Batwoman Review: Initiate Self-Destruct (Season 2 Episode 12)

After discovering that Ryan is Batwoman, Sophie has some hard decisions to make on Batwoman Season 2 Episode 12, “Initiate Self-Destruct.”

The series has fully established the reach and impact of Black Mask, leading to an episode packed with reveals and character development. Every main character gets a moment to move their story forward, and none of them feel rushed or thrown together.

This is a well-balanced hour of action, crucial plot points, and tension-breaking humor. It does a good job of pointing us where we need to go, without making things feel too predictable. This episode demonstrates Batwoman is getting comfortable with itself and its storytelling.

Amid growing scandals and questions about her own life choices, this season has witnessed Sophie struggling with her place in the Crows. Working with Batwoman has clearly opened her eyes to how severe the deficiencies in the system are.

Sophie can see that Batwoman is not the bad guy, but the ego and misogyny of the Crows won’t let Jacob or Tavaroff admit that she’s right. When push comes to shove, she chooses to protect Ryan. This is a definitive choice for someone who’s been straddling the line for two seasons.

It’s so nice to see her find the backbone and spirit we’ve always expected from the character.

It’s been a while since we’ve had any movement on Kate’s kidnapping, and subsequent brainwashing by Black Mask. We have several questions, the biggest being how long will it take for Kate to remember who she is?

Kate knows who she is. It’s heartbreaking to watch her be stripped of her agency, as she fights it with everything she has. When she comes to, Enigma makes her into Roman’s daughter Cersei.

Knowing that Kate is still in there while she’s forced to believe she’s someone else, might be worse than if she had been killed off.

We’ve seen this kind of storyline before, and it usually goes on two or three episodes too long. One of the improvements we’ve enjoyed throughout Batwoman Season 2 is the pacing of stories, and how they end up connected. It’s crucial to the show and Kate that she stays involved with the main characters.

When it comes to Alice and Ocean, the show has mistaken sexual attraction for chemistry. We’re definitely interested in Alice’s journey of self-discovery, but we’d care more if she were on it with someone who’s not a personality vacuum.

Ocean grew up trapped on Coryana, then escaped to Gotham for a while, and along the way, he and Alice fell in love. That’s the extent of what we know about him. He has no life or character away from Alice or Safiyah.

Their relationship is completely forced as if the show didn’t know what to do with Alice after Coryana. With Jacob being undone by his grief, and turning to Snakebite, this seems like a perfect time for the pair to finally confront their past.

More time with Alice would give Jacob something to do besides yell, cry, and be terrible at his job. Honestly, at what point do the Crows’ clients start questioning the level of service they receive?

We’re at our wit’s end with Jacob. He’s had absolutely no evolution since we first met him. In fact, the character seems to be regressing. He’s extremely one-note, adding no value to the show. He’s the weak link of Batwoman and at some point, that needs to be rectified.

Looking ahead, we’d like to see Batwoman continue to use its comic book stories to address real social issues because that’s where the show is at its strongest.

What did you think of this episode of Batwoman? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Batwoman airs Sundays at 9/8c on The CW.

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