Stargirl 3x1 : Frenemies - Chapter One : The Murder review

 

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

The third season of Stargirl has finally arrived. Last time we saw this show the JSA had defeated Eclipso with a little help from their enemies. This of course all ties into the core aspect of season 3 which is the JSA learning to live and work with their former enemies. Not only does this mean new neighbors The Crock Family but also The Shade who is also living in Blue Valley. The episode opens up with various members of the JSA going about their day to day lives. Courtney has been on a trip with her family to Yellowstone while Beth's parents have become a bit overbearing when it comes to her newfound superhero status. As for Yolanda she is mainly keeping her head down but is overcome with anger whenever she sees Cindy and is all tensed up when they all meet for their first JSA meeting involving Cindy a bit later. Speaking of Cindy she tries to do minimal tasks like helping an older woman by carrying her shopping bags. But has the villain known as Shiv really changed?? that remains to be seen. At the end of season 2 we saw that Starman himself is back and when Courtney and her family get home they're greeted by him wearing an apron. He has cleaned up the house while they were away and is working to earn his keep he says. He even built a display case for the Cosmic Staff which is cool but Courtney is very skeptical about the whole situation. Not only is Starman back but surely he is back for the staff right??

The staff and Starman is the least of Courtney's worries though as none other than The Gambler former member of the ISA shows up on the Whitmore doorstep. He tells them that he is reformed and is intent on getting to know his daughter who is named Becky. He just wants her to know that he loves her as his own father walked out and left him when he was younger. Courtney and Pat believe him and he goes on his way to look for his daughter. But as all of this is happening we see that they're being spied on by somebody, who could it be?? we find out more but at the end of the episode as a murder mystery blows this season already wide open. We're soon back at school and the JSA have their meeting like I mentioned earlier. Yolanda is very much against having Cindy be a part of the team but Courtney as we know has probably to her own downfall way too much trust in people who were once on the dark side. The meeting doesn't last long as we soon learn that another ex-villain may be joining in the form of Artemis who is tasked with a try out after her mom pays Barbara Whitmore a visit. Her try out goes well..a bit too well as she by herself takes out a threat a bit later which all ties back to The Gambler, or does it?

The episode draws to a close as Pat and Starman take S.T.R.I.P.E and the cosmic staff for a spin. The former hero and sidekick seem to have a ton of fun here but are greeted by Courtney, Barbara and Mike when they return home. Courtney is once again skeptical of Starman's intentions here as he clearly is still pining over the Cosmic staff. Courtney and Starman are soon seen talking and the two come to an arrangement of sorts. When Courtney is at school and stuff Starman gets the staff and when Courtney is home and not at school she does. It's a Star tag-team duo! an interesting deal to just make up but we'll see what happens. The Gambler's ties to a criminal gang named the No Limit Gang are up next and Artemis takes them all out like I said earlier. She seemingly passes her try out with flying colors meaning she will be a part of the JSA?? things are going to be very interesting indeed this season when it comes to the JSA and their individual relationships. But the episode isn't over yet as it ends with The Gambler who is at a trailer looking for his daughter. After writing her a letter he gets an alert on his laptop that says he has access to a unidentified feed. Once he activates it we see that someone has and is spying on pretty much every member of the JSA. Courtney, Beth and even The Gambler's trailer is being watched. He goes outside gun in hand and tries to remove the camera but gets attacked as we just hearing a massive growl type screech that ends in The Gambler being murdered in cold blood. A murder mystery to begin to season is very interesting indeed. The episode ends as the JSA rush to the scene of the crime only to come across none other than Cindy standing over The Gambler's body before she says it wasn't her. The episode ends there and to be honest I really did like this premiere episode. It was fast paced, fun and sets up what is sure to be a fascinating season going forward. Stargirl is back and back with some top quality content once again. 

★★★★