Batwoman, “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two”, Review!

The episode opens with Sara Lance (White Canary) pouring a drink in honor of Oliver Queen’s death along with Kara Danvers (Supergirl) and Kate Kane (Batwoman). His last battle was enough a delay to evacuate a billion more people from Earth-38, the world of Supergirl. Kate wants to get back to the business of saving the multiverse which is really down to Earth-1. Kara wants to find somehow to reverse everything kinda like Thanos’ snap. A bright light announces the appearance of Harbinger. Monitor walks in Atom and they mention need of the Waverider, the ship of the Legends of Tomorrow. Sara notes that the Legends don’t want to leave their time traveling reality.  Harbinger notes that there are many Waveriders and transports to Earth-74 to find an abandoned version. She finds that the ship’s voice, Leonard, activates. This is of course Leonard Snart, Captain Cold, played by Wentworth Miller. He brings in another Legend, Mick Rory known as Heatwave (Dominic Purcell), who wields flame and frost guns. Harbinger notes that the Legends retired on this Earth. Mick says he took over the ship and Leonard says he is attempting to be a romance writer, funny. She promises him beer and he agrees for use of the Waverider. 

BATWOMAN -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” --  RUBY ROSE -- Dean Buscher/The CW. 

The Monitor on the bridge of the Waverider tries to explain about seven heroes, but baby Jonathan is crying. He is passed from Lois to Clark, then Kara, Kate declines to hold the baby, so she passes it to Mick! Purcell really sells these sweet scenes with his toughness. The Monitor continues about the seven heroes called Paragons. He found about it in the Book of Destiny. Barry Allen says that it was destroyed, but The Monitor saved it. He identifies Kara as the Paragon of Hope, she’s not feeling hopeful, and The Paragon of Destiny is Sara Lance. The Monitor knows that another Superman is the Paragon of Truth, Atom asks about the other Paragon, funny, it is the Paragon of Courage. He says it is the Bat of the Future. His power is weakening. The Monitor explains that Felicity Smoak found the Book of the Guardians which identified Supergirl and White Canary. The future Bruce Wayne is in Earth-99. Kate smiles since she already knows Bruce Wayne. Kara looks at a panel showing the path of the Anti-Matter Wave destroying Earth-38. She turns to see Lex Luthor played by Jon Cryer. He started playing Luthor in the Supergirl episode, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” in March.  

Supergirl is stunned since she saw his sister, Lena Luthor, kill him, but he was saved by The Monitor. Her eyes flare with heat vision, but The Monitor says he has a part to play. In the comics, there was an Alexander Luthor, who as a child was sent away in the first issue, mirroring the escape pod of Jonathan Kent. He becomes pivotal in the Crisis story and the Cryer’s Luthor seems to take that place. Kara walks away from The Monitor. Kate threatens Luthor and then tells Supergirl they should go save the universe! World’s Finest. The New 52 Worlds' Finest featured the duo of Power Girl and Huntress. Harbinger stumbles down the corridor, hearing voices, “Stop him, before he finds the book!” She confronts Luthor who opens the Book of Destiny, he opens a portal, and steps in. Harbinger tells The Monitor that he is going to kill Superman! He says, “As I said everyone has a part to play.” We next get Barry hugging his wife, Iris West-Allen, they married in the Legends of Tomorrow crossover episode, “Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4” (2017). Barry wants to revive Oliver in a Lazarus Pit which were destroyed on Earth-1, but there are other Earths. Iris explains that The Monitor wants her on the mission to find the other Superman.  

BATWOMAN -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” --  KEVIN CONROY -- Dean Buscher/The CW. 

Mia says to Sara that she is going to revive her father in a Lazarus Pit. Sara was revived in one and went insane for a time until she was able to recover. We get Earth-99, Gotham City, Wayne Mansion at night that looks like it is fell into a horror movie, the music adds to it. Kate and Kara are there, she knocks on the door, the door is answered by Luke Fox (Camrus Johnson) without glasses.  Very funny, Kate is stunned by his abs, he doesn’t accept that she is Bruce’s cousin and closes the door. Kara kicks it in. Luke has a gun on them and then there is a voice I don’t think I would ever hear in live action, “Don’t be so rude, Luke.” Down the steps is a Bruce Wayne in a suit and mechanical servos. He is played by Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman: The Animated Series, perfect casting! Bruce is surprised to see Kate and in turn she is in turn can’t believe it’s an older Bruce! As Luke walks with Kara, Bruce explains to Kate that she died five years ago. Earth-75, Metropolis, Lois tells Clark that Iris is calling warning them about Lex’s plan. They look up to see the headline, “Breaking News - Superman Dead!” with Lois over the body of Superman with the red Superman flag. The classic image from the Death of Superman comics storyline. 

John Constantine (Matt Ryan) tells Sara and Mia about the dangers of Lazarus Pits and Barry is impatient. He is the fan favorite sorcerer huckster introduced in Swamp Thing #37 (1985) by Alan Moore and John Totleben. Matt Ryan played him in the Constantine NBC series in 2014-2015 and the character was brought into the Arrowverse with the Arrow epsiode “Haunted” (2015), before joining the Legends of Tomorrow. He uses spells to find an Earth with a working Lazarus Pit. Mia and Barry leave and Sara has Constantine promise that he has to bring back Oliver’s soul. Next, we get the Daily Planet headlines, “Caped Wonder Stuns City”, the Superman film series brought into canon! It is Earth-167 and we get a look at a Smallville farm. Clark Kent (Tom Welling) is cutting wood with an axe. Welling is the Clark Kent from Smallville (2001-2011) with a little gray, but still Superman. This is right out of the Kingdom Come comic series. A flash brings Iris, Clark, and Lois.  The Earth-1 Superman is compared to this Superman by Lois as the “buff guy on the paper towel rolls”, funny, but also Welling looks like he can pull a tractor.

BATWOMAN -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” -- BRANDON ROUTH -- Katie Yu/The CW. 

Our heroes are flashed out and Lex Luthor appears with the Book of Destiny. He threatens Clark who disbelieves he’s Luthor. Then, Luthor takes out a Kryptonite crystal, Clark approaches him and tosses it away. He explains that he gave up his powers and hits Luthor. Lois (Erica Durance) walks up, it feels like Smallville again, the show that kept comic books going when there wasn’t any on television. She thinks he is joking and they head back to see their daughters. Conroy’s Bruce Wayne laughs at Kate telling him that he is the Paragon of Courage. He shows her the newspaper that reads “Batman’s Reign of Terror is Over”, this Batman has become a killer, sounds familiar!  Kate offers him a chance to be a hero again. Baby Jonathan cries in Mick’s arms with Ray frustrated since he is working on a Paragon Detector for The Monitor. Mick is reading the baby his novel, Caged Passion, more funny!  

This moves to Earth-96, Metropolis with Clark, Lois, and Iris at the Daily Planet.  Lois bumps into a very familiar Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) in glasses with slight gray. Of course, Routh played Clark in Superman Returns (2006), the best part of that movie. John Williams’ “Can You Read My Mind” plays as Lois talks with Clark.  Iris brings up that he looks like Ray Palmer. This one doesn’t hit as hard.  Kara is taken to a room by Luke and see bloody glasses. Luke tells her that Superman’s death also caused Bruce’s injury. At the Daily Planet, Lois notices a wall of plaques with her name, Perry White, and others.  Clark explains that a “reject from Gotham” caused “Planet Attacked”, I’m stunned since this is from the video game Injustice! Iris explains the multiverse attack and Clark shifts into the Superman suit with the black symbol from Kingdom Come. Earth-1 Clark slips into his Superman suit without the curl, uh, not really Superman.  We get some of John Williams’ Superman theme when Luthor walks in. He uses the open Book of Destiny to get Earth-96 Superman enraged to attack Earth-1 Superman! The battle of Supermen is a dream.  

Superman-96 decides to make him feel like he does and kill his loved ones. Lois takes care of Luthor and tries to use the Book of Destiny with Iris. Doesn’t this make her the Paragon of Destiny?  Then, we get Earth-18 North Dakota, Constantine has taken the group to a mine. Barry and Constantine portal to get Oliver’s body. Mia and Sara are met by Jonah Hex (Johnathon Schaech) without scars. He is the comic book Western hero that appeared in Legends of Tomorrow.  Supergirl faces Bruce Wayne who has the weapon that defeated his Superman. Kate knocks him back with a kick electrocuting his suit. Bruce says to Kate, “There is no hope.” Clark-96 meets with his doppelganger, Ray Palmer, as Luthor taunts from behind a force field. He sees Jonathan Kent who Clark says looks like his son Jason. Kate Kane finds her destiny and Supergirl is convinced she can bring Earth-38 back with the Book of Destiny! Harbinger has an even more difficult revealation!  A very good episode, mostly in regular clothes not uniforms, still with some incredible moments!  

Four Quantum Towers out of Five! 

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