So far I’ve only talked about characters I’ve loved for years. What about someone a little more current? Last fall a Batwoman TV show premiered on CW. I only watched because I knew it would tie into the epic Crisis on Infinite Earth’s crossover event (FYI that event was FANTASTIC. They hit every story point from the comics and did it well). For the first couple episodes the shoe didn’t move me much. Then I started to pay attention to the main villain of the season. I was really drawn in by her, so much I wanted to know who this great actress was playing her. I am of course taking about..
Alice/Beth Kane
I know this character had a long history in the comics but I hadn’t heard of her until the TV show, so that is what I am focusing on. I also realize that the series is still on so will try to avoid major spoilers. Still, if you haven’t seen the show at all and want to go in fresh, feel free to stop here.
As I said, the series did not grab me at first. I was fully prepared to drop it after the crossover event. Then the show started slowly delving into the backstory of this villain named Alice, and it got my attention. After an accident on a bridge Beth Kane was presumed dead. Kathy Kane survived and was determined to find her sister, until proof of her death was found. Turns out, Bath was locked up by a guy looking for a way to cure his son’s disfigurement. He wanted her to be a playmate for his lonely son. As a distraction form the horror she was living, she read Alice in Wonderland (hence the name change and constant references to it). She did make a bond with the son, and as time went on gave up hope and accepted her new reality. Eventually escaping, forming a crime group called the Wonderland Gang and setting out for revenge.
That my friends is the cliff notes version, I didn’t even get into the crazy mother who abused her. Like most Arrow-verse sows the backstory is rolled out over the course of the season. Alice tends to bounce back and forth between off the wall crazy and sympathetically rational. You can see her bloodlust for revenge, and can also tell that underneath that is a vulnerable girl who wants her family back. Who is this actress who is doing such an unbelievable job? She is Rachel Skarsten and she just nails the part. She takes a stock psycho and humanizes her and is almost unrecognizable doing it. In fact for a couple episode she played a normal “Beth” alongside the crazy Alice (long story tied into Crisis) and not only did it legit seem like two different people, but I found myself liking the normal Beth and hoping she’d stay around. At this point in the show it’s clear that had things not gotten so messed up Kate and Beth would have been close friends as well as sisters. Making the choices Kate will eventually have to face even more heartbreaking.
Most know that Batwonan is gay on the show and because of that some assume it’s a “girl power” show like Supergirl. But in reality the show delves into a lot of psychological issues involving kidnapping, torture, and abuse. You can’t help feel sorry for Alice, in spite of the horrible things she does. And I should mention Ruby Rose is good as Batwoman, you know she wants to save her sister but it gets more obvious she can’t. But it’s Skarsten who steals the show and got me to pay attention.
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