Batwoman: 5 questions we have after the season 2 premiere

Batwoman season 2 wasted no time jumping into the action this Sunday, but it did leave viewers with some major questions.

The second season of Batwoman took off this Sunday, and the premiere wasted no time throwing fans back into the action of Gotham City. Picking up not long after the impromptu first season finale, “Whatever Happened to Kate Kane?” tells two stories running parallel to one another: the tale of Ryan Wilder stumbling upon the Batsuit (and potentially a new legacy) and the mystery of how Kate Kane went missing in an unexpected plane crash.

“Whatever Happened to Kate Kane?” is about as emotional as it gets for a season premiere, but it also introduced some fun and interesting new elements into the mix — from Ryan’s character in general to Safiyah’s scheming to our first look at the Batmobile.

And as the premiere laid the groundwork for what’s to come, it also raised some questions that will need to be answered in the coming episodes. These are just a few things we’d like to know after watching “Whatever Happened to Kate Kane?”

How will Ryan rediscover the Batsuit?

Although Ryan started the season premiere eager to put on the Batsuit and fight, she eventually returns it to Luke and Mary, expressing the sentiment that she’s not the hero that Gotham needs. Of course, we have to assume she’ll become that hero at some point — but what pushes her over the edge and convinces her to take up that mantle is currently a mystery.

Given Mary’s newfound interest in Ryan, it’s definitely possible Luke and Mary will seek Ryan out when Kate never returns. After all, the city needs some hero protecting it — and Ryan definitely excelled during her trial run.

Where does Alice go from here?

Alice’s entire storyline was crafted around getting revenge on her sister, and now it seems her plans have gone horribly awry. Judging by her drinking and mourning during the season premiere, it’s going to take some time for her to get over her sister (or the desire to kill her, anyway), but that doesn’t mean Alice isn’t going to face new challenges this season.

It’s unclear what her new objective will be moving forward, but the premiere has already hinted at Alice being dragged into other characters’ storylines. Not only is she partially responsible for the death of Ryan’s mother, but she seems to be Safiyah’s number one target this season.

Things could definitely get interesting for Alice. And speaking of Safiyah…

What is Safiyah’s endgame?

Safiyah has yet to make her big debut, but this week’s premiere dropped more hints about the mysterious Batwoman villain, even going so far as to link her to Kate’s death. Toward the end of the episode, Alice finds a newspaper clipping about Kate’s disappearance with a message from Safiyah — and the implication is clear. Safiyah is crediting herself for Kate being gone.

Whether Safiyah is actually responsible for Kate’s disappearance — or if she just thinks she is — is a question for the coming episodes. It’d also be nice to get a better understanding of Safiyah’s endgame. Is she simply out to terrorize Alice and Julia, or is there more she’d like to do before her tenure on the series is through?

What are the lingering effects of that Kryptonite bullet?

When Ryan is forced to fight Tommy Elliott disguised as Bruce Wayne, she easily takes him down — but she doesn’t leave the altercation totally unscathed. Tommy is able to land a shot with a Kryptonite bullet, and although Ryan doesn’t immediately react to being hit with such a powerful weapon, the final moments of the episode reveal that the Kryptonite is still in her body.

What such a powerful substance might do to her remains to be seen, but according to Javicia Leslie, Ryan’s got a journey ahead of her — and she might have some reservations about asking for help.

Whatever did happen to Kate Kane?

Unfortunately, the question posed in the premiere’s title is the one we may never get an answer to. With Ruby Rose leaving Batwoman after its first season, the series made the decision to replace her character with a new lead — and we really can’t complain because, well, Ryan is kicking some serious butt.

That said, showrunner Caroline Dries assured fans she wouldn’t kill off Kate’s character or perpetuate the harmful “Bury Your Gays” trope. Still, with no actress to return to the role, it seems the mystery behind Kate’s disappearance could remain unresolved. Or will we see more letters surface, like the one Sophie reads at the end of this week’s episode?

With such bizarre circumstances surrounding the plane crash — and Safiyah’s little note — it would be satisfying to eventually get some closure about Kate’s fate. Fingers crossed Batwoman follows through. It’s the least the show can do for its original protagonist.

What are some questions you have after the Batwoman season two premiere? Let us know in the comments section below!