The sadly final series of Stargirl is moving onward, although with little progress to the central mystery of who killed the Gambler. The new JSA has spent a lot of this season bickering and fighting each other, but now we finally get to see some actual teamwork.
There’s not much outright villainy afoot, which is just as well, since the team seems to be doing a great job of questionable choices and in-fighting amongst themselves.
This team is notably lacking a Batman type. They try and get somewhere with the case, with developments from last episode, and in a few different relationships in “Frenemies: Chapter Four: The Evidence.”
Now, the new JSA has different challenges to face, dissension in the ranks, and a new theme for the season. The new season kicks off with “Frenemies: Chapter One: The Murder.”
The first season was a girl trying to become a hero. The second has been about a pervasive, brooding evil, at times more like a horror movie than a superhero action series. Now, Stargirl and her allies band together to try and end the malevolence of Eclipso as the Summer School series comes to an end with “Chapter 13.”
Despite the cheery title of “Summer School,” the second season of Stargirl has been increasingly dark and grim. The evil of Eclilpso is loose in Blue Valley, and the novice heroes are no match for him.
Last season, Stargirl and her new JSA fought the Injustice Society, a collection of skilled, experienced supervillains. That, as it turns out, was the easy part.
Stargirl and her new JSA are having a rough summer. Not only do two of them have to go to summer school, which no teen wants, but they’ve dealt with malicious teachers, a powerful demon on the loose, a rival team being put together, and an enigmatic 19th century visitor. In addition to this they have mysteries involving their predecessors, complicated love lives, crushing guilt, and a lot of pressure as the stakes are constantly being raised.
They’ve been doing a good job showing Cindy Burman, AKA Shiv, putting together a team to challenge Stargirl’s fledgling Justice Society of America. Now, at least most of the pieces are in place and Cindy is making her move.
For a show that started off relatively bright and sunny, Stargirl has really developed a dark side. Eclipso is loose in Blue Valley, and that’s bad news for everyone. Now there’s creepiness in the shadows, unexpected allies and enemies, and a lot happening behind the scenes.
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