Stargirl is the newest addition to the live-action DCTV Universe, more significantly the Arrow-verse. The conclusion of the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ multi-series event revealed this show would take place on Earth-2 of the new DC Multiverse. Just having seen the first three episodes, it is extremely fitting that Stargirl be the first to debut following the creation of the new multiverse. This latest DCTV addition could not be a more relieving breath of fresh air.
Following 15-year-old Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl takes place a decade after the fall of the Golden Age of Heroes, that of course being marked by the Justice Society of America or JSA. Courtney and her mother move from California to Nebraska with her new stepfather Pat Dugan, who is the former sidekick to Starman – a former member of the JSA. Courtney believes that enrolling in a new High School along with making new friends will be the biggest challenge she has faced thus far, but little does she know that it will actually be one of the easier tasks in the weeks and months to come.
The JSA will be a central part of the show moving forward but it is the ISA, or the Injustice Society of America, who make a large footprint in the opening 3 episodes. You will be hooked and wondering where their story will go for the rest of the first season. Along with some other characters associated with the JSA, there should be a good amount of mysteries, twists, and turns throughout which will have most of us second-guessing what is exactly going on in the small and mostly quiet town of Blue Valley.
Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl and Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan/S.T.R.I.P.E are easily the standouts for the first few episodes. The back and forth between the two is very fun to watch and Luke Wilson is just a joy, with it being just weirdly awesome to hear him say names like ‘Green Lantern’ and ‘The Flash’. We do not get to spend too much time with the younger supporting cast for Stargirl in the opening episodes but that will change in the future as the door is opened in a very cool way for them to participate more. It is the adult supporting characters that get some time to shine in the first few episodes of the show as we get to meet some members of the ISA along with some plotting that they may be up to. It will be very interesting to see where these characters go throughout the season as more mysteries and revelations start to unravel to us, the audience, as well as the various characters.
The story for the first season of Stargirl, from what I can tell so far, is heavily taken from DC Comics’ ‘Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E’ series from the late ’90s where both characters of Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E made their first appearances. The series was written by comic book mogul Geoff Johns and he is the creator of the Stargirl character as well as the show. He also lent his hand in writing a handful of the episodes in this first season. Courtney Whitmore was inspired by and based on John’s sister who tragically passed away in a plane accident. So Stargirl as a character has and always will mean a lot to Johns. You feel this in droves throughout the opening episodes.
Overall, Stargirl is a load of fun. Filled with Golden Age greatness from the comics in a modern setting, it is just a joy to watch. If you are or have ever been a fan of the Arrow-verse, then Stargirl will be right up your alley. However, it will be that little bit sweeter thanks to the big-budget attached to the show – allowing it to be very visually pleasing in hand with some great action-packed set pieces. Stargirl is a must-watch for any DC Fan.