The Batwoman season 2 finale “Power” was disappointing to say the least. Yes, it had its good moments. We’re glad that Kate and Sophie had that super hot moment where Sophie cemented how she feels about Kate. We’re also glad that Ryan came to the conclusion that she has made Batwoman her own. It’s her mantle now and there’s no one that can take away from her. That’s about it when it comes to what I liked about this finale.
First of all, there’s the Kate of it all. The show is essentially gutting the Kane family and getting rid of half of it for some reason. Dougray Scott, who plays Jacob Kane isn’t returning for season 3, perpetually leaving him in jail for some reason when Alice escapes over and over. But it’s the loss of Kate that hurts and honestly makes no sense. Let me see if I can break it down without spiraling into oblivion.
It doesn’t make sense that Kate would leave. Everything she loves is there in Gotham. Her dad is there, who you would think that she would want to help because helping is her thing. Mary is there, who is essentially alone when it comes to the family department. Yes, she’s got found family. But her mother, father, and sister are now gone. Not to mention that Sophie is in Gotham and why would Kate give up that opportunity to be with her.
For Bruce? To save Batman? He disappeared and I thought the show was pretty clear that he wasn’t going to come back. Unless the ultimate goal is to bring him back? No. Then I guess we’re never going to see Kate Kane again. Or we won’t see her until the show ends 10 seasons from now cuz god only knows with The CW. Plus look at their track record with other Arrowverse shows or whatever it’s called now.
Kate Kane should’ve stayed. I’m not advocating for Ryan to not be Batwoman. That stays and won’t be changing anytime soon. What I’m advocating is for a Bat Family. We see it with Luke joining in as Batwing and starting to work out the kinks. Which, we would’ve loved to see more and look forward to his journey. But Kate should’ve stayed and rejoined the Bat Family as another version of Batwoman.
It would’ve been so cool to see the team working together with two Alpha females. It would’ve been cool to see them work out the kinks. It would’ve been cool to see them trying to figure out what their mission is as a Bat Family. It would’ve been cool to see how Kate’s relationship would evolve with Sophie. And it would’ve been cool to see Ryan taking on this leadership role with Kate Kane in the mix.
Then there’s the Alice of it all. Look, I get it. She’s the bad guy. It doesn’t stop her from being nuanced and utterly complicated. But she’s the bad guy and has done plenty of things this season that are questionable. But there’s been one certainty. She wanted to get her sister back and she fought tooth and nail for it while falling in love with Ocean and grieving his loss when Safiyah killed him. That’s change. That’s growth.
Also, that scene where she was fighting for Kate and helping Ryan give her CPR. That scene was real, all sorts of tough, and left me feeling like we were going to get the Kate/Beth reunion that we’ve been waiting for. Kate was ready. Beth was ready. And…you mean to tell me some random ass cops recognized her and arrested her? At that moment? Really? She was Beth then and she should’ve left Gotham with Kate instead of in a cell.
Again, I get it. She’s the bad guy. But what was the point of all that development in season two if Kate’s just gonna go, “Yeah, I can’t help my sister. And that super emotional moment where she was screaming for me means nothing because she’s still Alice.” She didn’t actually say this but she might as well should’ve because it made absolutely no sense with a side of really?
And I know people grieve in different ways. No way is right. But did Ryan really have to go and gloat in Arkham to Alice? Ok, justice was served. But it rubbed me the wrong way to see the hero coming to the villain to basically go, “Ha, I got you.” If Batman did this I’d be nah. If The Flash did this over on his show I’d be like nah. And even Superman, Green Arrow, or Black Lightning would do this I’d be like nah too.
Ryan will never get over the death of her mother. You can’t expect her to. But the fact remains that the show reunited her with that killer to deliver some out of nowhere news that Ryan’s mom is still alive? Ehhhh, feels lazy and convoluted with a side of “there really was no other way to deliver this news?” At this point, if she appears as the villain of her own story, that flies in the face of Ryan’s Batwoman, that would be the only way that would bring Ryan’s story full circle where she would have to reexamine what makes a villain.
Batwoman is set to return for season 3 this fall.