Birds of Prey is available now on DVD and digital. The series can be streaming on DC Universe in North America.
Synopsis
Along with Barbara and Helena, Dinah learns the truth about her past when her mother, Carolyn Lance (guest star Lori Loughlin), comes to New Gotham in search of the daughter she abandoned years before.
Review
One of the biggest upsets when Birds of Prey first made its way to television was the re-writing of Dinah (Rachel Skarsten). Fans of the comics and more recent iterations will now understand that Dinah should be none other than Dinah Lance aka Black Canary.
But once again the series finds itself victim to the era in which it was developed. Given that the series was airing on The WB network, home to series like Smallville and seasons 1-5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer it needed that young character for the audience to view the show through. As neither Helena (Ashley Scott) and Barbara (Dina Meyer) couldn’t feasibly be recast as younger character it seemed obvious to age down Dinah.
But in doing so the show took away a character with a strong legacy in the comics. So with “Sins of the Mother” Birds of Prey tried to right that wrong and also bring some much needed weight to the Dinah character. Up to this stage the youngest member of the crew was nothing more than a runaway with some generic psychic abilities. Nothing which would (or did until the finale) prove useful unless the story required it.
Then in walks Carolyn (Lori Loughlin) with her Canary Cry and history with Barbara. It wasn’t quite the Black Canary of the comics but it was Birds of Prey‘s attempt to tie itself to comic continuity and add some more superhero weight to the series’ legacy.
In fact, this episode attempts to not only flesh out Dinah’s character but it also takes steps to bring an underlying story arc to Detective Reese (Shemar Moore) but, up to this stage, had been relegated to sometimes romantic foil for Helena. The episode brings us the first of two appearances by the character Al Hawke (played by Stephen McHattie in this episode and Mitch Pileggi when he returns), a newly invented mob boss with ties to both characters.
“Sins of the Mother” was written by Melissa Rosenberg & Hans Tobeason and is perhaps one of the series best examples of trying to break free from being standard network fare. There’s a level of development and serialism which the show really should have featured from the beginning. It makes it more interesting for the audience but also really does set the show apart from simple villain-of-the-week series.
Sadly we’re given very little time to allow Dinah and her mother to bond. Lori Loughlin’s guest appearance is very much a one-and-done affair which seeks to push Dinah forwards and make her character a little darker and edgier. Perhaps a little more Huntress-like. All of the intention is there to craft something more meaningful but, as I say so often in these reviews, it’s buried underneath layers of 00’s style over substance storytelling.
This episode in particular culminates in a hostage situation where the Birds are required to rescue Carolyn from Hawke. Dinah is able to go out in the field and work alongside Helena, developing their relationship somewhat. But they find Carlyn trapped in an overly complicated machine which is slowly crushing her via ropes being tightened slowly. It’s like a trap out of an episode of Adam West’s Batman and most shockingly it takes Dinah a while to stop the machine even though it’s cleared just plugged in to the mains!
It’s effective emotional blackmail of the characters but executed in fairly comedic fashion. The problem is just that by this stage you’re so invested in the characters that you’re being brought right along for the ride.
Verdict
“Sins of the Mother” finds Birds of Prey trying to tie itself in to the legacy of DC Comics original characters. It does so almost successfully aside from some convention exposition and lazy plotting.
7/10
Birds of Prey stars Ashley Scott as Helena Kyle/Huntress, Dina Meyer are Barbara Gordon/Oracle, Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Redmond, Shemar Moore as Detective Jessie Reese, Mia Sara as Dr Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn and Ian Abercombie as Alfred Pennyworth.
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