The fourth episode of Stargirl delivers more in the first four minutes of the episode than many series do the entire season. In the episode, Courtney sets out to recruit new members to the Justice Society of America. Pat’s suspicion is piqued following a bizarre conversation with one of the town’s residents.

Stargirl‘s first three episodes have really focused on setting up the world and characters. Courtney, played by Brec Bassinger, has been the clear focus with her gaining her new role and her relationship with her stepfather Pat played by Luke Wilson. The series has teased other characters in Courtney’s life with a table of misfits. We’ve gotten hints about them but not much as far as details.

That changes this episode. The opening focuses on Yolanda Montez played by Yvette Monreal. We know very little about her beyond some of how she’s gotten bullied, we don’t know the “why.” Now we do as we get a runup to school President election and a revealing picture. It’s a real-world issue that many kids will face and shows the series willingness to deliver some reality to its fantastical elements.

And the episode has no problem diving into those fantastical elements like the hints we get about the items Courtney grabbed from the Justice Society of America’s base. But, there’s also Dragon King played by Nelson Lee who makes an intimidating appearance. The way that introduction ends… well, it’s pretty dark for this show.

But, the episode really comes down to its heart and how grounded it is. A scene between Courtney and Yolanda is heartbreaking. It draws a line in the sand with Courtney making a hell of a definitive statement and showing she’s clearly on the sign of right. It also delivers some solid emotion and Yvette’s acting is fantastic. The scene is something that should really connect with teens watching the series and hopefully will get parents to rethink their position on what happens in the episode.

The interaction between Courtney and Yolanda is great as the episode continues and Courtney reveals her secret identity and attempts to recruit Yolanda. The interaction is great and where the two go from there is fantastic. It’s a great segment of learning powers in the modern age that feels like it was inspired by the film Shazam!. The humor is great and in the end there’s a solid lesson in the episode.

Yolanda gets the spotlight and a voice discovering herself in a way and standing up. The episode is full of moments of strength and one that kids will see differently from their parents. Hopefully, parents may see things differently by the end as well.

And then there’s that ending. It’s rather messed up and leaves a lot to the imagination which is often more scary and twisted than anything that can be written. It’s a great ending and one that’s again unexpected showing Stargirl is willing to go that extra step and deliver moments that it’s generally happy exterior hides. The series continues to impress with an episode that expands the cast, delivers some solid emotion, and builds upon the mystery.

Overall Rating: 8.25

The third episode of Stargirl shifts a bit with an opening that feels more in tone of the original X-Men film. It focuses on Icicle and the loss of a loved one. It also gives some motivation to the character which should be interesting to see how it’s used. The focus is on fighting “injustice,” so to see how that’s warped should be interesting.

And from that, we get to Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E., Pat and Courtney, and their balancing their regular and superhero lives. Compared to the opening, it’s night and day in tone and emphasizes Stargirls’ saccharine nature. The relationship between the two is interesting two and as a duo, it’s a solid paring, especially how they play off of each other.

The episode too focuses a bit more on Courtney at school expanding on plotlines and characters that have only been teased a little in the first two episodes.

What Jordan Mahkent/Icicle’s plan for the town is an interesting one that I can’t quite put my finger on. It feels like Cobra plan and something we’ve seen on G.I. Joe.

We also get a confrontation between Stargirl, S.T.R.I.P.E., and Icicle which feels a bit sooner than expected. The segment is surprisingly good with an ending that’s shocking an unexpected. It really makes the show stand out even further delivering real emotion not just with what happens but also the moments the follow.

It impacts William Zarick/The Wizard and leads to an amazing segment between Pat and Courtney. We learn more about the Justice Society and Luke Wilson really shines. He goes to the next level from the actor we’ve seen so many times before in other roles. It feels like Wilson really becomes his character in this moment and episode and breaks from what we expect of him.

But, even with the episode taking a dour turn, it still delivers hope. The episode still delivers a sense of wonder and a positive outlook. It hints as to what’s to come. And then delivers another surprise showing the series has no issue delivering twists and turns.

But, the episode doesn’t really just stand on those surprises, it’s the small details and character interactions. An empty chair at a table for dinner says so much. A hug and a picture tell a story. There’s so much in this series that’s clearly been thought through creating a full package.

Overall Rating: 8.5

Stargirl featured a solid debut that dripped with nostalgia and saccharine sweetness. The second episode picks things up quickly as Pat explains to Courtney about the Injustice Society of America and we get hints as to why the Injustice Society is all in one small town.

What’s briefly mentioned feels like something we’ve seen so many times before but it works and explains a Pollyanna-ish town.

What the episode does right, and right away, is to continue the dynamic between Pat and Courtney. There’s something that really clicks and works between Luke Wilson’s Pat and Brec Bassinger’s Courtney. They’ve got a timing that plays off each other and moments, like when they both say they hurt themselves on the stairs, really plays off their dynamic which relies heavily on humor.

And that goes into the humor of the show. Much like the debut episode, the second has a lighthearted sense about it. That’s best shown in Pat getting S.T.R.I.P.E. to work in a sequence full of fantastic moments. We also get the segment of Courtney creating her costume which breaks the mold of the sequence going smoothly, takes on stereotypes of women, and also is just funny. Both segments really set up the tone of the show which tends to be a bit less serious than other DC live-action shows.

That sequence, like so much else of the show, really highlights the production value of the show. S.T.R.I.P.E. looks really great, so much so I’d love to see segments in how they put it together. There’s also something very “Iron Giant” about it, again tapping into nostalgia.

What the episode also does it set up the future. There are moments that feel like they foreshadow future threats once the Injustice Society is defeated. It’ll be a while before we see how that plays out and most likely won’t happen until a second season.

The episode continues the solid start of the pilot delivering humor and entertaining moments. There’s a good blending of the superhero genre with that of a small town setting. And, while it hints as to why everything has come to this one point, what is teased works and makes sense.

In the end though, what the episode really does is surprise. While there’s so much nostalgia, Stargirl flying by the moon is very ET, what’s said and where the episode goes is unexpected. The finale of the episode isn’t the direction that one would think the series would go. It ends on an interesting moment, not just for Brainwave, but also for the relationship between Courtney and Pat.

Stargirl isn’t the best comic adaptation that has been done for live-action but there’s an enthusiasm and innocence about it that’s unmatched. It’s hard to not just smile and enjoy the series.

Overall Rating: 8.5

Stargirl is the newest DC comic hero to make it to a live-action series and it’s one that’s a bit unexpected. But, from the first few moments of the show beginning, the show not only stands out from what has come before but feels like a welcome improvement.

The show has an almost Disney like feel about it evoking a style and special fx look that’s reminiscent of the string of films based on their popular rides. Through the action, and a brutal fight, we’re delivered an opening that’s exciting and fun with a style unto its own. There’s a “retro” aspect to it with that Disney feel and a bit of Rocketeer thrown in.

The opening is impressive with what feels like high production values and an attention to detail. There’s a lot going on in the chaotic battle but no detail of the costumes falls short and everything looks high quality and well designed evoking the classic designs they’re based off of.

There’s a lot thrown in there to start with the Justice Society of America getting torn apart and destroyed. And despite the seriousness of it all, there’s levity with Joel McHale as Starman delivering some laughs in an otherwise serious moment.

It sets the tone of the show and what’s to come and it’s clearly intentional. From that serious moment the show pivots a bit and Darlene Love’s “Christmas” plays which brought back memories for me of Gremlins and from there some Hanson and “Mmmm Bop.” The show’s playing with some interesting tones and it doesn’t end there.

The show follows Brec Bassinger‘s Courtney Whitmore whose mother, Barabra played by Amy Smart, marries Luke Wilson‘s Pat Dugan, the former partner of Starman. They move to Nebraska where the town is very “white” and mysterious. It sets up an interesting family dynamic and some familial friction. But that white bread vibe of it all also helps the eventual discovery by Courtney of Pat’s past and what he’s been hiding, Starman’s staff.

It too evokes a familiar emotion, one from my childhood of the hero discovering their power or the excitement of meeting that friendly alien. It’s saccharine in a way evoking an innocence that feels almost needed in these rather dark and ominous times. It’s a feel good start that makes all that’s recently come before feel a bit jaded and missing that childlike excitement. It’s a clear goal with hints like the use of the film The Goonies at a drive-in which also shares many of these qualities.

But with that also comes some predictable moments and tropes we’ve seen numerous times. The discovery of the power and its misuse to take on bullies is reminiscent of Peter Parker fighting Flash Thompson in the original Spider-Man. The school bullies and what’s revealed about them too is not too surprising and a bit predictable in many ways.

What’s so interesting about the show is the tone it delivers having as much in common with films like ET and the animated Transformers movie as it does Spider-Man and other teen-focused heroes. There’s a fascinating tone about it all and one that feels like it’s been missing in the current superhero genre.

Stargirl feels like a bit of a throwback in many ways with an innocence about it that’s missing from today’s superhero live-action releases. It really goes for a throwback 80s feel in so many ways and it nails it in so many ways. It’s a show that wants to deliver fun and wonder

Overall Rating: 9.0