Stargirl Season 1 Episode 3, “Icicle,” expands the Stargirl universe beyond the core duo of Courtney and Pat. This comes with the arrival of a new villain and the beginnings of a new Justice Society of America.
Things are picking up in Blue Valley!
Brr, It’s Cold in Here
Jordan Mahkent returns to Blue Valley and brings the ice with him. For the last two episodes, Blue Valley has been an extremely adorable town with a very entitled and annoying Brainwave lurking in the shadows.
Jordan’s arrival changes things. The atmosphere in Blue Valley literally changes and leaves Courtney standing on a patch of grass, frozen in a star as a tactic to alarm her.
Not only that, but Icicle does the things the other Injustice Society of America members are too afraid to do. That makes Icicle much more chilling than his ISA counterparts. Pun absolutely intended.
Icicle is unrelenting, even in his first full episode, proving that he is Stargirl’s true big bad. Brainwave is all talk and The Wizard shies away from the evil action. Icicle, on the other hand, leans into the menacing life as a villain because his actions are justified in his eyes.
Where Brainwave’s motives are unclear making him anything but a compelling villain, Stargirl makes sure to explain Jordan’s motives from the very first minute of the show. Jordan’s mission to get justice for his wife’s untimely and preventable death is admirable, but his execution is anything but admirable.
Project New America is so clearly a distraction for the people of Blue Valley and a disguise for Jordan’s schemes. This is abundant when Jordan uses Barbara’s idea as a front to mourn two people he killed to further his plan.
Killing a child to make a point, a child that was kind to everyone including Jordan’s son, doesn’t bode well for a man trying to make the country safer for his son. If he’s willing to destroy a family to get what he wants, who’s to say that Jordan won’t destroy his own family?
Jordan already has his parents in his corner, cleaning up his dirty work, and assuring him that his actions are justifiable for the greater good. Jordan is surrounded by yes men, and that usually leads to a villain’s downfall because everyone around them is too afraid to tell them the truth.
It’s also interesting that Jordan is under the impression that Cameron is unaware of Icicle when Cameron saw his father go full Evil Ice King after his mother died. Since Stargirl is leaning into the power of the younger generation, it would be really great to see Cameron suit up with the good guys, even if it is just to really stick it to Icicle.
It’s a Brand New JSA
In the previous episodes it feels like Courtney picks up the cosmic staff to avenge who she believes to be her father, but “Icicle” sees Courtney start to make Stargirl her own. There have been little bits of this scene when Courtney makes her own suit, but this episode makes it clear that she’s brought to action because she can’t sit by and let bad things happen to good people.
Courtney is more than willing to let Joey believe he guessed the right card and offers to help Yolanda clean “slut” off of her locker. Courtney isn’t afraid to do what’s right, but her taking up the mantle of Stargirl felt explicitly linked to Starman until “Icicle.”
Now Courtney suits up to help those who may need it and avenging Starman and the rest of the OG JSA along the way is a bonus.
Courtney’s determination to build a new JSA exemplifies her hope in humanity. It looks like Blue Valley could use a little bit of that right now, Pat most definitely does.
However, Courtney is much too flippant with Pat’s advice. I realize part of that has to do with Pat being her stepfather and Courtney being a rebellious teenager, but she should heed at least some of his advice.
Pat’s hesitance comes from experience, and Courtney’s dismissal of his warnings could end badly for her and her team. It’s easy to say I hope Courtney realizes this before it’s too late, but she’s young and still learning about the world, let alone about being a superhero.
Since Courtney can’t seem to hear Pat out, here’s to hoping her team holds her accountable. Courtney can set herself apart from Jordan by surrounding herself with more opinionated and experienced people like Pat. She can champion a team of diverse minds and hearts which will make the new Justice Society of America stronger.
And thanks to next week’s promo, which you can watch below, it looks like Courtney’s team will begin to assemble next week!
Other Sparkling Moments:
- Did anyone else catch Joey saying he feels like his magic is getting stronger? Do you think that’s a sign that he’s inheriting his father’s abilities or a hint that his magic could have saved his life somehow?
- Beth is so pure and precious, and I’ll never stop saying it.
- The soundtrack is so great, and I love that Pat acknowledged it in a meta way.
- Starman’s poster in the JSA HQ appeared as if it was looking down on Courtney, and I may or may not have teared up.
- Can we talk about Mr. Mid-Nite’s owl? I AM SO SAD. Someone please take care of that beautiful owl!
Stargirl is new Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
