Matthew Danko (TheDoctorDanko)

Here’s the deal. A lot of folks hate the show - some for good reason others for misguided ones. When you dive into the world of the DCCW it’s not a shot for shot adaptation of the comic books nor does it pretend to be. It has its own story, character interpretations, and universe that it works in. And I’m surprised so many comic book fans do not understand that. With over 80 years of content and thousands of interpretations of a character we find the ones we like, and, for the most part, we accept all if it’s forms. However, more people bash these shows for it not being Batman and not being how it is on the page. I see it as just another installment of the comics, but in a different format. The universe that they’ve set out is one that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It can be cheesy and over dramatic and that is the charm of the DCCW. It has emotional depth. It more often deals with the person underneath the mask than their super persona. They take really interesting storylines, tweak them, and then take them to new places. Batwoman is no exception. I admit, the episodes leading up to the Crisis on Infinite Earth’s 5 episode crossover, feel slow and like something is missing. I wasn’t a fan of Alice, the main antagonist introduced. And we never get a window into her backstory much like we did with Oliver Queen and his time on Lian Yu. However, post Crisis the show has kicked into high gear. Almost like they were killing time but still wanted to make sure she was included in saving the multiverse. During that event she interacts with Bruce Wayne of a different Earth and touches on her new relationship with Supergirl. This is when the focus shifts. After those episodes, we see more of how Kate Kane is trying to figure out who she is and why she has to put on the suit. And that’s what was missing initially. The other consistent complaint I see about the show is that it’s pushing a social justice agenda. In fact, I see it in reference to the DCCW as a whole. The problem with that argument is at their core, that’s what comic books have always done. Between all the punching and brooding on rooftops it is a form of art that consistently shows a reflection of our society at that point in time. And for a character who is literally fighting for justice - that’s not a bad thing nor is it something that should be ignored. If you dislike the DCCW, you’re not going to like the show. Arrow launched this universe and dealt heavily with tons of Batman characters, themes, and storylines. People hated it because it wasn’t Batman. I loved it because it was Batman - it was just through the prism of a different character - The Green Arrow. Now that it’s series has ended, Batwoman is starting to fill that void. It’s taking those elements of a vigilante trying to save their city and letting a new contender put on the cowl. There has been so much Batman content in such a short amount of time that, if this show doesn’t work for you, you can find it elsewhere. For me, as a huge Batman fan both in comic books and on screen, I am so happy to find something new like this show. Sure, it needs a little time to gain its footing, like every other DCCW show has, but it’s getting there quickly. It’s improving and developing Kate Kane’s character in each new episode. And despite having a shorter season due to the virus plaguing our world right now, I hope it lasts for many many more seasons.