Stargirl Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Frenemies – Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two
After spending so much time trying to get away from the Shadowlands last season, Stargirl revisits the haunting place once again to wrap up its two-parter. The return leads to some familiar story beats on Stargirl Season 3 Episode 8, “Frenemies – Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two.”
The Shadowlands is a known setting at this point, but the tension of Pat and the Shade having to escape by confronting their fears and trauma still works as a dramatic device.
Pat often has to be the voice of reason for everyone else, so to see him get to be vulnerable and explore his traumas is a nice change. His troubled childhood has been referenced before, but it’s even more powerful to see how he’s able to forgive and accept even this nightmare version of his father.
It’s cruel for the Shadowlands to bring Mike and his mom into it, but also a reminder that the show has somewhat dropped the ball on Mike’s storyline. The show usually plays Mike’s journey to becoming a hero for laughs now whereas before the hurt of Mike being left out was better explored.
As evident by Pat’s distant look when they leave at the end, I think there’s going to be some work that comes out of this encounter.
Considering Jennie’s brother was such a big mystery last season, it’s slightly ironic that we’re finally getting some answers about him in the middle of another mystery. I can’t complain though because Jennie is a character worth revisiting and what comic book fan isn’t geeking out a little over the appearance of Mister Bones?
The twist that Mister Bones isn’t necessarily a villain is a nice one and is in line with Stargirl‘s focus on finding the good in people. Mister Bones is helping people with powers in his own way, even if it’s a little misguided by Courtney’s optimistic standards.
For any other show, I might also roll my eyes a little at the power of light once again saving someone, but it makes perfect sense that Jennie’s light is what is needed to cure her brother. It’s very heartwarming to not only see Courtney not give up on them or Pat but for them to reunite for good.
Brec Bassinger shines when she gets to deliver these uplifting speeches. By the end of the episode, Courtney is starting to believe in herself again as a leader and a friend, and that’s satisfying to see.
Given The CW’s tumultuous future, it’s hard to be too excited about the possibilities of the Infinity Inc. or Helix Institute spin-off teased in the episode even though I really want to be. It makes you miss the glory days of the Arrowverse when backdoor pilots and new spinoffs were a staple of the network.
At a minimum, it’s a happy ending for Jennie and Todd who get to be together as a family, and for The Shade who has a chance to redeem himself fully for his past sins by mentoring the JSA progeny.
If there’s one thing Stargirl is committed to as a series, it’s giving its audience hope that everyone is worthy of redemption.
This two-parter is a nice diversion from an otherwise bumpy season but still leaves the very large question of who killed the Gambler and why? At this point, it’s hard to care about his death but the fact the killer continues to stalk the rest of Blue Valley makes his identity more scintillating.
Hopefully, the murder mystery pays off in a big way in the remaining episodes.
What did you think of this episode of Stargirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Stargirl airs Wednesdays 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.