DC’s Stargirl season 1 and 2 recap: All seasons explained

Stargirl season 2 recap

While the first season of Stargirl was renowned for its more optimistic tone, the second season took a much darker turn, and it used much of the unresolved trauma from the first season to make it happen.

When we last saw Cindy Burman in the season 1 finale, she had found the Black Diamond and spoke to the being within it. That being was none other than the evil Eclipso. A demon that fed off the darkness within people, he quickly made his presence felt on the town, manipulating Cindy into releasing him. When he did, he sent her to the Shadowlands – a realm full of darkness designed to make those trapped there feel nothing but eternal emptiness.

Meanwhile, Green Lantern’s daughter Jennie showed up hoping to harness the power of her father’s ring. While this initially created some tension between her and Courtney, who felt threatened by the fact that Jennie was Green Lantern’s heir as that might give her a legitimate claim to be leader of the JSA. However, we soon discovered that Jennie was searching for her brother, and the JSA were willing to help her.

As all of this was happening, Mike came into possession of the Thunderbolt pen. Yes, the same pink pen that conjured an unpredictable electrified genie that granted wishes in the most unpredictably specific fashion. However, after deciding that he didn’t want that kind of power, Mike wished it away… unbeknownst to him that it would end up with his best friend Jakeem.

Former ISA villain The Shade also made a return to town but his motivations weren’t as, well, dark as his powers. Hoping to stop Eclipso from manifesting he tried desperately to get the Black Diamond from Cindy before she could crack it open – even going so far as to protect the kids from the demon. Unfortunately, he was unable to do that as his powers come from darkness – the exact thing that Eclipso feeds on – and that rendered him in need of help from Barbara Whitmore.

Free and on the hunt for darkness, Eclipso planned to eradicate the JSA from within by using their worries, concerns and fears against them. Thus, Yolanda’s guilt over killing Brainwave sent her into a downward spiral that saw her leave the team, Rick’s family history saw him lash out at his abusive uncle and resulted in him spending time in prison, and Beth’s lack of confidence in her ability to be a hero and a friend almost saw her overcome with darkness.

Eclipso’s real goal was to get Blue Valley’s biggest light to embrace the dark, and thus he sent Courtney into the Shadowlands in a bid to capitalize on the feelings of abandonment her father left her with. But she used the opportunity to rescue Cindy. And with the help of the Shade on the other side, a portal was opened so that the pair (along with The Shade’s friend, Doctor Mid-Nite I) could return.

However, all of what Eclipso had done forced Courtney to admit that she hated him, allowing him to corrupt her. In doing so, he now had access to the power of the Cosmic Staff because “only one” could harness it. “Well, maybe two,”said a returning Starman, who gripped the Staff and helped Courtney realize that Eclipso’s lies weren’t more powerful than her light. With that (and a little assistance from a multitude of former ISA villains), those who commanded the light (Stargirl, Starman, Jennie and Jakeem) eradicated the demon once and for all, saving Blue Valley yet again.

This creates a new normal for the Star-Fam, as The Shade, Sportsmaster, Tigress, Artemis and, yes, even Cindy are all trying to turn over a new leaf, setting the stage for Stargirl season 3, a.k.a. Stargirl: Frenemies.

But wait, there’s more! Over at The Helix Institute – the place where Jennie was looking for her brother – we see the entity known as Mister Bones, who is intrigued to learn that Blue Valley has its own collection of heroes and supervillains.

Stargirl season 3 airs on The CW on Wednesday nights at 8/7c.

Are you looking forward to Stargirl season 3? Have you enjoyed the show thus far? Let us know in the comments below!