Stargirl Review: The Justice Society (Season 1 Episode 6)

On Stargirl Season 1 Episode 6, “The Justice Society,” the newly formed team set out on their first mission. Since the recruits appear differently than Pat’s picture-perfect team, he rushes in to shut them down.

Face it, we’ve all done it. We have prepared the most idealistic version of a scenario in our minds, and then we are let down by reality. It’s a human habit to step in and try to fix things — even when they aren’t necessarily broken.

This is exactly what Pat attempts to do in the episode. He sees unlikely heroes — mere children — suit up in his friend’s superhero costumes and doesn’t like it. His mind goes on autopilot, telling him this team is all sorts of wrong. 

Without taking the great possibilities these new heroes offer into consideration, Pat demands Courtney retrieve the uniforms and start from scratch. After all, he is the one that should be calling the shots because he is an adult.

Pat at no time thinks about the potential these children have. He doesn’t ponder their ability to think outside the box or their capacity to adapt. 

Like us, he sets his sights on the negative aspects of the situation. 

Plain and simple, these kids are untrained and irresponsible. Rarely has any of them been in a fight other than a shouting match, and to be honest, their physical feats leave much to be desired.

These facts are just the tip of the iceberg, and it doesn’t take much effort for Pat to be convinced that this team simply shouldn’t exist. 

Shoveling a guilt trip onto Courtney, she unwillingly buckles to his authority. While Pat and Courtney focus on the supposed truths staring them in the face, neither of them counts on the emotional attachment these children have already developed.

Yolanda, Beth, and Rick were all looking to fill a void in their lives. Many of the answers they were looking for are currently being filled by their new superhero identities. This gives them all a new lease on life, and they will fight Courtney and Pat tooth and nail to keep it. 

While their attachment may seem a bit exaggerated at this point, their ages factors into it heavily. We all remember being into the best new rock band’s debut album for a complete summer; their hits spoke to us and answered some of life’s questions during that time. This is very much the same scenario with different aspects.

Courtney: I need all the JSA stuff back.

Courtney very quickly learns she is fighting a losing battle and relents on the pressure she applies to her friends. She figures it is better to lead this team of “delinquents” than to let them loose on a world they are unprepared for.  

It is sometimes better to be the one at the forefront of a non-idealistic situation than to watch on the outskirts as it all falls apart. At the least, you can steer the crashing plane into a safer area creating less damage and casualties.

Unfortunately, Courtney gets more than she bargains for as her team directly disobeys orders and lashes out in anger instead of level-headedness. While none of their mistakes prove fatal, it shows Courtney that she isn’t just up against a group of villains, but also clashing personalities. 

I must admit, the action that transpires between the children as they take on Sportsmaster and Tigress is quite enjoyable. These two despicable villains pull no punches as they take on the rookies. I find myself fearing for Hourman’s safety as he lifts a car to toss on to the villainous duo. 

When Courtney steps in to clean up after her teammates, she shows the potential of a great leader by not only focusing on the enemies but also her friends. Their safety appears just as important to her as the mission itself. A win with a fatality isn’t much of a win, now is it?

Her peers finally see what she has to offer and rally behind her in hopes of victory. As S.T.R.I.P.E. swoops in for some additional guidance, the dastardly duo sees the reality of the situation and makes for a break. 

I can’t help but give a small smile as I see the team posing together in full costume. While still not one of my favorite shows, the potential grows with each episode. 

As the villains retreat, it appears as a win for the good guys and their first mission. As viewers, we know this isn’t the whole story, so the victory leaves us feeling a little incomplete. Fortunately, the episode doesn’t leave us with that feeling, as Pat has come to a different conclusion about the team.

Seeing the team as a whole instead of individual parts gives Pat a new view of what this team could mean. Although their faults are many, their potential makes up for a lot of them. They may not be the ideal candidates, but sometimes you have to work with what you got.

You may not have the biggest and best sports car, but the vehicle you have gets you back and forth to work every day and has better gas mileage. Not to mention, it is fully paid for. 

Likewise, full-grown adults may seem to better suit a team of heroes, but adults have plenty of baggage of their own. Their divided attention between work, family, and superhero theatrics becomes a liability causing many to bow out of the game early. With youth on their side, the children can build their lives around their new identities and count them as a second skin.

Be sure to look for potential in everything. Events unfold in our lives and oftentimes we hold little control over them. Take them at face value, and see what good you can use them for. 

Honestly, there is a lot more hope in this world than meets the eye — we just have to search for it.  

What did you think of this episode of Stargirl? Who is your favorite member of the team? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Stargirl airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.

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