Stargirl Review: Summer School: Chapter Thirteen (Season 2 Episode 13)
School’s out for the summer, finally. Stargirl Season 2 Episode 13, “Summer School: Chapter Thirteen,” ends the second season in an epic and pleasantly surprising fashion.
In a final showdown with Eclipso to prevent him from becoming a god, Stargirl effectively raises the stakes in a season that’s already seen the team face some deadly situations.
The action sequences stand out in the first half of the episode as JSA members fight off their worst nightmares to get to Eclipso. The choreography combined with the dynamic camerawork creates some of the most electric fight scenes on television.
Did I mention STRIPE finally uses their giant flamethrower and saw? Thank you Stargirl for that gem of a visual.
There are a few stereotypical superhero storytelling moves that feel a little stale (Eclipso’s overly-long villain monologue explaining his evil plan, fakeouts over certain characters almost dying). Eclipso’s possession of Courtney is creepy but the voice modulation is a little too B-horror movie.
Just when the battle is starting to drag a little with Eclipso’s seemingly imminent success, Stargirl shakes things up with the arrival of several allies.
The energy ramps back up with the arrival of the Shade, the Crocks, and most surprisingly Starman himself, Sylvester Pemberton! Finally, we get some payoff for all of those scenes of him traveling the country.
Making this just a showdown between Courtney and Eclipso would have been a little underwhelming and repetitive. Bringing in all of the people who care about Courtney and saving Blue Valley brings extra heart to the finale.
The JSA isn’t just about Courtney, and it’s their belief in her that allows her to fight back. Maybe Eclipso is not as compelling of a villain as the ISA, but he serves the purpose of confirming why the JSA and their values are so important.
Although the result is predictable on some level, that doesn’t make it any less satisfying. Courtney growing as a hero doesn’t just mean addressing her flaws, it also means embracing her strengths.
Her ability to see the good in people, even her former enemies, saves the day and sends a powerful message. It turns out you don’t have to give in to the darkness after all.
The visual of Courtney, Sylvester, Jennie, and Thunderbolt using their light powers to take down Eclipso for good is one to remember. After so much doom and gloom in this season, it’s a relief to see Stargirl return to some happiness by the end.
Nothing made me cry happy tears this season as much as Dr. McNider finding out that his wife was pregnant when he disappeared, and he has a new son to meet. Combined with the fact he tells Beth’s parents they should be proud of her, Chuck is gunning for Pat’s spot as “dad who gives me the most feels.”
Starman assuring Courtney he’s not going to take the staff back, offering instead to train her, also packs an emotional punch. Although some of Sylvester’s previous appearances felt a bit flat, Joel McHale shines in the scenes he shares with Brec Bassinger on the finale.
So much of this season has been about the old JSA’s tarnished legacy and what it meant for the new JSA. The events of this episode bring healing to some of that pain and create a new bridge between the generations.
Maybe it’s not the picture-perfect superhero life Courtney imagined back in Season 1, but it’s something much more real and meaningful.
Then they lived happily ever after.
Just kidding! You can’t have superheroes without villains. With the Eclipso plotline wrapped up, Stargirl leaves us with a few teasers for what to expect next season (including the revealed Season 3 subtitle “Frenemies.”)
Based on their appearance earlier in this season, the Crocks moving in next door should lead to some hilarious situations. On a more sinister note, Mister Bones finally showing up at the Helix Institute and promising to visit Blue Valley means the JSA won’t stay out of trouble long.
I can’t decide which storyline I’m more excited for which goes to show how strong the storytelling is on Stargirl.
With a satisfying ending and the promise of new adventures, the Stargirl finale sticks the landing. Blue Valley residents may be looking forward to what’s left of their summer vacation, but fans will be awaiting going “back to school” with Stargirl.
Additional Thoughts:
- Cindy admits her mistakes and asks Yolanda’s permission to join the JSA. That’s growth!
- Stargirl decided everyone is going to wear sweatshirts and sweaters even though it’s supposed to be July. I could buy the chilliness when Eclipso was still in power, but shouldn’t things warm up when he’s gone?
- Cameron and Courtney didn’t even get a proper first date before he learns the truth about his family. What a bummer for young love.
- I love the tease for Beth’s new black and yellow costume. No offense to Dr. McNider, but she needs a new look.
- Mike telling Jakeem, “We can talk about this over donuts like adults,” makes me wonder why all my meetings don’t have donuts.
- I’m still processing Thunderbolt turning Eclipso into a piece of toast. That might be a little too goofy even for him.
What did you think of this episode of Stargirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Stargirl airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
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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.