Superheroes are a timeless part of American media. Many companies are eager to use the nation’s—and the world’s–love of superhuman beings to create movies, shows and other art for fans who lap it up.
One series that stands out in this superhero surge is DC’s Stargirl, published on the CW Network.
Executive producer Geoff Johns has held true to the comic’s original story and list of superpowers, which explains why fans enjoy it so much and why the show is earning high ratings. After the initial run in the summer of 2020, CW began to work on Season 2, set to release in 2021.
Here are a few key points from the first season for those who want to catch up on what they’ve missed.
Stargirl takes place in Blue Valley, Nebraska, where an unhappy Courtney Whitmore has just transplanted from Los Angeles. The move’s initiator is Courtney’s new stepfather, Pat Dugan, who has many secrets to hide from his family. Soon after the move, Courtney discovers some of those secrets, namely Pat’s very intriguing former identity and what may be an even more intriguing connection to her father.
In Episode 2, Pat explains to Courtney that he used to be a sidekick to a superhero called Starman. By the end of the episode, Courtney has chosen to take up her stepfather’s former partner’s legacy and become the heroine known as Stargirl. Pat leaves retirement to work with and protect her as some of his old enemies come out of hiding.
The original comics usually shows Stargirl in conjunction with other superheroes, especially her team, the re-formed Justice Society of America (JSA). In the television series, however, Stargirl is emphatically her own character and seeks justice for former JSA members who were killed by an opposing organization, the Injustice Society of America (ISA).
By plucking this teenage hero out of the pages of DC books, the show has given the character a chance to develop her own story. The lack of comic information beyond origins and abilities allows the writers to flesh out Courtney and Pat’s personalities, along with Courtney’s mother Barbara and Pat’s son, Mike.
As a joint effort between DC and the CW network, the higher budget and intricate props have paid for themselves. The first season was well-received by the superhero-loving fan base, and excited viewers are looking forward to what the next season has in store.
