Stargirl 1x4 : Wildcat review

Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it. 

Stargirl is back once again and after last week's great but at times really quite dark episodes this episode has so much heart and comfort alongside some harsh truths to showcase. Beginning three months in the past we see one of Courtney's high school peers wake up one morning. Her name is Yolanda Montez and she seems to have the perfect life. This of course is far from what the current day Yolanda has as we've seen in the past. Three months previous she was dating Henry King (Brainwave's son) loved by almost all her classmates and was even running for class president. Everything was looking great for her. It all changed one night however as while at home and texting with Henry he asks her to take some raunchy pics and send them to him. Hesitant at first Yolanda ends up taking the photos and sends them to her then boyfriend Henry. The following day at school as Yolanda is given a speech infront of everybody the pictures she took end up getting sent to everyone by Cindy the girl who has been causing trouble for Courtney and someone who has been constantly putting the other girls down. While talking Yolanda notices and hears various phones pinging throughout the room. Her own phone soon goes off and when she sees it her heart sinks. She immediately runs off as Henry who she thinks is to blame looks on in concern. I did enjoy this start but the cheery / happy go lucky music just didn't work for me. With no audio of the characters and just the music playing it felt a bit cheesey. Hearing the characters speak would've worked so much better.

Back at home and after taking the JSA gear from the HQ at the end of last week's episode we see Courtney in her room looking over it all. It's recruiting time and she has the first person in mind..Yolanda. As she arrives at school we see Cindy bullying Yolanda once again whom after being approached by Courtney says she just wants to be left alone. What's even more sad for Yolanda is that her home life has been completely torn to shreds as not only have her parents grounded her and taken away her phone they blame her for shaming the family and won't even tolerate her much. Courtney is on the case however and after nicking away at Yolanda for some time she invites her over to dinner with her family one evening. Yolanda gets denied permission to go and the next day at school Courtney ends up spilling the beans about everything to Yolanda. She tells her about the JSA, the ISA and everything else that's been happening. Finally after some time and convincing Courtney dons the Stargirl suit and Yolanda dons the Wildcat outfit that is not exactly a great fit at first. Once she puts on the cowl things change as the outfit morphs and changes to fit her purrfectly (pun intended) with her new persona in place just what abilities does Wildcat possess?? well with this new found life she is about to venture into Yolanda can use her razor sharp claws to cut through metal, use her enhanced abilities of balance to always land on her feet and can even climb up walls. This leads into her and Stargirl's first mission..

The episode draws to a close with Pat who we see getting somewhat closer to Denise in an attempt to find out more info. She is the mom of Joey who got killed last week by Icicle and also husband to The Wizard who was also killed by Icicle. Pat finds her outside of a pit stop after her car breaks down. He offers to take a look at the vehicle as she goes for a walk. More on this in just a bit as while Pat is busy with the car Stargirl and Wildcat's first mission is to go to the Hospital where Brainwave is and look at the visitor log to see just who has been visiting him. By doing this they'll surely discover more names and possible ISA members. Wildcat's climbing powers are put to the test as Brainwave's room is on the seventh floor of the building. While she climbs the outside Stargirl is on the inside and creates a distraction leaving Wildcat to look at the visitor logs. While there she sees Henry by his dad's bedside. She goes to strike him with her claws but stops right in her tracks when she realizes what she is actually doing. Soon enough Brainwave gets another visitor. This time it's the Blue Valley High School Principal who plays the violin in front of Brainwave. Stargirl watches on from outside the room as Wildcat hides behind a chair. What could this mean?? Courtney later mentions how she doesn't know anything about a violin based villain. So just what could their Principal be doing?? with everything that they could've possibly done Stargirl and Wildcat leave and as they do they get spotted by Beth who is one of their classmates. She hears Yolanda talking and ID's her right away. This of course is all unknown to Courtney and Yolanda. Back at Courtney's place and Yolanda hands back the Wildcat outfit stating that she needs to become herself again before she can become anyone / anything else. She soon heads back home and says the same thing to her parents who still are having none of it. They shut her down almost instantly stating that she has brought shame to the family and that she will never be the same Yolanda Montez ever again. She gets sent to her room where there is a note waiting for her on her window along with the Wildcat outfit. It's from Courtney who says she can't do this alone. Wildcat suits up and heads back to Courtney's where after knocking on her window she nods and thus Wildcat is truly born. What a charming and fun relationship Courtney and Yolanda already share. The episode ends with Pat though and as I mentioned he was fixing Denise's car a bit earlier. Time passes and as he is looking around a scrap yard for parts for S.T.R.I.P.E he sees the car all beaten and bruised with no Denise in sight. What could've happened to her?? the episode ends right there and boy what an episode once again. Besides the very beginning this may very well have been my favorite episode so far. Courtney continues to be incredibly likable and charming, Yolanda is a great addition and the mystery of Denise going missing is just gonna add another layer to it all. More JSA members are out there waiting to be recruited. Let's get to work eh Stargirl?

★★★★