Batwoman: Pilot

October 6, 2019 6:31 PM - Season 1, Episode 1

Kate Kane returns home when the Alice in Wonderland gang targets her father and his security firm by kidnapping his best officer--and Kate's ex-girlfriend--Sophie Moore. (CW broadcast)

Den of Geek Episode 1 Review: The first episode of Batwoman introduces Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, and raises mysteries about the Arrowverse Batman.

TV Line - CW's Batwoman: Grade the Premiere

AV Club - Batwoman's official entrance into the Arrowverse is full of grit and pacing issues

TV Fanatic - It's a Gotham unlike we've ever seen as Batwoman Season 1 Episode 1 arrives in a city going on three years without its best-known defender.

posted by oh yeah! (9 comments total)

As CW DC shows go, I liked it.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:40 PM on October 6, 2019

Does it fit into the broader Arrowverse, or is it standalone?
posted by Kyol at 8:47 PM on October 6, 2019

It's part of the Arrowverse - I mean, I'm not sure what timeline we're in, since the pilot is an origin story whereas in last year's Elseworlds crossover Batwoman already had her wig added to the costume, but it's not a standalone in the way Black Lightning has been or in a different Earth like Supergirl.
posted by oh yeah! at 4:14 AM on October 7, 2019

I want to like this, and I suspect that I might. CW has not have had a great track record with me.

Didn't realize why I had this flagged for watching until Ruby Rose showed up onscreen.

I really liked that the costume had neither nipples nor heels.

Another show shot in Vancouver - but a ton of CGI/ matt backgrounds. I remember when they had the VAG (vancouver art gallery) all dolled up for this and people freaking out and wondering what event was going on.
posted by porpoise at 8:51 PM on October 7, 2019

I will watch more. I thought Ruby Rose was great at action and at looking good. Her acting is a bit one-note for me, but I think it may come with time. (Also, this was the episode that nearly paralyzed her for life, right?)

I liked that she has TWO sisters who have secret lives. The actress playing Alice really intrigued me, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does as the series continues. I was also intrigued by her stepsister's hidden depths.

I liked the way her mother was specifically using social media to influence public opinion, having them take selfies at the party to show they weren't scared.

I don't think we've ever seen an Arrowverse lead with this specific kind of angst with a parent. (Maybe Nate a bit, but I'm hard pressed to think of another.) They are continuing the trend of "lead who has lost a parent," which I guess is at its root a comic book thing. I also liked her complicated feelings about Batman, and the big reveal about what happened that day.

They've done an exceptional job with diverse casting in this show.

So, is Luke Fox actually Lucien Fox, or his son?

Anyone else feeling echoes of Iris/Eddie in the ex-girlfriend and her new husband?
posted by rednikki at 1:13 AM on October 8, 2019 [2 favorites]

Don't these shows try to hook you first, before ratcheting up the drama? I know interpersonal angst is their bread and butter, but this sure seems like a lot from the jump.

I guess I can appreciate them being up front with the Alice reveal instead of teasing it on and off for a season.

Ruby Rose was good and I really liked her two sidekicks for tech and medical assistance. My track record with CW superhero shows has been to cut out after a season or two when things start getting really dumb (why would you do that Barry?). This time I might just opt out right away though and save some time.
posted by ODiV at 7:57 AM on October 8, 2019

So far I am neutral here.

I did gag at the shot of RR's boobs in the opener, though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:43 PM on October 8, 2019

The Greg Rucka/JH Williams Batwoman run (on Detective Comics) is one of my all-time favorites, so I’m coming at this as an existing fanboy who wants to see the thing I already like, but with actors and stuff. From that perspective, I'm definitely in. I’m impressed with how much they’ve kept from Detective – the backstory of Batman vanishing from Gotham is totally different but Kate’s character is dead-on, as is everything with Alice (And revealing her identity at the end of the pilot means I don't know whatever the big twist is going to be, so that's nice). Overall good casting and action, production values are eh but pretty much in line with what I expect from the CW.

rednikki, you're not wrong about that relationship setup, but on the other hand how many other bisexual love triangles on network television can you name?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:16 PM on October 9, 2019 [2 favorites]

Watched this tonight, and I think it has the bones of something really fun, weighed down by a lot of Pilot Exposition Syndrome. I'll be back for at least a couple of weeks to see how it shapes up, though.

FWIW, my group of friends watching it are not Arrowverse watchers, and it seemed standalone to us. Could have been stuff that went right over heads, but it worked fine for the Arrowverse newbies.
posted by Stacey at 6:22 PM on October 11, 2019