Batwoman episode 4 finally begins to explain the mystery of what happened to Alice 15 years ago - but still leaves a lot of questions unanswered. The last two episodes have shown Batwoman slip into a comfortable pattern; there’s a villain-of-the-week who forces Kate Kane to up her game, and meanwhile the mystery of Beth Kane’s disappearance is explored a little at a time. Batwoman episode 3 featured Hush, and episode 4 introduces Magpie.
The sneak thief decides to steal something that’s very personal to Kate Kane; the famous pearl necklace of Martha Wayne, which was on display in Wayne Tower. Unfortunately, Batwoman is still struggling to master her new equipment, and as a result Magpie walks away unscathed from their first encounters. Meanwhile, Alice taunts Catherine Hamilton-Kane, forcing her to admit that she faked Beth’s death all those years ago. Needless to say, her husband Jacob is devastated at the news he gave up on his daughter when she was still alive.
Batwoman episode 4 has major repercussions for the ongoing narrative. If Catherine is to be believed, then there’s no grand conspiracy behind Beth’s disappearance; but that leaves viewers no closer to the truth of just what happened all those years ago. Let’s explore all the key questions.
5. Who Is Magpie?
Created by John Byrne back in 1986, in the comics Magpie was a museum curator who was driven mad with greed for the precious items she saw every day but could never own. She became particularly well-known for switching precious jewels with convincing fakes that were actually dangerous deathtraps. The Arrowverse’s version of Magpie in Batwoman episode 4 is a remarkably comic-book-accurate rendition, although updated slightly with modern technology such as 3-D printing that helps her produce the fake Martha Wayne necklace.
4. Did Luke Drop A Clue To Batman’s Disappearance?
Meanwhile, Batwoman episode 4 sees Luke Fox unwittingly drop what could be an important clue to Batman’s disappearance. According to Luke, Bruce Wayne’s secret identity never sat well with him, and the pressure of avoiding close relationships led to his becoming miserable. “Honestly, in his last few months, I think Batman was easier for him than being Bruce,” Luke explains. It’s entirely possible that, three years ago, something was going on in Bruce Wayne’s personal life - something that led to his vanishing. If so, it’s not really Batman who disappeared at all, but Bruce Wayne.
3. How Is The Arrowverse Batman’s Origin Different To Other Versions?
Meanwhile, Batwoman episode 4 reveals that Batwoman’s version of the Dark Knight has a slightly different origin story to most versions. In the Arrowverse, Martha Wayne’s pearl necklace was actually stolen, and Bruce Wayne spent years of his life looking for it. He eventually found it in an auction, and spent $1 million dollars buying it back. Appropriately enough, he made the necklace stand the key to his Batcave in Wayne Tower, a symbol of its significance in his life.
2. Why Did Catherine Hamilton Hide Beth Kane’s Fate?
Batwoman episode 4 finally explains the mystery of the skull fragments that persuaded Jacob Kane to give up on his missing daughter, Beth. It seems that Catherine Hamilton saw the last two survivors of the Kane family wallowing in grief, and decided they needed closure. As a result, she had some of her people acquire skull fragments from a deer, and then paid a DNA analyst to pretend they were a match for Beth. If an emotional Catherine is to be believed, the only thing she’s guilty of is mistakenly attempting to end the suffering of two people she loved - and, presumably, going to any lengths to cover it up. All this means Beth’s true abductor remains unknown.
1. What Are Alice’s Plans For Jacob And Catherine?
Alice attempts to blackmail Catherine into handing over an unknown weapon that Hamilton Dynamics has developed; it’s unclear whether she really wanted this, or was just manipulating Catherine. The latter seems more likely, given her drugged boyfriend tells Mary Hamilton that Alice is playing a game of cat-and-mouse with someone - and Batwoman episode 4 soon transitions to a shot of an emotionally devastated Jacob Kane, who has just discovered Alice is his daughter. Jacob Kane is clearly the mouse, and Alice has big plans for him.
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