Batwoman Shows Us Why a Group of Crows is Called a Murder

| May 17, 2021 |

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Camrus Johnson as Luke Fox in Batwoman Season 2 — *Photo: The CW*

This Batwoman article contains spoilers through Season 2, Episode fourteen.

Batwoman has been going difficult on their criticism of the Crows—and law enforcement by proxy—and so information technology is no surprise that the show would Go There. However despite the flavour-long setup for Crows or cops to practice something blasé, like shoot an unarmed Black human, the fact that they made me watch an unarmed Black human being get shot on my television in this year of our lord is truly a f*cking choice. Is it cleft? We spend time in the episode proving that Tavaroff is a racist slice of shit with no moral compass—he and his team literally gun downwards a building total of people. We admittedly did non need to punctuate that little massacre with additional violence.

Separate from the decision to evoke unnecessary trauma, Batwoman writers undermine themselves in a mode that is truly egregious. Ryan gets harassed by white GCPD cops who answer to a "dissonance complaint" during a fundraiser at the bar, despite it existence daytime… and a bar. She talks back to them, and Luke steps in, hoping to gratify the officers and defuse the situation. They both get manhandled and arrested. In their jail cell, they argue about it, and Luke tells Ryan that growing up around rich white folks didn't teach him to become along, it taught him to keep his head down.

Then riddle me this… WHY THE F*CK would Luke see a white man breaking into a automobile and think, "hmm… let me interfere here." This is within hours of being released from custody, after existence racially profiled and unfairly detained. How does that make sense? Then, when the Crows pull upward, the white man accuses Luke of trying to steal the automobile, and Luke—who took a photo of the guy committing the crime before against him— pulls out his phone! (Never mind that he could've just called the cops, or sent the photo to a tip line if he was truly against minding his rich, Black business organisation.) A Black man makes a sudden movement in front end of armed cops?! A Black homo who earlier this very aforementioned day proved he passed Existing While Blackness 102: How To Talk To Police. He has the skillful sense to "yes sir, no sir" the cops at the bar but somehow forgets all of that to be a Helm Save-A-Beamer in the streets?!! I am truly aghast.

The imagery of a Black homo being shot by law is upsetting, yes. But information technology'south the hoops the writers go through to put Luke in that position that really grates me. Luke physically stepping in to terminate whatsoever crime is a stretch, just stepping in to stop a white man from stealing a luxury car is downright ludicrous. Luke comes from wealth, so I find it odd that he wouldn't but think, "I'm certain information technology's insured," shrug, and walk abroad. Simply not merely does he remember stolen holding is a worthwhile thing to foreclose, he thinks it'southward important enough to personally intervene. Information technology's not only contrived, it's also really goddamn dumb. And it completely ignores everything that happens earlier in the episode. I have to presume that the Blackness writers took that week off considering I don't see how that gets pitched and no one in the room says "why would Luke do that, though?"

It was always going to be Tasslehoff, merely information technology didn't have to be Luke. It'll be a real shame if Batwoman adds insult to injury past framing Luke as "one of the good ones." He's a rich, well-educated Black man. It'll be too piece of cake to paint him equally someone who didn't deserve it—every bit if anyone does. I would accept said the writers know better but the end of this episode happened so… It'll be interesting to run across how Sophie responds, and how or if, she leverages this against Tamarack. It'due south no coincidence that this happens later on she decides she'south leaving the Crows. Sophie has been trying—and declining—to make some kind of meaningful reform within the Crows. And it'south only after Tallahassee double taps a church full of Snakebite zombies that she fully realizes the extent of the rot within the system. This volition either reaffirm her choice to leave or go on her there with renewed purpose. Whatever happens, I promise information technology justifies the terminal five minute of this episode, though I'yard doubtful.

It should be said that I enjoyed this episode immensely, upwards until the moment Luke hangs up the phone. I dearest that we go to see a continuation of the activism Ryan and the team have been doing. I love watching Ryan flirt with Imani, and only by and large having a normal social/romantic life. I always love when Mary has a chance to remind Jacob he own't shit—though I do feel similar she deserves ameliorate than constantly chasing after his attention or affection. Plus zombies are e'er fun! I'm too here for the journeying Alice has been going on this flavour and I can't wait to encounter how she moves, knowing that Kate is alive, but not knowing if Kate can come back—or if she even wants her to. I love the dynamic Alice has with Ocean and their story together could be ballsy or tragic or both and that'southward exciting.

This was a really great episode until information technology wasn't. And while I take some issue with the choice to utilize this specific type of violence to tell this story, my bigger issue is that Luke is made to fully disregard his own knowledge, experience, and instinct equally a Black man—his extremely recent experience—to walk into a situation that he would know to be wary of. I'one thousand irked and I'1000 disappointed. I really hope Luke survives and that Tylenol gets his comeuppance, but I've adapted my expectations, so any happens happens.