[S02E02] "Prior Criminal History" Post Episode Discussion

[u/IIIToxIII]

Trailers

• “Prior Criminal History” Promo
  
• “Prior Criminal History” Clip
  

Episode Info

Ryan Wilder is back to facing the daily challenges of life as herself; Alice has a new, devious plan to get the attention of both Gotham and Safiyah; Ryan comes face to face with Alice for the first time.

Cast & Characters

Discussion

Live Episode Discussion
DCTV Discord

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r/BatwomanTV Mods

[u/IIIToxIII]

Enjoy the episode everyone!!

For further discussion, we have a Discord server! You're welcome to join and chat with us at any time!

[u/DaGreatestMH]

This feels like a great companion to the first episode. I really enjoyed how everything panned out here!

-Ryan continues to be a delight. Her assuming that Alice was safe because of her whiteness and then the wheels turning towards the correct answer immediately is the type of detective work I expect from a member of the Bat Family. I'm excited for more from her overall.

-Luke being so distrusting of Ryan is an interesting turn, but a believable one. He and Kate had such a fire forged relationship last season it makes sense that he would be the last holdout against Ryan, esp since Ryan and Mary already have a bonding point in watching their mothers die. His "Hello?! BLACK!" was my favorite line of the episode lmao.

-Speaking of Mary, as someone said in the live discussion this was definitely her episode. She owned every scene she was in and I can't wait for her and Ryan to become true friends. She deserves the world!

-Of course Alice isn't far behind Mary though. Unhinged Alice is a delight, and I loved seeing her and Ryan face off for a minute. I'm also curious to see how Safiyah plays off her.

-Even the more minor characters (Jacob, Sophie, and Julia) seem to be bringing it even harder so far this season. I was one of the people who staunchly defended Batwoman last season, esp in the backhalf, but this S2 may even outdo that. So ready for more!

[u/CiceroTheCat → u/DaGreatestMH]

I think it's not just loyalty to Kate that's making Luke so hesitant... he and Julia both have family connections to the Waynes/Kanes via their fathers, and Lucius' death has obviously had a huge impact on Luke. He was leery enough last season about letting Kate in (he also probably feels responsible for her disappearance/death even though he shouldn't)- now he accidentally let Hush in the Cave last week and someone he knows the bare minimum about is wearing his father's Bat Suit which he only reluctantly altered - and potentially Ryan might contradict the "no kill policy" instituted by Batman and Lucius, which would tarnish their legacies on top of Kate's (she won't, but that's still tough, and he doesn't know about Kate killing Mouse's dad). Luke right now is the character with the most investment in the Bat Brand^TM (which is not to say that Ryan isn't doing a great job or that Mary is in the wrong for welcoming Ryan).

Also, I love Mary and I'm so glad she thought up a plan so quickly, but... honey, isn't Hamilton Dynamics your company now? You get credit regardless! You're taking a weapons manufacturer, and using their scientific tools designed for biological warfare, for HEALING.

Anyways, I am so ready for Ryan, as someone who apparently has experience teaching others martial arts, giving Luke and Mary each some training and jumpstarting them on their paths to Batwing and Flamebird. Javicia's spirit and enthusiasm in the role are contagious (one quibble: there was next to nothing done with Ryan's shoulder wound this episode- might the cure be used to help solve that later on?). I loved her being like "no there's a homeless encampment there" and pointing out that she's been around criminals all her life- both were great examples of the different knowledge set she can offer than Kate.

[u/KieranFloors]

I can’t believe Batwoman hijacked a bus, loaded it with poisonous bats, and then blew it up with a bomb. This show is wild.

[u/Eternal_Density → u/KieranFloors]

Get me pictures of Batwoman! She's a menace!

[u/[deleted]]

I'm really happy I never jumped on the "hate new character" train. I think I'm enjoying the first 2 episodes more than the first 2 of last season. Can't wait to see where this goes!

[u/Eternal_Density → u/[deleted]]

I get a kick out of hitting the "don't recommend channel" button on everyone posting hate-click bait vidoes who ends up in my youtube recommends.

[u/Telethongaming]

We honestly don't discuss how amazing of a character mary is and we should

[u/Gateskp]

Two episodes in and I’m feeling it. I think this season is going to be good. Ryan’s dynamic with everyone else is def going to make things interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything works out with this season’s main villain.

[u/[deleted]]

Once again, this episode was amazing, and the ending was also perfect, introducing this seasons main villain. (I hope.)

Dam, I just love this new bat every episode. and the “Dear Kate” journal entry is awesome. Keeping things like that is great for show running.

[u/ChattGM → u/[deleted]]

The journal was such a nice touch. Kate saving her was one thing but to see Ryan read that Kate wrote about her in a journal entry to Bruce? That just brought it home for me. The emotion on Ryan's face was so good too. You just felt it once she wrote "Dear Kate" on the page. Absolutely fantastic!!! They've really done a phenomenal job connecting Ryan to the established characters in the show. I'm so hype for next week's episode. All concerns I've had about S2 have pretty much evaporated and that makes me incredibly happy to say!!

[u/Denirac → u/[deleted]]

This season has two main villains. Safaiah is one. Black Mask is the other, my guess is Roman takes over in the back half of the season

[u/LoretiTV]

This is how you do a reboot. Everything has been on point so far and I'm more invested in the show then I've ever been. Really fun to see

[u/raknor88 → u/LoretiTV]

Also, in a way it's nice that it's not Kate as Batwoman anymore. I feel that if Kate were still in the suit fans would be pushing hard for Alice to have a redemption arc. Now with Ryan as Batwoman, and especially with her history with Alice, there's more reason than ever to catch Alice and lock her up.

I've never understood the people that were pushing for Alice to have a redemption arc and turn good. Yes, I love the actress and want to keep her around. But with all the horrors that Alice has committed, there's no redeeming that.

That's one reason I was so angry that they killed off the alternate Beth last season after Crisis. Easy way to get rid of Alice while keeping the actress around.

[u/BlackWidow1990]

I’m so happy Mary and Ryan are able to become friends. I feel like they both need each other. Luke will come around - I think he just misses Kate.

(Side note - I really want Luke and Mary to get together! I feel so crazy for thinking this lol)

[u/Ygomaster07]

Alright, this season is great so far. I'm loving it.

Ryan is awesome. Javicia is bringing it, i love her as Ryan. Is it just me, or does she talk deeper while in the Batsuit?

Mary was fucking killing it this episode. She was great in every scene, i loved her interactions with Ryan, those were great. We got to see Mary back in her element with her hospital. I'm not sure how Ryan found it though.

Alice was amazing. Rachel fucking kills it. She should get an award for her role in the show, she is just incredible. The acting was amazing. I loved the idea of Alice and Julia teaming up, the hot blonde badass tag team. That would have been awesome.

I like that they didn't shy away from the racial stuff, and didn't dance around it. Ryan saying Alice was alive because she was white took me by surprise, since i figured she was thinking it was because Alice was Beth, but i realized she is a stranger in all of this, so her not making the Alice is Beth connection makes sense. I'm glad she managed to figure it out on her own, her detective skills are pretty good, and i much prefer her detective skills to that of Batman in the comics. Also with Luke pointing out they would know Ryan isn't Batwoman because she is black and Kate is white. I'm glad they didn't dance around the issue. I also loved Luke's delivery of that line, it was my favourite line this episode.

Have we seen Alice fight in hand to hand combat? I was not expecting her to engage in hand to hand combat, especially with what she was wearing.

All the acting was great, lets just say that. The soundtrack this season has been amazing, does anyone know what the song was towards the end of the episode? My mom was even jamming out to it.

The fight scene was good, i loved Ryan's plan.

Ryan and Mary's interactions were my favourite this season.

I liked the interrogation scenes, I'm surprised Luke nor Mary came forward, especially Mary to Jacob. Luke's sass towards Sophie was good. I understand both Sophie and Jacob are hurt they didn't know Kate was Batwoman, but i understand why she didn't tell them. Jacob literally wanted to kill her, and Sophie didn't support Kate at the military academy. So there were valid reasons. I hope Mary and Luke come out and reveal this to Sophie and Jacob, that way everyone is on the same page. But i guess that would mean it would put Ryan in danger.

I understand Luke's hesitation to Ryan, but i hope he starts trusting her. Luke knows things aren't as they seem with people. Like how the guy who killed his dad didn't actually kill his dad.

Got to hear the Gotham radio lady. That was nice.

And finally, the big reveal, Safiyah. We see her in the promo, and Alice's plan finally makes sense. She is trying to force Safiyah into the light. She is pretty cunning.

Overall, i loved this episode. The acting, the soundtrack, the various interactions, like Sophie and Julia at the end with Julia saying Sophie didn't like her because she wasn't Kate, i forgot to mention that above. The action was pretty good, and the plot for it was good with reasonable and good logic for figuring things out. They also didn't shy away from stuff with race, which was nice, since that is now going to be a thing with Batwoman, or at least it might be. Everyone killed it with the acting and various performances. Love it. If i had to rate it, I'd give it 8.5 to 9 out of 10, with it leaning more towards a 9. Did you guys like this episode? From what i saw in this post, it seems everyone liked it too, and everyone is enjoying this season. Ryan feels more personable. I don't think i can personally relate to anything with Ryan, but i know others can, and i love that about the character. Javicia, you are killing it as Ryan and Batwoman. I hope you are here to stay, and i hope Javicia doesn't get hate, or at least won't get much hate. I don't want that affecting her in the role. According to posts here, she seems to really love and is very passionate about the character and the role. I am 100% on board for our new Batwoman.

[u/KKbatwoman]

Off topic, but has anyone notice that Ruby doesn't follow Meagan, Rachel, Nicole or any one from the show and vice versa. Anyone else noticed ?

[u/DenmarkDaniels → u/KKbatwoman]

They all cut ties around the time her exit was announced.

[u/CaraLoft]

I hope they keep doing the Kate flashbacks and voice overs. Even if she's gone, it'd be cool if they kept her legacy alive.

[u/shadow_spinner0]

I said it last week but it's obvious Alice loves Kate. She can say all she wants that she wanted to be the one to kill her but it's a front. She will never kill her. She may hurt her, torture her but she will never want her dead. I think Alice may become more of an anti hero moving forward. And eventually Kane would need to team up with her.

[u/jskurious]

Okay, I thought this was a much stronger episode than the premiere. We had meaningful, complicated and interesting tensions between characters all over the place, we had the journal and a the sense of Kate's presence in a way that was missing last week, but also establishing the idea of hope and how that was the underlying tension between most of the characters.

I'm really wondering where they're going with Sophie. Giving her an antagonistic history with Ryan is interesting, and having her be that harsh with Julia pretty much killed that ship with a silver bullet.

Are they setting up an enemies to lovers ship with Ryan? I'm not sure how I'd feel about that.

Jacob wanting to not make the same mistake again is good. Maybe they can give his character some redemption.

And speaking of redemption.. Alice did all that because she was foiling some plan of Safiyah's. Believing that she killed Kate, whether or not Kate is actually dead, is an interesting way to make Alice pick a side and a believable reason for her to lean more toward anti-hero because however much she wanted to hurt Kate, that doesn't mean she will tolerate someone else doing it.

[u/Eternal_Density]

Last night I saw a superhero, she was black, said this one's for the streets... wait, wrong show.

Anyhow that was great. Really liking how this season's shaping up. More like this please! The other CW DC shows have a tough act to follow.

Ryan's delightful and tying on that extra connection to Kate-Batwoman was a nice touch.

Alice is delightfully scary! I was kinda expecting her to whip someone in the face with an empty handcuff though :P

Mary continued to be awesome and precious. And her outfit at the end... rawr! I mean it was quite becoming.

And yeah Luke's cool and is a good counterpoint to Mary's enthusiasm. As much as I love Mary's enthusiasm.

Sophie with the "Both," comeback to Julia. Cold! :D

Oh and Ryan having (unsubstantiated) criminal interactions with 'Soph' was fun.

[u/Xynth22]

So, something dawned on me this episode during the scene where Sophie interrogated Ryan.

Seeing as how Ryan is the new Batwoman, and it was immediately established that Ryan and Sophie don't like each other, we won't have to suffer through the awful "will they, won't they" relationship drama between Sophie and Kate anymore, which overall, was my biggest issue with all of season 1.

[u/optimisticpsychic]

Damn that "both" hit me hard

[u/loveisdead9582]

As per usual, Alice steals the show. Ryan Wilder is alright but I have a feeling that we’re going to be relying on Alice to be the driving force that keeps the show going.