Stargirl - Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. (Part Two)

The second-half of the First Season finale pits the new Justice Society of America against the Injustice Society of America with the free will, and lives, of millions of Americans in the balance. "Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Part Two" wraps up the big season-long arc while also laying the foundation for new villains, and the return of a few familiar faces, when the show returns for Season Two. Stargirl (Brec Bassinger) and her team are able to successfully destroy the mind-control machine, although their victory doesn't come without a cost as Beth (Anjelika Washington) loses her best-friend, and although Rick (Cameron Gellman) controls his rage and chooses not to kill the mindless Solomon Grundy, Yolanda's actions in the tunnels, which help save the day (and take some vengeance while removing the most problematic villain from the show), may continue to haunt her going forward.

The final episode caps an impressive First Season for the show that embraced a younger hero and lighter tone compared to the standard Arrow set for all the shows that have followed. Along with Courtney's growth as a hero we also see her grow up as a young woman able to accept her role as both a hero and a daughter to Pat (Luke Wilson). Given the time to develop her as the lone new generation super-villain, there's no big surprise that Cindy Burman (Meg DeLacy) escapes to fight another day. Although present in the group's painting, the Shade doesn't show up until the end of the episode suggesting some splintering and disagreement with Icicle's (Neil Jackson) plans so it will be interesting to see what the character has in store for Blue Valley. The tease of Eclipso makes sense as it offers a villain who can infect anyone as a new host leading to multiple possibilities. As for the final cameo, that character may prove to be the most disruptive at all (but is it who it appears to be or something more sinister?).