Batwoman 2x13 : I'l Give You a Clue review

 

            Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it.

This episode of Batwoman features a comic Batgirl, Cluemaster and Sophie finally getting inside of the bat-cave so surely it's good right? well yes actually it is but not every aspect is perfect. The episode begins 5 years in the past as we're shown Sophie leading the villain Arthur Brown also known as Cluemaster to a jail cell in Blackgate. Absolutely bemused by how Sophie managed to crack his clues and puzzles he vows revenge on her. Back in present day and we see Batwoman on the hunt for Black Mask once again. It looks successful this time around but The Crows soon scupper her plan once again as they attempt to capture the thug and kill the bat. She manages to get away and as Ryan arrives home she is greeted by Sophie and Mary who are enjoying a bottle of Tequila together. Ryan who is heavily against Crow agents to begin with instantly takes a disliking to the situation. She does end up joining the girls as they play never have I ever with some funny truths coming to pass. Stuff like Mary having sex on a plane and Sophie kissing the OG Batwoman all come out. As they near the end of the bottle however they discover a caterpillar inside. A poison filled caterpillar that turns out to be a clue from Cluemaster who as shown just before this scene has escaped Blackgate with his main goal of finding Sophie and killing her after he was defeated by her. Clues are left behind but none bigger than that of a gun range symbol which leads Sophie, Ryan and Mary to a gun range where someone is waiting inside to be saved..

At the end of last week's episode we saw Black Mask and would be daughter Kate Kane torturing Alice. This physical torment continues this week as each of Alice's nails one by one is set to be peeled off unless she gives the name of Batwoman to Black Mask. Alice is left alone and comes up with a plan of her own. After she talks to Kate who we can't forget is under Black Mask and Enigma's mind control believing to be his daughter, Alice uses this to her advantage and states that she can make a new face for her much like she did with Bruce Wayne for Thomas Elliot last season. Alice also manages to deduct that Roman Sionis is indeed Black Mask as she is soon let go of her restraints. Back with Mary, Sophie and Ryan now and inside of the gun range they find another clue which leads to solving yet another puzzle. This time to save a girl who inside of a giant box. This girl turns out to be none other than Stephanie Brown who is Batgirl in the comic books. She is daughter to Arthur Brown The Cluemaster who upon getting rejected by his daughter in his revenge plan decides to use her in his devious plans. Sophie really shines here as she almost solves the puzzle all by herself. Stephanie gets released as she soon meets Luke and the two actually flirt which was a tad awkward. The Cluemaster isn't done rather he has one final puzzle up his sleeve and it is called The Quiz Bowl.

The episode draws to a close as at the Quiz Bowl area Mary and Ryan step on a pressure plate that if they move off of will detonate killing them instantly. Sophie isn't on the pressure plate however and soon enough goes to the bat-cave for the first time to get some gear for Ryan. So why is Sophie going to the bat-cave all of a sudden?? well as time is ticking down and the quiz game getting closer and closer to ending Sophie blurts out that she knows Ryan is Batwoman. Ryan tries to brush it off as nothing but soon realizes that Sophie is actually telling the truth and tells her how to get into the bat-cave. While Sophie is off doing that Stephanie and Luke continue to grow and bond together but it doesn't quite end well for Luke as Stephanie knocks him out before setting off to stop her dad by herself. As Mary and Ryan escape from the Quiz Bowl room thanks to a line launcher like gadget that Sophie retrieved they all laugh it off as something truly awesome even though really they got out with mere seconds remaining. Stephanie meets up with her father but her plan doesn't exactly work out and while they're in a car he gasses them both. Luke comes to Stephanie's recuse as Arthur Brown is brought back to Blackgate expected to make a fully recovery. With the villain now behind bars again Sophie is safe again. But just why was Cluemaster so obsessed with Sophie and how did she of all people solve his puzzles? turns out she didn't. She had some help over the phone from a then mysterious woman. This mysterious woman of course turns out to have been Stephanie who solved her dad's puzzle and told Sophie who took it upon herself to take the praise as she was soon promoted from rookie cop to a higher position on the force. The episode finally does it however back at Black Mask's home as Alice attempts to get to work on a new face for Kate Kane. Upon removing the white mask she was wearing Alice notices the eyes that are the same as her father and hers. You have his eyes she says as the sudden realization of this woman being Kate Kane hits her like a ton of bricks. And that's how the episode ends. No idea what comes next but it's going to be interesting to find out. This was a solid if a bit slow paced episode. Sophie was the standout here as with each passing episode her character just gets better and better. Her officially becoming a member of Team Batwoman will be great to see going forward in what is sure to be an explosive end to season 2 as not many more episodes remain.

★★★