Batwoman Review: Loose Tooth (Season 3 Episode 2)

Ryan and Alice begin their uncomfortable partnership by hunting the new Killer Croc on Batwoman Season 3 Episode 2, “Loose Tooth.”

As interesting as it is to see the team chasing down the Bat trophies, we hope the show doesn’t get too bogged down in retelling Batman stories. Between Mad Hatter and Killer Croc, these bad guys don’t feel dangerous or special. They’re just disposable copies of the originals.

This lack of fear or anticipation affects the episode, as we never for one second feel like Ryan, Alice or the missing girl are actually threatened. We know the team will catch Alice, Batwoman will save the girl, and capture Killer Croc. And that’s exactly what happens.

While the personal scenes involving Ryan’s birth mother, Luke and Mary’s simmering feelings, and Alice confronting her past help ground things, the stale, predictable case of the week gums up the works, delivering a rare average outing for Batwoman.

During Supergirl Season 1, it took a while for the series to find its own footing away from Superman’s rogues. The season may only be two episodes in, but we’re getting the same vibe from this Bat trophies story.

What Batwoman Season 2 did so well was take parts of Bat mythology, and put its own spin on it. Hopefully, that’s where the show is going with the Poison Ivy aspect of this arc. The way it keeps dropping hints, the big reveal of Ivy’s return better live up to the hype.

Javicia Leslie and Rachel Skarsten have amazing chemistry. Ryan and Alice spending extended time together, working on nonsensical cases connected to familiar yet new villains, is going to create great moments.

Their murderous history combined with their adversarial relationship means they understand each other in a way others never will. They’ll never be friends or partners, but their lives will always be intertwined.

Alice does her best to get a rise out of Ryan by needling her about Jada’s abandonment. Fortunately, Ryan has already made her peace with the situation, and knows what Alice is up to, so it doesn’t work. However, it’s fascinating, as she’s able to open up to Alice in a way she can’t with Luke or Mary.

There’s a rhythm to Leslie and Skarsten’s back and forth that usually comes with lifelong partnerships. Batwoman needs a two-hander bottle episode with Ryan and Alice digging into their uncomfortably similar life experiences.

Obviously Alice escapes, in the process leaving an injured girl behind to fend for herself against Croc. It’s a heartbreaking scene, as Alice is clearly talking to her younger self, with Skarsten showing us the pain the supervillain will never get over.

Jada confronts Ryan about the cyber intrusion into her background (thanks a lot Sophie), not buying Ryan’s denials for a second. While Ryan is impressed with her confidence, she still recognizes that she doesn’t need anything from Jada.

Sophie telling Ryan, “she didn’t give you anything, so she can’t take anything” is spot on. It’s another perfect moment in their beautiful friendship. It’s equally nice when Sophie encourages her to tell Jada who she is, so she can either gain a mother or really get closure.

With that truth in mind, Ryan ends the episode telling Jada that she’s her daughter. Considering the soapy upheaval this is going to bring to the characters’ lives, we need there to be more to this than drama just for the sake of drama.

After a stellar premiere, “Loose Tooth” feels like a step back. The episode was seemingly treading water, waiting for more exciting stories to kick off. It’s way too early in the season for filler. Let’s hope the show got that out of its system before heading into better story territory.

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

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

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