Stargirl 2x9 : Summer School : Chapter Nine review

 

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

Stargirl has been on quite the roll lately. Dishing out great episode after great episode and this weeks episode is no different as it deals with a lot of strong subjects and the reason why the JSA split up and were never the same again. The episode begins as we meet the explorer Bruce Gordyn who was the one who first brought Eclipso into the world. While exploring he found the black diamond and since bringing it back home with him he has used it in all manners of ways to get ahead and become more powerful. When we meet him we see that he no longer can contain nor does he want Eclipso in his life anymore. Of course the black diamond talks to him much like we saw with Cindy earlier in the season. He convinces the explorer to embrace him and let him in. After a long discussion which involved apparent suicide and a gun (yes it got that dark) Eclipso is let into Bruce as the two become one. Back in present day and the storm above Blue Valley is getting worse by the minute. Not only is there strong winds and rain but power is being lost among other things. Courtney is seen talking with Pat and tells him that her and Beth are ready to end Eclipso if given the chance. Pat disagrees and heads to the basement which is where the the main narrative of the episode comes into play. As Pat begins to remember just how the original JSA defeated Eclipso and it's a dark and harrowing tale.

Pat's memories begin at a funeral which is the funeral of the original Dr Mid-Nite's daughter a 10 year old girl named Rebecca who Eclipso killed. Starman, Wildcat and Hourman are present here too and even Jay Garrick the original Flash shows up to pay his respects. It's a short lived scene as the real meat of the story kicks in a bit later after Starman meets up with The Shade who was also at the funeral but way off in the distance. When Starman returns to the JSA HQ later he tells Pat that the only way to destroy Eclipso is to kill the human host. Pat is disgusted by this and says that isn't how the JSA operates. Starman agrees at first but later after a team vote by the other members including Pat the yes vote wins 3-2 over the no vote. It's a pretty intense scene here as all members clearly don't want to have to kill as that's not what the JSA does but they have no real other choice as they have never faced anything like Eclipso before. 

The episode draws to a close as Eclipso rears his head again but this time for Barbara and Mike as he convinces them that Icicle is alive and Cameron (his son) knows that Mike killed his father. Courtney rescues Mike at their home while none other than The Shade saves Barbara with what little power he has left. Back with the JSA and as Pat is forced to wait in the car as the others (except Jay Garrick) all go and kill Bruce Gordyn. The job is done and Starman returns with Eclipso back in the diamond. Trust me it sounds and is a lot more interesting and tense than I describe it here. With Pat still in the basement Courtney goes to see him and after he overcomes his little battle with Eclipso he tells Courtney everything. How the JSA stopped the evil entity and how it impacted them going forward. They basically split soon after only reforming to take on the ISA but truly they were never the same. Courtney can't believe what she's hearing as Pat had previously said no more lies but this, well this is a pretty big lie. A lie so big even Barbara knows about which only sends Courtney into a further rage. The episode ends as we see the entire family arguing in the kitchen as Eclipso watches on from outside the house in his kid form laughing once again. This episode was fantastic. Dark and tense it showcased the JSA in an entirely new light and and played off Courtney's innocence so well at the end. Stargirl started off a tad slow but right now it's just full steam ahead with no signs of slowing down until the season ends. Long may it continue. 

★★★★