Stargirl DC Universe New Show Season 1 Review

Season 1 Review 

On the surface, Stargirl looks like a typical superhero melodrama. The teen-oriented cast, simple story, and early season are full of sympathy. However, Stargirl manages to stand out from the crowd with a well-written story and some cute acts dotted throughout the show.  

 With plenty of characterization for the villains and a well-paced threat that builds into proper end-of-the-world territory at the end, Stargirl fires off its first season as a real bright spark.

 

Storyline 

 The story here revolves around teenager Courtney Whitmore. When her father abandons her as a child on Christmas Eve, she is left hoping that he will return. Meanwhile, a random incident involving a group of superheroes nearby seems to indicate that his Father is the legendary Starman. With Pat as Starman's sidekick, they make their way to a mansion where a fight between the JSA (Justice Society of America) and the ISA (Injustice Society of America) ends with the bad guys winning. To make matters worse, Starman is killed.

  After this dizzying prologue, we continue to follow Courtney as a teenager as she arrives in the town of Blue Valley. His father never returned, and Pat is now romantically involved with his mother, Barbara. As the court starts high school and deals with all the issues that come with it, there is trouble at home.

  It turns out that the ISA is hiding in this city, led by Henry Sr. and Jordan (Brainwave and Icicle, respectively). When Courtney finds Starman's space crew hidden by Pat himself in his basement, she immediately realizes that he has powers. Even more interesting, Starman could be her Father.

As Stripsy, Pat's sidekick, the first half of the series sees Courtney recruiting a number of students to become the new JSA and helping them develop their skills. There are various skirmishes with various villains along the way, but it's mostly left out for drama. It's not until late in the game that everything starts to turn into a beautifully choreographed battle.

  The final two-parter is also a fantastic way to wrap things up and does a decent job of actually rounding out a lot of character arcs without spoiling anything. In particular, it gives enough closure to Rick, Yolanda, and Beth to keep things interesting for season 2.

  

Focus On Villains

Ultimately, it's this characterization and solid writing that makes Stargirl such a compelling watch. There's an equal focus on the villains here, which only helps make Stargirl feel like a more multi-faceted series. Throughout the season, we learn what happened to Brainwave and why he bent and turned bitter. We also learn why Jordan wants to change the world. The only villain who doesn't really have much of an arc is the Gambler, but that's a small point for a character who's often overshadowed.

  Stylistically, Stargirl pulls out all the stops to help separate it from the wave of other superhero shows. It's closer to Titans in terms of gritty action and choreography, while still maintaining the usual fun and sleaze derived from classic CW superhero shows. The result is something that feels like a hybrid of the two at its best.

  There are some nice slow-mo segments, one-shots, and even creative rotating cameras that help elevate each of the various fights. The decision to show the fight in the mansion early on is a really smart move and establishes him as a major player in the superhero world.  

My concerns going into season two stemmed from the CW acquiring this show. With the DC Universe turning away and the CW snapping it up for broadcast rights, there's definitely a danger of struggling with a nose dive in special effects and quality. It's now about throwing this into the CW universe and putting it on The Flash, Supergirl, etc.

  Although, to remain optimistic, this could also mean that seasons are given longer. Additionally, the ending certainly teases some interesting villains ahead. If the characterization is as strong as it is here, it should be another Serenity winner.

Overall 

  Overall, Stargirl is a really nice surprise and worth a long run. Yes, there are the usual teenage vibes you'd expect, but they're backed up by some solid writing and careful character work.

  The villains are boring, the personalities are interesting, and for most of the 13 episodes, the balance between humor and drama is perfectly struck. It won't be the best superhero show of the year, but it's certainly one of the stronger ones, making it a bright star in the dark night sky.