“Prior Criminal History” is episode two of season two of Batwoman.
In the previous episode, “What Happened to Kate Kane?”, Alice got a message from Safiyah claiming responsibility for crashing Kate’s jet. Alice is planning on sending a message. By taping a rat to Mouse’s body so that bats come and feed on it.
Two months previously and Ryan was attacked on Halloween. She would have been shot for having no money, but was saved by Batwoman. In the present, she is applying for a new job. Her criminal history is not helping. She explains she took a plea bargain so that she got 18 months, not 15 years, but was innocent. Ryan doesn’t get the job.
Commander Kane, having been told by Alice that Kate was Batwoman, is watching the attack on her by the Crows in “O, Mouse!” as part of a news article about a planned rally in support of Batwoman when Sophie, who got a letter from Kate explaining she was Batwoman, tells him they’re here. Kane questions Mary and Sophie, Luke, about whether they knew Kate was Batwoman. They deny it. Sophie asks Luke if Kate or Batwoman had any enemies. Yes; every agent in this building. Luke successfully gets under Sophie’s skin. Sophie is also upset with Julia.
Ryan is shopping for painkillers, as she was wounded by the Kryptonite bullet – she should probably get that looked at – when two armed men try and rob the place. Ryan manages to drive them off, then is found crouched over the injured clerk by a Crow. That doesn’t look great. Ryan is taken to the Crows and interviewed by Sophie. Not for the first time, it seems. Sophie assumes she’s guilty. But the security footage says otherwise.
Sophie apologises for the mistake and Ryan retorts that the last mistake by the crows cost her 18 months of her life. And counting. Sophie says that if Ryan is always in the wrong place at the wrong time, she should find a new place. Ryan says she’s been questioned more times over stuff she didn’t do than Alice has been arrested for stuff she did. Ryan thinks she knows why. She gets it wrong, but Sophie assumed Ryan knew Alice was Beth and lets something slip.
So, Ryan goes to see Mary at her off the books clinic and says that Alice is Beth. Ryan also thinks Mary is helping cover this up. Mary explains that Alice poisoned her mother in “A Mad Tea-Party” and that she would never help Alice. Then Mouse’s body is brought in.
Julia gets in her car but fails to check behind her. Because Alice is on the back seat. Not to kill Julia, but to save her life. Alice is planning something with a high body count and doesn’t want Julia to be hurt. Julia asks since when Alice has cared. Since their mutual enemy killed Alice’s sister before she could. Alice wants to team up to deal with Safiyah. Julia isn’t that interested. Alice leaves her a parting gift of a knife in her side.
Luke has arrived at Mary’s clinic. Mary has found out that Mouse was poisoned, with the same poison Alice used to kill her mother. They realise that Alice has killed Mouse, her only friend in the world. Not a great sign. Then a bat flutters off the body.
The pro-Batwoman rally is on the news and Luke has spoken to Julia. He and Mary try to work out where Alice might be targeting. Ryan suggests the rally. They need to get the people out of there. Which means they need a Batwoman. Julia is injured so Ryan volunteers. Luke is opposed but Mary supports the idea.
Ryan heads there. With coaching from Luke and Mary. Kane realises that it isn’t Kate, because he has binoculars. Ryan also wants, terminal, revenge on Alice, but has to choose between revenge and saving people’s lives.