The following contains spoilers for The Flash Season 9, Episode 5, "The Mask of the Red Death, Part 2," which debuted Wednesday, March 8 on The CW.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Javicia Leslie's inclusion in The Flash Season 9 is how Red Death differs from Batwoman. In fact, by giving her classic Batman lines, Red Death honors both Batwoman and the Dark Knight's history in film and television.
On the Batwoman series, the connections to Batman himself had to be understated and nuanced. Both for legal reasons, as the TV rights to the character are owned by either Newscorp or Disney, depending on which side got them in the 20th Century Fox sale. Still, with her turn as Red Death in The Flash Season 9, storytellers are giving Javicia Leslie classic Batman moments, entrenching her in the long history of Bat-people adaptations dating back to the 1940s. The story for Red Death on The Flash differs from the comics, but also from Ryan Wilder's backstory in the Arrowverse. She's not "Batwoman" but, rather, a woman "Batman." She was adopted by the Waynes in her corner of the DC Multiverse. It's also an excuse to infuse more Batman references into her character that Batwoman couldn't have gotten away with.
Javicia Leslie's Performance Pays Homage to the Long History of Batman
The Flash could've used their swan song on The CW to do what Arrow did, essentially revisiting each season over eight episodes. Instead, they are using their last run to serve as a finale for the entire Arrowverse. Had Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow been given the same consideration as every other DC show on The CW, each would have a final season. Instead, the network's new owners unceremoniously canceled both series. Javicia Leslie deserved her chance to get the iconic 'Bat-moments' every actor receives. Even more, she got to dip her toes in every era of Bat history.
While the legacy of Batman adaptations dates back to the 1940s, it was Adam West's Bright Knight who defined the character in live-action for generations. Leslie is the first actor since the late West to wear a Batsuit on TV for more than a single day's work. Not only that, Ryan Wilder is an original character who replaced the show's lead character. It should've sunk the series, but it grew its fanbase even more. The Flash's producers are showing respect for that accomplishment by infusing an epilogue to Batwoman in their final chapter.
Yet, The Flash is also the series that gave fans Gorilla Grodd, King Shark and other deeply silly DC cuts. Leslie's over-the-top performance and overly-complex plan to administer justice feels like it comes right out of Batman '66 or the Joel Schumacher movies. From Robert Pattinson back to Michael Keaton, the Red Death's story paid homage to decades of Bat-storytelling and ensured that Leslie's place in that legacy is also recognized.
Ryan Wilder Gets to Say Classic Batman Lines Like 'I Am Vengeance!' and 'Let's Get Nuts'
In her introduction to the show, Ryan delivers the classic "I am Vengeance" line that pretty much every Bat actor gets to say. There was also a subtle tribute to the late Kevin Conroy's performance as the Dark Knight. Leslie delivers his signature lines: "I am vengeance. I am the night," before altering the last line to identify herself as Red Death. An important element of any Bat-character that breaks bad, including these lines, gives her a 'Bat moment' that so many other actors get. As a variant version of the character, it still keeps the Earth-Prime version of Ryan as distinct as she was. She's a Batwoman who laughs, smiles and is played with more compassion for criminals than a typical Dark Knight.
The next iconic Batman line is one from the once and future Batman, Michael Keaton, who will appear in The Flash movie in the summer 2023. While facing down Iris, Ryan says, "You wanna get nuts? Come, on, let's get nuts!" while suiting up as the Red Death in a very sci-fi way. Though Keaton wouldn't see it that way, his and Tim Burton's Batman films were much campier than the past 15 or so years of movies. It marks the midway point between a gritty Dark Knight and one that goes bigger and campier. Leslie chews on scenery like there were no craft services on set. This would be a criticism on any other show, but on The Flash, it's just the storytellers' way of honoring all iterations of Gotham City's protector.
Fans of Batwoman got to see their Ryan again at the end of the episode. The single scene she shares with Team Flash is short but does what the Arrowverse does best. Ryan makes plans with Iris, talking about her monthly brunch with Supergirl's Kara and Alex Danvers. The shows may be going away, but these characters can live on in the minds of the fans forever. But the Red Death storyline also allowed Javicia Leslie to put her stamp on the long history of Batman and, now, Batwoman in film and on television.
The Flash debuts new episodes Wednesdays at 8 PM ET on The CW