Stargirl season 2, episode 9 review: Summer School: Chapter Nine

“Pat, I love you, but when have we ever been prepared enough to make you happy?” Spoilers for Stargirl season 2, episode 9 follow.

As Stargirl and Beth prepare to try and contain Eclipso, the demonic entity begins to make his way into Pat’s mind, preying on his past, as well as his current choices.

As he does so though, we learn more about the original JSA and what their confrontation with Eclipso was like.

Here’s what went down in Stargirl season 2, episode 9 “Summer School: Chapter Nine”.

Decades before Stargirl

For two seasons, the original Justice Society of America has been teased, with barely a glimpse shown in the way of them. However, that all changes in this episode as Pat flashes back to his and the JSA’s first encounter with Eclipso. And, for as dark as these flashbacks are, it’s still fun to see the original members of the JSA appear together, not just in pictures.

As for what we get to see of the JSA, we get to see their fear, especially Starman’s. And for Starman’s real first appearance, this is a solid introduction to his character. He’s definitely not as cut and dry of a person that Pat made him out to be either. Yes, he still seems like a hero, but he, and the other members of the JSA, is a bit of a jerk to Pat, which is in stark contrast to how Jay Garrick acts toward him. It was also wonderful to John Wesley Shipp show up again as The Flash, even for just a couple of scenes.

Every single one of these scenes though play against expectations for a flashback episode like this. One would expect these flashbacks to be fun and exciting, as we see the JSA in their prime. However, narratively and world-building wise, it was so much better to play these flashbacks as Eclipso feeding off Pat’s fears and failures. It’s not a drastic shift in tone for the episode, let alone the season, and it works so well.

Manipulations

The opening scene of this episode really sets the tone of the entire episode moving forward as we get to see exactly the kind of master manipulator that Eclipso is as he takes possession of Bruce Gordon. This is such an excellent scene that expertly manages to prepare the audience for what’s to come as the episode moves forward, while also recontextualizing his manipulation of Cindy.

This then leads into Eclipso using the Mahkents to strike fear into the hearts of both Barbara and Mike in a couple of very tense scenes – scenes that do a great job of blurring the line in regards to if what’s happening is real or not. Cameron and Mike’s scenes in particular really stand out as it feels like it is something that may actually come to pass in the final few episodes of the season, or even next season.

Preparation

As Pat, Mike, and Barbara are having their Eclipso visions though, we get to see a little bit of Courtney and Beth beginning to set plans of how they, by themselves, can take down Eclipso. And even though we only see a little, it’s nice to see them trying to put some pieces together as to what they can do.

However, this all falls apart as Courtney gets Pat out of his vision and he reveals what they need to do to stop Eclipso. Kill the host. He lied to her, and so did Barbara. And as the final shot zooms in on Bruce’s face and he laughs, it’s a brilliant way to make it seem that Eclipso has won the war.

DC’s Stargirl season 2 returns to The CW next Tuesday, October 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

What did you think of Stargirl season 2, episode 9? Let us know in the comments below!