Stargirl season 2, episode 2 review: Summer School: Chapter Two

“Things got out of hand.” Spoilers for Stargirl season 2, episode 2 follow.

After unexpectedly making her way into Courtney and her family’s lives, Jenny attempts to make herself belong and learn more about the power of the Green Lantern in the sophomore episode of Stargirl season 2.

Meanwhile, while still struggling with Jenny’s arrival Courtney has to meet her greatest enemy yet… summer school.

New friends

You know what’s not endearing to someone’s trust? Breaking into their home and fighting them, which is exactly what Jenny did. So it’s unsurprising that Courtney doesn’t trust her despite the fact that basically everyone takes an immediate liking to her. And who wouldn’t? She’s kind, cheerful, and seemingly perfect. Seemingly perfect enough for even Courtney to not realize the cracks underneath the surface.

This one episode does so much to create an endearing nature for Jenny’s character, as well as growing Courtney’s in the process. From the outside, Jenny seems like the person that everyone would want to be, including Courtney, but from the beginning of the episode we know that’s not the case. It creates this subtle tension throughout that feels like it will eventually explode, which it does. And when it does, it allows us to truly empathize with Jenny. She’s not the perfect girl simply trying to learn more about her powers. She’s just lonely and wants to see her brother again. It’s a wonderful character turn that works so well in the episode.

Jenny’s arrival also allows for Pat to help Courtney along her journey of jealousy that is present here. One of the things that felt like they were missing from the first episode was any real interactions between Pat and Courtney, which is one of the aspects that truly elevated the first season. Here though, we get several scenes with just them two and all of them are excellent. Pat and Courtney’s relationship is the glue that holds the show together and it’s great to see once again in this episode.

It’s also just great to see a Green Lantern on-screen once again, and in a meaningful way, after so long. Simply seeing a comic-accurate version of Alan Scott’s ring and lantern is just so wonderful to witness on screen and even the limited nature of what we see here is better than the 2011 film. Sure, the constructs aren’t mind-blowing, but they don’t look terrible either.

Eclipso rises in Stargirl season 2

After the opening scene of Eclipso in the premiere, it was clear that there were going to be a lot of horror-inspired scenes this season and that definitely continues here. It’s more than likely that the show will never go all-out horror in most ways, but the creepy atmosphere that Eclipso creates is such a fun wrinkle in the show.

While the premiere episode used Eclipso in a flashback though, we get to see him in the present here and exactly how Shiv is beginning to use him through the manipulation of her mother. Again, there’s not a ton of scenes featuring the two, but their unsettling nature is executed really well here and sets the stage for later in the season. Now, although we simply see her using Eclipso, it will be no surprise when Eclipso fully is able to turn on her in the end.

Enter the shadows

On top of all this, we get the introduction of The Shade and he feels ripped straight from the comics, probably because this episode is written by James Robinson, one of the best Shade writers ever. Seriously, read Robinson’s run on Starman.

That said, Shade doesn’t do much in this episode, but it’s clear that there’s a long game occurring just based on his true first appearance in the season 1 finale. This is just the beginning of Shade’s plans in Blue Valley and, like the comics, its unclear whether he’ll be on the side of the angels or the side of the devils.

What did you think of Stargirl season 2, episode 2? Let us know in the comments below!