Batwoman: The cape & cowl conspiracy of Ruby Rose

Remember the time when Batwoman was the new kid on the block for the “Arrowverse”? Batwoman, also known as Kate Kane, was first introduced during the 2018 Elseworlds crossover. The best possible way to explain Elseworlds, in a nutshell, is that it’s the CW’s small scale version of the Infinity War event from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). 

Elseworlds also featured the first appearance of Lois Lane and exposed the location of iconic Gotham City to the shared continuity. The CW, or the “Arrowverse” as some fans call it, has built a shared world that is somewhere in the complex fabric of the DC Multiverse.

One thing people were divisive about was the character of Kate Kane. The fans of The CW were left split about the direction at the CW going forward.

The line in the sand was drawn between those who wanted a Batman show on the small screen and those who wanted to see a soft-core arrow reboot.

Then the unthinkable happened and a pandemic affected the highest portion of popularity in the crucible of daily life. The field and development of media were halted and production was cut short on various properties and TV shows alike.

A big problem was arising going forward in the eyes of fans and entertainment. It was clear to see that some network shows would be cut short and pushed to next season. Not usually a problem in the direction of film or TV.     

However, a conflict did arise and the issue in discussion was soon the mystery behind the departure of Ruby Rose from Batwoman.

Rose did a fairly decent job with the role. She was a little timid at first, but the more the show advanced, she got stronger, benefiting from the influence of Crisis on Infinite Earth’s as well as the partnership and chemistry of Melissa Benoist’s Supergirl.

Batwoman’s season finale was profound because it was the first look at Earth Prime Bruce Wayne.  The sudden reveal was something fans have been begging for. It was evident to see Batwoman, season two, was going to benefit from a more cohesive narrative and a driven cast.  

Not everything in life is smooth sailing though because on May 20, 2020, Rose made the choice of her exit public.

Many felt Rose was playing coy about the departure. She quickly dismissed that accusation with this heartfelt quote from “Deadline” speaking about her exit from the iconic CW role. 

“I have made the very difficult decision to not return to Batwoman next season,” Rose said in a statement “This was not a decision I made lightly as I have the utmost respect for the cast, crew and everyone involved with the show in both Vancouver and in Los Angeles.”

Deadline

I personally feel many factors could have gone into Rose’s decision. One could have been the long nine hour shoots and the conflict of schedule. The CW and other networks are usually very time consuming and they take up most of the year, leaving actors no time or chances to pursue future endeavors away from the capes and spandex alike. 

The small screen is much more demanding of its actors. The leads have to appear in almost every episode, and when signing contracts they are usually multi-season. Rose could have possibly felt that she was meant for bigger, and broader roles in the distance. Alas, no one will really know the truth, but it does make you feel like it was a bad marriage. It could be coined as a divorce between the camps of Rose and the network respectfully. 

One thing to know is that as of June 3, 2020, Rose has been removed from the promotional art of the show and The CW has already put out a casting call for a new perspective of the property going forward. The character who will take up the batsuit after the disappearance of Kate Kane is Ryan Wilder. 

The call reads “With no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat could also kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible. And very much not your stereotypical All-American hero.”

The description of the call feels as if The CW is trying to reboot the entire show from the ground up. Batwoman is now faced with one problem: the fear of history rearing its ugly head. Due to the usual fact that when shows recast their lead after a season It means death is on the horizon. 

Only time will tell. As of now Batwoman is still slated to appear on The CW in January 2021, but who will don the cape and cowl? And that, my friends, is the mystery of the Batwoman.