With just one episode left, Stargirl continues to ratchet up the tension and set the stage for the end of the first season. And, with production likely getting underway later than expected, it may be some time before we get new adventures with Courtney and co.
1. Mike knows the drill
This episode has a few important Mike moments, starting with he and Pat having an honest conversation about Pat’s past and why everything has been hidden from Mike. While I think Mike understands, you can see that he still feels left out of the ‘family business,’ which isn’t helped by his job during the final siege being watching the dog at the cabin. (Which, side note, yes its in the middle of the woods, but seems every bit as nice and spacious as their house). We also see Mike use a drill to take it to Sportsmaster’s kidneys and save his dad’s life. While that’s not exactly a superpower or a particularly bankable skill, it was nice to see Mike join the fray.
However, the moment with the most emotionally resonance was when Mike tries to get the staff to work for him as it does for Court. You can see the disappointment in him knowing that he is normal, or at least not as special as Courtney is. I said in an earlier episode that I didn’t want Mike to take up the S.T.R.I.P.E. mantle, and while I don’t want Pat to go away, at this point, I’d be more ok with Mike becoming a part of the team sometime down the road.
2. Hail, hail
For the first time since the series began, all of the pieces are aligned on both sides. But most importantly for us, this is the first time that Justin, aka Shining Knight, Barbara, and Mike are all invited into a JSA meeting, and given roles in the upcoming final stand against the ISA. And, for the sake of the show’s sustainability, let’s hope that this truly is the last stand of the ISA, or at least the ISA as we know it. Aside from the two dead children (RIP Joey Zarick and Henry King Jr), there is a whole new ISA waiting in the wings. Yes, Cameron is a wildcard, as we’ve never seen him as much as lose his temper, but I think the ‘torn between his father’s legacy and the girl he loves’ is a fun season 2 pitch.
So please, let next week be the last we see of most of these adult villains. Let some new blood flow through the ISA.
3. I legitimately laughed out loud
There is a moment where Beth hacks into the ISA’s computer and finds their manifesto. As she is reading off their list of beliefs, she is running down essentially a non-Republican wet dream: solar and wind power, end to racial discrimination, universal health care. It’s a really funny moment, where you see all the kids come to the realization that ‘Project New America’ is not evil, though the implementation, with 25 million people dead, is absolutely evil. I was also impressed that everyone, to a person, didn’t argue that maybe this particular omelette was worth breaking that many eggs. These kids have been getting much better at the ‘super’ things.
4. Good for Rick!
It was nice to see Rick break the code that his father set in his journal, even if its pretty dumb that his car’s year was the missing piece. Bro, didn’t you think the license plate would be less easy to hack? The VIN? Something?
Also, the code turns out to be somewhat of a letdown, as it is just a map of the tunnels that they already knew about. Also, how did those schematics have things that were clearly built after his dad’s death?
5. The kids are alright
By taking the adults off the board for the final battle of the season, it’s going to be incumbent of the JSA to really step up, which should make for good TV. I also like the way that they positioned Beth as the Oracle of the group, because she’s thoroughly unbelievable as an active member of the crew. I think that’s a really nice place for her going forward, and she and “Chuck” can do a lot of good from behind a computer somewhere.
The brain manipulation is also going to, likely, be the thing that wakes Justin up from his slumbering reality and allow him his place alongside the JSA. He and Pat are also the two most likely targeted for death, even though I’d argue that Henry’s death was likely the most devastating thing we’ll see this season.
Join me next week for the finale!
