Stargirl Review: Summer School: Chapter Six (Season 2 Episode 6)
Cindy Burman may be a teenager, but even she should have known better than to make a deal with a demon. Her plans for revenge fall apart on Stargirl Season 2 Episode 6, “Summer School: Chapter Six.”
From the start, Stargirl builds tension as the JSA realizes Cindy has the Black Diamond. Given how much we’ve seen her in this season, it’s surprising to remember that they all still thought she was gone.
Things escalate quickly when Cindy kidnaps Mike and Artemis and Isaac put Pat in the hospital when they go after STRIPE. Stargirl has never been afraid of high stakes, and, “Summer School: Chapter Six,” reminds viewers that.
The word “epic” can be overused to describe action sequences but it’s a fitting description for when the ISA and JSA finally face off. Stargirl proves what its heroes can do in a stunning showcase.
The episode doesn’t pull any punches in exhibiting how tough these characters can be. Creative choices like the use of slow-motion and seamlessly cutting between the one-on-one fights add to the cinematic feel of the battle.
Meg DeLacy and Brec Bassinger deliver electric performances as Cindy and Courtney. Having these two enemies face off again makes perfect sense since their types of fierceness are two sides of the same coin.
What really makes this battle stand out from the usual superhero-villain confrontation is how much the JSA doesn’t want to fight them. Yolanda tells Isaac she doesn’t want to hurt him. Even Artemis insists they can’t kill Pat when attacking him because he’s her dad’s friend.
The fight scene may be reminiscent of the showdown with the original ISA in last season, but it’s a more heart-wrenching affair.
Stargirl’s focus on young protagonists who are still figuring out who they are makes it uniquely situated to handle this kind of superhero story. Other shows may sometimes feature redeemable villains, but making the villains teenagers puts the conversation about who deserves redemption front and center.
The members of the ISA are all hurt and lost but none are supervillains like Eclipso because they only seek revenge, not chaos. Even Cindy displays some vulnerability when she insists Courtney doesn’t know her and later begs her to help her.
This complexity makes it disappointing that the new ISA is short-lived thanks to Eclipso. By the end, Isaac is dead, Cindy is assumed dead, and Artemis is on the run.
Stargirl spent a lot of the season hyping up this confrontation. As satisfying as it is as a fight scene, I’m still left wishing there was more of a future for the ISA on the show.
Alas, now we have Eclipso in corporeal form, and his look reminds me of a 90s Power Rangers villain. His powers, including pulling Cindy into a puddle of mysterious goo, make his whole aesthetic feel intentionally over the top.
Given Stargirl’s penchant for referencing retro pop culture, this isn’t the worst thing, but his appearance is more likely to scare younger viewers.
When he shapeshifts into his child form of Bruce and starts laughing while walking down the street, that’s when you get chills. Admittedly, part of me still prefers The Shade, who at least possesses more nuance than the purely evil Eclipso.
The confrontation with Eclipso takes the focus, but there are plenty of smaller choices worth paying attention to on this episode. From Cameron’s bitterness over “bad things happening to good people,” to Barbara choosing to ally with The Shade, there will likely be more ramifications from this episode than just Eclipso’s escape.
As fun as a sadistic villain is, character development is the backbone of Stargirl. This catastrophe is another life-changing event that will shape Blue Valley’s heroes (and villains).
This episode feels like a season finale, but we still have half of a season to go. With the demon out of the diamond, it’s anyone’s guess what horrors are left to come.
Additional Thoughts:
- I’m here for Barbara telling Courtney to, “kick ass.” It’s a really nice mother-daughter moment where she supports her.
- Artemis’ ISA backpack is such a nice touch.
- There is no way Cindy is actually dead. Unlike Isaac, who is definitely dead.
- Pour one out for the Blue Valley High janitor.
- Finally, we get a Zeek update, and he’s building STRIPE a 12-foot chainsaw. Brilliant.
What did you think of this episode of Stargirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Stargirl airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Breeze Riley
Breeze Riley is a pop culture enthusiast who decided to turn her love of watching too much TV into a hobby writing about it. Although she's a convention-going sci-fi and fantasy nerd, she's just as likely to be watching an off-beat comedy or period drama. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic.