Batwoman Review: The Rabbit Hole (Season 1 Episode 2)
Batwoman Season 1 Episode 2, “The Rabbit Hole,” continues to rely on tricks of the Arrowverse trade, which will be its detriment.
We’ve gone the voiceover route on basically every other Arrowverse show, Arrow killed any entertainment value that flashbacks might have, and honestly all this journaling/letter writing is giving me major The Vampire Diaries flashbacks, but that could just be because I’m currently in the middle of a rewatch.
So, why is Batwoman relying on these tactics? It is making the show feel a bit stale when it should be giving us a brand new, interesting superhero origin story.
As soon as the show realizes this and backs off on all these Arrowverse staples, Batwoman will be better for it.
Honestly, does anyone else keepwaiting for the Batman news/radio voiceovers to end with “xoxo Gossip Girl?” It’s giving me that kind of vibe.
As far as origin stories go, it’s fun to see both Kate and Luke stumble a bit as Kate keeps donning the Batman suit.
Luke isn’t the sidekick who knows how everything works and will guide Kate on her journey as the knowledgeable mentor. He’s just trying to keep Kate from breaking things, and he’s also figuring things out as he goes.
The next lesson he needs to learn is that you don’t use real names over the coms. Yes, Kate doesn’t have a superhero name yet, but using her real name over what is hopefully a secure line is still a bit of a security concern.
Watching Luke figure things out is actually more enjoyable than Kate’s origin story at the moment because she hasn’t really decided that she wants to be Gotham’s next hero yet.
Alice: It may have taken you years, sweet darling Kate, but you found me eventually, even if i’m not the girl you expected me to be. I had my secrets, just as you have yours. But do be careful, my dear sister, putting on that suit and all the darkness that comes with it makes you just as crazy as me.
The Batman suit is a means to an end for her.
On Batwoman Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” Kate put it on to save Sophie. Now, she’s using it to find out the truth about Alice. She’s not going out to save the average person from the bad guy of the week.
In fact, the lack of a big bad of the week is one thing that’s different about Batwoman — we’re starting out much more serialized. There’s not really a procedural element yet, and that’s a good thing.
It will be interesting to see how long before we’re introduced to a one-off villain, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the first time one pops up will be when Kate begins to question whether or not she should start to become a hero and not just someone borrowing her cousin’s suit.
For now, the focus, villain-wise, is on Alice, although the end of the hour suggests that maybe we should be more concerned about Kate’s step-mom. But, we don’t know anything really about that, so let’s focus on Alice, shall we?
Alice and Kate’s dynamic is intriguing right now. Kate wants to learn the truth about her sister, and Alice wants…honestly who knows. She wants to destroy their father, but she hasn’t revealed what she wants to do with Kate.
Alice: Jacob Kane is not man enough to protect this city because he’s a quitter. When things get difficult, he gives up.
What Alice’s plans are for her dear sister will reveal a lot about who she is as a villain.
Maybe her vendetta is just with her father, but Alice has also brought up the issue that the Crows (and her dad) are rich and protected whereas she and her Wonderland gang, and perhaps others, are not.
This suggests that there’s more than revenge on the agenda, but it’s too soon to tell.
Alice: After I disappeared, when did you sleep through the night for the very first time?
Kate: I haven’t yet.
As for Kate, Batwoman wants to set up this rich conflict in her between the desire to save her sister and whatever moral code Kate has. However, it’s not working yet.
This conflict feels too external to Kate. She is still on the “how is my sister alive” part, and it’s not til she accepts or moves past it that the issue of her sister being a villain can be fully developed and explored.
But, Batwoman keeps taking the time to have multiple people shout “ALICE IS A BAD PERSON” at Kate, as if that is enough to create conflict. It’s not.
Maybe this struggle will start to work a bit better because Kate’s had a somewhat honest and truthful conversation with Alice, and Kate’s also learned of the crime scene photos and knows what Alice had done to Mary.
Now, let’s switch gears to focus on the weird relationship drama between Sophie and Kate.
We need to see more of them working together or being together to get a sense of their dynamic. Yes, they were a thing, and the tension between them is obvious, but they haven’t had enough shippable moments to put up with a bunch of long-past relationship drama yet.
We need to see why they work and why they should be together in order to fully ship them. The fact that Sophie knew about the waffle code is a good start, as is the flirty Wonder Woman line.
I guess, I just want more good moments between them before we dive into more of the jealous ex/ “are you happy” type moments. Speaking of that moment, may I present a look into my notes.
Kate: You know, if I had known you were getting married, I would’ve come back sooner.
Sophie: I didn’t think weddings were your thing
Kate: Not to go, to stop it.
*Speak Now plays*
That’s totally how the scene should’ve gone.
What did you think of this episode of Batwoman? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Batwoman airs Sunday at 8/7c on The CW.
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Allison Nichols
Allison is in a love affair with television that doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. Slightly damaged fictional characters are her weakness. She loves to spend her free time curled up with a cat and a show to binge-watch. Allison is a Tomatometer-approved critic (Rotten Tomatoes).