Spoilers for the Batwoman Season 2 premiere -- “What Happened To Kate Kane?” -- lie ahead.
After months of anticipation, Batwoman Season 2 has finally arrived and, with it, came the introduction of the new Scarlet Knight -- Javicia Leslie’s Ryan Wilder. Many had a mixture of emotions when it was confirmed that former lead star Ruby Rose would not be returning to the role of Kate Kane, but fans mostly seemed optimistic about Leslie stepping in. But now that the season premiere has aired, how do they feel about her hero. Well, many viewers have taken to the internet and, as you would expect, they had thoughts.
So far, the reactions to Batwoman’s introduction of Javicia Leslie’s Ryan Wilder have been positive. One Twitter fan commented on their love of the entire episode, calling Wilder a badass and noting her chemistry with the established cast:
Ryan Wilder first recovers the Batsuit from the wreckage of the plane crash that Kate Kane is believed to have died in. The character is established as an ex-con, who was wrongly convicted for drug possession. She also has a tragic backstory that saw her adopted mother killed by members of Alice’s Wonderland Gang. With this, many fans are already feeling for her:
Ryan Wilder also had a number of notable lines during the course of the episode. However, there’s one that’s certainly struck a chord with some viewers:
Not everyone was incredibly high on Javicia Leslie’s Ryan Wilder, though. One viewer criticized the character with some blunt thoughts and doesn’t appear to think Wilder is fit to take on the mantle of Batwoman, possibly due to her somewhat intense fighting style:
Despite some critiques, the love for Ryan Wilder appears to be strong, and it’s certainly extended to Javicia Leslie as well. The actress is giving fans all sorts of powerful vibes, and they can’t get enough:
When it comes to stepping into the role of Batwoman, Javicia Leslie referred to it as an “honor” and a “dream.” She relishes the opportunity to play a superhero in a mainstream project and serve as a source of representation for Black women and the LGBTQ community -- all while kicking some serious butt. And as fate would have it, the actress also grew up idolizing iconic Batman actress Eartha Kitt and, so far, Leslie seems to be doing that legacy proud.
Javicia Leslie is certainly putting a new spin on the hero Arrowverse fans have come to know, though it’s clear that the season premiere has only scratched the surface when it comes to Ryan Wilder. The series will hopefully continue to dive deeper and add more layers to her. And in the process, Leslie will hopefully be able to flex her acting muscles.
Batwoman airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
