DC’s Stargirl 2×02 Review: “Summer School: Chapter Two”

The JSA helps a new hero discover her powers as a new villain arrives in town in “Summer School: Chapter Two.”

While the world of Blue Valley is still seemingly peaceful in the aftermath of last season and “Summer School: Chapter One,” the Justice Society of America (JSA) turns their focus to helping a new hero in “Summer School: Chapter Two.” Jennie (Ysa Penarejo), the daughter of Green Lantern Alan Scott, has some awesome powers and makes a good addition to the team. Meanwhile, Courtney (Brec Bassinger) deals with her own jealousy, Cindy (Meg DeLacy) is introduced to Eclipso’s (Nick Taraby) power, and a mysterious old member of the Injustice Society of America (ISA) arrives in town.

After the battle with Courtney at the end of the previous episode, Jennie is instantly welcomed by Pat (Luke Wilson) after revealing that her father is original JSA Green Lantern Alan Scott. While Barbara (Amy Smart) and Mike (Trae Romano) are also welcoming, Courtney remains suspicious of the girl. Even though Jennie ends up being who she says she is, it’s strange that everyone besides Courtney is so quick to trust her after she attempted to break into the house in the middle of the night to steal the lantern.

Courtney relays her suspicions to Yolanda (Yvette Monreal), but Yolanda isn’t as skeptical of Jennie. The two later find Jennie trying to manifest her powers with the help of Pat, Beth (Anjelika Washington) and Rick (Cameron Gellman) and Courtney confronts Jennie in front of everyone. Courtney eventually realizes that Jennie can in fact be trusted and that the root of her suspicions is that she’s jealous that Jennie is actually the daughter of a superhero. This is a nice callback to Courtney’s season one arc of coming to terms of her identity and Jennie proves that she fits in well with the rest of the JSA in their scenes together.

Much of the episode is devoted to Jennie trying to learn how to use her powers. With Pat’s help she is able to use the ring to create her missing brother’s toy car and learns that her power is controlled by her emotions. The lantern threatens to explode after her confrontation with Courtney and the group runs through the town square with it. Pat catches up with them and the group helps Jennie realize that she can absorb the power of the lantern and become the lantern herself. The development is nice, and Jennie’s powers look great visually. Though Jennie leaves at the end of the episode, she will hopefully return soon as she has proved a good addition to the JSA.

A potential new villain is introduced as an old-fashioned man named Richard Swift (Jonathan Cake) visits Barbara at work and requests to buy an old collection of a former ISA member. Barbara immediately informs Pat of the creepy encounter and after talking to Swift, Pat determines that he is former ISA villain The Shade. One of the highlights of the episode is near the end where Courtney tells Pat that she plans to focus on her friends and family rather than being a superhero. Once Pat tells her about The Shade, her enthusiasm for being a superhero immediately returns. While Yolanda, Beth, and Rick don’t get to do much in this episode, the promise of a new villain will hopefully give them more to do in the coming episodes.

The audience knows that The Shade is far from the only threat in town. Cindy uses the help of Eclipso to trap her mother, Bobbie (Lesa Wilson) in her house. Eclipso taunts Bobbie and tells her the only way out is to kill Cindy. As Bobbie tries to attack Cindy, Eclipso possesses Cindy and absorbs Bobbie. Cindy is upset about her mother’s death and makes Eclipso promise not to do it again. Eclipso agrees, but it’s clear that Cindy is way over her head. Eclipso has been a creepy villain so far, and it’s terrifying what he will do to the JSA and the rest of Blue Valley as he gains power and comes out of the shadows.

Author: Jessica Wolff

Jessica Wolff is a graduate of Drexel University with a BS in Film/Video. She has a passion for entertainment and representation in entertainment. She currently resides outside of Washington, DC.

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