DID you see her very powerful at the start? they purposefully showed her having a bit of trouble with the bubble at one point. The only spell we see her use. Flight much slower than Elphana's.

Writers: Please STOP using acting terminology you are actually unfamiliar with. It ends up being extremely insulting. "Out of her comfort zone"? She's had a career since you were in diapers, do not assume what's in her comfort zone. You are speaking about what YOU in you limited viewing of her work have imagined her as. Have you even worked in casting? Her previous work on this series alone could have told you she could have shone as this character. She played second banana not because of talent or ability, but because Lang and Bates are movie stars. By your own ission you can not imagine Bates creating something unique from her other roles on this series. Conroy plays a bitter conniving maid in Die Mommie Die in a maid's uniform. Let me know know if you find the roles at all similar. Just because YOU were surprised do not assume she was out of her comfort zone. She was likely thriving in the spotlight she deserved in perfect comfort.