BATWOMAN - SEASON 1.13

REVIEW:  BATWOMAN - SEASON 1.13:  "Drink Me"



Our Dark Lass Detective has had a rough go if it lately:  She met the alternate Earth version of her sister Beth, who was pure and good of heart, only to find out she couldn't exist on the same Earth as the wild and unpredictably crazy Alice.  In the end, Kate made the decision to save Beth, and let Alice die, only to have that decision taken away from her, as Dr. Campbell, who is really Mouse's father August Cartwright, slay the beloved Beth, believing her to be Alice, and thus saving Kate's actual sister from death.  Now, she's out for blood against Kate.  And speaking of Cartwright, aside from getting his revenge on Alice...so he thinks...what are his plans for his son?  We shall have to see...


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We check back into Gotham City, with what seems like a romantic evening for two between a man and a woman.  Just as they're about to get cozy, she puts the vampire bite on him.  He's shocked at what she did, but she puts him in a haze, making him succeptile to commaond.  He's willing to do what she wants, and she's says he's damn right about that.  Next thing we see, he's tied up with heavy rope over the bed, being exanguinated of his blood by her, while she sits and reads a magazine.

Kate is mourning the loss of Beth, as Luke tries to figure out why he messed up.  He knows they all did everything right.  Mary is there with them saying that Kate DID make the right decision in choosing Beth over Alice.  Luke says they have got to find out who killed her.  Kate reminds them that Alice is still on the loose, and VERY upset knowing that Kate chose Beth over her.  

We see on the news that Jacob Kane has been released from jail, and has been exonerated for the crimes against the death of his wife, Catherine.  He makes it clear that now that he's back on the beat, even though Alice is dead, there's still a city to protect,  We then see him in the morgue with Sophie, looking at the body of Beth, whom they assume is Alice.  He wonders why when Sophie had her dead in her sights, she didn't take the shot.  Sophie remembers all the things Batwoman said to her, and she said that she didn't have a clear shot, she kept moving.  But someone took her out.  

Alice, meanwhile, is looking for a rendesvouzes with Mouse, but he is nowhere to be found,  She isn't amused that he's hiding, until one of her Wonderland Gang henchmen find the min panda doll she gave him.  

Luke has been trying to get a trace on who killed Beth.  He found a vechile close by, but the plates are fake, and there's no solid lead.  They're going to have to keep working on it.  Luke does remind Kate, however, that regardless of the Beth/Alice situation, there's still a city to protect, and he fills her in on the new villainess in town:  Nocturna (who turns out to be the woman we saw at the beginning of the show).  He informs her of the victims she's already claimed.  Kate decides to head to an invite only club to check on her last whereabouts.  

Batwoman is on prowl, when she comes across a woman tied up and being bled dry in a wherehouse.  Before Batwoman can do anything, she's attacked by Nocturna.  Both them tussle with each other for a bit, until Nocturna bites Batwoman on the lip.  What happens next is that Batwoman feels loopy.  She's been drugged, and out she goes.  When she awakes, Noctura plans on bleeding HER dry as well.  Just then, the Crows show up to invade the little party.  Noctura doesn't get her fill, but makes sure she beats a hasty retreat before the authorities arrive.  Sophie is on the scene first, and she unties Batwoman, who tells her that the other woman is alive, but weak.  Sophie says that they can't keep bumping into each other like this, and that the next time she sees her, she'll bring her in.  Sophie's team arrives, but she says it's empty...Batwoman is gone.

Kate stops in at Mary's clinic to get her blood tested to see what she got drugged with, and Mary tells her that she has traces of ketamine in her system.  Kate makes up another one of her many exuses to play off the reason she has ketamine in her system, saying she got drunk studying for a real estate exam.  She then takes off without giving Mary any further explaination. 

At the Batcave, Luke says that Nocturna used ketamine as a paralysis drug to knock her out, as she does all her victims, and Kate says it happened when she got bit on the lip, which Luke didn't need to know about.  He says that there are no traces of it on the suit.  Kate says that there's one way to catch her---lure her out into the open.   What a better way than to throw a party.  

Jacob is instructing the team about Nocturna and her activities, and wants her found before Batwoman gets to her.  He wants to prove that THEY are still the premier security team equipped to protect the city, not a vigilante.  Jacob is aware of Kate's club opening a tad early with a party, and he knows it's ripe for the picking for Nocturna, so he's sending Sophie on assignment.  

At Kate's club, is a happening place, and Kate and Luke are using facial recognition cameras to see if they can spot Nocturna, when they stumble upon Mary entering the club, as well as Sophie, who's all dolled up for the occaision.  Mary and Sophie bump into each other, and Mary tries to get Sophie to drink, but she's on the job.  They discuss Batwoman, and Mary says she met her  Sophie says if her dad knew, he'd be upset.  Mary says that she's keeping that to herself.  A woman named Elle Scantling enters the bar, and her and Sophie hit it off...even though she's working.  Mary excuses herself, and Kate is watching all of this happen.  Luke calls her out on the jealousy bit.  Kate then goes to the bar to see Sophie and Elle, and offers them drinks.  Kate then cuts her finger in an attempt to check and see if Elle is Nocturna, but Elle apparently is squeamish around blood.  

Jacob is wandering the halls of headquarters, reading the file on Alice, when one of his agents shows up with video of the raid on the wherehouse where Nocturna was believed to be.  What he sees is shocking.  

Sohpie is called away on business, and leaves the club.  Luke ends up running interference for Mary, as she's being hit on by a woman who's a fan of hers.  We then see Luke get called away by Kate, talking into his earpiece.  He makes the excuse that her sister is needy, and takes off.  Turns out, once Luke gets to the back office, that security cams show Alice outside the club.  Kate says she'll handle it, and Luke advises against it. but she says she's got it.  She goes outside to confront Alice, who wants to know where Mouse is.  Kate has no idea.  Kate wants to talk to Alice as to WHY she chose Beth, but Alice is upset with her about that.  Kate says she wanted to save the version of Beth that was kind, good hearted, sweet.  Then, the sirens blare, and Alice knows she has to take off.  But before she does, she tells Kate what she did wrong.  She let Kate change her.  She was wrong---her sister let her die.  Kate goes back to the club, and Alice takes off.  She doesn't get far, however, as Nocturna gets the drop on her, and bites her, taking her out.

Once again, Luke and Kate are checking facial recognition, when they come across a woman named Natalia Knight.  Turns out, Natalia suffers from Porpherea, a disease that makes her sensitive to sunlight, and that her kidneys have trouble cleaning her blood.  So, she needs fresh blood to survive, surmises Kate.  They have found Nocturna.

We see Alice strung up like the other victims, and Nocturna telling her that she's gonna bleed her dry.  Try as Alice might, she's not very convincing...until she offers a better choice---Mary.  

Jacob called Sophie back to headquarters, and she tells him that she didn't find Nocturna.  He wonders if she's clear on what she's supposed to do.  She says her allegiance is to the Crows. 

Batwoman manages to find Alice strung up.  Batwoman notices that Nocturna only drew part of Alice's blood, and wonders what she did to break Nocturna's bloodletting.  Alice denies she knows anything, but Batwoman knows how meticulous Nocturna is---and she figures out that Alice offered up someone  else instead.  While they banter, Mary is helping a sick gal outside the club when  she is attacked by Nocturna.  Batwoman figures out that the rope used to string up Alice is rope they used for church bells.  She has Luke do a search, and they find out that they came from the Gotham Cathedral, but it's been closed down for awhile.  Alice should be dead,thinks Kate.  Alice knows---Kate tried.

Batwoman arrives at the Cathedral, and finds Mary tied up, with her blood just starting to drain.  As Batwoman goes to get her down, Nocturna attacks.  They fight for a little, and Noctura is about to get the edge, when she's knocked down.  We see Alice standing over her, and she takes off.  Alice helps Batwoman up, and they both try to help Mary.  Batwoman needs to stop Nocturna, and Alice says she will stay with Mary.  It's either that, or Noctura gets away.  Batwoman heads up into the top of the church to put Nocturna down.  Batwoman uses a UV light to blind Nocturna and burn her face, then cuffs her to the bell, stopping her reign of terror.

Jacob then reveals to her that he knows she's been working with Batwoman.  She says that when they went on a manhunt for Alice, they became a ruthless group, that the public lost faith in.  She thinks Batwoman can be of help.  He doesn't want Batwoman's help. Sophie's phone rings, and it's Batwoman, telling her were to find Nocturna.  Jacob suspends Sopie until she can get her priorities straight. 

Kate goes to see her sister at her clinic, and checks up on her condidtion.  She's got low blood sugar, but she'll be okay.  She says she checked her own blood, and it was nothing special.  She's surprised that Batwoman knew what to get her, and was grateful she got saved by her.  Kate wonders WHY Nocturna targeted her, and Mary says something about her mentioning a Desert Rose.  It then hits Kate, and she takes off, and says she'll check back in later.

Kate goes to see Alice, and knows about the Desert Rose, and that Alice sent Nocturna after Mary.  Alice admits it, and says she did it to prove that Kate was stupid in NOT saving her.  Kate says that the only thing that's stupid, was her believing that her sister could be saved, that she could be reformed, and that she could have her sister back.  Kate walks off, but not before Alice says that doesn't mean she doesn't want her to stop trying.  Alice is then interrupted by one of her men, as he says they had another guest.  He hands her a file on the dear Dr. Campbell, and she peruses it, and discovers he took a six year sabbatical from his practice to study skin grafting for children who were burn victims.  It doesn't take long to realize that Dr. Campbell is August Cartwright, and that she feels the Caterpillar is trying to make his presence known to her, by showing her that he can be a "butterfly".  But she swears that she will find Mouse, and when she does, they will BOTH clip his wings.  

Mary's at her clinic doing some work, overhearing Vesper talk about Nocturna's downfall, and how she got to her victims, by using ketamine as a drugging agent, by biting them.  At the mention of ketamine, Mary starts checking the bloodwork she did on her sister.  She then re runs the whole past day in her head, and eventually looks at the CatCo magazine cover with Batwoman on it, and puts the pieces together:  Kate is Batwoman.  

The Batsignal is shining in the sky, and Batwoman answers it, only to see Sophie on the roof.  Sophie says that she has worked her whole life to be a Crow, it's her career, and now she doesn't know WHO she is without it. She tells Batwoman that she was discovered by her boss that they were working together.  Batwoman understands, and says that she'll keep her distance, and turns to walk away.  But Sophie stops her, and goes up to her, and they start kissing as the episode closes.  


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This episode was different.  We got a villain of the week, with an unusual problem that required an extreme solution in Nocturna.  And we were quick to find out she didn't play favorites.  She was gutsy enough to go after Batwoman, as well as Alice AND Mary.  She really wasn't the BIG part of the episode, even though she was the main villain of focus for the week.  This installment was STILL very heavy on the whole fallout of the Beth/Alice situation, and how Kate was dealing with the consequences of that.  And what Alice had been up to since then.  

If I had thought that Kate and Alice's relationship was past the point of no return when Alice killed Catherine, and nearly killed Mary, I had thought last week would've ended it for sure.  But now...now we're past the point of no return if you look at if from Kate's perspective.  As much as Alice wanted to teach Kate a lesson about being stupid and WRONG for choosing the "Nice Beth" over HER, she got a lesson of her own from Kate, when Kate told her--in no uncertain terms--that the stupid part was her trying to save Alice no matter what.  By NOT turning her in, by saving her from the river, by trying to appeal to whatever shred of humanity she had left...it was all for naught.  With sending Nocturna after Mary, that was the last straw for Kate.  She truly believes that Beth is dead...and all that's left is the psychotic Alice.  Even though Alice came to save her when Nocturna attacked, and stayed with Mary while Batwoman went off to deal with Nocturna, it doesn't wash the slate clean for Kate.  She. Is. Done.  And yet---interestingly enough---it's ALICE who tells her as she leaves, that she doesn't want her to give up trying.  Sadly, I think, that Alice has gone too far with Kate,and that sisterly bond between twins has been erased.  

Alice has another problem to deal with though.  Aside from trying to keep a low profile, because everyone thinks she's dead, she has to now deal with the very much alive August Cartwright---her former captor, and Mouse's abusive father.  He's got Mouse, and she wants him back.  And she figures that she needs to end him once and for all.  That confrontation will be interesting to see.

Sophie bot busted!  Jacob being exonerated was a bit of a surprise that it had happened so early, but I guess "Dr. Campbell" did his part to make sure Jacob got his release.  Now he's back to putting the Crows as THE only security force in town to handle the heavy threats, like Alice.  But since she's "gone", according to him, criminals like Nocturna needed to be brought in, on their terms.  However, he doesn't want Batwoman in the picture.  He's still very much anti-Bat-anything.  So, when he finds out Sophie has been working with her, it's a stake in his heart.  Sophie's suspension makes her feel worthless, as if she doesn't know what she is WITHOUT the Crows.  But..she can't pull away from Batwoman, and she lets her know about it with that smooch at the end of the episode.  And as much  as Mary tried to set Sophie up with the Elle woman at the club, she knew it wouldn't be long before Kate entered the picture.  

As for Mary---it took half the season, but she FINALLY figured out Kate's double life.  Of course, Kate didn't do herself any favors by going to her sister, of all people, to get checked out.  Obviously, she can trust her sister, but I don't think she gave her sister that much credit.  Once Vesper's story broke about how Nocturna nailed her victims, Mary didn't take long to put the puzzle together...especially when, in the club, Mary found it odd that Luke and Kate were talking with earpieces.  I KNEW she was going to figure it out.  I just wonder how long it will be before she actually confronts Kate about it?  Needs to be soon.  

Overall, a pretty standard episode.  It wasn't mindblowing, but it DID provide us with some more story with Alice, Jacob, Kate, Mary, and now Sophie.  Where do we go from here?  Who's to say?  Alice has to deal with Augustus Cartwright and get Mouse back before she can return her attention to Kate and her father, and revenge on Gotham.  We shall stick around, and see what transpires...right?

Hope you kids enjoyed this review.  Do me a solid and subscribe to it, tell all your buddies about it, and leave a comment---lemme know what YOU think of all the hapennings in Gotham City.

Until next time...the Signal is OFF!

COMIC BOOK COVER OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK COVER OF THE WEEK


Here we are, yet again, with  another comic book cover to talk about.   This week, we're focusing on the 1996 regular series of Dick Grayson - the first Robin - who had graduated to be the man known as Nightwing.  Fresh off his 4 issue mini-series, the former Boy Wonder and Titan springs off into his own regular series, that sees him land in the town of Bludhaven, where crime and corruption is ten times worse than Gotham City.  This was a chance for fans to finally have a chance to know and read about Dick Grayson's solo exploits, and further prove that he has graduated from Batman's "school", and is capable of handling things on his own.  I had personally awaited a long time for Nightwing to run in his own book, and this series was fantastic from the start.  But...we'll tell you all about it below.




NIGHTWING #1



COVER:  Scott McDaniel, Scott Hana, Patrick Martin
WRITER:  Chuck Dixon
ARTIST:  Scott McDaniel
INKS:  Karl Story
COLORS: Roberta Tewes
LETTERS: John Costanza
EDITOR: Scott Peterson, Darren Vicenzo
COVER DATE:  October 1996 
PUBLISHER: DC Comics



STORY TITLE:  "Child of Justice"



Nightwing #1 was launched in October of 1996, finally allowing Dick Grayson to come into his own has a major player in the DC Universe, having long graduated from Batman's teachings, and becoming more his equal.  Writer Chuck Dixon, who had been penning stories for the Dark Knight, was given the job of pushing Nightwing into a new and exciting direction after the success of his mini-series.  They tapped artist Scott McDaniel to work with Dixon, and the marriage of the two became a phenomenal success.  McDaniel's art was different, but portrayed Bludhaven as a city of lost souls...dirty, grimy, and hopeless.  His action scenes were stellar, and he helped set a tone with this book.  It allowed Dick to use his detective skills, but also give us the superhero action we craved from a Batman character.  This book also introduces us to a few new characters, and an old enemy in Blockbuster. New characters on the scene such as Dudley Soams---a corrupt cop who likes to play all the angles, and Chief Redhorn, who's also as corrupt as they come, Black Mask's presence is felt, as well as his goons, the False Face Society.  We get many more color characters in this series that Dick accumilates as his own gallery of rogues.  


THE STORY:  Dick Grayson is asked by Batman, to head to the old fishing town of Bludhaven, where 21 dead bodies floated from into the Gotham City Estuary.  As Nightwing arrives in town, he finds out the city is just as bad--if not worse--than Gotham.  He runs afoul of not only a gang called the False Face Society, but of the corrupt local authories as well, including Dudley Soams and Chief Redhorn.  


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This series was lit from the get-go.  Dixon and McDaniel wasted no time in getting Dick Grayson into touble early, and throwing a TON of obstacles in his way, as he tried to navigate the downtrodden city of Bludhaven.  This city is given it's own personality, as well as introducing us to new characters such as the False Face Society, Chief Redhorn, and Dudley Soames...all of which put Nightwing dead in their sights as a problem they need to eliminate.  And Nightwing nearly DOES die in this issue.  But Dixon and McDaniel set the tone for the book with high octane action, but colorful characters, and usually a tough case to crack for our intrepid hero.  I think that Dixon had Dick Grayson down pat, and really developed him well on his tenure in the series.  To ME...THIS was the definitive Dick Grayson, the Nightwing I enjoyed a lot.  THIS is a series worth picking up, I promise you.  

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - SEASON 5.4

REVIEW:  DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - SEASON 5.4:  "A Head of Her Time"


Hello again, my freinds!  It's that time of the week, where we join our mirth-filled, time travellilng bunch for another crazy adventure!  Last time we were with our crew, they had just had to deal with the revival of a serial killer who slayed at his high school prom, and then we also had Constantine return home to find Charlie had trrashed his pad with a raging party, only to have to deal with the spooky behind the door, where John needed some answers.  Plus---we got Zari stuck on board, as she checks out just what exactly her brother does....


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We take a peek at our resident dark magic man, as he's back at home in England, where he's found Charlie hiding out, and living it up away from the team.  He just returned from yet another visit from Astra, whom he vows to save before she sends more "encores" to the real world, and start messing up the timeline for good. John, however, has entered into a room in the house where a poltergeist lives---the mother of Astra.  And when John entered to give her the update on his progress---she's none too pleased.  Gary and Charlie are outside the door listening to John get tossed around like a ragdoll, as he tries to explain himself.  Gary is concerned for his mentor's safety, and decides to break down the door, even though Charlie feels that John's getting some just desserts for lousing up the job, and Gary opening the door would be a bad idea.  Gary doesn't listen, speaks the incantation, and the door glows....but nothing happens except the doorknob falls off.  Gary peeks through the hole, and sees John getting thrashed about the room.  Then, the ghost seeps out through the hole in the doorknob, and it's off roaming about the house.  John is pissed at what Gary did.  

Ava is brushing her teeth, when Sara sneaks up on her.  Sara says she's gotta bail the ship, because she's got business in Star City (I'm assuming this is around the time of Oliver's funeral), and she's leaving Ava in charge....much to Ava's dismay.  Ava doesn't feel she's right for the job, and that none of the crew will like her in charge.  Sara says they'll love her, kisses her, and takes off.  All the while, Zari is listening in to their conversation.  

In downtown Hell, Astra's in a seedy (for Hell, anyway), little dive, gambling, when she's pulled aside by a demon with horns and one of them with jewelry hanging off of it.  He's upset that she's been failing at her task, what with losing their assets like Rasputin and Bugsy Seigel.  If they want to operate in the black, she needs to get it together.  She says fine, and yanks off the necklace she had with the coin that has John's name on it.  She says no-more-Miss Nice Demon.  She plans on taking care of John for good.

The ghost on the loose in John's house apparenlty has A LOT to say, and it's to get John to play straight with everyone...including it.  Apparently the ghost's name is Natalie, and she was killed in a car crash when Astra was young.  Her father was distraught, and the thought of resurrection pops up.  Later on, Natalie had been revived, but Astra had been taken from her down to Hell.  Distraught, Natalie killed herself, and has been haunting the house in Newcastle ever since.  John was unable to save Astra, so Natalies giving him a trip down memory lane.  She had been one of many that was a part of John's Newcastle crew.  

Behrad is giving his sister a tour of the ship, telling her about all the perks and things that Gideon can do.  She needs to leave the ship to attend the launch of her perfume, and needs a fancy dress for it.  Ava shows up, and tells her there's no social media allowed on board, but Behrad makes sure that he gets her phone so she can get it back later.  He tells her about the ship and it's ability to travel through time, and she gets the idea of them going into the future and checking investment opportunities, thus getting rich.  Her brother says that's not what the ship is used for.  

Ray and Nora are catching up on some face time together, as she is fulfillling her Fairy Godmother duties.  She's starting to feel good about the job, and helping others.  Mick then storms in, and is annoyed as hell.  Ray and Nora have to cut their conversation short, but not before the say 'I love you' to each other.  Mick tells Ray that he's sick.  He can't eat or drink, and his stomach hurts.  Gideon does a scan, and she finds nothing physically wrong with him.  Ray figures it out, and he's missing Ali...his old high school girlfriend he hooked up with at the reunion.  Ray says that Mick 'like likes' her, and Gideon confirms it.  Ray tells him that he actually CARES about somebody else.  

Ava calls the team in for a meeting on the bridge, and she starts handing out leis to everyone.  She then has binders ready to hand out, in order to be more "fun" but still be an effective leader.  The team really isn't buying into it, and are bailing on her, because there's nothing going on.  Ava then has Gideon check the timeline, and---sure enough---there's a time anomaly in 1793 Paris.  It's the time of the French Revolution, and it's falling apart,  The team has to suit up and stop the threat.  As they get dressed for the part, Zari comes in ready to go as well---and Ava isn't allowing her to go.  But Zari tries to flirt with her a little, and sway her, saying it would be cool if she let her go, and Ava reluctantly agrees.  Zari sprays Ava and herself with her perfume.  They arrive in France, and they attend what seems to be a party, where all the peasants are dancing, and having a good time.  They know there's supposed to be an execution happening, but there isn't.  Ava tries to work her way in, but the guard isn't going for it.  Zari then turns on the charm, and manages to get them into this little shindig.  

Astra visits the coin maker who made the coins with the names of the encores on them, and she presents her with John's coin.  The coin maker wants to know what she wants in trade, but Astra isn't interested in trading John's coin---she wants to kill him once and for all.  

John's devling into his past with Charlie and Gary, talking about how he tried to save Astra, but had failed.  While the husband was distraught, we find out that is was John himself that offered to resurrect her.  Turns out...John and Natalie were a lot closer than we realized.

Ava is doing her best to be a team leader, and give our orders to the team to stay sharp, and keep their eyes peeled.  Zari tells her she's trying too hard.  They spread out more, and Nate takes Zari, and gives her a brief history lesson of the French Revolution.  They end up spotting Napoleon, and he's not supposed to be at the party.  Then they spot their target---Marie Antoinette...who looks A LOT like Nora.  She seems to be the center of attention at this party.  She then calls for a guillotine, and it's brought in.  The team looks on as the guillotine blade comes down....and lands on some cake.  For which, Marie says her famous line of "let them eat cake!".  And thus, EVERYONE starts lunging for all this cake on display.  The people are gorging themselves on it, when Ava realizes that people are starting to collapse and die.  She is killing the Revolution by letting them actually party.  Ava informs the team, but the rest of them are busy macking down on the cake, which leaves only her and Zari to stop Marie from killing the Revolution.  

Back in Newcastle, we hear a punk song blare on this radio, alerting John, Charlie, and Gary.  It's a familiar tune---with Natalie's voice.  It was a song from John's days as a punk rocker, and he and Natalie apparently were in love, as we see the scene unfold in ghostly flashbacks.  In one flashback, she makes him choose between going with her, or magic.  He makes his choice, and she walked away.  His refusal to fess up to his mistakes, and own his issues upsets Natalie, and Charlie calls him out on it.  He then calls out Charlie about WHY she had run away from the ship and the team.  But Charlie re-directs, and eventually gets possessed by Natalie.  

Ava and Zari have to work quickly to get Marie out of this party, and Zari says Ava won't get close to her dressed like a peasant.  They doll her up, and Zari uses her experience as a celebrity to work her way close to Marie.  She flirts with Napoleon, and gets closer to Marie. Then she leaves it up to Ava, who manages to convince Marie that there's an after party.  This makes Marie curious, and she's all over it.  The three go to leave, and Napoleon calls out to her, wondering where she's going.  Marie calls out to everyone there's an after party.  This blows Ava's plan of getting Marie back aboard the Waverider, and they must make a run for it.  This manages to get Ray, Nate, and Behrad back in gear, and they help get the ladies onto the ship, but not before Marie literally loses her head.  

Once aboard the ship, everyone gives props to Zari for helping them save the day, and get their latest encore.  With that, Zari says she's headed to hear launch party.

Natalie and John talk, and John finally opens up and says that he was right about choosing magic over her.  Natalie wanted him to admit it.  John admits that he's tried everything to save Astra, but he's failed.  She, however, believes there's a way.  

Zari is about to take off for her launch party of her perfume, and Marie's head is talking to her, trying to butter her up, and give her a sob story about her life, which then makes Zari curious about her own future.  She asks Gideon to show her, and Gideon does reluctantly.  She sees news stories about how her perfumed was a failure because it destroyed people's olfactory senses, and her company and social media site crashed and burned.  Zari then realizes that Marie's perfume has magical abilities to make everyone like her.  So she plugs Marie's mouth with a rag gag, and then takes her perfume, and heads off the ship to her launch party..intending to use Mare's perfume as her own.  

New York City in the year 2044 is where we land, as it's Zari's launch party for her perfume.  Her assistant catches her up on what's going on, and her boyfriend DJ...who's got a smore mask thing for a head.  They talk about the MTV awards, and how he plans on proposing to her there.  Zari seems annoyed, but ready for her party.  

Ray and Nora are chatting again, and he wants to show Nora how Marie looks just like her, but all Nora sees is a head with a rag in her mouth.  Ray spots that, takes it out,and Marie screams.  Ray then races to the bridge to inform the team that Zari took Marie's perfume to her launch party.  They go to take off after Zari, when they hear some clanging.  They all stop and look into the lab, only to see that Marie's body has snapped her bonds and is loose aboard the ship.  

Zari's on the red carpet with her boyfriend, as the flashbulbs pop, and she sports the bottle of perfume.  Since she sprayed a little, her boyfriend is all worked up, and doesn't want to wait until the MTV awards, and goes to propose to her.  As he goes to propose, he bumps into her, thus spilling the entire contents of the perfume on her.  This causes the magical effect NOT desired, as now, EVRYONE wants to have Zari.  She notices the mistake, and she starts running as everyone gives chase, under her magcial spell.  Aboard the ship, Mick and Ray are desperately trying to subdue Marie's body, but in the process, Mick wants to cook her alive with his gun.  Ray keeps preventing him from doing that, and the gun gets knocked from Mick's hands to Marie's body.  She finds it , and starts shooting at them.  Ava, Behrad, and Nate arrive in 2044 to save Zari, and while Behrad keeps using the air totem to hold the people back, Nate and Ava catch up to Zari.  Ava grabs Zari and they end up leaping into a fountain, thus washing off the perfume, and breaking the spell.  Nate ends up helping her out of the fountain. Just as they arrive back aboard, Mick and Ray manage to grab Marie's body and subdue her.  

We see two kids playing, and making something with threat.  These two kids have been in and out of the show, as they took Gary to play or something while Natalie/Charlie and John talked.  Turns out, theese kids are John and Natalie when they were younger.  They are making what is called the Loom of Fate.  And it's that Loom that can save Astra.  Natalie disappears, and Charlie is back.  John grills Charlie about how she found out about this place, and Charlie says she learned from him, but he responded that he NEVER told anyone about this place, and she she knows of the Loom of Fate.  Charlie was brought there by Natalie, because Charlie knew of the Loom.  Charlie admits she did...but she destroyed it.  

Zari is feeling a tad down, because she caused trouble for the team, and says that she gets what her brother does, and all she ever wanted was for people to like her.  She's been famous since six, and attention is all she craved.  Her brother came just to offer her a donut, and she accepts.  The team is eating donuts, when Sara checks in for an update.  They tell her that Ava did a great job, and Sara tells her to check in personally later.  We see Zari alone, taking a bite of the donut, and all of the sudden, memories begin to flood into her mind about her past aboard the ship.  Ava then comes to see her, and Zari apologizes for the mess she made.  Ava says none of them are perfect, and not to beat herself up over it.  Besides, Ava points out, you got friends.  Zari likes that, and they walk off, a new friendship made.  

Down in Hell, the coin maker opens up John's coin, and we see the inner workings, like a clock. She points out it will be another 10 years before the lung cancer he has will catch up to him.  Astra wants to speed up the timetable.  The coin maker says that while John is the villain in HER story, SHE has enemies of her own---and when the time comes, she's calling Astra in on that favor.  So, the coin maker begins to tinker with the coin, and speed up John's cancer.

John, meanwhile, is getting more information about the Loom that Charlie destroyed.  She said she had scattered the pieces across the multivetrse, but lately, something is wrong, as if her past is catching up to her.  As Astra bids farewell to John, as the coin maker finishes up putting the screws to John's life, he begins to cough violently, and bleeds from the mouth.  John collapses into a fit, and Gary and Charlie are by his side, as he seemingly is dead or dying...and that's how we end this week.



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I truly thought this episode was a good chuckler, with it's share of punchlines (Ava's line of "Don't go all Les Miserables, we're going to France!"), and some sight gags.  The usual fare we can expect from the Legends, but also a little more character development for MANY of the crew...and tthen there's the slap in the face of reality with John's life finally catching up to him...as well as Charlie.  So, we got a little of everything this week---the "Encore" of the week, Marie Antoinette---played wonderfully by Courtney Ford, who did do double duty as she also appeared as Nora in this episode.  She was one of the bright spots, even though she WAS the encore of the week.  But I think it allowed Ford to get out of Nora's shell and have a little fun and be outrageous...and she was that.  

Some major points this episode:

Ava's ability to lead in the wake of Sara being gone (we'll get to the reason Sara was off ship this episode in a bit).  Ava has been an extremely awkward character.  When she's in charge leading the troops into battle, she's calm and confident.  When she's an administrator, she thrives.  Ava's life is about order, discipline, and taking things more strict and serious.  She's very by-the-book.  But, in that manner, it makes her more passive-agressive, and that's a turn off for the team.  She's too bossy.  She's too uptight.  So, having to work with Zari this episode, who knew how to play to an audience to get attention, but also plays things very footloose and fancy free...helped Ava come out of her shell a little more, and not be so stiff and rigid.  At the end, we see that the team DID rally around her, and gave her props for being the leader they needed in Sara's absence.  That's a boost of confidence for her.  Also on the plus side, she learned that she doesn't have to be such a stick in the mud, and that Zari showed her it's okay to let loose.  In the end, we get a new friendship out of the deal.

We also get more into Zari's story.  She has a DJ boyfriend who literally wears a s'more mask on his head with dollar signs on it.  He's a complete dork, and thankfully Nate punches him out for the sheer hell of it...and jealousy, of course.  But we see that her popularity has gained her a business, a social media outlet, and fame...but she has no true friends.  She sees the price she paid for her fame...to feel isolated.  With this episode, working with the team...especially Ava...it opens up Zari's eyes to a whole new place of acceptance.  Plus---with the one bite of the donut----she gets another set of flashbacks of herself in her previous life.  The memories are coming back bit by bit.  Not sure how long it's going to take before she gets them all back.  And if and when she does---what's that do with the dynamic with her brother, and will she remember her feelings for Nate?  Either way, I'm liking the journey.

FINALLY, we got Ray and Nora to admit they love each other.  Been long overdue.  And that had to speed up anyway, since Ray and Nora are leaving the team this season.  As for Mick....we finally found his soft spot---Ali.  Missing his high school sweetheart is driving him nuts.  I guess Mick Rory is human after all.  

I DO beliee that Sara's business in Star City was for Oliver's funeral.  It wouldn't be surprising that they put this episode around that timeline.  It would make perfect sense.  Unless it was Justice League related, I'd go with this as the reason.  

And, lastly, John AND Charlie.  Seems we got to see John's past come back to bite him in the ass in a BIG BIG way.  We see how his relationship with this childhood friend, and love, Natalie--Astra's mother--deteriorated, and his sins were on full display....especially that punk rock haircut he sported...nasty.  He now realized that he needs to be a bit more altruistic in order to save Astra---not as selfish as he was playing off to Ray last week.  Look...no matter HOW goofy Ray Palmer can be...he's an excellent judge of character---and sees the best in everyone.  That includes someone of John's ill repute.  But is it too little, too late?  Thanks to Astra, his lung cancer is now killing him...provided he's not dead already.  And as for Charlie---turns out, she didn't just appear at his pad on a whim.  Natalie brought her there, and KNEW that the one way John could save her daughter is with the Loom of Fate.  But Charlie destroyed it, and spread it across the Multiverse.  But since there IS no more Multiverse (so they think), her past is now catching up with her too.  And I feel it is now up to John, Charlie, and Gary to find the pieces and reassemble them.  But it was a LOOM of Fate...I'm wondering---maybe the pieces were gathered up into something else....like, say, a HELMET of Fate?  I'm just planting seeds here.  But what we DO know is that Charlie can't go doing any interdimensional or intervibrational travelling.  Only a speedster can do that...which also makes me wonder HE is around, they can rope him into this adventure...it would be VERY cool, and VERY overdue.  You all know who I'm taking about.  

It was awesome that we got some backstory on some of our characters this week.  More layers uncovered every episode.  They do a good job of having this show a lot more character driven ...which you HAVE to, what with all the balls in the air you have to juggle.  But they also aren't afraid to continue to give you a wink and a nod with a smile with the humor, sight gags, and overall general tone of upbeat adventure and humor, but also giving us some drama as well.  John's story alone provides A TON of drama.  So, I definitely give this show a thumbs up!

That's all, from THIS Waverider, and I DO sincerely hope you subscribe, tell your friends about me, and leave some comments about what YOU think.  

Until later....Time IS On Our Side!

THE FLASH - SEASON 6.12

REVIEW:  THE FLASH - SEASON 6.12:  "A Girl Named Sue"



Our Scarlet Speedster had an interesting case to deal with last week, having to endure a near total gang war between crossed lovers Amunet Black and Goldface, as well as a more gung-ho, somewhat different Iris, who staked her claim to belonging in the field.  While our favorite married couple dealt with that, we had Frost dipping into the lessons from the Book of Ralph to aid Allegra in her broken heart troubles, while getting some advice from Nash.  And as for Nash himself...well---let's just say that the END of last week's episode was QUITE the shocker...as he saw Harrison Wells standing there staring him down at Jitters---or was it his imagination?  Well, time to check back into Central City to see what's going on THIS week...

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We begin our tale with Iris watching her doppleganger with Barry in the real world.  She is then interrupted by a woman.  We find out that it's Eva McCulloch herself, who has been trapped in this "mirror universe" for about the last 6 years (so...turns out MY theory about Eva being the one who  took Iris' place in the real world is ENTIRELY incorrect---I'm okay with that).  Eva explains that they are in a mirror version of Central City--everything looks the same, but backwards.  She is a quantum engineer, and she had been working on a project involving different dimensions.  During the particle accelerator accident six years ago, the blast hit her office, and the antimatter hit the mirror, giving it metaphysical properties, thus sucking her into it.  This dimenstion is empty except for her.  Iris starts suffering from a headache, but Eva has been there long enough, she says you get used to them.  Iris asks how a clone of her appeared on the other side of the mirror, and Eva says it may have something to do with the mirror itself when it sucked Iris in.  But Eva says she's permanently trapped in there.  She's tried every means of escape, and has failed.  

Ralph is in his office, talking about being on day 274 of the Sue Dearbon case.  He's not been able to find any new leads, and her trail has gone cold.  Cecile comes by to visit, and sees that he's been working on his board and not getting anywhere...and he smells.  She offers to help him out.  Every Holmes has a Watson, but Ralph prefers to go solo.  Then, he gets a notice on his computer, and he goes to see what it is.  Turns out, he's placed notices on Sue's spending activity everytime she uses her credit card.  He's able to pinpoint her at an address right there in Central City.  He's off to find his missing woman.

Barry and "Iris" are at home, and she's working on her case, and he's feeling a tad sore from their run in with Amunet Black and Goldface.  "Iris" suggests that he take it easy, but he says he's got work to do at the lab.  He notices she's working on her story, and sees that she has the diagram to the mirror gun.  She was hoping to look at it, and see if she could tie it into whatever it is Carver is doing, and finally take him down.  She wants Barry to retrieve it from the STAR Labs inventory where they've stashed it.  Barry is not entirely sure it's a good idea...considering that if it falls into the wrong hands, things can get bad.  She eventually relents, and says she'll find a different angle.  Barry goes to kiss her and leave, but she just presents the cheek, and he heads out...a tad suspicious.

Ralph arrives at a rundown apartment building, and finds the room where Sue supposedly is.  As he's about to knock on the door, he hears a woman's voice behind the door, and some kind of noise.  She bursts through the door as an explosion happens.  She lands on him...it's Sue Dearbon.  They then head back to his office, where he explains that her parents hired him to find her, and he's been trying to find her for nine months.  He wants to know WHY she is on the run.  She talks about her ex-boyfriend, a man named John Loring, who is dealing shady.  He's an arms dealer, and she found out too much about it, and saw his ledger with his clients.  She felt if she had it she could take him down.  Ralph goes to call her parents, but she throws his phone out the window, saying that Loring can track their cellphones.  He says what about the police, and Sue says that they can't call them, either.  Loring has cops and sever other city officials in his pocket.  Ralph says that he's going to help her regardless, and she says that she's coming with him.  

Back in the mirror universe, Eva is unsettled and talking to herself.  Iris is trying to convince her that they WILL find a way out.  Eva doesn't believe her, and says that she's tried 1322 times to escape.   She doesn't want to hear about another chance.  Iris says she needs to get back to Barry, but Eva says she should just give up.  Iris then thinks about it for a beat, and remembers Sam Scudder.  She recalls when Barry was trapped inside a mirror by Mirror Master, and they used nitrogen to freeze the mirror, and help him escape.  Eva says they have nitrogen in her lab, and they go to get it, hoping the plan will work.

Barry arrives at the CCPD, and Joe immediately comes up to him with a case he needs to look into.  Barry says he's got a lot of work in the lab to catch up on, but he'd look at it.  Joe shows him the file, and says that there was a house that burned down a few months back, and though the case was closed, because they said it was arson, Joe wants Barry to look at it from a fresh perspective.  And anything he finds, report immediately to him.  

Ralph and Sue are on a stakeout, and banter a little about her going with him to get dirt on Loring.  Ralph says that Loring will recognize her, but not him, so they have the edge.  He's snapping pics of a gun deal going down with Loring, when he gets caught by one of Loring's goons.  Ralph ends up getting beat up for his troubles, and his camera busted. Just as the goon is looking to drown him in a barrell of water, Sue comes up from behind, and takes him out with  some martial arts kicks.  She's no shrinking violet.  Back at Jitters, they're safe for now, since Loring won't come after her in the open. Ralph comments on the building, but she says that building was scheduled for demolition.  They know Loring is going to come after her now.  She feels she needs to go solo on this, but Ralph insists on helping.  So, they look at a schematic of Loring's offices, and try to plot a way into there to find the ledger she's looking for.  Just then, Cecile appears, and her and Sue finally meet.  As Jenna looks on from her stroller, Ralph and Cecile have a sidebar to discuss what's going on.  Cecile says she can feel something between the two---it's as if they think alike.  There's a certain vibe that comes from them.  

Eva and Iris are setting up the nitrogen to blow onto the mirror, and see if it breaks, just like when they tried the same trick to get Barry out.  They turn on the machine, and it freezes the mirror.  It then begins to crack, and eventually shatters.  However, unfortunately, the plan doesn't work, which confuses Iris.  Eva is once again feeling defeated.  Eva then talks about how she had watched her husband from inside the mirror...watched him grieve, and then move on.  Yet...she can't.

"Iris" has made her way to the storage area of the STAR Labs building, and finds the mirror gun.  She's about to take it, when Nash suddenly appears.  He has a notebook or something in his hand, and inquires as to what she's doing there.  She makes up a story about having lost Nora's notebook, and hasn't been able to find it.  She asks Nash why HE is down there, and he says that since Cisco left him to hold down the fort, he's "taking inventory", but then Harrison Wells shows up behind "Iris", and tells him that's a lie, and he should fess up for why HE is really down there.  She then gets his attention back by saying that she doesn't want him to tell Barry she was there, because Barry would be upset that she lost Nora's journal.  Harrison looks at Nash, and says that they have a lot of unfinished business.  "Iris" then tells Nash she knew she liked him, and strolls off out of the storage area.  Nash sees Wells one more time, and then blinks.  Once he opens his eyes again, Harrison is gone.  We look down at the notebook in his hand, and it's the journal of Harrison "Harry" Wells.  

Ralph and Sue try sneaking into Loring's building, but they're eventually caught, and immediately shot at.  They hide in Loring's office, where they frantically search for his ledger, but Ralph discovers a key.  A key for what should be a safety deposit box at the bank.  The guards are coming, and they need to escape.  They head to the top of the roof, and Ralph asks Sue if she trusts him, and he uses his powers to get them down to the ground safely.  It's then she realizes that Ralph is the Elongated Man. Once again at his office, she's amazed that she's met a superhero, and he gives her an all-too-brief explanation of how he got his powers.  They know they need to get the ledger from the bank.  Ralph says that he can call down to the CCPD and get a warrant to search it, but it will take a day.  Sue says they don't have a day, and has an idea to break into the bank and get it.  Ralph says he can't do that.  Sue figures he's the kind of guy that doesn't always play by the book.  He agrees to get the ledger, but only on the condiditon that they immediately turn it into CCPD.  Sue agrees. 

Barry goes to see Joe in his office, and he says that he did some digging into the case Joe asked him to look into.  Turns out, Joe was right.  Something was amiss.  Tests that Barry ran indicated that the burn marks on the building were made by ultraviolet light rays, much like Dr. Light and Ultraviolet.  Joe and Barry see that other cases had the same similar M.O., and  Joe thinks there's a dirty cop on the inside doing a cover up for Carver.  Carver is dangerous, and Barry mentions that Iris has been working on a story about Carver, and she had asked for the mirror gun earlier.  He was hesitatnt about giving it to her, because he's worried about it getting into the wrong hands.  Joe says he needs to trust Iris, and let her do her thing. 

Eva is still a wreck, and Iris is trying to console her, and trying to not let her give up.  But Eva is just sick of it all.  Sick of trying to have any hope of escaping.  While she rages on in anger, Iris looks on, and the mirror shards begin to move.  Eva eventually turns towards it, while still angry, and a shard flies into her hand.  Both are in shock at what just transpired.

Joe and a female guard are with the bank manager, going over the security of the vault.  As he continues to talk to Joe, the bank manager doesn't see the guard come up from behind him and knock him out.  She pulls off her mask to reveal she's Sue, and Ralph had disguised himself as Joe.  They get into the vault, and take out the safety deposit box. White they do that, she discusses how she hated the whole socialite life, and she didn't know who she was.  Ralph could relate, saying that he used to be a cop, who went down the wrong path.  Sue opens it and takes out a metal box.  It turns out, there is no ledger, and Sue's entire story was just an act, as she kicks Ralph down, and locks him inside the vault.  Turns out, inside the box was a diamond.  Sue is nothing more than a thief, and she set everything in motion.  She dosn't care about Loring, and she also rigged the bomb in the apartment building, so she could purposely run into Ralph, and get his help in getting the diamond.  She locks Ralph inside the vault, and upon doing that, is immediately met by Loring and his men.  Turns out, he put an alarm on his safety deposit box, should it get broken in to.

They're about to fire on Sue, when Ralph, who had been working on a way to get out without using the bars, because they're electrified, breaks out the super suit, and squeezes through the vents to break out, and protect Sue before she gets shot.  He elongates his hand to shield them, and while Loring and his men are firing on them, he and Sue bicker.  She's ditching the cop uniform, and reveals a catsuit.  Suddenly, the firing stops, and when Ralph pulls his hand away, Loring and his men are out.  And behind them, Ultraviolet...looking for the diamond Sue has.  Sue says come and get it, so they fight...obviously familiar with each other.  They fight, and Ultraviolet tries to blast the bank manager trying to escape, but Ralph saves him by absorbing the blast, and it taken down.  Utlraviolet seems to get the better of Sue, so Sue shoots the box with the diamond at Ralph, and Ultraviolet looks on, but doesn't notice that Sue makes off with the diamond, winking at Ralph as she bolts.  Ralph tells Ultraviolet they both got taken.  Ultraviolet screams, and disappears.  Ralph is now too weak to fight, and Loring's men awaken, ready to shoot Ralph.  Just then, Flash zips in, cuffs them up, and the threat is over before it starts.  Flash goes over to help Ralph, as Joe and his men talk to the bank manager.  Ralph is upset that he let Sue use him, and she escaped.

Back at STAR Labs, they try to run a trace on Sue, but she's gone dark again.  Ralph says he got played, and he isn't happy about it.  Barry understands.  He knows what it's like to trust someone, only for them to betray you. But sometimes, you also have to trust family.  We then see Barry at home, talking to "Iris", and giving her the mirror gun.  He says he hopes that it will help her in her investigation.  She's happy.  

In the mirror universe, Iris and Eva discover that her time there apparently made her connected to the mirror and it's energy.  Iris encourages her to use that ability to reassemble the mirror.  With a little effort, Eva manages to do such.  Iris then is able to look through the mirror, and see Barry at home, working on a case.  She says to him softly that she's still with him.  He then looks back at the mirror in their apartment,and feels something weird...like he can feel something's off.  The image fades and Iris turns to Eva, and says that they're going to find out about her powers, and use them to find a way out.  

We end our episode with Sue in her little hideout, where she has pictures of Ralph and others, having been spying on everything going on.  She then takes the diamond, and runs it through some laser spectrometer.  It shows the Black Hole symbol on it.  She's been keeping tabs on the Carver/McCulloch story closely...saying that it's "game on" for Carver now, possibly.  


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Wow!  This episode had a couple of twists and turns in it, didn't it?  It was VERY good, because now all our central characters for the most part, are getting directly tied into the whole Black Hole case.  Plus...we are getting some more interesting vibes from Nash Wells, and his connection with Harry.  

I was SOOOOOO wrong last week, when I as under the impression that our fake Iris was, in fact, Eva McCulloch.  Turns out, it's just a mirror clone of Iris herself---with parts of her personality, but she's darker.  Her insistance on finding the mirror gun isn't just about part of the investigation Iris had started---THIS Iris has her OWN agenda, and I feel we're going to see that play out in the next few weeks.  As for the REAL Iris...she's got to be frustrated because all she can do is LOOK at Barry, and watch as her evil clone takes her place.  However, at the end of this episode, Barry looked back in the mirror...like he felt something was watching him.  He's offset by "Iris", and her new behavior---she's not herself, and that's making him uneasy.  Now, with Joe having him looking into several arson cases, he's now discovering that his path is now crossing Iris' investigation.  Iris now has to teach Eva to use her powers, so that they BOTH can find a way out.  Eva has been gone 6 or so years, so life for her will be hard when she gets out.  Iris is desperate to stop her clone from taking over her life and hurting Barry.  But now we got to know more about Eva, and what she was all about this episode.  Was great to have Joe doing cop things this episode...miss that!

Nash has got some SERIOUS issues.  He's got this ghost of Harry Wells haunting him, and knowing that Nash has some pretty intersting skeletons in his closet.  Finding Harry's journal is part of that.  Many have speculated---and it's not a bad theory---that Nash is really Eobard Thawne, who was knocked out of space time or something, and that he's been hiding in plain sight before, during, and now, after Crisis.  Since his last encounter with Barry, when he stated that they'd see each other in the NEXT Crisis, Eobard floated with the wind.  THEN Nash shows up.  We STILL don't have any clue as to what he's looking for, and I'm curious as to how Allegra fits into all this.  But we DO know this:  The haunting by Harry Wells has got me VERY intrigued.

The centerpiece of this episode was Ralph and Sue.  We finally meet Sue Dearbon, and we find out that she is NOTHING like what we were led to believe in the little known facts about her.  She's a thief, a martial arts expert, has SOME familiarity with Ultraviolet apparently, and has been keeping tabs as to what's going on in Central City---especially Ralph.  Cecile was right about one thing---these two have GREAT chemistry!  They gave me, as I had predicted they would, a very His Girl Friday appraoch with snappy and quick banter, and their little escapaes.  Sue is very resourceful, and---as we saw at the end of the episode--is extremely well tied into this Black Hole threat and McCulloch Industries with Carver.  What the depth of that is, we don't know as yet, but I know that Ralph right now is hurt...rightfully so...and will hopefully be determined to find her, if not only to bring her to justice, but to learn more about her.  But one thing for sure is this:  I LIKE them together, and they mesh very well.  I look forward to seeing Sue's story play out, and LONG for more stories with her and Ralph.  I can see them easily having a show of their own.  Plus..I also did like that Ralph got that twitch in his nose again when he smelled a mystery.  And Sue has now become an even BIGGER mystery for Ralph.  One that I feel he will definitely take on.  

That wraps up this week...but I AM curioius as to what YOUR guys' theories are about what's going on.  Shout me out!!  Plus, do me a solid and subscribe to this page, and give all your friends the skinny on where I'm at.

Until next time...Keep On Running!

BATWOMAN - SEASON 1.12

REVIEW:  BATWOMAN - SEASON 1.12:  "Take Your Choice"


We're back from our little vacay, Bat fans!  And well...things are getting a TAD more intense in Gotham City, as we have Alice still implementing her master plan, but at the same time, we now have her alternate earth doppleganger in Beth.  Problem is....BOTH of them are having issues!  What's going on with them, as well as Jacob's current situation, and where does our Lady Crusader fit in?  We jump back into the fray, as we continue our story....



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Jacob Kane and Sophie are chatting with Dr. Campbell, who Mary had tried to get himto help her dad before, speaking to them about Mouse, and his ability to take the skin of someone, make a mask, and imitate them.  They go on to say that he is the reason Jacob is locked up in prison, because Mouse impersonated Kane in order to kill his wife and step-daughter.  Dr. Campbell still finds this a bit unbelievable.  Taking skin grafts and making other people's faces---says it sounds impossible.  But he would like to meet Mouse.  Sophie says they have him under 24 hour watch at Gotham General, but they'll clear him to see their prisoner.  He says that if he can talk to the man, and find out how he did what he did, he'll be all to glad to testify at Kane's trial on his behalf.  After Campbell leaves, Sophie is upset that she let Alice get away, and hasn't been able to find her.  And if the body count rises, it's on her.  Jacob says then it's time to make the criminals fear you.  Take charge and make them fear you.

We then see Sophie to give out orders, as she is now the acting leader of The Crows, initiating door to door searches, roadblocks, and everything under and order called B-46.  Which also means that if anyone sees Alice---shoot on sight.  

Mary and Luke are doing what they can to get Beth out of town before the Crows find her and arrest her.  She is still suffering from the effects of whatever it is that's bothering her, and it's getting worse.  They get to a Crow checkpoint, and Mary tries to use her status as Jacob Kane's daughter to let them pass.  It almost works, but Beth can't stifle her voice enough from the pain to not cause suspicion.  The guards pull Luke and Mary out, and they begin to search them when Batwoman shows up, and ties up two of the guards with ropes from her bike.  She tells them to make tracks, and Mary and Luke hop in the vehicle, and bolt.  

We hear Vesper the next day make light of her patdown, as they Crows continue to search for Alice, which she hopes they catch eventually.  Speaking of Alice, she's been hiding fromn the Crows, but happens upon one searching for her.  She ends up throwing a knife at him and killing him.  She is also suffering from the same issues as Beth is, and she too is NOT getting better.  

We check in with Beth, Mary, and Luke again, and Mary is running some tests.  Turns out, that Beth's cells are degenerating.  Beth takes a look, as Kate strolls in.  Beth theorizes that since the collapse of the multiverse, her and Alice occupying the same space in the universe is causing problems for both of them.  Hence, they are both using each other's lifeforce to live.  They figure they have about 7 hours to figure out a cure, or something of that sort before one or both of them die.  Beth needs a hospital, but there's the matter of the Crows and their unrelenting search for Alice.  Kate says there are three  brilliant minds in the room,figure it out.  She's going to talk to Sophie to see if she can hold off the search.  Luke comes up to her and asks how she's going to do that.  Tell her about the multiverse, about Crisis...or, perhaps, tell her she's Batwoman?  Kate leaves to go figure it out.

Alice, using the Crows' uniform off the agent she killed, sneaks into the hospital to see Mouse.  He's wary of her at first, thinking she was the imposter.  Alice has no idea what he's talking about.  But he starts quoting the book, and she responds, thus passing his test.  She asks what's up, and he tells her about an imposter woman who looked like her.  This raises Alice's curiosity.  She tells Mouse to sit tight, as she goes to get some answers.  She'll be back for him.

Sophie and her team are conducting their forceful searches for Alice when Batwoman shows up to talk to her, to tell her to call off the dogs.  She says the company is losing face to the public, and clients as well, as their manhunt is coming off like a power trip.  She tries to tell Sophie that innocents can get hurt in all this, is that what she wants?  Batwoman tells her to let her find Alice---her way.  She wants Sophie to trust her...but Sophie refuses.  She goes to answer her agent, but turns around, and Batwoman is gone.

Jacob is in the bathroom when he is attacked by Alice's former main squeeze that USED to work for him.  Dasher, I believe.  He stabs Jacob and slices him open.  

Back at Wayne Enterprises, Beth and Luke are trying to think up ways to save her, including cryogenic freezing.  But, alas, their brainstorming yields nothing (too bad Luke doesn't have STAR Labs on speedial...or do they?).  Beth has begun to realize the truth---that neither her nor Alice can exist on the same Earth.  One will live while the other dies.  Just at that moment, Alice strolls in...staring at her doppleganger.  Alice sizes Beth up, and Beth calmly tries to make conversation with her, letting her know that she understands her story, and where she's coming from.  Luke asks how Alice got in, and she says she got past the desk man, whom they'll find in a storage closet.  Kate finally shows up, trying to protect Beth.  Beth explains how she survived the crash, but her mother did not.  She also went on to say that Kate was the one who rescured her.  That just burns Alice up a little.  But Alice feels there's a way to solve all of this, to ensure she lives:  Beth must die.  So, she pulls out her switchblade, and throws it at Beth, only to have Kate catch it before it gets there.  Beth is amazed that she did that.  Both suddenly have mental attacks, and while Luke and Kate tend to Beth, Alice escapes.  

Dasher continues to work over Jacob, saying the HE is the real criminal...forging evidence, going and killing people they shouldn't have..HE is the corrupt one.  So, he's going to get some payback.  As he's about to finish Jacob off, the big bully prisoner who'd been making life miserable for Jacob, comes in and saves him.  He compromised himself for Jacob, but said that he heard Jacob was getting out--and when he DOES, he wants a favor.  After that, he throws a towel at Jacob and leaves.

Alice makes a surprise visit to Mary at her clinic, and asks for her help.  Mary has no intention of doing so.  Alice then realizes that Mary had been poisoned too when she poisoned Catherine, but Mary took the antidote.  Since it was a rare antidote, Alice believes it could work on her.  So, she intends on getting some from Mary, who tries to fight her off and make a hasty retreat, only to have Alice knock Mary out.  Alice says to her that she's useful.  

Dr. Campbell goes in to see Mouse at Gotham General.  Mouse inquires to who he is, and Dr. Campbell says that he did what he had to in order to keep his secret for all these years.  He removes his face, only to reveal that it is Mouse's father.  He hid for years under this new identity.  He said he's looking for Alice, because she lied to Mouse all these years, and manipulated him, and kept him from his father all these years.  He wants to find her to forgive her.  Mouse says that Alice protected her from his abuser.  Mouse says that Alice protected him and accepted him for who and what he is.  All his father saw in him was a monster.  His dad insists on knowing where Alice is, and Mouse says he would never betray her.  His dad says he'll see about that, and injects Mouse with some kind of drug.

Alice takes a syringe, and extracts some blood from Mary, that still has the antidote coursing through it.  She's going to inject herself with it, thus saving her life.  Before Alice can give her self the injection, Mary manages to wake up, and attack her, knocking the syringe out of Alice's hand.  They tussle for a little, and as Alice is choking Mary, Mary uses a phone to whack her in the head, and stun her just enough to get the handcuffs attatched to the bed on one of Alice's hands.  Alice tries to appeal to her as a sister, but Mary has no interest, and she takes off, saying that no one deserves it less.  After she's gone, Alice manages to pull the phone over to her, and all Crow Security, telling them the location of Beth...whom she says is Alice.  

Beth's time is running out...so Kate is spending as much time with her as possible...having this sisterly bond.  Mary had called her and said she's on her way with a way to help Beth.  The Crows then show up out in front of Wayne Enterprises, and there's a helicopter overhead, looking for Alice.  They're bursting into the building, and Kate feels she needs to act fast before they get Beth and finish her off.  Luke comes in, and says they're about ready to come upstairs, and Kate says grab Beth, they're headed to the Batcave.  After they depart, Sophie bursts into Kate's office, looking for Alice, but they're not there.

Alice is still cuffed to the bed at Mary's clinic, as she begins to hallucinate.  She "sees" Catherine, who is taunting her about losing her life.  Alice snaps back at her, saying that she took her family away from her.  Catherine reminds her that they accepted her, and they loved her.  And she knows Kate and Jacob just as well as she does.  Alice still snipes at her.  Catherine goes onto say that while she DID make mistakes, she at least showed remorse for HER wrongdoings----Alice shows NONE.  Alice says she will get what she wants, and Catherine reminds her that she'll save a nice seat in Hell right alongside her.  With that, Catherine disappears.

Down in the Batcave, Beth now understands Kate more as she sees the Batwoman suit.  Beth says that Kate feels remorse in not being able to save her sister---so she goes out, risks her life, and save everyone else's sister.  Mary contacts Kate, and Kate goes to meet her.  Mary explains about her blood, and how it will help Beth.  But Kate is also thinking about Alice.  Mary says this is a no brainer.  Save Beth...the sweet, kind, intelligent woman....or Alice--who killed her mother, and has made life miserable for both of them.  Mary walks off after giving Kate the syringe, and says the choice is hers.

We see Kate show up at the clinic where Mary said she had cuffed Alice to a bed, and goes to talk to her.  We also see that she is back in the Cave, talking to Beth.  Alice feels she knew Kate enough that she would choose her.  Beth, on the other hand, says that after spending time with Alice...she got to understand her a little more.  Kate says that she did nothing when it came to saving her Beth...she just stood there frozen.  But she says she's not going to do that again.  So, she's giving the blood to Beth.  Beth asks her if this is what she really wants to do, and Kate responds that if you have to ask, you know the choice.  Once she gives Beth the blood, she tells Luke to take the Batbike, and make their way through the tunnels, and get out of town.  Beth and Luke make their escape.

When we next see the good "Dr. Campbell", it's our good friend the Caterpiller, back in his mask, about ready to leave---but not before he bids his son farewell...whom he has taken hostage.  Mouse struggles as he's bound to a chair, his father leaving him for business elsewhere.

Luke manages to find an Inn on the outskirts of Gotham to get Beth out of town, and save her from the Crows.  Meanwhile, Kate has gone to see Alice.  She holds Alice's hands, and hugs her, crying, as she watches her sister die.  We see that Sophie has found Luke and Beth, and has them in her sights.  She's about to pull the trigger, but decides not to.  She ends up calling her squad for backup, wanting them to be arrested instead.  Unfortunately, a shot rings out nonetheless, and Beth is hit.  Luke is holding her, as she lays dying, Sophie shocked by the shot, knowing there's a sniper about.  Turns out the sniper is our friend The Caterpillar.  As Beth dies, Kate is crying, and Alice is revived.  Pissed off with Kate that she let her die, she takes a metal tray and smashes Kate with it as the episode ends.


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This episode was filled with some high drama this week---and it all landed on Kate in the end.  Plus, we got some interesting shockers.  

First of all - Beth/Alice.  I kind of had a feeling that this fallout from Crisis was going to have a bad ending.  It was nice...briefly, anyway...that we had a small morsel of what Beth Kane would've been like had she NOT gotten taken by someone else, and saved in the accident that claimed her and Kate's mother.  The sisterly bond between her and Kate, and the intelligence she displayed, as well as her nobility right to the end.  But...it wasn't meant to be.  I had a feeling last episode that the attacks they were getting were part of the Crisis fallout.  That they couldn't exist on the same Earth.  One had to go---and, sadly, it was Beth.  There is just NO WAY they would kill off Alice.  She's too good a villain....plus, her master plan has yet been revealed.  But in the wake of all this---we just knew that Beth was only here temporarily---sort of a "gift" for Kate.  Here's what your sister COULD'VE been.  As for Alice...meeting her doppleganger face to face...knowing what she was, and what she herself wasn't...she didn't like it, naturally.  She hated the fact that Kate was doting on HER.  Alice still has a jealousy complex when it comes to her sister, and any bonding she does with anyone.  She didn't get that, so why should Kate get to have it?  And, going to Mary, to try and scare her into helping her---she underestimates Mary.  Mary's tougher than she lets on.  And for Mary to fight back against Alice, cuff her up...that's guts.  I like Mary more and more each day.  I like how she referenced Batwoman, and how they're BFF like.  Oh, if Mary only knew...and I look forward to THAT day.  

But to wrap up on these two:  Killing Beth saved Alice.  And Kate...oh, Kate.  Sometimes, you are just SOOOOO boneheaded!  I get that she wanted her old sister Beth back, but when the Caterpillar killed Beth, and Alice revived...now KNOWING that Kate chose her doppleganger over HER---that just set her off in all sorts of mad-crazy.  Now, she isn't so much going to blame dear old Dad for abandoning her...she's now more than likely going to abandon her plan of bringing Kate "into the fold", and instead just outright destroy her.  Whatever sisterly bond they're might've been...it's been obliterated.  And Kate...better toughen up, woman---it's only going to get worse.  

The Caterpillar returns!   You know...I HAD my suspicions about Dr. Campbell from the start.  Maybe it was just that they had talked about him so prominently, that I figured there was something there that wasn't right.  When he was interested in seeing Mouse, that's when I put two and two together.  I was a little surprised, but pleasantly, as I figured out it was Mouse's dad.  Now, we not only are dealing with an unhinged Alice, and her loyal Mouse...but now the Caterpillar is back, and when he offed Beth, he probably thought he was killing Alice for taking Mouse away from him.  I look forward to the eventual confrontation between Alice and the Caterpillar.  Just more villains for Batwoman to deal with.

Jacob taking a beating and nearly dying at the hands of old Dasher there.  Seems like they had to keep HIM around to make Kane's life worse.  But who would've thought the big bully that's been making his life hell the last few weeks, would actually SAVE him?  BUT...we all know there's a price to pay for that in prison.  The big guy put a target on his back, and he's going to want a serious favor once Jacob is acquitted.  

Sophie is getting a lot more harder the last few weeks.  She's belted suspects during interrogations, and she's been on this manhunt of sorts for Alice, and not having much mercy.  This is eventually going to put her and Batwoman at odds...and if she finds out that she was right all along---that Kate IS Batwoman...it's going to make THAT confrontation that much harder.  But we're seeing a more intense Sophie.  

All in all, another quality episode.  We're picking up some steam.  Not a lot of action, more focused on plot this week.  If it's one thing this show needs...it's more Bat action.  They need the fight coordinators from Arrow to do this show.  Both shows have dark motifs, and the fighting style should be intense.  I'd like to see Batwoman have one of those huge scenes, where she is just kicking ass and taking names.  We need to see just how much of a badass she really is.  

Okay folks, that's it from Gotham Central here.  Go ahead and let me know what YOU think of the show so far?  Drop a comment below, and don't forget to subscribe and tell the others about this little place in cyberspace.

Until next time...The Batsignal is OFF!