Gotham City is still regaling over the sighting of the Bat themed vigilante who they all believe to be The Batman, returning to Gotham to save them. However, this episode takes us into the moment we have all be waiting for, as Kate Kane (Ruby Rose) finally decides that it’s time to tell the truth, and step out from the shadow of The Batman and show people her true face.
After last weeks somewhat slow and duller episode, this weeks episode picks the show back up and brings us a very entertaining plot that brings in new characters, and adds a little drama to the lives of Kate and those closest to her, including Alice (Rachel Skarsten). Kate finds out that Sophie (Meagan Tandy) has been hiding her past with Kate from her new husband Tyler (Greyston Holt) after he asks Kate who she is to Sophie, to which Kate decides not to give the game away and simply tells him they were in the same bootcamp together. However, this is clearly paining Kate as Ruby Rose’s acting ability shines through some more in this episode, proving that he can really bring the character of Kate Kane to life.
This episode brings in a little special appearance of a character I wasn’t expecting to see in this series, as he is a famous Batman villain, but with the writers of this show merging him brilliantly into the plot of this series, his appearance makes sense. Gabriel Mann brings us a very creepy, devious and clearly troubled portrayal of one of Batman’s most famous villains since his appearance in Batman #609 back in 2003, which was the first issue in the Batman: Hush story arc that has gained much appraisal over the years as well as being given the animated feature film treatment in 2019, although this animated adaptation of the story differs from the original source material, but I’ll leave that for another review. The point is, Thomas ‘Tommy’ Elliot appears in this episode of Batwoman, who as fans, we recognise as the villain known as Hush, and whilst we don’t get to see his alter ego or hear his name (Hush), the performance of Gabriel Mann portrays the character true hatred for Bruce Wayne, as well as bringing us a character that knows too much about Wayne and Batman, who he claims was an answer given to him by someone he claims solved the ‘Riddle’ (a clear reference to a certain Batman villain known as The Riddler) that really grips the viewer as we unravel the secrets of Tommy’s, Kate’s and Alice’s backstories throughout the episode.
Performances have much improved with the cast over these first three episodes, and this episode gave us stronger on screen chemistry between the characters, I still think some of the story revealed last episode should have been withheld for a longer time, but they are certainly making it work as they go along.
The highlight of this episode comes in the finale as we finally see Kate Kane, change the outfit from looking like Batman to looking like her own Dark Knight vigilante, as we finally see her in full costume as Batwoman, along with hearing the name for the first time as the Gotham radio presenter that narrates some of the plot, asks Gotham city what they should call the new hero.
Overall this episode gets a 4/5 from me as it’s certainly an improvement on the previous episode, and it seems to be giving us a glimpse at the possible future of the show.
Media Mallrat 
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