Warning: spoilers ahead for the March 21 episode of Batwoman Season 2, called "Survived Much Worse."
Batwoman as the story of Kate Kane went through a dramatic shift from the end of the first season to the beginning of the second thanks to the exit of star Ruby Rose and the decision not to recast Kate to keep her character as star of the show. Javicia Leslie's Ryan Wilder has taken up the cape and the cowl as Batwoman after Kate went missing and was presumed by some to be dead from a plane crash. Now, "Survived Much Worse" revealed that not only is Kate alive, but she's coming back to Batwoman with another woman in the role. Rose shared her reaction to the Arrowverse recasting.
Ruby Rose didn't weigh in on the news that Krypton actress Wallis Day joined Batwoman right after the episode aired, but she has since shared her reaction to Day joining the show. In response to a post from a fan saying that Rose "will always be THE Kate Kane" and she "made Kate Kane Iconic," Rose posted an Instagram Story to share her response:
I'm sorry I didn't congratulate @wallisday yesterday.. I knew about the casting beforehand and didn't know when it aired so I forgot to. But I'm stoked for her! I'm seeing all the things I'm tagged in with people sad or wondering how I felt .. I feel great I have nothing but good vibes.
Ruby Rose revealed that she had been told that Kate Kane was recast for Batwoman before Kate's on-screen return and the news that Wallis Day would be tackling the role, so fans don't have to worry that she was blindsided with the reveal. And in fact, Day didn't appear in "Survived Much Worse," as the Kate who appeared was heavily bandaged and unrecognizable as anybody, let alone Rose or Day. The original Batwoman star is "stoked" for the new Kate Kane, proving that her support for the show continues even after her departure.
This isn't the first time that Ruby Rose has shown enthusiasm for how Batwoman is continuing after her departure, as she reacted to the news of Javicia Leslie as her replacement by congratulating her, saying that it was "amazing" and she'd be "walking into an amazing cast and crew." Rose's departure was announced at the end of Season 1 to the surprise of fans everywhere, not least because the first season wasn't setting up any kind of exit for Kate Kane.
Of course, Batwoman didn't get to finish production on the first season as planned, but no fan could have imagined Javicia Leslie taking over at Batwoman in Season 2. Plus, it was only recently that Rose dropped comments that suggested she'd be willing to reprise her role as Kate someday.
Still, this is the Arrowverse we're talking about, and things are a lot more bonkers now almost ten years in than they were back when Arrow started it all in 2012. Ruby Rose could always appear again as Kate in flashbacks, if Batwoman reveals that Kate looks like Wallis Day rather than Ruby Rose because of some kind of reconstructive surgery.
See what happens next now that Batwoman has set Kate Kane to return looking different, with the next new episode on Sunday, March 21 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
