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

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw (2019)

The first eight Fast and Furious films dropped on Netflix Canada around last week, so what do you do? You go on a binge-watching session of course. Hobbs and Shaw was the only one missing, so I decided to give it the honor of being reviewed by yours truly. Ok, not really an honor. People don't exactly rush to read these reviews, but whatever.

Hobbs and Shaw were a surprisingly delightful combination in Fate Of The Furious, and the producers, realizing this decided to give them their own solo movie. Given how this franchise has changed since 2001, spin-off films are certainly welcome. I am still holding out hope for a Tyrese/Ludacris spin-off, another Tokyo Drift film, etc.

Set two years after Fate Of The Furious, we open to Hattie Shaw and her team of MI6 agents securing the snowflake virus from the terrorist organization, known as Eteon. The mission goes wrong, as they are intercepted by Brixton Lore, an Eteon agent with cybernetic enhancements. He kills the entire MI6 team, but Hattie manages to escape. Brixton, using Eteon's ability to manipulate the media sets up Hattie for the murders, forcing her to go on the run. The CIA informs both Deckard Shaw and Luke Hobbs, forcing the two to work together to secure the virus and stop Eteon from using it.

The titular characters still hate each other, and constantly bicker, for our amusement of course. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham are clearly having fun with this film. The banter between the two of them is fun to watch. Of course, both of them can hold their own with the action sequences. The storylines between the two men parallel each other with the franchise's signature theme of family. Now, while in the universe, director David Leitch injects the film with a different style, framing shots differently than the other films, and this is much more comedic than the others. That said, the use of family felt a bit forced in some places while it came off naturally in others.

Idris Elba chews up the scenery as Brixton, the film's villain. He comes off as an intimidating presence and can hold his own when he has to go against Hobbs and Shaw at the same time. I do wish that we spent more time with him, and the filmmakers employed the "show, not tell" approach when addressing his past with Shaw. Vanessa Kirby delivers as the badass female character, and I appreciated that the filmmakers made her a more complex character, exploring the relationship between her and her brother, but I didn't care for the romantic story between her and Hobbs. It was distracting and came off awkward.

I loved that the ridiculous aspects of this series have been completely embraced. The action sequences are a testament to that. That said, the film did run a bit long that in the final climax, I almost nodded off. A few shining moments here and there, but overall, the sequences began to blend together. It was a case of diminishing returns.

Fun cameos from Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart don't add much, but they were no less hilarious. The two of them were clearly having fun and were sensational scene stealers. Helen Mirren returns as Queenie Shaw, who has been imprisoned for some reason in between Fast 8 and this one. She is also a fun character that we don't see much off. As she is the o ly cast member in this film that will be in Fast & Furious 9, I'll chalk that up to filming conflicts.

Hobbs and Shaw isn't the best film in the franchise, but the performances and over the top action sequences provide the entertainment you expect from these films.
6.5/10

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

Artemis Fowl (2020)

This film was awful.

Full review TBD.

2/10

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

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Since Blackkklansman, Spike Lee is enjoying a new resurgence in his career, where many are discovering his older films while he makes new thought-provoking entertainment today. It is a mystery to me when studios weren't interested in this film, despite Spike Lee being a top-notch director who won his first competitive Oscar in 2019 and this is a war film, but Netflix came through.

Netflix produced a similar film last year called Triple Frontier. That film also followed old veterans going to a different country to try and get some money, though, beyond that premise, the two are very different movies.

The film follows 4 members of The 1st Infantry Division, a squad of black soldiers that fought on the frontlines during the Vietnam war, in the present day, returning to Vietnam after all these years to return the body of their fallen squad leader home to his family. At least that is their public cover story. While they are planning on doing that, there is a secret side mission they are keeping quiet about. Back during the war, the squad recovered millions' worth of gold. Rather than turn it in, they agreed to take it as reparations for everything their country has put them through. They bury it and have finally returned decades later to reclaim it. The journey to get it isn't easy. The land has changed, all of them have PTSD, and they are not the only ones after the gold.

While the Americans called it the Vietnam War, The Vietnamese characters in Da 5 Bloods call it “the American War.” That’s a noteworthy phrase, and it's one the film uses to its advantage to tell a story of how all kinds of struggles: the Vietnam War, The Civil Rights Movement, The Black Lives Matter Movement, etc are interconnected and ongoing. We may choose the ignore it, but it happened and is still currently happening, affecting those who experienced it and their descendants.

A question that the film asks how much sacrifice do these men owe to a country that still denies them basic rights. 33% of the men on the frontlines were black. Even if the men recapture the gold, will it make them whole? With all the story ideas, I believe that if someone other than Spike Lee made it, it would be a mess. As long as it is, it is cohesive and all the parts fit.

One scene that stood out for me was the moment when the men listened to a radio broadcast announcing that Martin Luther King Jr had been killed. The faces of all the men at the same time, once the news was heard, was telling. The impact was felt as the audience understands what it means. They are questioning what it is they are fighting for. I loved the way this moment was handled. As heavy as it is, I should note that the film does end on a hopeful note that may or may not provide some catharsis for the audience.

The entire ensemble is great, though two performances stood out to me. One was Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Melvin. Beyond him using his famous catchphrase from The Wire, I found him to be the glue that held things together when emotion and tension ran hot between the group. He is free from the emotional issues that plague the group and acts as a shoulder to cry on when he isn't sipping a drink living his best life.

Delroy Lindo as Paul gives the performance in this film that is just emotionally devastating. It should be considered for award season. In the final act of the film, delirious, he gives a passionate speech speaking directly at the audience that locks you in. You are completely taken in on what he says. I love that these characters aren't the same. Paul being a Trump supporter and the main character was a brave choice, but it reflects that not all black people are the same.

The editing is a mixed bag for me. Like his previous films, Lee intercuts real-life footage and still photos, changing aspect ratios for the flashbacks. This was a good idea, but some things were cut too quickly and it felt like little things were missing. It isn't damaging to the film, but you do notice some weird cuts. A selection of Marvin Gaye songs populated the soundtrack. The effectiveness of its use will make you think they were written specifically for the film.

Da 5 Bloods is thought-provoking entertainment fueled by Spike Lees energic directing and passionate performances
8/10

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

The High Note (2020)

If a trailer is boring, the chances of me watching the film for it aren't great. It is supposed to make a first impression, and The High Note didn't appeal to my interest. Nevertheless, I like Ice Cube, so I decided to give it a shot. 

The film follows Maggie, an aspiring music producer who works as the personal assistant of Grace Davis, a popular singer whose heyday was in the 90s. Currently, she tours singing her greatest hits. Her manager Jack is trying to lock down a Vegas residency for her, but Grace still wants to continue touring, and possibly sing some new songs, even though her last album didn't do so well. Luckily for her, her assistant has some ideas, as she created a live album of her songs during her free time.

Yeah, the plot surrounding this isn't the strongest. Of course, there is a bit of a love story as well. In a grocery store, Maggie meets David, a talented amateur singer with a great voice. For the experience, she decides to manage him and eventually has a relationship with him. The two actors don't give off the impression that they have feelings for each other.

This film was... bland. Wasn't a total trainwreck, but it wasn't that good either. Kind of like those Hallmark movies you sometimes stumble upon on tv. They exist as a nonthreat and have their audience. I don't think this film would have worked as a theatrical experience. This film is described as a comedy-drama. The drama itself is tame, as the main characters are nice, and the stacks are pretty low, and everything is neatly resolved. For some films, that is just fine, but any actual difficulties are non-existence. Also, it is not funny at all.

Dakota Johnson was miscast in my opinion. She doesn't give off the vibe that she is truly a music lover. It just felt like she recited her lines without putting feeling into it. Another consequence was the character relationships suffered as a result. The chemistry between her and Tracee Ellis Ross is near nonexistence. If Zoe Chao, who plays the sharp-tongued roommate Katie switched roles with her, it would probably be more engaging.

The film was at its best with its surprisingly energetic songs. Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross has an amazing voice, and I'd love to see her tackle a musical at some point in her career. Kelvin Harrrison Jr also has an amazing set of pipes. This film's soundtrack is strong.

Director Nisha Ganatra entered my radar with last year's Late Night, but it didn't feel like the same person directed this. And in that film, a young woman with a dream connects with an older talented lady whose career needs a reboot. It is more or less the same film, so maybe that's why it feels flat. She should maybe tackle a different project for whatever film she directs next.

The High Note has a basic story and fails to understand how to use its talent on both sides of the camera.

4/10

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