Share

cover art for Let's Discuss Batwoman

Low Key

Let's Discuss Batwoman

Season 1, Ep. 45

How well does the CW’s “Batwoman” fit into the network’s other DC shows and the Batman universe? And would we rather see a new standalone heroine with no ties to either?


Every week on “Low Key,” your co-hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and I talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed. This week, we revisit “Batwoman,” which we previously discussed over the summer, based only on the trailer. Now we’ve seen the show and want to give “Batwoman” its due.


First, the things we like: Batwoman does a stellar job of representing people who have traditionally been underseen in comic-book adaptations, and in entertainment overall: Women, people of color, LGBTQ characters. Ruby Rose's Kate Kane, the anchor of the show, is a step forward for lesbian visibility and could be an important role model.


What we're less sure about it how well "Batwoman" distinguishes itself from Batman. We want the storylines to make a harder break from the familiar Gotham tropes, and callbacks to past Batman stories. There are many promising elements of the show, notably Rachel Skarsten's portrayal of Alice, and we're curious to see where "Batwoman" goes.


Here are some of the main subjects of our talk, with time stamps.


2:30: "A lot of things about the show do work for me."


2:53: "I've always been a fan of 'Smallville.'"


4:40: Does the "Batwoman" pilot have too much backstory?


9:50: The Alice stuff is good, and how the second episode improves on the first.


23:10: Would Luke Fox be a good Batman?


24:50: Side note: How we feel about Zoe Kravitz playing Catwoman?


26:30: Some praise for "Zombieland: Double Tap"

More episodes

View all episodes

  • X-Men 97 Can Save Us All

    53:40
    In this episode we talk about our love of the brilliant X-Men 97, dream re-cast the 2000 X-Men movie, and pitch the greatest comic-book story that will never, ever be made. We also imagine a solution to the Logan-Scott-Jean love triangle, talk about past great animated shows, and envision a plan for world peace inspired by Magneto.Come to me, my X-Men (fans).P.S. Tim was wrong about X-Men #168 being the first issue he ever bought. It was #185.
  • Netflix's Damsel Models Itself After Grendel

    38:48
    Netflix's Damsel flips the typical woman captured by beast narrative on its head, and lets the women take the lead but is it successful? Aaron and Keith talk about Millie Bobby Brown's performance as a fantasy heroine, why Damsel might have the best dragon CGI ever, and the oddness of so many reviewers focusing on gender while completely missing the impactful Grendel parallels for the main antagonist.
  • Dune 2: The First 2024 Blockbuster

    42:33
    Is the Dune 2 worth the hype, or does the adaptation fail to build on the original film's strengths? Aaron, Keith and Tim talk through the challenges of watching science fiction epics, why the Dune series is flipping the typical hero formula, and how Dune 2 is likely to influence future Hollywood projects.
  • Is Griselda Goofy?

    46:33
    This episode we talk about Griselda, the story of a woman who can sell drugs and kill people as well as any man.Tim loves it, Keith has some reservations, Aaron finds some things goofy.Also, since we recorded this conversation, the lawsuit filed by Griselda's son has been settled. Hooray!
  • True Detective: Night Country Works Even If You've Never Heard of the Yellow King

    24:58
    Writer-director Issa Lopez enlists The Greatest Actress Ever, Jodie Foster, and rising star Kali Reis to reinvent HBO's gloriously gloomy crime series.Also: Check out Sonya Alexander's terrific interview with Issa Lopez for Moviemaker Magazine right here.
  • Going Cold Into Fargo

    29:47
    This is a true story. We discuss the first four episodes of the magnificent Fargo Season 5.Also here's the deal with the nipple rings.
  • No Hard Feelings Is a Smart Bait and Switch

    41:38
    Did people who got offended by No Hard Feelings actually see No Hard Feelings?We also talk about Hall & Oates, Nelly Furtado, ?uestlove and the youth of today