'Batwoman' is a one-woman show and that's just one of the problems with The CW series
Unlike other shows in the Arrowverse, 'Batwoman' has had a rather tough time in getting fans to root for her. There is slight interest generated in every episode, which demonstrates that the show has much promise.
However, performances, with the exception of a few, are still rather wooden and the dialogues are clunky while the narrative is not quick enough.
Yet, after five episodes, it's safe to say that the show is sluggishly picking up momentum. The latest episode with Alice's backstory was quite a relief and had its share of anxiety-ridden moments, but the problems hindering the show's progress are still quite clear.
A one-woman show
For starters, 'Batwoman', for the most part, is a one-woman show by Ruby Rose, who plays the titular role. Very few characters apart from Kate Kane actually make much of an impact. Initially, the storyline could not seem to go beyond the mainstay of the Kane family, Kate, Alice, and their father.
The rest of the characters seemed to be adhering to every Arrowverse trope, including a deceptive mother figure with sinister intentions, the tech genius like Felicity or Cisco, or the sweet sister role like Thea Queen.
The rest of the characters seems to be fumbling a little, and in particular, Luke. He could wield more charisma and power in the show, but he's reduced to the sidelines. It's as if the writers are entirely dependent on Kate to carry the show through.
Till episode five, Alice was a rather bland character. However, in the latest episode, her backstory was finally explored, and we finally got to see how Beth became Alice.
It is much to be hoped that this story might influence the rest of the characters and the snail pace of the show might just pick up. Alice will make a fantastic villain, due to her brokenness, better than a hero.
Ruby Rose is a powerful lead character and does her best as Batwoman. The good thing is that it took her three episodes to don the suit and call herself Batwoman. However, rather than making the mistake of lingering in her character's past, it's time for the writers to take the leap forward.
Similarities to other Arrowverse shows
Batwoman is too similar to shows like 'Arrow' and 'The Flash', in terms of storyline and origin stories. We've seen it all before, as Kate's battle is too similar to Oliver Queen's, as she finds herself in a once-familiar city and finds herself at the heart of a conspiracy.
Too much time was spent on the Crows and looking for Alice and trying to understand the workings of the master-villain at hand.
With the 'Crisis' looming near and dangerously on 'Arrow' and 'The Flash', hopefully, Batwoman picks up the pace and deals with the pivotal storyline with the seriousness it deserves.