The Only Problem Batwoman Has Is Toxic CW Fans
The Only Problem Batwoman Has Is Toxic CW Fans
*(But we knew that already!)
Let's be clear on one thing: the cast of Batwoman has never been a problem.
Good casting blessed this show from the beginning, and it only got better when Javicia Leslie joined the show for season 2 (following Ruby Rose's departure at the end of season 1).
The cast is good, the show is good, the story is good, the Bat-aesthetics are good (if not amazing). I enjoyed season 1 immensely and I look forward to season 2 with Javicia Leslie in the new lead of Batwoman/Ryan Wilder.
Our mission as fans of the show going forward is clear: protect Javicia Leslie from trolls who hate Batwoman for no good reason.
Fans already stepped up to the plate on social media, following the season 2 debut on Sunday 17 with Javicia joining the show.
Media site The Wrap posted a snide tweet about ratings and tagged the actress herself:
Fans spoke up, the tweet was deleted but soon to be followed by another snide tweet:
Not tagging Javicia this time, yet still picking on the show's ratings and blaming Javicia. Racism, much?
Look, let's state some facts. Batwoman's Sunday debut in the US was up against a big sports event, and as many fans on social media pointed out, viewers use The CW app to watch at later times.
The concept of 'live TV ratings' isn't what it used to be, but that won't stop the homophobes and racists from trying to shit on the show (they did this all through season 1, and yet The CW was clearly happy enough with the ratings to renew the show for season 2).
Haters need to simmer down and get a hobby, but Batwoman has been number 1 on their hate list since it aired. These are the same jerks who hate Captain Marvel/Brie Larson simply for breathing, there is nothing in their criticism except misogyny and sexism.
Add in the homophobia too, because Batwoman is a lesbian character, and now add in racism because Javicia Leslie is Black.
(Picture: actress Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder: plant person, and our new Batwoman)
There will probably always be jerks trying to dunk on this show for having the nerve to exist. That's why fans need to vocally support the show.
Not only that, but we need to vocally support Javicia Leslie online.
The CW hasn't had a great rep for looking after or defending its Black women actors. Candice Patton on The Flash show has had years of racism being thrown at her by fans, and more recently Anna Diop on DC Universe show Titans.
Unfortunately that toxic breeding ground for this area of DC fandom has gone unchecked for years, but that needs to change NOW.
At the end of the day, Candice Patton and Anna Diop are great. Javicia Leslie is great too. Fans have really warmed to her and are grateful that Batwoman season 2 gets to proceed. There's nothing but good from these women and the roles they play, the representation they provide to younger fans watching, and anyone with common sense can see this.
Even Ruby Rose, season 1 Batwoman herself, welcomed Javicia to the role of Batwoman. There seems to be no bad blood there, as Ruby chose to leave the role herself, it was her decision.
We should follow her lead in welcoming Javicia to the role and supporting her in it.
I simply can't understand why any Bat-fan would get up in arms over different characters and different actors putting on the cowl. We've seen dozens of different Bat-men over the years.
But that's the problem, isn't it?
Those jerks only want to see a cishet white dude as Batman, period. They don't want to see anyone else, not even anyone else from the Bat-family, like Batwoman. Some of them didn't even realise that Batwoman is a different character from Batgirl. Talk about fake geeks!
Having a show about another Bat-family member (Batwoman, Titans, Gotham, etc!) doesn't take away from Batman existing. WB/DC keep the Batman IP for movies, so that's probably the only place we'll ever see Batman in live action (although Titans and Gotham has done little bits and pieces of Batman at times).
It just boggles my mind that those fans would say, 'no, actually, I don't want to see ANY other Bat-family content on other platforms, I only want one white dude as Batman, sporadically in a movie every few years, and that's it!'.
To quote Max Shreck in Batman Returns:
Those types of fans (let's just call them bigoted jerks, because that's what they are) need to move on. Bat-family exists, get over it. Watch your occasional movies with Bruce as Batman and let the rest of us enjoy all of the other content.
I for one, a long time Batman and Bat-family fan, am always excited to see MORE Bat-content. I want it all! How can anyone get bored of Bat-content? The aesthetics are all the same: it's a badass in a cowl fighting crime on rooftops. That's it, that's what fans want! Now let us enjoy it.
Bottom line: real Bat-fans support Batwoman, and support Javicia Leslie too. Period.
~*~
Watch a trailer for Batwoman Season 2.
Watch an interview with Javicia Leslie.
