Stargirl - The Reckoning

Reading the writing on the wall, the season finale of Stargirl was filmed with two possible endings. One would tease next season's arc and the other, in case the show was indeed cancelled, would wrap-up the series' various storylines. With the announced cancellation of the series, it was the latter that aired which not only concluded the JSA's battle with Icicle (Neil Jackson), Dr. Ito, and the Ultra-Huminate inside Sylvester (Joel McHale) body, but also offered a series of epilogue scenes to say farewell to fans and suggest what might have happened in upcoming seasons had the show been renewed.

The finale works all the characters in as Cindy (Meg DeLacy), Mike (Trae Romano), and Jakeem (Alkoya Brunson) defeat Ito with Jakeem's wish while the JSA come together to uncover the negative effect faux-Starman has had on the team leading to the final big battle between our reunited heroes and the baddies. Courtney (Brec Bassinger) rediscovers the confidence shattered earlier in the season and Pat (Luke Wilson) digs out of his own grave to fight the creature walking around in his best-friend's body.

In terms of the epilogue, the finale pays off on Mike reconnecting with his mother, Cindy finally being accepted into the group, Artemis (Stella Smith) getting revenge for her parents, Courtney honoring the Gambler's (Eric Goins) final wish, the return of Solomon Grundy, the reveal that Sylvester's brain is still alive hooked up to one of Ito's machines, members of the JSA mending fences with their families, and Courtney's love life getting back on track (which is the only event which feels a bit rushed as this would likely have occurred somewhere down the line). We also see a decade into the future with the Shade (Jonathan Cake) offering a tour of the JSA Museum to fans and dropping hints and what else happened to the group in the intervening years including a mention of the Seven Soldiers of Victory which was likely the plan of next season's arc.

Ending after only three seasons, Stargirl was still a show on its rise and only starting to tap into its potential. Yet another casualty of changes at The CW moving away from super-hero stories, Stargirl ends before its time while The Flash (sadly long past its best years) gets a renewal for a final season allowing it to close out the Arrowverse completely concluding a decade where super-heroes dominated the network's programming. It's sad to see the show go, but the planning of Geoff Johns to allow for the possibility for a proper goodbye for fans (and there's still the possibility we might see Stargirl somewhere down the line on Titans).

• Title: Stargirl - Chapter Thirteen: The Reckoning
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