TV Review: Stargirl Wraps Up A Fantastic, Debut Season
“You can’t have America. You are too filled with hate,” those are the words of Stargirl, played purely and perfectly by Brec Bassinger, amidst a series of movie-level fight scenes that infuse into its exceptional finale. The whole season was near perfect; balancing the youthful wholesomeness of classic comic-books with a modern campiness of present themes, which charmed viewers. It was simultaneously old and new, the visual effects futuristic, and the overall message needed: hate can’t win.
DC’s Stargirl 1×13 Promo “Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E. – Part Two” (HD) Season Finale
In perspective, Stargirl is sort of political; two factions fighting over their belief of what is good. The Injustice Society might as well be run by Mitch McConnell in its faith that people aren’t good and need to be controlled because, otherwise, they will get worse. These villains commit the very sins they believe they are stopping others from doing; a hypocrisy that flares as its members like, Brainwave (Christopher James Baker), The Gambler (Eric Goins), and Icicle (Neil Jackson), do everything they can to assure their plan of a “Perfect America” goes alt-right; I mean alright. Meanwhile, our young heroes get DOWN when it comes to fighting, and face some really hard dilemmas in terms of what justice in the face of injustice? Seriously, how do you STOP evil without literally ending it?
DC’s Stargirl | ISA Chat #2 | The CW
Seeing a group of young people face this dilemma, especially Yolanda (played so badass by Yvette Monreal) and Rick Tyler (played by heartbreakingly by Cameron Gellman), makes the show feel pertinent to future generations begging for change and wondering if they need their own magical, cosmic staff and costume to do so. If you saw the penultimate episode then you know the plan; use Brainwave to control the minds of adults and create an America that is sinless, healthy, safe, and “kind.” Yet, when you get a small group of men in a room trying to determine what is best for “everyone,” you know people are going to people left out of that vision, in this case, the youth. It is quite symbolic; adult brains become controlled and children’s voices and thoughts grow ignored by their parents. Moreover, if an adult resists, they die.
DC’s Stargirl | JSA Chat #3 | The CW
Okay, that is dark, but, again, it IS SYMBOLIC and totally Stargirl. Of all the CW-hero shows, this one felt special, like Supergirl, because it had an overarching theme of hope directed at a specific group that feels, and can be, unseen. While Supergirl is an inherently feminist notion/show, Stargirl is innately youthful; not just because it is, literally, about a batch of high school students trying to save the world, but because its message is that the youth can. With such positive characters like Beth Chapel (played beautifully by Anjelika Washington), the finale refreshingly ships this message to its viewers, while leaving MULTIPLE cliffhangers for its next season. While this show is all about heroes winning and finding joy, which the finale displays, it is a comic book series, which means the coast is never clear and more villains are coming! CW’s Stargirl Finale is on August 10 .
