Stargirl continues to pull apart the JSA, while Eclipso continues to plant his flag deeper.
1. Poor Rick
Rick is the member of the JSA that we spend the least amount of time with, and it’s easy to think that is the case due to him being the least interesting member of the gang. And while that is objectively true as well, this episode did a good job to remind us that Rick may be a bit boring, but he’s also a very sad person. He lost his parents, lives with his shithead uncle, and is routinely considered a lunkhead by everyone who encounters him.
The episode opens with Rick’s science teacher reaching out to him about colleges and trying to be a mentor for him, something Rick desperately needs, despite Pat occupying a similar role. Pat wants to help Rick be a better hero; this teacher wants to help Rick be a better Rick. I’m not saying that Pat is an asshole, but his interest in Rick isn’t as pure.
As soon as we are reminded of Rick’s shitty uncle, Rick beats the tar out of him, thinking him Solomon Grundy. We’ll get to Grundy in a minute, but Rick’s life appears more or less totally destroyed due to this. Because the JSA doesn’t make itself publicly known, there’s no one to stand up for Rick and say “Yo, this is Eclipso’s doing.” So Rick is in police custody, with his hourglass shattered, and not trusting anything he sees. Poor Rick.
2. Enter James Robinson
One of the most charming and interesting things that James Robinson did on his “Starman” run was reconsider Solomon Grundy. In Robinson’s version, every time Grundy dies, he comes back different. Not like, Rhodes scholar intelligent, but there are variations in how Grundy acts/feels/thinks every time he’s reborn. The middle of “Starman” saw a more compassionate, gentle Grundy, and that seems to be where Stargirl is taking him right now. Rick recognizes humanity in Grundy, and vows to help him.
This won’t end well, but this is an interesting development for the show to bring in. I’m not really sure if the show, with its piss-poor CGI Grundy, can really elicit the emotion needed for this to really work, but I’m glad that it is trying to do something with Grundy other than just make him bad guy Hulk. With Robinson on the writing/production staff, I’m not sure why I never presumed this would happen before, but it’s clear as day right now.
3. Beth has gained the power of self-respect
When this episode wasn’t focused on Rick, it was focused on Beth. Beth’s connection with Dr. McNider came and went a few times this episode, but we’ve begun to see a kinship develop, even if it’s embryonic at this point. Beth is put through the emotional ringer by Eclipso in his ‘Bruce’ persona. There is something so tragic and unfair about all of the things that are used against Beth in this episode. There is really nothing along the lines of “you’re not good enough because you did/didn’t do X.” All of the slings and arrows lobbied at Beth are simply because of who she is. She’s not good enough to be Doctor Mid-Nite.
But by the end of her time with Eclipso, she proves that she is. She’s officially dubbed the new Doctor Mid-Nite by the goggles, and she has the only weapon proved effective against Eclipso. She is necessary and powerful when everyone else around her feels impotent and useless. Beth has become the most important member of the JSA.
4. OK, do we really need Eclipso to be a bigot?
I get it: Eclipso is evil, racism is evil, perfect bedfellows. But do we really think that an ancient evil power would have any concept of racial biases? I know that the show was trying to show Eclipso as ‘truly evil,’ but we’ve seen him kill children already, so what does this add? Also, any time you’re airing a stereotype in public, you’re doing your part to continue said stereotype, even if that’s not your intention. This just seems like a trash move.
Continued below5. The future of the JSA?
So even though Beth is operating at a higher level than we’ve seen in the past, Courtney is still without a reliable Cosmo (I sort of love/hate that name for the staff), Rick is both in police custody and without the Miraclo hourglass, Yolanda has turned in her Wildcat gear, S.T.R.I.P.E. is still in pieces. Now, we’ve got a few potential folks in the wings: Jade, Jakeem Thunder, Artemis, and the Shade are all around, but all of them have question marks around them.
Luckily, help is on the way next week, and if you’ve seen certain promos, you know what I’m talking about. If not, join us next week to find out.
