided to become a crime fighter. And Ryan will now do the same, even she got other reasons to get into the costume. At the end of the episode, Kate also writes about that in her journal as she witnessed Ryan managed herself pretty good in the fight and that it would take people like her to save the city

2 – I loved the reference to “Batman Returns”! In that genius movie, Penguin used bats on one occasion to terrorize people and make them afraid of Batman. In this episode, Alice used Bats as well, to a slightly different purpose, and the effect is even worse here as they get bitten by bats and thereby infected with the poison. Interestingly I just read today that the whole “infected bats” idea was planned to be used at the original ending of season 1. But due to damn covid, the season was cut short by several episodes, but the idea was now included in season 2. 🙂

3 – Ryan has to overcome massive obstacles! Ryan applies for a security job and doesn’t get it as she was in Blackgate for a crime she didn’t commit. Also, as she heroically prevents the store robbery she gets arrested as they suspect her to be the criminal. These events illustrate how different people treat her as she is a woman of color. But by becoming Batwoman she can change how people see her, even most people won’t know how Batwoman is. But a “black” Batwoman will certainly have an impact on people. #BLM

4 – Batwoman fights Alice for the first time! I’m always a little….surprised that Alice handles herself so well in close combat fights. In season 1 she defeated Batwoman with a trumpet(!) and now she again does a good job VS the new Batwoman. The fight was done really well and I liked the lines they threw at each other. Batwoman could have pursued Alice but she had to let her escape as she had to save the people. Looking forward to their next encounters!

5 – Sophie meets Alice, Tatiana joins the party! Sophie goes after Alice on her own, and it was pretty clear that wouldn’t lead to Alice’s arrest. Ok, it would have if not a new character has appeared. Tatiana aka “The Whisper” is the right hand of Safiyah and she has a rather cool sword! Looks like we will finally see the big Safiyah in the next episode! Looking forward to seeing how she is connected to Alice and the others as Kate and Julia their “problems with” her as well.

There was pretty little I actually didn’t like about the episode.

>>> In general, the CGI bats were really ok, only the one in the glass case looked pretty badly animated. But ok, a very small issue.

>>> It was quite odd that Batwoman was standing on that tall building and then started to shout down to the gathered masses. I don’t think these folks would understand a word that she was shouting with that distance and background noise. Again, a rather small issue. The Adam West Batman (from the TV show) would have had a loudspeaker on his bat-belt 😆

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>>> Among the funny lines, I loved Luke’s reaction to Ryan’s idea to impersonate Batwoman to the crowd. “Black?!!?!” 😉

>>> The scene with Alice and that rat was quite creepy as she was singing that kid’s song. Very fitting for her 🙂

>>> It hadn’t crossed my mind before the episode, but of course, Mary and Luke would be questioned by the crows due to their “possible” connection to Batwoman. Both were rather convincing as they denied having anything to do with Batwoman. And after all, that’s a secret that CAN’T get out. I would hate it when the Crows would learn of that connection or even worse, would find out who the (new) Batwoman is.

>>> The breakup between Julia and Sophie was logical. Julia (still) has a lot to hide and Sophie was more into Kate as it seems.

>>> Ryan’s past with Sophie was interesting. There is a lot of conflict potential between the two. Especially between Batwoman and Sophie. After all, Sophie won’t like the fact that someone new is under that cowl. I guess/hope she will try to find out who the new Batwoman is. She won’t let herself kept in the dark again about that!

>>> The fact that Ryan is afraid of bats was quite ironic/hilarious :-). But well, that might change in the future as she herself will become one 😉

>>> Mary is not only smart and funny, but she also is easily the best-dressed woman in the show! It’s never false to have such a “sexy” character in a show.

>>> Luke is still very reserved about the new Batwoman, but that should change more and more in the future.

>>> The idea to trap all bats in a small space and blow them up was a good idea, and well, pretty much the only possible choice. After all, they were very poisonous and had to be dealt with.

>>> It was cool to see Batwoman driving the Batmobile for the first time! Will be interesting to see future action scenes with it. This time there was no opportunity to use the gadgets it has.

>>> The scenes with Ryan in the Batcave had a nice touch. The way she tried to convince Mary and Luke to let her become the new Batwoman was well made. Also that Ryan now continues Kate’s journal is a good connection to season 1. She wants to continue Kate’s legacy and step up to make a difference in Gotham. Would be great if Kate would then read these journals after her return to Gotham 😉

*EDIT* January 26, some things I forgot to mention:

>> We still have no clue how the Kryptonite will affect Ryan, seemingly the wound hurt (no surprise), so Ryan wanted to get pain meds. Don’t know why she didn’t ask Mary about the wound, maybe she is one of the persons who are afraid of doctors.

>> That action scene in the story was really great by the way. Filmed very well it showed that Ryan can handle herself quite well without the suit. Ok, in the end, they got away, but she stopped the robbery. It also showed that she isn’t unbeatable, which is a good thing, she is “just” a normal human without superpowers after all.

>> The scene with Julia and Alice in the Van was thrilling. Love how Alice was again really creepy and the situation was quite dangerous for Julia. The plan to lure Julia on her side with the common enemy was worth a try, even I never thought Julia would go for it. Even with her mysterious past, she is one of the good guys in the end.

>> Alice is really more out of control than ever with Mouse gone. It will be fun to see where that goes. I think she may need an ally to not totally drift into madness.

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>>> Rating “General:” <<<

4 out of 5 – A really good episode with solid storylines! Javicia Leslie continues to do a great job in establishing this new character. Also, I’m very thrilled about the new Safiyah/Alice storyline.

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“Mask”:

Batwoman screen time: 10:30!!! (long cut)

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“Mask action” (blue colored if yes): – attempted unmasking – forced unmaskings (incl. a witness) – self unmaskings (without witness) – self unmaskings (with a witness) – unmaskings – mask damage – “mask talk” (incl. “secret identity talk”) Alice wonders about the “woman in the suit” – additional masked women – close calls with opportunities to unmask Batwoman

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Who knows her secret identity by now (now Ryan Wilder)?:

For sure: 2 – 0 of these are villains

Mary

Luke

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Sexy “mask-related” -scenes:

There is a LOT of screentime for Batwoman, over 10 minutes! But nearly nothing in direction of unmasking or secret identity issues.