Round Two: Stargirl

Stargirl: Season 1, Episode 2 “S.T.R.I.P.E.” (B)

I want to like this show, and I think I’ll give it one more shot to see if it’s headed somewhere worthwhile. Brainwave was set up as the big villain in the first episode, and here he seemed ready to destroy our protagonist when he demanded that she come with the staff or he’d kill her mother violently. Thanks in part to Pat and mostly due to her resolve and determination to fulfill her destiny, Courtney showed up to take him down, and asking what bad guys they’ll need to face next sets up future episodes as her honing her abilities and preparing to take on each new threat. I will give her credit for using her home economics (a class I never took) materials to sew her own costume, and embracing her father’s codename to create one for herself. This show is definitely set in a small town, which means everyone – good and bad – comes together for school functions and all that, and also means that Barbara’s new nightmare boss who hates all of her ideas isn’t just obnoxious but also in league with Icicle, who’s more than ready to kill the new heir to Starman’s staff. I like that there is still humor, mostly centered around Pat, who hasn’t quite mastered his giant robot suit and made the mistake of walking into a gym holding a baked good. He could definitely use some bulking up, but he doesn’t know quite what he’s committed to and how much his new trainer is determined for him to succeed.