DC’s Stargirl 2×10 Review: “Summer School: Chapter Ten”

As tensions run high, The Shade offers a potential solution to dealing with Eclipso in “Summer School: Chapter Ten.”

The revelation of how the original Justice Society of America (JSA) took down Eclipso (Nick Tarabay) in “Summer School: Chapter Nine” continues to put Courtney (Brec Bassinger) and Pat (Luke Wilson) at odds with each other in “Summer School: Chapter Ten”. The two try to deal with the fallout of the revelation as The Shade (Jonathan Cake) gives them a potential solution to stopping Eclipso.

The episode opens with a flashback of Starman (Joel McHale) and Pat after the JSA’s decision to murder Bruce Gordon in order to stop Eclipso. The heart-warming scene provides some backstory on their friendship and offers some insight into why Pat continues to stick around despite Starman’s constant insults. Though there are still many questions as to their partnership, it will be interesting to see if the show provides more answers.

In the present, Courtney, Pat, Mike (Trae Romano), and Barbara (Amy Smart) continue to argue about Pat’s decision to withhold the truth from the new JSA. The argument continues as Courtney and Pat go on a mini road trip and Pat continues to be apologetic about it. While Pat’s motives for hiding the truth make sense, Courtney is right that not knowing the truth put the JSA in danger and could have helped Yolanda (Yvette Monreal) deal with her guilt over killing Brainwave.

The Shade interrupts their kitchen argument, badly hurt from Eclipso’s attack and falling ungracefully into the room. He suggests that repairing the Black Diamond with a source of light will trap Eclipso. After Courtney is unable to do it with her ailing staff, Pat suggests that they find Jennie (Ysa Penarejo), who was last seen in “Summer School: Chapter Two”. It’s a smart decision to recruit Jennie, given the strength of her Green Lantern powers and the current state of the JSA, though it’s surprising that nobody thought to seek her help sooner.

Beth (Anjelika Washington) raises her parents’ suspicions as she refuses to take off her goggles and alluding to the threat of Eclipso. Beth’s parents are understandably concerned due to not knowing the whole story, and Beth’s refusal to explain will likely lead to more problems going forward. Despite that, Beth’s self-empowerment in the past few episodes has been satisfying to watch and it continues as she jumps at the opportunity to keep an eye on Barbara and Mike as they tend to the Shade while Courtney and Pat are gone.

As The Shade spends the episode laying on the couch at the Dugan-Whitmore house, The Shade talks to Barbara in a delirious state thinking she is his sister Emily. In addition, Charles McNider (Alex Collins) gives Beth some insight into The Shade’s backstory and tells her that The Shade saved his life. While the episode’s ending brings to question how genuine The Shade’s actions have been and what his true motives are, The Shade has been an interesting character and a good addition to the season regardless.

Elsewhere, Rick (Cameron Gellman) is still in jail and receives a gift of apples thrown into his cell, presumably from Solomon Grundy. The unexpected bond between Rick and Grundy remains sweet, but it’s disturbing that there’s been no urgency on Pat, Courtney, and Beth’s part to get him released. Mike also sneaks out to try and fix S.T.R.I.P.E. on his own and finds a life-size gingerbread house on his way home that is clearly the work of Thunderbolt. It will be interesting to see the plot of Thunderbolt and the magic pen landing in the hands of another kid finally get a follow-up and to learn if Thunderbolt will be able to play a role in defeating Eclipso.

Pat uses a newspaper article of an orphanage burning with green fire to track Jennie and he and Courtney find soon after that she has been staying in the original JSA headquarters. The two finally find Jennie at a facility that was previously holding her brother, and she admits that she’s been losing control of her powers in her desperation to find him. Jennie’s return is welcome and hopefully, she will stick around for longer than previously and team up with the JSA. As the three leave the facility, Nurse Love (Lynne Ashe) makes a call to a mysterious Mr. Bones, and it is revealed that she does in fact know where Jennie’s brother is. The exchange raises a lot of questions and is most likely planting the seeds for an interesting season three plotline.

Back at the JSA headquarters, Jennie focuses the energy of her ring on the pieces of the diamond. Unfortunately, Beth discovers in the just declassified file on Eclipso that repairing the diamond heals The Shade while summoning Eclipso. The Shade admits that he manipulated them and leaves the house at full strength as Eclipso sends Courtney into the same shadow pit that he sent Cindy.

The Shade’s deception is unfortunate, but not surprising due to his moral greyness. It’s still unclear which side The Shade is really on, and there will undoubtedly be more surprises coming from him. The biggest question is how Courtney will fare in the shadow realm, and how she will be able to get out of it. DC’s Stargirl will most likely be included in this weekend’s DC Fandome presentation, hopefully providing a preview of the rest of the season and beyond.

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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