Batwoman Review: A Lesson from Professor Pyg (Season 3 Episode 5)

Ryan, Sophie, Marquis, and Jada have the most awkward and dangerous dinner ever on Batwoman Season 3 Episode 5, “A Lesson from Professor Pyg.”

What an unexpected thriller of an episode this is. Origins, reveals, major story set ups, crazed killers, “A Lesson from Professor Pyg” has everything.

Jada invites Ryan and Sophie to dinner, so she can warn Ryan off of working with Marquis, who crashes with his date Zoe. It’s as tense, dramatic, and emotional as we thought it would be. However, things take a turn when the chef, inspired by Professor Pyg, kills Zoe.

“A Lesson from Professor Pyg” is actually an old-fashioned horror story. The drugged family is chased into a panic room by the knife wielding chef, but can’t stay hidden, because the paralytic makes Marquis sick.

As much as we’ve complained about the Bat trophies, this is the most interesting way the show has introduced a Bat villain. Making it a thriller felt unique and fresh. Something that’s been missing in the trophy hunt.

The problem is that so far none of these copycats hold a candle to the original. There’s never been a single moment this season where we questioned whether the team was going to save the day.

If your superhero show doesn’t have stakes, then there’s no reason for fans to stay invested. Thankfully, Batwoman delivers major stakes in this episode that not only set up an interesting arc, but made the previous trophy of the week stories make sense.

It took a while, but we finally get backstory on Renee Montoya. She and Pamela Isley were in love before Pam was experimented on and turned into Poison Ivy. Renee is the one who told Batman to bury her beneath the city away from water and sun.

Can’t imagine that’s going to be a happy reunion when Ivy finally shows up. Speaking of which, Mary is suffering from the after effects of whatever Ivy did to her. She’s obsessed with plants and is using plant based insults.

Will she end up as one of Ivy’s minions or is Ivy using her as some sort of host? Based on the promo for the next episode, it could go either way.

We like how they’re laying the groundwork and not rushing this story. Though we may be a little bored with the trophies, we don’t want Batwoman to reveal Poison Ivy too soon. She is a major villain, and deserves a big moment.

And now for that big final reveal. Jada isn’t evil, she’s just trying to save Marquis. The Joker zapped him on his head with his buzzer when he was kid, and he’s been a sociopath ever since. It’s the reason she gave Ryan up, and wants her to stay away.

Batwoman cleverly uses old home movies to show the darker, murderous side of the charming playboy we thought we knew.

It turns out Batwoman has been teasing all these copycats, so we could understand how new versions of old villains are possible. Since he was changed by the Joker’s buzzer, does this mean Marquis is going to be the new Joker, and will Ryan have a showdown with her own brother?

We did not see that coming. Well played Batwoman.

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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