Stargirl Review: Shiv Part Two (Season 1 Episode 8)
After an epic failure against Shiv, Stargirl is sidelined for her bullheadedness. In her absence, the rest of the JSA learn important steps in teambuilding.
Stargirl Season 1 Episode 8, “Shiv Part Two,” begins with Pat driving like a maniac in his classic Buick. The look on his face feels a bit strange because you can’t quite tell if he is having fun, or if he is terrified. At first, this scene seems out of place with how the last episode ended, but soon enough, the details unravel showing the extent Pat will go to protect his stepdaughter.
This is the first act in the episode that shows the beauty of teamwork.
Courtney is like many of us — she sees a problem and immediately wants to fix it. The sense of urgency in these types of situations overpowers rational thinking. Instead, she relies on gut feelings. While this may help a well-seasoned superhero, a rookie’s intuition is less than dependable.
Although Courtney’s rash actions land her in a pot of hot water, Pat doesn’t desert her or leave her to her fate.
Pat sees the situation and acts as a true hero putting himself in harm’s way. His selflessness comes across strong as he totals his Buick and even jeopardizes his relationship with Barb.
Without someone on her side, Courtney would not fare as well in the uphill battle of recovery. More than likely her identity would be revealed casting a target on her civilian life and family.
By Pat acting as a team player, he not only protects his stepdaughter but everyone around her as well.
Courtney is blessed to have someone like Pat as a mentor. Someone patient, forgiving, and wise beyond his years. If we all had someone in our lives like this, I believe the world would be a much better place.
When Rick and the rest of the JSA find out exactly what happened to their friend and leader-in-training, they want answers and revenge. Rick’s impulse is to jump into action with guns blazing, but Beth looks at the situation with more of a level head.
As anger runs amok inside Rick’s brain, Beth and Yolanda attempt to talk him down showing him that brains will work better than brawn in the given scenario.
In our lives, we tend to think more as Rick does in the situation. Something is in our way, we don’t want that thing in our way, so we must obliterate it by force. In theory, it sounds great, in reality, not all things can be obliterated.
Through an open discussion with each other, the friends see things more clearly. Together they choose to handle Shiv less directly before getting in over their heads.
We all need a friend or two who can talk us down. Someone who can see through our faults and into our hearts. Those kinds of friends are precious gems that should never be traded for anything.
With a new outlook, the three attempt surveillance on Cindy’s house hoping to figure out as much as they can about this new villain on the scene.
Before making much headway, Pat shows up nearly throwing everything for a loop. Failing to see the prospects, Pat tries to shut down the mission without considering the positives.
In concern, Pat only sees disaster for the new team and wants them to hightail it out of there.
Like Pat, we often shut out ideas that aren’t ours. We fail to see the possibilities before us because our minds have become one-track. We come up with a solution we believe will work, and throw out anything that deviates from that plan.
Fortunately, Beth stays true to the mission setting actions into place that can not be immediately undone.
Pat is forced to play along against his will. If he acts outside of the situation he is thrown into, things will only become insurmountably worse for not only the children but himself as well.
It is fun to watch all the near misses Pat and Beth have with the truth. Bobbie’s straight forward questions become a maze in which they keep bumping into a wall. I chuckle with every outlandish excuse and explanation Pat gives for having different answers than his “daughter.”
Overall, Beth’s actions deviate from the central theme of the episode. Several times she strikes out on her own uncovering hidden truths that others couldn’t. Many times it seems as though these actions are going to be punished in some form, but Beth avoids any major missteps for the time being.
Pat: I’m asking you to protect her. If it gets to be too much, take her away from the danger instead of towards it.
Beth’s theft of the picture may catch up to her in the long run — fully disclosing the entire JSA’s identities. Unfortunately, by then the theme will have moved onto something else in all probability.
It is a shame when a theme is fully explored in an episode through several different situations and is torn apart within the last several scenes. It feels anticlimactic.
Worse than Beth striking out on her own is Courtney’s showdown with Shiv.
Early in the episode, Courtney apologizes to Pat for taking on Shiv one-on-one. Her heart seems in the right place, and it appears she has learned her lesson. After all, if you have a team to back you up, why not use them?
Although Courtney was absent throughout the entire mission, she seems set on recreating every misstep her team members made along the way.
Stepping out on her own? Check. Acting in anger? Check. Not having a plan? Check.
Seriously, the list could go on and on.
While the fight itself is well choreographed, it tears apart the possibilities of any lesson learned. I for one am not the type to forgive faulty writing for a good action scene.
The end doesn’t even justify the means because the fight is a draw at best. Courtney fares a little better than their first round, but that is only due to Henry’s intervention.
What could have been an above-average episode fails to meet the mark in the closing moments. If only the writers stuck to the theme they skillfully materialized throughout the plot, I would be giving this episode a much higher score.
Everything else in the episode is fairly passable, giving us moments of suspense, comedy, and drama effectively. While some of the character’s reactions seem less than plausible, they are just minor complaints in the long run.
I assume that if you don’t care that much about themes and morals peppered throughout television, this episode is overall more enjoyable. Personally, I find it my job to pull these tidbits of knowledge and place them at the forefront for all to see.
Although television is escapism at its best, why not learn something along the way?
What did you think of this episode of Stargirl? How many more villains will find out Stargirl’s secret identity? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Stargirl airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Charles E Henning
Charles E. Henning lives in a quaint town of Illinois with his ever-loving wife since 1998. He is new to writing reviews, but has over thirty years of fictitious writing for his own personal fulfillment. His interests range from science fiction to character-based dramas, but he is a sucker for anyone in a cape.