Stargirl season 3 may be the DC TV show’s best season yet

DC’s Stargirl season 3 kicks off this week but does it have the same charm as the previous seasons?

DC’s Stargirl is perhaps the most underrated show on television. Without question one of the highest-quality shows you will find across all of TV and streaming, it returns to screens for its third season this week and, after seeing the season premiere, it’s safe to say that viewers are in for a good time.

Originally part of the DC Universe streaming service, Stargirl got a second life on The CW after its first season aired on the network after its release and performed very well. That made the home of the Arrowverse the perfect location for it to be rehomed to whenever DCU was shut down. Now, in a time when The CW needs some familiar programming, Stargirl‘s return couldn’t be more welcome.

Whether the show will be renewed for a fourth season will depend on the third season’s performance. That means viewers will need to watch on the night it airs. And if you’re wondering whether you should do that, allow this spoiler-free review of the Stargirl season 3 premiere to tell you why you should absolutely be tuning in to “Frenemies: Chapter One – The Murder”.

Stargirl season 3 episode 1 sets the stage for a compelling murder mystery

Stargirl season 3 wastes little time in reminding fans exactly why they fell in love with the show. Its opening sequence showcases the incredibly high production values through a nostalgic reintroduction to Blue Valley. It’s vivid in its style and cinematic in its approach, once again reinforcing that this show would look beautiful on the big screen.

There’s also a fun reintroduction to the main characters, as a period of time has once again passed since season 2, setting the stage for something of a new status quo that also looks a lot like the old one. There are new dynamics in town, new characters and new adventures waiting to be explored, and every last one of them have that specific Stargirl charm.

That brings us to the season’s central story. First of all, we have to talk about the return of Starman. Sylvester Pemberton is back from the dead and, as we saw in the season 2 finale, the Cosmic Staff still works for him. It was obvious that this would create an interesting dynamic between him and Stargirl herself, as Courtney Whitmore is his successor. But what do you do when the past and the future of the Staff both exist in the present?

That’s a question that we will see explored this season, and I’m happy to report that the on-screen chemistry between Joel McHale and Brec Bassinger makes the Starman/Stargirl pairing one of the most interesting and important on the show – not bad considering it didn’t exist prior to the season 3 premiere. Furthermore, McHale’s presence on the show is welcome, and it will no doubt continue to lend itself nicely to Stargirl as the season progresses.

However, season 3 will primarily focus on a murder mystery. Brec Bassinger confirmed as much at The CW’s Upfronts in May, and the premiere sets the stage for that premise nicely. Stargirl may be known for its light-heartedness, but there has always been something of an eerie quality in its nostalgic golden age small town that felt intentionally unexplored. That lends itself to season 3’s murder mystery arc incredibly well. It’s whimsical, yes, but much like we saw with Eclipso in the previous season, the stakes don’t go unnoticed.

That thing that will really complement the murder mystery is this season’s “frenemies” arc. With a focus on the reformed Injustice Society, it’s up to Stargirl, Starman, and the Justice Society of America to figure out if their former enemies really are committed to the cause of heroism, or if they are the ones committing murder. And because we just don’t know who can be trusted, the show is primed and ready for a compelling whodunit to unfold.

Blue Valley is essentially the setting of an Agatha Christie novel, and the JSA are your spandex-wearing, staff-wielding Hercule Poirots. It wouldn’t work in any other superhero series, but Stargirl is one that won’t just make it work, it will thrive doing so.

All in all, Stargirl season 3 is gearing up to be another welcome chapter in the DCTV story. It’s a more mature offering than its predecessors, carrying more emotional weight than you might expect, but it’s still recognizably light-hearted and full of the charm that makes Stargirl the very best that this genre has to offer.

Grade: A+

DC’s Stargirl season 3 premieres on Wednesday, August 31, at 8/7c.

Are you looking forward to Stargirl season 3? What do you think will happen in the premiere? Let us know in the comments below!