The Stargirl series did a great job forging its own path, but also respecting the comics material it came from, especially some obscure Golden Age characters and the generation that followed them. There’s quite a bit of that in this particular episode, as we get more background about how some characters got to the point they’re at now. You know going in things aren’t going to be great from the somewhat spoilery title, “The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton.”

The opening sequence is in black and white, from many decades ago out in Los Angeles. Dolores Winters is a famous actress, and a name long-time readers of DC Comics should recognize. There’s some Hollywood glamor, but it’s short-lived when Dolores gets unwelcome company and shows there’s a lot more to her than just good looks. She gets a much more desired visitor, and more sinister plans are hatched. There’s mention of the JSA being on their trail, and a passing reference to a very obscure comic character.

Back in the present (and in color), Pat goes to check on Courtney, who is worried about Artemis. The Crocks were an odd family, but a very tight-knit one, and her losing both her parents at once is a horrible blow. Courtney is worried about Artemis, which speaks volumes about the kind of person Courtney is. They talk about Sylvester’s odd demands recently, and go to check on him. He’s not in his basement living space, but some important things are, getting Pat and Courtney worried. Artemis is at her father’s gym, clearly grieving and filled with rage. She gets some company and some very questionable advice.

I’ve been wondering for a while what Rick’s living situation was, since he beat his abusive uncle bad enough to put him in the hospital. Apparently, he’s living out on the farm by himself. How, I’m not sure, since I’m pretty sure none of the new JSA are legally adults yet. At any rate, he’s having some real problems with his father’s hourglass, and the modifications Rick made to it. In the comics, Hourman originally got his powers from Miraclo, a “wonder drug,” and Rex, the original Hourman, had addiction issues for decades. For obvious reasons, they’re not going to show a hero on drugs, but the hourglass seems to be doing roughly the same thing, and Rick is in bad shape. Worried, Beth keeps scanning for any trace of the Ultra-Humanite with her goggles while Yolanda paces. They get a visitor of their own who continues a trend of questionable advice, but does mention a few characters we haven’t seen on screen yet, and a few we have.

Speaking of bad advice and questionable decisions, Mike and Jakeem are down in the tunnels below Blue Valley (seriously, so many tunnels, how has this place not collapsed in on itself?) with Cindy. They talk about the ISA and the many horrible things Dragon King did to his daughter. After they talk out a few options, they once again roll the dice on making a wish and using the genie’s power. At the Mahkent house, Cameron frets about not getting a call he’s really hoping for. The returned Jordan consoles his son and makes an offer that sounds familiar. It seems to be a theme this episode.

Back at the Whitmore-Dugan house, Pat goes to talk to Sylvester. They have an involved disagreement about many things. Things turn savage, and Sylvester says some really nasty things before stalking off. He’s been acting oddly since his return, and this isn’t the hero, this is the raging madman we’ve been getting glimpses of. Upstairs, Sylvester runs into Courtney, and tries to lash out at her, too. Courtney has matured a lot over the course of this show, and calmly stands up for herself and for Pat, which was a great scene. Her triumph is short lived as Sylvester pulls a new and nasty trick, leaving her behind, saddened and powerless. A bit later, Courtney, Pat, Yolanda, and Beth try and work out what’s going on and get the beginnings of a plan in motion.

Cindy, Jakeem, and Mike wander around, trying to figure out what they’re going to do next. Their wandering discussion finally sparks off an idea, and they go in pursuit of it. Pat gets to the garage, where Zeke has bad news for him. STRIPE isn’t going to be part of whatever fight is coming, or at least not soon. Zeke relates what happened, leaving Pat increasingly baffled. Courtney, Beth, and Yolanda go looking for their missing teammate, and find him in really bad shape. Another powerhouse seems like they’re going to miss the big showdown that’s clearly building.

Pat gets some very unusual equipment and heads to the Mahkent house, determined to keep his friend from dying fighting supervillains. Again. Cindy, Mike, and Jakeem examine yet another abandoned lab belonging to the Dragon King and argue about some of the former ISA members. Pat and Sylvester meet up, make up a bit, and venture forth to do battle. Down in the underground, Cindy, Mike, and Jakeem make a series of disturbing discoveries that lead to more and more troubling questions.

While Cindy is forced to be a hero and protect her younger friends, there’s great treachery and a series of disturbing and surprising reveals. They did a great job with a series of big surprises here that kept a lot of people guessing. Courtney, Beth, and Yolanda try and help the suffering Rick, and Courtney begins to put the pieces together of at least some of what’s been going on.

The final scene or two is really disturbing. Pat gets some major shocks as someone he trusted turns out not to he who he thought they were at all. The former sidekick is clearly in a lot of danger, and Pat’s calm reason isn’t enough to get him out of this. In some flashbacks, we see what and how some of the villains have been planning, and things are looking really bleak as the episode wraps up, leaving us one final episode that is both season, and series, finale.

What I Liked: There were so many nods to DC character history in this episode that I really enjoyed. Obscure name checks, big moment for some of the villains, and a storyline that plagued two generations of heroes in the comics all get some play here, along with some really impressive surprises and reveals.

What I Didn’t: The Mike/Jakeem/Cindy storyline was largely irrelevant right up to the last we saw of it here. It felt like it was a combination distraction and padding the time. I don’t like what some of this seems to mean for some heroes. And Pat really deserves better than he’s getting this episode.

I’ll give this a high 3.5 out of 5. I do appreciate the show’s command of DC history. I’m sorry it’s ending, along with the rest of the Arrowverse.