REVIEW: Batwoman, Season 2 Episode 11 'Arrive Alive'

 REVIEW: Batwoman, Season 2 Episode 11 'Arrive Alive'

When Batwoman's second season began, you'd be forgiven for assuming that the Queen of Coryana Safiyah was the season's big bad. And yet, fast forward to Batwoman's eleventh episode of the season, and the current major threat to our protagonists is quite clearly the False Face Society, run by Black Mask (Peter Outerbridge). He's the new looming presence casting its shadow over the series.

Indeed, it hasn't taken long for the Crows to move on from the island of Coryana, which delivered them the disappointment of no living and breathing Kate, to moving all in on bringing down the False Face Society. In particular Sophie (Meagan Tandy) seems determined to take down their operation. I have to feel sorry for her when Batwoman (Javicia Leslie) inadvertently botches her cover, but it's a good way of showing how much of an interference a masked vigilante can be to these kind of delicate situations. Sure, they might bring down criminals and stop major threats, but they can just as easily create more problems than they solve. They aren't included in the inner workings of security firms like the Crows, after all.  

It's Sophie's cover being blown which leads to Ryan going undercover. Not as Batwoman, but as 'Ryan Wild'. This leads to some thrilling car sequences, which feel ripped straight out of a car heist movie, with Ryan engaging in illegal street races and performing manoeuvres to impress the False Face Society. It's like a motoring equivalent of a job interview, with Ryan having to demonstrate her driving skills are up to the job at hand.

Really though you can't help but feel Sophie allowing Ryan to go covert in this manner is just one big distraction so she can take on Black Mask and the False Face Society herself. Which is exactly what she does, and God does that character prove her capabilities when she fights alongside Batwoman. Sophie really deserves her own batsuit by this point, because she has more than proven her worth, and it would just be ridiculously cool to see her fighting alongside Batwoman in full bat gear.

It's a possibility that definitely feels closer to being realised than ever before, as Sophie discovers Batwoman's true identity. It's a great irony, that Ryan Wilder - the very woman who Sophie showed so much disdain for, believing she was lucky not to be behind bars - is the one who has been protecting her and the city as the new Batwoman. I'm looking forward to seeing how this changes their relationship on the show, as you would imagine that Sophie would surely develop a newfound respect for Ryan. She's been risking life and limb, despite having no powers, which is nothing short of remarkable. 

The weakest aspect of this episode is probably that concerning Alice (Rachel Skarsten), who seeks help from the woman capable of removing others' memories, Enigma/Evelyn Rhyme (Laura Mennell). This largely just feels like a glorified recap for what we have already seen previously in this season, covering Alice's love for her sister and her flirtatious relationship with Ocean (Nathan Owens). It doesn't really add any new perspective on the character, and ultimately feels more like a way to pad out the runtime. 

It is nice to see the return of Ocean, and discover that he's still alive, but again it just tells us what we knew all along. Alice was in love with Ocean, but she chose to 'kill' him under the belief that it would bring back her sister. There's no new ground, and it's a shame because both actors are great, and deserve to be given more to do. 

Overall, 'Arrive Alive' is a great instalment in Batwoman's second season. Whilst the Alice subplot is a little subpar, the main narrative regarding the false face society proves thrilling, and there's a tantalising glimpse of a future narrative plot point here, when Sophie discovers Ryan is Batwoman. The episode might not set Gotham on fire, but it does maintain your interest well for the next episode to follow. 

What are your thoughts on episode eleven of Batwoman's second season? Let me know in the comments.