Guest Stars:
Lori Loughlin ...Carolyn Lance
Kristofer McNeeley ...Frankie Spitz
Robert Patrick Benedict ...Gibson Kafka
Brent Sexton ...Det. McNally
Stephen McHattie ...Al Hawke

Ratings for 11/06/02 - 4.1/6, Position 5 of 6, 87 out of 127 Shows (tie).
Ratings for 12/11/02 - 2.7/4, Position 5 of 6.

Reviews:

We've seen another glimpse of what this show could be. Let's hope the rest of the sweeps episodes hold up so well. Dina Meyer as Oracle/Barbara Gordon. Ashley Scott as Huntress/Helena Kyle. Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Lance Shemar Moore as Detective Reese Ian Abercrombie as Alfred Pennyworth Mia Sara as Harley Quinn Written by Melissa Rosenberg and Hans Tobeason. Directed by Jeff Woolnough. Robbins, who also executive produces. Original Airdate Sins of the Mother originally aired on Wednesday, November 7. Synopsis Legendary superhero Black Canary comes to New Gotham to visit her daughter, Dinah. High Point The "I thought she'd be taller" line was good. Low Point The speech given by Black Canary near the end. Not only was it incredibly corny, but it was at the wrong time. The Review This wasn't amazingly original, but there were some elements that were new to the show. The focus seemed to be on keeping the story together, rather than the cheesecake, which is nice to see. I give it 4 out of 6. The effects were a collection of stock things they've had practice at, telekinesis, and the Canary Cry. The telekinesis was very well done, especially at No Man's Land. The Canary Cry looked odd, but only because of the weird yellow they chose. (The only method I know of to produce light from sound is sonoluminescence, but the light I've seen from that is blue.) I give it 5 out of 6. of 6. The story was more tightly knit than usual, despite some corny dialogue. Let's hope that this is the first of several episode shifting from cheesecake to plotlines and characters; these women don't need to try to look great. I give it 4 out of 6, held back by the corn. The acting from the guest stars was great. The regular cast was decent, neither incredible or irritating. I give it 4 out of 6. The emotional response this produced was not fantastic. This is the first episode in a while that didn't really insult me or drive me away, though, so I'll give it credit for that. I give it 3 out of 6. The production was starting to pick up a bit in the action sequences. The editing this week in the fights was better than it has been lately. I give it 5 out of 6. This was a good episode, overall. We've gotten another glimpse of what this show could be. If it hadn't started to derail about half way through, it could have been great. I give it 4 out of 6. In total, Sins of the Mother receives 29 out of 42. by fiziko November 7, 2002 [Bureau 42]

Based on Characters from DC Comics Starring Ashley Scott, Dina Meyer, Rachel Skarsten, Shemar Moore, Ian Abercrombie and Mia Sara It's been said by many Bat-fans across the net these last few, painful weeks, and unfortunately, I am compelled to join the chorus: I WANT to like this show. I really do. The first episode held so much promise, and a lot of proof that the show's producers knew what they're doing. Why then am I left longing week after week for this show to make good on its promises? This week's episode saw resident psychic Dinah reunited with her long-lost mother, the Black Canary (Lori Loughlin). Of course, seeing as the Canary abandoned her daughter way back when, Dinah's more than a little angsty about her mom wanting to step into frame and pick up where she left off. Oh, did I mention the crime boss who has a price on the Canary's head? The problem with this episode is that its extremely hard to give a crap about anything that happens. The relationship between Dinah and her mother continues the trend of horrible after school special posturing on the WB. If you've seen one mother trying to reconcile with her daughter, you've seen them all. Not to mention, this time, it goes to a ridiculous length. Putting aside a point in the middle of the episode where Dinah could've found out everything she needed to know, and chose to run out in a hissy fit, there's even a point near the end of the episode where Black Canary is tied up, and Dinah actually STOPS trying to save her just to listen to her sentimental spew. Never mind that in a few seconds I might be crushed to death, and that all my daughter needs is a scant few undistracted moments to get me out of this mess, she needs to know how proud I am as a parent. If it gets more retarded than that, then Gods help us all. Huntress is, well, Huntress. I've completely lost interest in her character since the first episode, which is a shame, because, with the right writing, there's potential here. This week, she's knocked back to detective role, and keep turning into a low-grade Max from Dark Angel more and more every week, complete with wheelchair-bound mentor. Helena's scenes with Reese continue to dumbfound me. The first two times they meet this episode, they play the good cop/vigilante roles, only nowhere near as interesting as, say, Batman and Commissioner Gordon/Harvey Bullock did on Batman:TAS. The final time, Helena finally gives Reese a device by which to contact her, and comes onto him like superhero jailbait. This is the basis of how these two are being painted, and the writers really are digging themselves a hole here. If it continues like this, it'll only end two ways; either they'll go full steam ahead with the love interest, and it'll be way too soon, or they'll break apart, and it'll be a wasted plot thread. The villain this week, a New Age outlaw by the name of Al Hawke spends most of his time in grand campy form, and could've even pulled that role off with a sort of B-movie charm if he didn't suddenly go from consistent supervillainy Zen into calling his father "Daddy" with a faded southern accent. By the way, is there any other kind of agony other than the slow kind? Maybe I'm not up to date on these things, my torturing skills are pretty rusty since I left high school, but where I come from, agony tends to be slow. Hawke's also the subject of the episode's big revelation, which is well-acted (the tension actually gets to a point where you expect Reese to pull a Jack Bauer and shoot him), but not really as big a shock as the score makes it out to be. Once again, the only person to make it out of an episode of this show, dignity intact (aside from Mia Sara's Harley, who sits it out this week) is Dina Meyer's Barbara Gordon. The girl's done her homework, no doubt, and it shows every single second she's onscreen. Every bit of the pain, the pride, and regret of a fallen yet motherly Batgirl, Meyer's got it down to a science, and if only the rest of the cast were written and performed with as much respect as Barbara Gordon and Harley are. As I take over the reins for this show's reviews(however many more there may be...the show's future's already in jeopardy), I can't help but do so with a bit of a heavy heart at having to be perfectly honest about my feelings about the show's direction. With Smallville doing such a respectable job at bringing the Man (or Boy) of Steel to life again, its sad to see the small-screen Batman universe sliding ever so steadily downhill. Suggestion? Well, hiring Paul Dini as head writer wouldn't be a bad place to start. Next week: Helena's undercover gig as part of a motorcycle gang may be bringing out the Catwoman in her in "Primal Scream" By Justin Clark Sunday November 10, 2002 [Test Pattern]