Stargirl - Stars & STRIPE Part 1 and 2

The end of the first season is here! The return of STRIPE! JSA vs ISA! Etc, etc! The reason why I am reviewing the final two episodes together is that it is a two-parter, and the success of part 1 is reliant on part 2. I am happy that I kept up with this series, hopefully showcasing my resolve in keeping this blog active. For this review, rather than give an in-depth summary as I have done for the rest, I'll give the board strokes.

We catch up to the Whitmore/Dugan family, and immediately remember that unless you are in the Marvel universe, secret identities are very important. Courtney and Barbara are attacked at the house by Tigress as they are packing. The fight itself continues the top-notch choreography that this show is destined to be known for, but despite the intensity, Tigress loses the fight. The first time Tigress fought on screen, the battle ended in a stalemate when Pat showed up in his robot, but Tigress and Sportmaster definitely would have won. I get that with the cheesy nature of this show, it was a forgone conclusion, but seeing her training would have made her victory easier to swallow. Sure, Barbara helped out a little, but still.

Pat vs Sportsmaster was better. Mike is finally brought into the loop as Pat brings him to the auto shop to tell him the truth. From then, Sportsmaster attacks Pat and taunts him throughout the fight. Mike surprises him with a drill, letting Pat knock him out. This victory was acquired due to pure luck, so I wasn't taken out of it.

The heroes then gather at a remote cabin, which I got to say is interesting. A lot of superhero stories on screen has at least one story of heroes in a forest. From there, the character interactions between characters took the forefront of the episode. Yolanda is still thinking about Henry's death, but like the previous episode, it is not highlighted and is forgotten seconds later. It feels like the writers want us to just move on from the repercussions that come from a major character's death. Rick and Pat finally realize the code in Rick's father's journal, which contained a map of the underground tunnels so the team knows where to go. Ss far as season-long mysteries go, this was... eh. It drives the plot forward, but I finally hope that it would add some character development for Rick, perhaps help him grow closer to his parents or something like that.

Speaking of lost potential, Tigress kills The Fiddler, who was the school's principal. We never saw her in action, or really involved in the ISA's plot. The moment was played to shock us, but it fell flat. I mean, look above. I didn't even bother to learn her name.

Courtney, Yolanda, Rick, and Pat go to the tunnels, as Beth and Barbara go to Jordan's office and discover his master plan. While on the surface, his goal seems better for all mankind, he turns out to be a low-rent Thanos, and his mind control plan would end up killing millions. The Gambler, working the computers turns on the machine using Brainwave's abilities, which have grown in the wake of Henry's death, and all the adults in Blue Valley are frozen in place, including Morgan Stark's foster dad. Just joking, but Lexi Rabe, the young actress from Avengers: Endgame makes a significant appearance.

The team manages to free but Pat and Barbara from Brainwave's control. Before they reach the main machine, they come face to face with the ISA. The JSA vs ISA fight is exactly want you would expect. It is a massive scene to watch, the entire frame filled with so something to watch. While it is composed of solo one on one fights, there is a little teamwork throughout. Noteworthy moments included Cindy getting freed, and killing her dad, and the entire team ganging up on Jordan.

In an effort to turn the battle in their favor, Gambler sets Solomon Grundy loose. We finally see him in all his CGI glory. He reminded me of the Hulk's look in the 2008 film. Seeing Grundy vs STRIPE was dope. Soon, Grundy gets the upper hand and almost kills Pat before Rick steps in to get his revenge. Rick beats Grundy into submission and almost strikes the killing blow, but sees that Grundy is a mindless beast that only does as he is commanded. Despite his quest for vengeance, he lets Grundy go. This was a massive moment for Rick and sets a good foundation for him to become a better hero for season 2. Yolanda also gets a massive moment in Part 2 as well. After defeating several minions, she is about to take out the last one when he removes his mask and reveals himself to be Henry. While initially overjoyed, she realizes something isn't right and slashes his throat, and he dies. It is revealed to be Brainwave using a mind trick on her. Beforehand, she tried to sway Rick from killing anyone, and now she crossed that line. I know that given the way that the show was gone, we won't see how that affects her, but it was an interesting change between the two young heroes.

As Courtney destroys the mind control machine, Jordan returns to the office, kills Chuck inside Beth's goggles, and takes Barbara with him. At a clock tower, Pat goes to face him but is really the distraction as Courtney attacks. The two fall over the rail. Jordan seemingly shatters while Yolanda catches Courtney. As Jordan recovers and is about to go full Icicle, in a comedic moment, he is killed as a truck crashes into him. The driver? Mike. The character who I called the weak link is the one who got the kill the main villain.

So, yeah. The day saved. Gambler and Cindy getaway, making plans for season 2, while Sportsmaster and Tigress' fates remain unknown. Fast forward to Christmas. We finally find out what was inside Courtney's Christmas box. She presents it to Pat, saying that she was waiting to present it to him for a while. It is a "Best Dad Cup", which perfectly ends the story between the two. Their relationship was a great strength in the comics, and the show is no exception.

Overall, this season was a decent start. Little oversights in storytelling and lack of character development for some definitely hurt it. Perhaps next season, the ensemble is used more effectively. There are several superhero shows that have large casts that are used more effectively so I know that I am not being too harsh. There are fun teases for next season. Starman still being alive is a big one.

Stars and STRIPE part 1 and 2 concludes this season with good payoff and mostly resolves everything, and promises a potentially better second season. Hopefully, the overlooked talented cast gets a chance in the spotlight.
8/10

Season 1 overall:
7.5/10

Stargirl - Shining Knight

I'm thinking of retitling all of Stargirl's episodes. I would call this one "Rude Awakening". The moment many of us have been waiting for has come. It has been painfully clear that whoever Courtney's dad was, it was not Starman, and the truth would be a lot less magical. Halfway through this season's run, I went on to read the original comic and found that this episode was a direct adaptation of the final story arc in the Stars and stripes comic, which shouldn't be a surprise as Geoff Johns wrote it.

I am going to begin talking about our titular character. The janitor, Justin seeks to find Pat who he remembers as Stripesy. Unfortunately, his memories are severely damaged. When he arrives at Pat's auto shop, he mistakes him as The Dragon King at first, who is responsible for his mental state. He was made a janitor to shame him. Pat realizes that the ISA is planning a brainwashing. Beth and Rick are present with him in the auto shop, a duo that hasn't been developed at all. Their dynamic is set up to be an important relationship, but it isn't fleshed out any more than it has been this entire season,

On the villain side, Brainwave wastes no time in revealing Stargirl and STRIPE's true identities to Jordan. Jordan is reluctant as he has feelings for Barbara for some reason. Honestly, the two of them hasn't spent a lot of time together this season, this plot point is worthless, especially as Jordan throws it away and orders Brainwave to kill the entire family, even poor in the dark Mike, just to make sure no legacies are running around.

Now, I focus on this episode's strength: the emotional component. After discussing Harry Osborn's... oh sorry, Henry's death with Pat and Barbara, who is now fully in the loop, Courtney has a visitor: her real dad, Sam. At first, she refuses to believe it, but reality is often disappointing. She is crushed as she feels she got Henry killed for a childish mistake. She and Sam spend the day together getting to know each other, and by the end, she realizes that Sam is a jerk. The only reason he came to see her isn't to get to know her, but to get her locket that she wears all the time so he can sell it as a set with his. As he quickly goes out the door, she and Pat embrace as she knows that Pat is more of a father that Sam is. Brec delivered in this episode. The audience is given a little bit of catharsis when Pat knocks Sam down to the ground.

The whole ordeal leads to a lesson in self strength and not letting your parents define you. Courtney's self-doubt leads to the cosmic staff not working for her. By the end, she learns to believe in herself again, and the staff lights up again brighter than ever.

Once again, the massive ensemble continues to be a weakness here. After last week's shocking ending, Yolanda's response was something I was looking forward to, but save for a brief appearance in the cafeteria and student hall meeting, she is largely absent. Brainwave has proven himself to be a ruthless enemy, yet he tips off Courtney that he remembers who she is and that he is coming for her. A villain tipping off the hero isn't very smart, though one could argue that ego got the better of him. Justin's story is certainly interesting, and I'd love to watch his character in a fight to see his style.

Slowing down to focus on its dramatic heft, this week' Stargirl allows the core cast to stretch their acting skills, but once again fails to use its massive ensemble.
8/10

Stargirl - Brainwave Jr

This episode wasn't the season finale. Sure, this is an obvious fact, but major things occurred in this one that you would usually see in a somber season finale. Massive developments and revelations, changes in character dynamics. huge sequences, and a shocking ending that I certainly didn't see coming. After last week's disappointment, this was a great return to form.

If you haven't seen the episode yet at your time of reading this, spoiler alert. Sure, in my Stargirl reviews, I do write a general recap, but honestly, events kind of roll by the book in terms of telling a superhero story. This was a rare episode that shocked me.

If you feature the song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" in anything, I'd probably like it. This is the song that is playing when Pat and Barb meet in a Blue Valley cafe. After that meet-cute, we immediately cut back to where we left off last week, with Barb discovering Pat and Courtney's secret. This revelation shakes up the family dynamic. Of course, poor Mike is left out in the cold, the only member of the family besides the dog that it is not in on the secret. With Courtney so convinced that Starman was her dad, Barb makes a move I have been waiting for since episode 1. She sends the real father an email and tells him that they need to take about Courtney.

Beyond that, she makes the right choice in recording a conversation between Jordan's inlaws when they visit her and Pat in her office and discover that Jordan has a machine that once turned on, will change everything. This is the "b" story, and I was actively engaged with it. It gave Barbara more to do and gave us a look at her relationship with Pat. Better late than never I suppose. Actually, the entire ensemble is used effectively here for once.

Henry, after having killed his father's sleazy lawyer last week (Which is pretty much ignored), finds that his father's memories of the past ten years are gone, and it leads to a soft moment between the two of them. I couldn't imagine Brainwave hugging anyone, much less his son. Henry goes on the continue watching his father's tapes, which is in the thousands. I was a kid when VHS was still used, and I'm pretty sure I didn't have up to one hundred, much less thousands. After watching a tape with his father describing his wife's death, Henry concludes that Jordan killed his mother, who also happened to be Starman's sister. Henry reaches out to Courtney while the cosmic staff has gone missing. The staff is as impulsive as Courtney and gets trapped by Jordan at the hospital while he takes Brainwave away to get his memories back. Courtney informs the team about everything, who isn't impressed with Courtney letting Henry join the team. Yolanda especially. She agrees to help, but tells Courtney whatever friendship they had is over.

The team is back in costume and back in the sewer system. Rick and Beth are paired together again. I hope their relationship is developed more if the writers continually want them paired together. Rick comes face to face with Grundy and attempts to break through the door that is holding him. Thankfully, he is unsuccessful, even with his super strength. The show recognizes that if Grundy himself is still behind those doors, this boy can't just punch his way in. Besides, we still haven't completely seen Grundy, so all the CGI money necessary to make him, they are probably saving for the finale.

Courtney, Yolanda, and Henry go in a separate direction. Henry attempts to make amends with her, buy Yolanda isn't having it. They make it the Dragon King's main lair, where a device is doing work on Brainwave to give him his memories back. Cindy, who is still locked up gives up the heroes right away, while desperately begging her father to let her out so she can "kill that bitch". I don't know why I found that funny, but I did. The battle scene here impressed as the others have. The scope here is great, especially in the wide shots. Henry using his powers in combat was fun to watch, as well as Courtney and Yolanda teaming up as they are the best fighters. A little dark to see some things, but luckily, the Cosmic Staff eventually joins the party.

A great comedic moment occurs when we finally see Dragon King's face under the mask. He looks like a low rent lizard. Both Courtney and Yolanda scream and immediately, the staff blasts him away. While winning the fight, it was mostly in vain because Brainwave regains his memory, and he is just as nasty as you remember him.

With Brainwave's memories back, he quickly establishes why he the shows best villain. As the young heroes attempt to escape, Henry tries to convince his father that people can still be good. But Brainwave is unmoved and reveals that he killed his wife himself, not Jordan. Henry attempts to fight him off, but his efforts are wasted against his most experienced father. Brainwave causes the roof to collapse. Moments left, he apologizes to Yolanda one more time and tells Courtney to still have faith in people. Then the roof collapses on top of him. End of episode.

Jake Austin Walker is clearly the episode's MVP. The past two episodes have given him the most the work with and stretch his acting muscles, and he leaves a mark as one of the show's most important memorable characters. Henry's journey was been a redemptive one, and it one where we have been wondering if he would follow in his father's footsteps and become a next-generation ISA member, seeing as he was introduced as a school bully. But no. He dies a hero. Of course, comic book shows have a tendency to bring people back and seeing as we didn't see a body, there could be a possible return, but for now, I believe he is dead.

The JSA seeing someone die like that in front of them, especially someone that they knew certainly helps raise the stakes, and gives them a clue what they are dealing with. How Henry's death will affect Yolanda next week is exciting drama I want to see. Frankly, I am tempted to skip out on my weekly reviews, and just wait for the final three episodes to be released, and I'll just binge them as a film, but probably not. I don't have the patience to wait like that.

Brainwave Jr is an explosive episode that is easily one of series best by effectively using its strengths, and sets up an exciting final act for the next three episodes.
9.5/10

Stargirl - Brainwave

Note: This week's review of Stargirl will be shorter than the previous weeks. A lot of what I have to say about this episode has been reflected beforehand by me, and I feel that repeating myself is counterproductive.

Perhaps besides the final episode, which will likely have the JSA vs ISA showdown we are all waiting for, I have been looking forward to this episode the most. Henry's storyline is the main focus, after being given the tease of his abilities since the second episode. Henry finds his father's video diaries, captured and placed on VHS tapes, and watches as Brainwave Sr develops his powers. When it starts, it is pretty light and fun. The song "Insane in the membrane" plays as VHS tapes float around the room. Then, it gets heavy. Brainwave sr reveals that the thoughts of several people he has read are dark and twisted, and arrives at the conclusion that mankind is horrible.

Courtney meanwhile tries to convince the team that Henry would make a good addition to the team, but Yolanda and Rick are not into it. The ISA fast track their plans to a week away after realizing that Henry's powers have awoken. This episode for the most part is a battle for Henry's soul. Yolanda suits up and threatens Henry at the hospital, but it doesn't have the intended effect that she may have wanted as Henry hears that she loved him.

I can respect how the show wanted to make his character's journey complex, especially compared to other characters, but as engaging as it is, I would have liked a bit more to work with. The character needs more lines. Most of the season, he is silent and looks sad. While this is the focus, this is an ensemble show. The rest of the episode felt flat. No action this week, but that is just fine. The problem is that everything else was slow-moving and much too brief. Rick and Beth are given a mission to look into the caves at the school and Cindy's house, and discover, that the town has a whole underground system when it was founded. Honestly, we could have filled in the blanks there. Find out about Rick's dad's journal. That would have been more interesting.

Of course, the episode ends with a fun cliffhanger to pull you in for next week, but I giving no points for that. Henry accidentally killing his dad's lawyer and then his dad waking up will be intriguing, I hope. Barbara finding out the truth will hopefully give her more to do. Maybe Cindy will do more than just being trapped in a cell annoying her dad. Who knows?

While Henry's storyline is engaging, the rest of the episode drags.
6.5/10

Stargirl - Shiv Part 2

As I write this, it was recently announced that Stargirl was renewed for a second season. As a fan, I'm excited to see more of these characters. As well, with most of these shows, the first seasons are known to end with cliffhangers. So on the off chance, this season ends on a cliffhanger, I am relieved that it will be resolved. At least when it is okay to film again.

Set immediately after last week's episode, Courtney is in the hospital. To provide her an alibi, Pat crashes his car into a light post. He sidelines Courtney to bedrest, and seeks to look into Cindy Burman, and find out who her parents are. He also plans to tell Barbara the truth, but Courtney begs him not to

Instead of relaxing and resting up, a cat and mouse game is played when Cindy shows up to the house the next day. The night before, Cindy proudly goes to her father and claims to have beaten Stargirl, but The Dragon King is not impressed. Cindy exposed herself, and since Stargirl isn't dead, she knows the location of the cave in the school and can come back with her allies. He now has to explain to the ISA her actions, and threatens to remove his hood if she doesn't behave. I am quite curious about his abilities. He is intelligent, as he is a bit of a mad scientist, having given Cindy her abilities when she was a child and plans to use The Wizard's body for whatever purpose, but I haven't seen his actual physical powers, nor the face behind the mask.

Courtney and Cindy each know who the other is, but neither knows how much the other knows. They keep up the charade under the pretense of hanging out, but they drop it at the end. The dynamic between the two actresses in this scene is great drama. I was getting Professor X and Magneto frienemies vibes. The script this week is certainly better than previous weeks and was a lot less cringy. Meanwhile, the rest of the JSA, mostly sidelined again go on a side mission to find out more about Cindy by sneaking into her house. Beth and Pat go inside under the guise of being father and daughter. While Pat talks to the stepmom, Beth sneaks around with her goggles. When she enters Cindy's room, she finds a photo of her dad and has Rick and Yolanda help her sneak out as Cindy returns home.

Henry is given a mostly silent storyline where he begins to discover who he and his family is. Beyond reading minds, he finds himself able to move things with his mind when looking for pain medicine. He finds his father's Brainwave costume, and finds a letter from The Dragon King, telling Brainwave that Cindy will monitor him.

A short rematch fight scene between Shiv and Stargirl occurs. It is not as technically impressive as last week, but it has its moments. When Stargirl crashes through the window while Cindy is looking at herself in the mirror, it was such a great shot. The fight makes its way onto the street when Henry arrives. He is overwhelmed with the two girls' thoughts, and mind pushes them. Cindy is then suddenly taken into the sewer by her father's minions as Henry flees, leaving Courtney in the street confused. A great tease for next week.

Jordan, the big bad went on a business trip with Barbara. The dinner goes fine enough, nothing too sinister. Nothing at all. They set this up last week, but Barbara hasn't been given a storyline. As a main cast member, this is disappointing. Supporting or guest cast, that would make sense. Later though, Jordan waits in the room of Mr. Riley, who was an executive at a chemical plant responsible for the death of Jordan's wife. With no effort, he kills him. This hints at what targets Jordan may hit with his plan.

The slow burn pacing has its good weeks and its bad weeks. Sometimes, the pacing can excite me for what's to come, but this week, it had me shaking my head. I know that this show airs on television, but I do wish that it took more advantage of it being on a streaming service during this season for episodes to be a bit longer like the pilot. While the JSA members each had an introduction episode, we still haven't spent much time with them. We are past the midway mark of the season, so this has the change fast.

Shiv, Part 2 continues to raise the stakes and begins to pay off storylines set off from the start. Still needs to work on being an ensemble and should speed some things up.
7.5/10

Stargirl - Shiv Part 1

Well, if you have been watching Stargirl for the past seven weeks, the moment we have all been eagerly anticipating has finally arrived: Courtney gets an ass-whooping. Sure, she lost to Sportmaster and Tigress last week, but she wasn't knocked out. Both she and her classmate Cindy deal with the thing that can ruin how people perceive you: ego.

After last week, the new JSA have a confident walk through the halls of the school. They are all in on this awesome secret, which is a nice moment before they crash into mean girl Cindy Burman. Cindy's demeanor isolates herself from her friends and her boyfriend Henry this week. Then, unexpectedly, she and Courtney find at least, some common ground to connect during class. They even make plans to hang out, though Courtney blows it by choosing instead to go to the dance with Icicle's son Cameron, who hasn't really been in the series so much that I actually care about this definitely doomed romance.

Courtney later ruins the JSA training session, taking charge and forgetting that she is on a team, making them annoyed with her. The group has turned around on Pat, but Courtney's ego makes her think that the rest of the group needs training, while she should be in the field, particularly looking into the school's principal, who she suspects to be The Fiddler. At the same time, Cindy demands that her father let her into the Injustice Society, claiming she is ready. The clever editing draws parallels between the two of them.

Meg Delacy is a fun villain to watch, especially when you consider that she is the first teenage villain. She has some sympathetic qualities in her performance, and yet, it doesn't undermine the fact that she is evil, and kills one of her father's minions without remorse. As this is a two-parter, I am happy the mean girl is being given depth. She slut-shamed Yolanda so she could date Henry not by choice, but because she was ordered to get close to him by her father. As she is the only child of the Injustice Society that is aware of their parent's secrets, her isolation from sharing the truth should make for good drama. The other Injustice kids, Cameron, Artemis, and Henry will be involved in the final conflict somehow. Whether or not they become villains is another story.

The parent/child relationships are clearly a priority for this series. For both the heroes and the villains. Cindy hints that when she was a child, she accidentally killed her mother with her powers, and her father has since raised her with the purpose of asserting control. What he does exactly with his daughter, minions, and wives is a question for another day. Mike, who has that paper route I weirdly remembered hints that he and Pat had live rougher than they let on to Courtney in a moment of jealously as she and Pat have been spending a lot of together "driving". What Barbara will be doing with Jordan on this work trip is curious. Her, along with the big bad is worrying. Well, at least Brainwave is still in a coma. Whatever the master plan is, it can't work without him, or at least if Henry has his powers too, there is a chance.

Speaking of Henry, his powers are becoming more dormant. He uses them to do what any kid would do with mind-reading powers: cheats on a math test. It seems that Henry's story is critically important as to whether or not the villains succeed, so I appreciate that Henry has been developed as such from the beginning.

Now, onto the battle. Cindy and Courtney come to blows in the school while Courtney looks for the principal. As Cindy doesn't wear a mask, this information will be used next week in a way that should be promising. The two girls fighting leads to an impressive one-shot sequence. Of course, as Cindy has been preparing for this, she wins. Before she strikes the killing blow, the janitor comes in for the save. With a sword. Hell yeah! Comic book readers know that this guy is Shining Knight. And he knows that Pat was Stripesy.

It now feels like the world building portion of the season is mostly over, and we can get right into the conflict of the season. I am eager to see the other villains show off their abilities. Still, this show needs to work on its dialogue. I mean, yikes. Jordan talking to his son about finding love is cringe. I hope Geoff Johns is writing again.

Shiv Part 1 provides depth to a character that was at risk at becoming one-note and continues to successfully ramp up the stakes.
8.5/10

Stargirl - The Justice Society

The new Justice Society assembles. Things are heating up. I'm not sure how many episodes are in this first season, but I'm assuming 13. It's good the team has been established now rather than later. I want the show to explore how they work together so they saving the day feels earned. Anyway, let me back it up a bit.

Set immediately after the last episode, Courtney sneaks back into her room, only to find Pat waiting there. The Cosmic Staff continues to be a fun personality, as it hides under the bed to avoid him. Pat has had it up to here with Courtney, furious that she kept secrets from him and stole several items, including Green Lantern's lantern, which was a fun easter egg, given that we will probably never see him on this show. He figures out which kids Courtney gave the other items to, and tells her to bring it back, or risk getting them killed. He cites Joey back in episode 3, which surprised me because like the show's earlier episodes, I forgot about him.

Courtney tries to find the words, but it doesn't go well. Beth, Yolanda, and Rick obviously refuse to give up their cool new toys. The items mean something to them. Rick has a connection with his dad, Yolanda sees this as a way to reinvent herself, and Beth found someone that listens to her. The AI in her goggles is better than her parents. Suddenly, Beth's highly intuitive glasses read that The Gambler, as you recall is Barbara's boss is hacking satellite codes for the equipment stolen last week. Seeing as The Gambler doesn't have any powers, they decide to capture him and ask questions about The Injustice Society.

Meanwhile, Artemis Crock, the most talented athlete in blue valley high has two highly competitive parents, Lawrence and Paula who are secretly ISA members, Sportsmaster and Tigress. After a black comedy moment where they kill their daughter's coach, they provide The Gambler backup. The new team of heroes bumps into them, and Rick, ever so angry charges them, ignoring Courtney's plan. Sportsmaster and Tigress are a fun duo to watch. I first saw the characters on the show Young Justice. The live-action incarnations of them are fun, and they work together well in battle. The suits are a little cartoony tho.

The learning curve continues. It is clear that Rick, Yolanda, and Courtney have fighting abilities, but no training. Rick is a bull but has a bad aim. Yolanda is a boxer but has a problem with blocking. Beth has no fighting talents whatsoever, clearly terrified of the two villains. Courtney stood her ground a bit better but still needs experience.

The battle scenes were glorious. The last few episodes were light on the action. The budget saved from them clearly went into this episode. The visuals with Sportsmaster's abilities were fun to see, and Courtney working with the staff was great CGI. There was quick a bit of wirework, and it was used effectively. I've mostly seen it used cartoonishly in the early 2000s films, but I was impressed here. The battle ends with the hero shot we got back in the Arrowverse's Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover, when Pat arrives in his very missed STRIPE armor, causing our gym rat villains to flee.

Courtney gets a heavy dose of irony. She complains to Pat that her team refused to listen, and are going to get themselves killed, and realizes that Pat has been saying the same thing to her. Pat, ever cool, reluctantly agrees to let them keep their gear and to have them train together.

This episode even gave Mike a little to work with. He and Barbara have a nice bonding moment at the school science fair that made him feel more like a person. This episode, I really notice the music that Pinar Toprak contributed. The heroic theme when the team was assembled was great. All in all, this was a great episode that hopefully, indicates a great second half of the season.

Stargirl puts the team together, which pumps up new life and energy in the series with fun chemistry and well put together action sequences.
9/10

Stargirl - Hourman and Dr. Midnite

Note: The titles of these episodes aren't the most original. Like DC Universe show, Titans, the titles are just the names for whatever character is getting the spotlight that episode. I'm not saying that it is necessarily bad, just not very creative.

After seeing Courtney in costume calling to Yolanda by name in the last episode, Beth spies on the two girls, and ends up snooping in Courtney's room, discovering Dr.Midnite's glasses, with an AI inside of them. Courtney discovers her and tries to get her out, but as we have seen in the previous episode, one thing Beth can do well is talk, and she talks her way into Courtney's team. Also, she is smart, and every team needs a really smart person.

Anjelika Washington has been great as Beth in a supporting capacity the past few weeks, but she is capable of being a lead character. In most stories, you see the parents yearning for the past when their kids were little. Not this time. Beth yearns for that simple time so she can spend more time with her parents, but her parents do not want that. They want their daughter to have friends her age and live a life beyond them. It is completely understandable.

Beth isn't the only one in the spotlight. As you may have guessed from the title, Rick Tyler, the school delinquent is also in focus, as he is the next Hourman. His father was the first Hourman, so he is a legacy like Courtney. At least that is what Courtney believes. It is a little obvious that Starman was not her father. If they are so insistent on this plot point, they could have made it more believable. Anyway, Hourman is played by Lou Ferringo Jr, son of the actor who played the hulk, which is cool.

In the opening scene, which is by now guaranteed to be a flashback, we see Rick's parents Rex and Wendy leave him in the care of his uncle so they can flee to an unknown location. Unfortunately, they never make it there. They are killed by Solomon Grundy. Years later, Rick is an angry kid, which comes from losing his parents and living with an uncle that doesn't love him. His uncle is the polar opposite of Pat.

Rick has anger issues and is a loose cannon, but he isn't a villain. When he is given the hourglass from Courtney, he gains super strength. He goes to where his uncle is, but rather than beat him up, he destroys his truck. When Rick realizes that his parents were murdered rather than in an accident, he agrees to join Courtney's team but makes it clear that he is only interested in one thing: Revenge. It's a welcome change from the optimism of the other heroes.

This episode has some of the same issues as last week. For a show titled Stargirl, it shouldn't have such a massive ensemble. Stargirl and the JSA would be better with what they are trying to do. The development of these characters is stuffed in one episode. It should have unfolded a little slower, maybe given tiny teases in the previous episodes so it doesn't feel as rushed. In that spirit though, they are doing it with Henry. Henry is given a little moment in this episode that has been teased since episode 2. His little Brainwave Jr powers are starting to kick in. He leaves the Halloween party early because it is too nosy for him, and he manages to hear Yolanda call him a jerk. Will he become a villain? Exciting stuff.

I love that the new team of heroes are all distinctively different, and they are their own people. The dynamics between them should be interesting, and the next episodes are more focused. Reintroduce Pat into the main story. The MVP of the show should not be sidelined anymore. I guess he won't be since, at the end of the episode, he discovers the JSA items that Courtney stole.

Though it rushes to get there, Hourman and Dr.Midnite tease new heroes with interesting dynamics.
7.5/10

Stargirl - Wildcat

Courtney has a friend. Finally. Honestly, seeing her spend time with other people besides her family and the Cosmic Staff is great. This show certainly has a massive ensemble of characters full of potential, and its great to finally see more of Yolanda, who has certainly been a bit of a mystery since the pilot.

Until now, Yolanda, the girl who sits at Courtney's table was closed off, and we find out why. We are treated to an introduction silent montage played to a cheerful song. Three months before, she was a somewhat popular girl with an A-type personality. She was running for class president and was dating Henry King Jr, son of Brainwave. What went wrong? Well, she sent Henry a sexy pic, assuming she could trust him. Then, as he is privately showing the picture off proudly to his friends, Cindy Burman, the popular girl and Mike's girlfriend in the present takes the photo, and shares it with the entire school, humiliating Yolanda, ruining her relationship with her parents.

Cut to the present, with Courtney looking for members to recruit for her superhero team. Seeing that Yolanda is a boxer, she seeks to turn her into the new Wildcat. Yolanda certainly doesn't make it easy at first, but she lets Courtney in. Things flow a bit too well, but Courtney's optimism is infectious. It also helps that she blew up Mike's car with the staff. Yolanda gets the suit, and once she puts on the mask, the suit, like magic automatically fits her.

I have to say, that given the scope and ambition of this series, her costume is awful. Or, at the very least, the bodysuit is average, but I hate that mask. It looks like something you can order off eBay. The episode is light on superhero action, by having none at all, and that is fine. I am eager to see Yolanda's fighting style in that suit. The two of them go on a small mission to find out who has been visiting Brainwave while he is in the hospital in a coma, and the principal of their school ends up on their radar. I appreciated the little touches that show that Courtney needs the help. She has no idea what she is doing.

This is Yvette Monreal's episode. She shines in each scene she is in, giving us a character with emotional resonance, especially in the scene shared with her parents, trying to convince them to go back to the way things were. She and Brec play off each other well.

Pat's storyline may seem small, but it hints at huge repercussions. As he is searching for old car parts to continue working on his robot, he encounters Denise, the wife of the Wizard and mother of Joey. She is leaving town. Pat, being who he is offers her compassion, and she responds by warning him that Blue Valley isn't what it seems, and lets it slip that her deceased husband was more than just an advisor. The episode ends with him back at the junkyard, and he notices Denise's car destroyed. Is she dead? Unknown, but it makes sense that the ISA wouldn't just let her leave and ditch their plans.

We are also given a formal introduction to another member of the Injustice Society: The Dragon King. As previously stated, I'm not into a lot of these costumes, but he nevertheless presents a creepy vibe, especially since he wants to use The Wizard's corpse for unknown reasons. Perhaps we will see a zombified version of him later in the season.

Mike continues to be a weak link. I don't know why, but his pop tart song offended me for some reason.

Beth Chapel, who is a comedic delight is hinted to get her episode next week, but there was something about her that felt off. She was way too happy. Last week, it was shown that she and Joey were at least friendly with each other, but his death doesn't really seem to have affected her. Her, or the entire school. Hell, even Courtney was back to her perky self in this episode. The episode didn't have to be all doom and gloom, but an event like that shouldn't be a one-off. Courtney's first failure should sit with her for a while so she can learn.

I also have to question how famous that Justice Society was. Yolanda had no idea who Starman was, and to learn how to use her powers, she and Courtney went through Wikipedia. The effect that superheroes have in this world aren't really discussed. Sure, the setting is in a small town which probably isn't known to be very exciting, but it should be common knowledge. Are there other superpeople in the world? Who knows? This show certaibly doesn't tell us.

The visual effects this week weren't much, but I do wish that this being Wildcat's introduction, they spent a bit more time making her powers look cool. The wall climbing at the hospital didn't look great. These things should have been worked out. Sure, they seem little, but given the nature of how this series was made, it may affect how people feel about the season as a whole.

Wildcat is a fine world-building episode that introduces a new hero featuring a standout performance from Yvette Montreal, but little story holes and a lack of visual flair drag the episode down.
7/10

Stargirl - Icicle

It is fair to say that this episode of Stargirl surprised me. Sure, it was another setup episode. We got a look at the main villain Icicle, his motivations, and more of the high school life. However, three deaths hold a unique impact on the series going forward. Every hero's journey has a loss. I'm just surprised that it happened in the present this early.

When the episode begins, we are given an eight years earlier flashback. We see Icicle/ Jordan Mahkent lose his wife to an unknown disease. It was somewhat reminiscent of the first scene in Guardians Of The Galaxy, though we see little of his son Cameron. As she dies, she asks her husband to complete his plan(Aw), and to kill anyone who gets in his way(Aw... wait, what?!). I liked that we understand his motivations, though his Project: America plan is still unknown at this point. We know that it concerns the future of his son, and the other Injustice Society Of America(ISA)'s children, but that's it. I hope the plan is somewhat complex. Other superhero shows have had a slow burn into the villain's master plan, and for the most part, they have been pretty simple. I hope that is not the case here, but I will reserve my judgment on that later.

In the present, Icicle pays William Zarick/The Wizard a visit since Brainwave is in a coma, and he isn't happy that William didn't notify him personally that someone new was using the Cosmic staff. We also meet William's son Joey, a sweet kid who aspires to learn magic tricks, which makes his father happy. Joey also happens to be one of the first kids who are nice to Courtney.

His death was certainly a surprise. Like Brainwave's kid, I thought Joey would be set up as a potential future villain. The school had a talent show that occurred offscreen in which Joey was preparing his act. I assumed that he would endure some humiliation that would cause his desire for revenge, but I was wrong. I certainly didn't expect Icicle to be the one to do it.

Icicle sets a trap for Stargirl and STRIPE to fight him in the forest. As Icicle is the one who killed Starman, Courtney is eager to catch him, but Pat is still reluctant. The battle wasn't even close. While it was brief, it is clear that he is a very formidable threat. I have to say, the visuals with the bus rescue was choppy. Some of the movements felt unnatural and took me out of it. It didn't have many visuals compared to the first two episodes.

Courtney dealing with a loss that early in her superhero career is certainly a wake-up call that this life is dangerous. Pat wants the duo to take a break, but Courtney is still steadfast in her path. Only this time, she goes to recruit new members for her team. Later on, The Wizard is furious to discover that his son is dead, and goes to confront Icicle at his house. Icicle calmly speaks to him, and suddenly kills him. This is an interesting development. Icicle is so steadfast in his plan that even if you are on his team, he will kill you. Unfortunately, The Wizard dies as a one-note character. While the moment is great for Icicle's development, if we had gotten to know The Wizard more, the impact would be to full effect.

Speaking of knowing people better, Mike, who is Pat's son is still fairly one-note. The rest of the family is more complex. Honestly, he is on the same footing as the family dog. I'm not sure what storyline he would have, but he needs one.

This somber tone after Joey's death carries on for a while but the episode ends on a hopeful note with Courtney sneaking into the Justice Society Of America's hideout, and taking a few items for the potential recruits. Finally, we will know more about Courtney's classmates. As side characters, they have been very interesting.

Icicle moves the story along, and sets up the stakes well enough, though weak characters and choppy effects do take you out of it.
7.5/10

Stargirl - S.T.R.I.P.E.

Another week, another Stargirl review. Film reviews are the primary feature of this site, but given the cinematic nature of the series, and my desire to be more consistent, I am dedicated to writing a review each week for the show's entire season. We'll see if I maintain this commitment.

Like the pilot, this is a setup episode. After being teased near the end of episode one, we see more of Brainwave, a member of The Injustice Society. He wonders if there is a new Starman, and goes to alert a member of the Injustice Society. He is largely ignored, but he doesn't want the group's master plan for Blue Valley to be comprised, so he sets out to find out who has the Cosmic Staff.

Barbara, who is both Courtney's mom and Pat's wife is happy that the two of them are acting civil towards each other. That tends to happen when the two people are keeping a massive secret. After the end of episode one, we see more Pat in his giant robot which looks great. While some moments look cartoony, it is still an impressive feat.

I have to give praise for the character building of our leads. Courtney and Pat are the primary focuses, with even a look into the relationship between Courtney and the Cosmic Staff, and the supporting characters in Barbara's office, the students and teachers at the school, etc. There is a one-shot sequence set in the school's gymnasium that gave us a peek at the different characters, displaying several types of personality based on a few words of dialogue, highlighting Geoff John's top tier writing abilities and the clearly talented ensemble cast. I know that we will go more in-depth with the other characters, especially since we know Courtney and Pat will eventually set up the new Justice Society Of America, but I am hungry to learn more about them. Pacing is all well and good, but this episode moved a bit too slow for me.

The learning curve element continues. Courtney was sloppy about her identity, and she happened to blow up the car of Brainwave, whose son borrowed it. This results in a tense cat and mouse game between the two which leads to the confrontation at the end. Courtney finally suits up and has a badass introduction, but she barely survives her battle with Brainwave. Pat also gets his butt handed to him. The two of them consistently fall: Courtney destroying several sewing machines to make her costume, Pat trying to get in shape, and shoot a rocket fist from his robot, etc. But in the end, the two of them manage to work together and then set out to defeat the rest of the Injustice Society to get justice for Pat's dead friends.

In this episode, I really noted and appriecated the orignal score, composed by Pinar Toprak. I read that unlike another shows, she used a live orchestra, and that helps elevate both the heroic moments and smaller intimate character interactions. The song choices are consistently appropriate. The use of "The Man" by The Killers made me smile.

Luke Wilson continues his streak as the show's MVP. His combination of heart, humor, and drama is balanced perfectly. At this point, he is proving to be more likable than Courtney, and this is a good thing. Courtney being this imperfect kid, rushing headfirst into danger sets her on a more rewardable character journey that I have no doubt will be satisfying, especially with the longing for her biological father element. Brec Bassinger's standout moments was the scene in her room with her mom, thinking that Pat went out to face Brainwave alone, and the stern argument she had with Pat before he left the house.

These moments are great, but it finally made me realize what is still missing from the show. Engaging villains. So far, they are pretty by the book and based on what I read from the Stargirl comics, they may not even be the true villains by the end of rhe season, but at this point, I am just speculating. Each scene that focused on Brainwave or another villain, I hoped it would end sooner so I could watch more of Courtney and Pat. Hell, I even wanted to see more of the girl who is only friends with her parents.

S.T.R.I.P.E. continues to set up the season effectively, yet slowly. Fun action sequences and character interactions continue to build goodwill.
8/10

Stargirl - Pilot

The CW has been home to the Arrowverse's roster of superhero shows since Arrow premiere in 2012. At the end of last year's crossover, Crisis On Infinite Earths, we see a snippet of the heroes on Earth 2, Stargirl, and her new team of heroes. With the influx of new superhero shows recently, with Batwoman just premiere last year, the upcoming Superman show, and a possible Green Arrow spinoff, it may be just too much, especially since some of those shows are past their prime(Supergirl), but Stargirl sets itself apart.

Part of it may be because the show was originally just for the DC Universe streaming service. As well, Geoff Johns, DC's answer to Marvel's Kevin Feige is the creator of Stargirl, based on his late sister, and has put his heart and soul into it. Whatever the case, I highly recommend it. The potential is too great to ignore.

The series opens with the death of Earth's greatest heroes, The Justice Society Of America, while they are battling the Injustice Society, on Christmas Eve no less. Starman's sidekick, Stripsey(Seriously) takes his cosmic staff and promises to protect it. Meanwhile, a young girl named Courtney Whitmore has a gift from her dad and is waiting for him to show up.

Ten years later, Courtney is a high school student now, moving from LA to small-town Blue Valley, with her mom, her new stepdad Pat Dugan(Stripsey), and his son Mike. Courtney isn't impressed with the town at all, nor with her new school, and quickly makes enemies. After a family dinner, Courtney discovers the magical staff that belonged to Starman and spends the night with it. Afterward, Pat is shocked to discover that the staff works for her, and the two decide to keep the truth a secret from the rest of the family. Meanwhile, evil lurks under the shadows.

The standout performances were Brec Bassinger as our lead and Luke Wilson as the lovable stepdad. The two of them play off each other well. The tense relationship between the two of them seems to be the focus. The father-daughter relationship while learning to be crime fighters together will certainly be interesting to watch and to see the ice between them thaw.

The series seems to have the same bright, yer chessy attitude of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies or last year's Shazam. Yes, the show opens with the deaths of bright looking superheroes and typical family drama, but that doesn't get the show down. I'm all for a hopeful superhero series, especially in our current situation these days, and yet, it doesn't have the cheesy visual effects that have plagued other arrowverse shows(Supergirl, again guys. That show is awful). Another benefit of being for a streaming service is the scope. It looks cinematic, with beautiful cinematography and set pieces of the town setting. The visuals and choreography with Courtney and the staff are fun to watch.

As well, Courtney can handle herself. That may seem obvious as she is our main character, but through brief movements of character building, we see that she practiced in both martial arts and gymnastics. And as capable as she is, she still has a lot to learn. The learning curve element the show is playing with is a smart move. Geoff Johns has certainly written a strong script.

Overall, I just love how hopeful it is. Overcoming sadness and trauma, connecting with the people around you, and discovering your greatness is uplifting entertainment.

Stargirl is a bright, fun, optimistic superhero series with a strong setup, top notch performances, and visual effects, promising a great first season.
10/10