Batwoman newcomer Shivaani Ghai is teasing a lot more to expect from her enigmatic character Safiyah Sohail as a major Season 2 antagonist.
In a new CW video profile titled "Meet Safiyah," Ghai discussed her love of playing villains because "so much more interesting, they're so fun." For Safiyah, whose influence and connection to Alice was hinted at last season, she described the Coryanan Queen as "strong," "mysterious" and hinted at "just a lot more to her than meets the eye."
On how Safiyah's presence will affect Batwoman's story going forward, Ghai referenced how "she's been built up in Season 1 to be this really terrifying character," given her connection to various events and twists across Season 1. This includes previously hiring the hitman known the Rifle to kill Batwoman and asking Julia Pennyworth to retrieve Lucius Fox's journal then keeping tabs on both her and Sophie Moore once Julia reneged on the deal. Without spoiling anything further, she stated that "Season 2 of Batwoman is going to be a lot of fun."
Safiyah recently made her physical debut in Season 2's third episode, "Bat Girl Magic!," taking both Alice and Sophie back to Coryana for an audience with the Wonderland Gang leader. It's here that their prior history is brought up, revealing that Safiyah made Alice her prodigy five years ago but Alice broke the island's one rule when she stole a prized Desert Rose plant before leaving, resulting in the Queen holding a long grudge. Ultimately, she chose to spare Alice because Safiyah needed a job done and Sophie because, according to Alice, she has a crush on the Crows operative. More notably, Safiyah revealed that Kate Kane survived the plane crash from Season 2's premiere and she knows of her current location, presenting Alice with a necklace belonging to her sister as proof of this claim.
Airing Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT on The CW, Batwoman stars Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder, Rachel Skarsten as Alice, Meagan Tandy as Sophie Moore, Camrus Johnson as Luke Fox, Dougray Scott as Jacob Kane and Nicole Kang as Mary Hamilton-Kane.
Source: YouTube