Stargirl 3×12, “Frenemies – Chapter Twelve: The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton,” is a whirlwind penultimate episode that elevates the season’s murder mystery yet undercuts the Justice Society of America at its core. When the literally mind-boggling episode finally slows down, Stargirl Season 3’s inability to keep up with its core characters becomes more than a glaring sparkle in the Ultra-Humanite’s eye.
Structurally, “Frenemies – Chapter Twelve: The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton” has the most fun with the narrative skeleton. The teaser, showing Ultra-Humanite in Dolores Winters’ body and Dr. Ito’s jealousy of the Ultra-Humanite’s idea about the albino gorilla, is critical in foreshadowing the twists later in the episode. It also accents the season’s murder-mystery themes through a timeless film noir lens.
Not to mention, the episode finds chilling bookends in Courtney’s sadness for Artemis losing her parents and the viewers’ despair knowing Courtney may lose her father. The direction embraces the appeal and scope of Blue Valley while capturing its darker corners in a genuinely unnerving manner. The latter leaps off the page through Joel McHale‘s phenomenal performance, especially in his final scene.
The Ultra-Humanite’s monologue is well-written, and McHale’s performance makes good TV even better. Stargirl doesn’t bog the dialogue down with cutaways to expository flashbacks. Instead, for the most part, the camera sticks to the shocking scene of the Ultra-Humanite, in Sylvester Pemberton’s body, burying Pat Dugan alive.
The sequence stings, knowing Pat is the one who buried Sylvester.
It’s reasonable to believe Sylvester is the Ultra-Humanite; it’s almost predictable, which benefits the JSA’s eventual discovery that something with Starman is amiss. As plenty of genre shows detail, no one ever returns from the dead the same.
However, Stargirl‘s season-long commitment to solidifying the intricacies of the revived character makes the theory foggy enough to land the shock factor of such a twist.
It also makes McHale’s long-game performance of walking Sylvester’s tightrope even more impressive. Forget the Ultra-Humanite’s commitment to the role! McHale deserves proper recognition for expertly portraying the intricacies of a villainous enigma.
It’s a shame that Stargirl doesn’t grant McHale more time to perform the Ultra-Humanite unincumbered by disguises.
Albeit, the confirmation of the Ultra-Humanite in Sylvester’s body provides an extensive level of clarity for much of the season, but with only one episode left in its run, Stargirl has a tiny window for closure and payoff for everyone else. The show saves itself from the cheap reveal of its supposed culprit in the eleventh hour by using the albino gorilla’s form as a misdirect for the Ultra-Humanite’s true (yet still stolen) form.
Alternatively, and more concerningly, Stargirl is running out of time to give the JSA members the depth they deserve. It’s almost jarring that “Frenemies – Chapter Twelve: The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton” follow Rick home to his uncle’s abandoned house. While the murder mystery unfolds in the season’s main plot, the mystery of Rick’s living situation stews in the subplots of most of Season 3.
Similarly, Stargirl leaves most of Beth uncovering her abilities as Dr. Mid-Nite to happen off-camera, like tracking down Ito’s labs or researching the hourglass, and Yolanda’s arc fades in and out of focus in the blink of an eye. Courtney’s story is the most defined, and even still, her time as Stargirl diminishes to aid the Ultra-Humanite’s commitment to sell themself to everyone as Sylvester. It works. But at what cost?
The Ultra-Humanite’s deception as Sylvester sets up that heartwarming speech from Courtney about how Pat is not only her father but her hero. Nevertheless, the Ultra-Humanite act also sets up a season’s worth of distractions for the Justice Society of America that the Ultra-Humanite claims to cause purposefully. So, even the most independent aspects of Beth, Rick, and Yolanda’s stories depend on someone else.
“Frenemies – Chapter Twelve: The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton” exemplifies this most pointedly when Rick arrives at the Whitmore-Dugan house to ask for help. This scene is the first time in a long time that the JSA members are in the same room and not plotting their next move. It feels innately human for Rick to turn to his friends — his family — for help as the hourglass’s effects intensify.
The scene feels like a breath of fresh air in a season of far too many missed opportunities to see these characters interact as friends and not just teammates. Furthermore, it gives Cameron Gellman more room to bring Rick’s complicated and overwhelming emotions to the surface; it all feels like a real breakthrough for Rick. The supportive environment at the Whitmore-Dugan house, including Barbara’s presence, aids that.
Unfortunately, that momentum reaches a screeching halt when a scene that could have been solely about Rick and his journey back to health becomes about the team learning Sylvester is the Ultra-Humanite. Understandably, Stargirl must quickly bring the JSA up to speed, considering the impending series finale — and Pat’s fate. Plus, a scene often serves multiple purposes, but this scene could have been different.
The Ultra-Humanite set up the dominos and knocked them down — Cindy’s exile from the JSA, Beth’s distance from her parents, Rick’s pain with the hourglass, Courtney’s disconnect from the sentient cosmic staff. It all comes back to the Ultra-Humanite. This one JSA-centered scene that focuses on Rick’s well-being didn’t have to because, surely, there could’ve been another way to learn about the Ultra-Humanite’s identity.
So, “Frenemies – Chapter Twelve: The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton” ties up plenty of plot-driven loose ends ahead of (another) big fight. But that leaves Stargirl‘s series finale, which is still being promoted as a season finale, to bring closure to the character-driven beats.
If the show finally succeeds at finding the balance that much of Season 3 searches for, Stargirl may be able to stick the superhero landing in its final venture.
Other Sparktacular Moments:
- Barbara wanting to join in the fight
- Mike and Jakeem’s banter
- Jakeem taking up for himself
- Pat wearing his red and white striped shirt
- Cindy protecting Mike and Jakeem
- Artemis suiting up
- All the DC characters mentioned
- “So, you’re not my hero, Starman. Pat Dugan is my hero.”
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What did you think of Stargirl 3×12, “Frenemies – Chapter Twelve: The Last Will and Testament of Sylvester Pemberton?” Let us know in the comments below!
Stargirl airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
