Featherhat

There's definitely no good solution at all. My big issue with this supposed change is that all the relationships the show is based around were based on Kate not Batwoman, with the possible exception of Luke who was only really just starting to find a rhythm with Kate. Is Kara also supposed to instantly bond with the new girl (again) because they want their SuperBat power friendship so much? Pretty much anything to do with Alice has gone for me. RS is great but just scenery chewing with nothing else won't do it for me, even if new character is Bruce's daughter and they're cousins. Does Mary stay on team in memory of Kate and awkwardly bond over trying to help the less fortunate with her clinic? Flamebird time? Sophie's probably in the most awkward position either staying as a cop with nothing else to do except a side romance or getting into a love triangle situation with a completely different character. Maybe shades of Laurel once they removed her from love interest. It would be fine if this was a faceless action show where one angsty hero is as good as another or even a "Death in Paradise" where one hapless, fish out of water white British/Irish detective can be replaced by another as long as St. Marie and the supporting cast are the same even though relationships change each time. Even with LOT there's massive grumbling over changes to the line up and that doesn't potentially throw out half the rest of the cast every time as well. I do find it hilarious at on twitter and other places MG seems to be getting the blame because he alone(!) created Felicity and Sara and was responsible for their rise above canon characters (except obviously not) even though he has FA to do with Batwoman and there are at least 5-10 other people who would have much more say in Kate recast vs Nu!Bat.

You know, I really have no idea because yes, recent trends in the show and the Arrowverse in general regarding characters and actors have left me somewhat baffled and curious about BTS stuff. I have no idea why they'd want to potentially have much less Sara if CL is willing to stay, especially as MRS has left and all the stuff with BR and CF leaving when Sara is genuinely very popular. I don't know why PK is all about Ava when yes, JMC is a good actress but the character is nothing special and not a good captain. I am really worried that this is at best a Rip S2 situation (without a scheduling conflict) and a soft exit at the end of the season but I can also see it being re introduce Sara in ep 3 situation. Though obviously by then Ava will have proven her captain skills. 🙄 I am just trying to be positive because it's a long time until filming will start up again and we can even start the "is Caity in Vancouver or not?" game. And pulling an Arrow S3 on her again would be cruel.

I think being compared to Ruby would have faded too, especially if the show went say, five seasons. I agree both options are equally shitty in their own way. This was the last opportunity to recast Kate but equally it's not easy to reboot with a different character after a few years ala Stargate, The Office etc. They tried with Arrow but eventually decided to end it with Oliver. Shame they couldn't use Crisis to reboot stuff somehow. I was worried about the supporting cast because they were starting to develop and a new Kate would inevitably mean different writing and acting and changes but with a completely new character what's going to happen to my Mary? She is a fan favourite so I don't necessarily see her going completely but in theory a Helena Wayne could bring in her own supporting cast by the end of the season and Kate's Robin Hood step sister could be surplus in that scenario. Jacob could well be gone. Not to mention 90% of Alice is based on being Kate's sister. If she was just a random crazy psychopath with a sad backstory, so what? Put her in Arkham and have done with it and have her break out occasionally like Reverse Flash pops up alive. Doesn't mean the same things even with Bruce's long lost daughter or something. Sophie wouldn't have the same crappy backstory with Nu!Batwoman but she wouldn't have the connection either. Is she going to be just a cop now or also fall for the next woman in the cape considering she never officially found out it was Kate? Why would new girl want to date her? Arrowverse first season OTP curse strikes again? Luke I guess is the easiest to transfer over. TBH I haven't really liked Caroline Dries as a showrunner much in the past but we'll see what she does with it. At this point it's much more likely going to involved Berlanti, CW, DC deciding what's going to happen rather than just her. LOT successful rebooted itself in S2 and was almost it's own spin off after Savage, the Hawks and Rip(kind of) left, but that was a completely different type of show and randomly bringing in a different character to play your title character Plus "she's an angry, messy, passionate, full on wild girl of the streets hiding her pain". Right. It could just be a fakeout, I suppose we'll wait and see but TVLine did say they confirmed it and weren't just relying on potentially fake casting sides.

I had a feeling finally giving Charlie something big to do was setting up her departure. I'm glad it was Maisie's choice. Possibly because they didn't actually use her that much as Charlie and she's a long way from home as well as wanting to stretch her wings and do her own thing. Playing two very different characters over four years isn't bad at all though.

I feel your worry a lot. 😬 However getting abducted by aliens doesn't have to last months. (Famous last words). It could like the dinosaurs that gets cleaned up immediately and Rip "leaving" only to be reintroduced right away. Or more likely like the reintroduction of Maisie as Charlie or the time Amaya "left" only to show up in ep 2 or the introduction of Zari 2.0. Worst case scenario she's Rip in S2 but I don't think so. The can show her on the ship trying to escape or more likely crazily bonding with one. And it gives CL time for directing or the crossover or whatever without having to put Sara in a coma again. With MRS actually leaving I don't think they'd have CL pseudo leave unless she wanted to but I might be very wrong. And COVID might have thrown a lot of plans for next season up in the air.

I really, really wanted one of the specials to be Rani, Clyde and Luke (if he was available) to be going on an adventure in the TARDIS at some point, they were awesome, even better if they joined the actual series, although then they'd probably have had to kill Sarah off when they'd purposely left it wide open. And both Doctors that met them seemed to love the fact that they were grand-companions that Sarah-Jane was basically training in The Way of the Doctor. It really didn't take her long after School Reunion to start living life at full throttle, saving the Earth on her own terms. Though even before she was still investigating strange phenomena. I've gone back and watched a lot of Who and Sarah Jane in lockdown and I've really enjoyed it. It holds up on its own merit as an interesting series that's more complex than it might first appear and the younger characters do go through a lot. I particularly like the ep where Rani meets Lady Jane Grey and Clyde helps thwart a Nazi invasion with a half remembered version of Churchill's speech and makes the point that *he* was the one born in England, not the Nazis. And it works as a companion to the main series. I actually enjoy it a lot more than a lot of Torchwood which used to try really hard to be the "adult, gritty" spin off and it didn't work a lot of the time for me. I think I like Death of the Doctor a bit more because that's interestingly when Matt Smith's Eleven really connected for me. And I enjoyed the "what was that about the Mona Lisa?" call back.

I think if he didn't want to talk about it for whatever reason he should probably have stayed off social media for a few days. I understand not having the words or feeling qualified to produce something perfect, but plenty of celebrities were posting short, heartfelt things and linking to charities, you don't have to do a big opus. Some like Melissa Fumero did posts appreciating/cherishing what they do have in very dark days so he could still have posted positive pictures whilst acknowledging the terrible, if that's what he wanted.

Did he mean the "prelude to a big break" blog that we used to discuss? Last time I checked he'd taken it down. I remember his writing was ok on that, nothing special but serviceable and interesting seeing him talking about auditions and frustrations before Arrow. Lots of titbits about a pre famous Italia and Robbie as well. Though it was definitely less gossipy than some clips of an old vlog he apparently did. I'm glad he realised that a ghost written fatherhood book was probably not the way to go. Although the only book (or drunk FB/insta live) I'd actually read of his is a messy tell all about the Arrowverse, which is not going to happen.

I just laugh at the fact that they were all "rah, rah, me too, girl power GAATC" and oh the first person we want to guest star is the male old Green Arrow. How does that work? And yeah he's much more likely to show up for his kids than to explore some of their shared past with E2 Laurel or whatever KC was hoping for. I always thought it likely that a few months down the line he'd change his "no guest spots ever" tune, especially now he's not doing anything else either and he's really bored.

I wasn't a fan of the character from the little I watched of the show but this reminded me of something that always bugged me growing up watching US shows. I come from a country that doesn't have a big cheerleading tradition, there is some but absolutely nothing like it is in the US and I was always so confused about joining the squad storylines. Half the time characters would say they wanted to join without any kind of dance or gymnastic training or interests or other characters would suggest characters should join about 2 minutes after meeting them with no idea of their skills. And it didn't look like something you could learn in a few after school practices with all the flips and tricks they did.

Just flicking through the channels and came across a SW repeat and the description said "Meri is emotional when she breaks the news of the "marriage license shift" to Robin" and cracked up. Yeah sure that's all it was. Really.

Well if she was as unhappy as various reports have said she might be glad that talk has turned to recasting asap so she can move on and there aren't as many people going "she was a huge asshole on set" on SM. I could see all three of those actresses in the role. Whilst a new face as Kate will be jarring I think they should rip that band aid off as quickly as possible in the episode, maybe start having her fighting in the suit and the next scene a reveal.

I think Mary was probably always meant to be a popular character. She's the "funny, ditzy" socialite who Robin Hood's as a doctor in a clinic she set up. What's not to love? And it provides the contrast because Kate doesn't really try and hide her seriousness behind a persona in that way. The real estate CEO is basically just her, as is the bar. That said I love what NK did with the role. Her facial expressions are hilarious and the way she can pitch the way she says things just perfectly between shallow and serious as socialite!Mary really works, I'll always remember her with Sophie and husband. I love that she didn't freak out at Kate when she discovered her secret, even though Kate had found out her's a while ago. And when she drunkenly hypothesised the entire plot of COIE in a few sentences and bizarrely didn't have an issue with Beth despite not believing herself. She also did really well in her scenes with her mother when Alice poisoned her and her utterly tired way of shutting off her SM gone insane afterwards. I liked how she was aware of the fact that she was running around like crazy trying to help Jacob because she was trying to outrun her grief and doing it anyway.

Pretty much this. There are people in various places acting like it was the equivalent of signing (insert A list actress here) though. It wasn't, but as a visible lesbian actress (which it seems they're dedicated to getting) then yeah. She had been in mainstream hit roles and movies known outside the LGBT community and looked great. I certainly don't think she had any significant impact on ratings though. WRT behaviour I do believe some of it but not necessarily all of it and again it's the easiest thing in the world to make up terrible details. And it fits with Deadline noting production being unhappy as well if she was making her misery known and not "sucking it up". But I don't believe she was in her trailer eating puppies for the fun of it or anything. Camrus Johnson the first actor to break silence basically I said "I know everyone's sad but we're all dedicated to bringing you an even better S2, positivity!" and not so much about RR which people are taking to mean everything and nothing.

Well that would fit with Deadline's diplomatic "she wasn't happy and the show's producers weren't happy and it was an untenable situation that couldn't go on for another season." It does fit some of the other less than flattering responses I've seen but I agree, take everything with a pinch of salt considering how easy it is to post something like that. SA wasn't a big name and he launched a then obscure character and the basis of the Arrowverse, LOT had some even bigger names that stayed on the show longer and left without this potential cloud so casting goes either way. The Arrowverse is bigger than any actor though, I think it would have its current ratings with or without her so it's not a case of "they can get rid of her now the show is launched" but this is probably the one and only opportunity to let her go/get rid of her that we'll get without having to cancel the show, lets take it. I mean she was a name and a good get but she wasn't a major star or anything.

Reading the Deadline piece it seems as if there were other issues than just exhaustion or further issues that stemmed from her not enjoying her job but were causing headaches: The first 3/4 seasons are usually the heaviest for the named star, maybe they tried to work out a way that would be less on RR but they couldn't make it viable and both sides decided to cut their loses. If she was potentially causing a lot of issues on set with other cast and crew and she herself wanted to walk it was probably easier for everyone to use this as a now or never jumping point rather than limping on for another few seasons with a star that didn't want to be there, things on set deteriorating further and the problems becoming public knowledge.

I would say it's inevitable. Even if the writers keep writing the same and lett the actors find their own rhythm at first, eventually they'll start writing to the relationships that have the best dynamic and that might not be the ones RR had with them. OTOH They might work out even better. I felt RR and CJ had only really just started to develop something really good between them and NK was doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the Mary/Kate relationship though that was partly plot related because Kate was so closed off to her. Especially as the next actress will presumably be there for several seasons the relationships will also grow and change as they would have done with RR. Obviously making sure she had chemistry with Alice will be key and I liked RR and RS together but RS also does a lot of the heavy lifting with her balls out scenery chewing. I feel like MT/Sophie could end up in a vulnerable place and they'll want to make sure she has chemistry with nu!Kate but the OTP first love interest isn't a safe place in the Arrowverse in general and again OTOH I wasn't by any means overwhelmed with Sophie/Kate chemistry this season, though that was partly hating the backstory, so this could work out better if a recast has different energy with her. I do think this was since the hiatus and feels sudden but also that there were known issues that were causing friction from some of the reactions from people connected with the Arrowverse but we obviously have no way of really knowing. If they had started to plan for this with the finale I think we'll hear from CD about it soon to start smoothing things over. I'd rather they didn't make it an acid attack or Barry/LOT time travel plot point or anything just acknowledge a "you look different, new hair, make up?" and get on with it. This show has made such a big deal about being the first lesbian superhero main character that I don't think having Parker on the team full time would cut it (especially as she even made a crack at "some random secondary character on my favourite show but never the lead"), that's exactly what the other shows have and actually much less than LOT. And they want a lead actress who is also LGBTQ. I think if it had been in the 2nd or 3rd season they'd have tried to go with a different character taking over but having Mary or a version of Beth take over is pretty convoluted to happen so soon in the show. Arrow had trouble with their rotating Canaries thing and thinking about replacing Oliver as the Arrow after 7 seasons with his best friend, his new team, his sister, his daughter etc. It's simpler although obviously not in any way desirable to recast, especially with a long hiatus to figure it out.

I still tend to think if there was some easily explainable physical health issue that will become public sooner rather than later in the uproar over this, but I think it's something different and possibly not as clear cut. I guess if it was her that wanted out then the producers figured it was worth it to let her out of her contract now then deal with a star who doesn't want to be there for another 5 years. That's not unusual, although it doesn't often happen with the actual leads of the show. More like someone like Ron Lowe who *thought* he should still be the lead of The West Wing long after it had changed direction or Katherine Heigl (and others!) from Grey's. If they did know at least a while in advance they may have tried to accommodate her with promises of more time off already or something but it didn't work out. Obviously if it was more of a network decision then they have a lot more control over contracts but currently I would be surprised if they were more doing the deciding in pulling the plug even though still seems true to me. Even if there are some very understandable reasons behind it from the insanity of network TV, to being no1 on an action show call sheet in Vancouver for scale pay. I think she's a great actress but she's such a different one to RR I can't see it at the moment. I'd be sad to see her go from B99 as well. Natasha Negovanlis is also different but I could see it. The pool of out LGBT actresses willing to be recast in a high profile, very physical role, for CW pay and in Vancouver for many months of the year is not enormous but we'll see. Just thinking about it, there are many people that consider themselves some form of "queer" that doesn't fall neatly into a category, would they consider those actors as well? How about someone that said they were bi but didn't have an "proof" because they hadn't been out publicly before?

I think you can. Especially if the show lasts for five plus seasons and you're in four of them for example. It's not easy and there will definitely be "Ruby was so much better" comments for a while but it's doable. There were a lot of "RR is absolutely terrible I wish she was recast" posts here and elsewhere a few months ago but she's been steadily winning people over. The next actress can too. Superhero roles are recast with a different take on things all the time, albeit mostly in different movies and series.

That makes sense, I was just thinking if they made sure to say it wasn't because of any physical problems then there had to be some sort of bigger drama than the above. Though that could be a reason to call her out as not "mature enough" to handle that. Though it's still a very sudden announcement if this is part of the reason. I think they'll go with an unknown, possibly who looks at least a little like RR so the changeover won't be too jarring.

So they say it's not related to health issues due to the stunts which would be a handy "get out clause" if both sides had come to a mutual agreement that it wasn't working out for whatever reason or she needed privacy and everyone to publicly accept what happened quickly and move on without scandal for months. The producers also took the blame when Colton Haynes had personal problems on Arrow saying they'd only locked him in to a 2 year contract in the first place, even though it was a straight up lie to help him recover. OF course that wouldn't work for RR as lead and she's 10 times higher profile, but if it was a mutual exit they'd come up with something that would take the heat off both. So especially with announcing a "World's Finest" crossover with Superman specifically mentioning RR this does seem like it might be a very sudden and highly messy BTS exit, or timed by one or other party for just after the finale. They aren't going to be able to sweep this under the rug without saying something further, especially with a lot of bored people at home speculating and no new content for months. In terms of leads leaving and being re cast early, it has happened but I can't remember off the top of my head. Many Patinkin came to mind - he just refused to show up on CM one day (having been trouble on other projects as well) and was extremely hastily replaced by Joe Magenta. But that was a new character and not recasting. And that comparison might be extremely unfair to RR but we don't know.

Um. Wow. Didn't see that coming! I wasn't a big fan in the beginning but she was just starting to settle into the role. I do wonder if it's because she suffered a couple of injuries at least, one of which was pretty serious and she didn't feel able to continue with a stunt heavy show for another few years and now is the best time to exit if this is the case. I also wonder if this was a shock to everyone or something that had been talked about in advance. Well they have a nice long hiatus to cast a new lead. Or the million and one other reasons scandalous and not that there might be but: I have no idea what these two are going on about but I'm not sure I'd trust anything they might say even though obviously Carina is a showrunner with the CW and has friends in the Arrowverse. They love trolling. ETA: Cast a mature Bat you cowards? As in older woman or more mature personality wise? I'd guess the latter from the glee but cowards seems like a jab at the CWs 20 something casting for 90% of leads. But it does seem a mess. Yikes.

Maybe that's why. She's a favourite of producers but not necessarily fans and they're promoting this co-captains thing to get the audience on board. We've seen that before with other Arrowverse characters. There are other places where Ava is more well liked than here but it is more in context of Avalance and not necessarily as herself. My personal nominee for LOT only breakout star would be Zari. That continues to worry me a bit for certain characters, even though it's been denied.

I do wonder if they think it's cute the girlfriends are co-captains "Go Avalance!" Sigh. Ava's not even a good captain and has no natural way with people. From what I remember of Constantine the show the Astra story was used as Constantine's backstory for why he'd shut himself in a mental hospital in the pilot and several episodes visited the member of the Newcastle gang who were still alive so it was a big part of the show even if it wasn't always the focus. Bailey Tippen who played Astra in the flashbacks was also her voice in "Necromancing the Stone". I think it's a magical/hell storyline that fits in well with what the show wanted to do.

I liked it, didn't love it but it was a strong enough start. You can tell they had at least 10 times the budget of any Arrowverse show so I don't think it's a massively fair comparison on SFX but they were pretty good. The script was serviceable but not amazing, though the acting was good. It definitely slowed down where it didn't necessarily need to and I hope they find a good balance between letting moments breath and having the show drag. I liked BB as Courtney she's a pretty charming character, difficult to compare to other Stargirls as she's the first to be a main character but enjoyable to watch. The gymnastics were fun, as was the fact that she was enjoying herself before getting knocked out of the air. As others mentioned the aesthetic look and timelines for this show seem to be all over the places, but it looks good. Joel McHale's Starman seemed really invested in using his dying breath to tell Pat over and over again that he couldn't be Starman himself. Why was Pat so sure Sylvester couldn't be Courtney's father who only visited once a year and vanished on Christmas Eve? The staff sure worked for her. I did like that it had it's own personality and agenda like a powerful puppy, that could be fun. I liked that her step brother was all "since there's nothing else to do here everyone plays even more video games!" and Pat's look. Deconstructs the "small town wholesome community activities" a bit. Not to mention the decidedly creepy American Dreams and their algorithms for a perfect life or whatever is really going on. I also rolled my eyes at no one ever noticing a giant glowing staff all around town except the ones it attacked. And really Pat, you were so worried about protecting your new family that you just left all your old JSA stuff lying right out in the open, albeit in boxes.