STARGIRL - SEASON 1.9

REVIEW:  STARGIRL - SEASON 1.9:  "Brainwave"

Last week left us with some exciting action, and a brand new character on the JSA/ISA canvas:  Henry King, Jr.  Hank spent last episode (and a couple before that), dealing with these increasing headaches, and now his powers have come full boar.  However, he cannot control him.  Meanwhile, he's been by his father's bedside, as Brainwave continues to be comatose, despite the Fiddler's efforts to revive him.  Shiv wanted his help in killing Stargirl, when the two girls engaged in combat a 2nd time.  But Hank instead forced them apart from each other.  And while Shiv was taken by her father Dragon King, back into the tunnels, Hank learned the truth about both Cindy, Courtney, the ISA, and the JSA.  So, he takes a powder, and we pick up where we left off....digging more into the life of the Kings.  

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Hank King, Jr. was the center of attention this episode, as we delved into his father's past, and catch up to what is happening in the present.  Also, Courtney is putting forth an effort to try and recruit him to the JSA.  We got to delve into the background of Henry King, Sr., and his journey into becoming the villain known as Brainwave.  We start out  in the past, where Dr. King had been working on his experiments, and ended up leaving his lab, when he's approached by  a mugger.  He's been experiencing headaches, and can now read the mugger's mind.  Knowing what the criminal was up to all to well, Henry uses his powers, and kills the man.  He then goes back to his lab, and begins recording a journal of his experiences with his new powers.  

In the present day, we see Hank watching his father's video journal, learning as he goes about his newfound powers.  Henry's journal is like a confession to his crimes in a sense, but Hank is curious regardless....reaching for tape after tape that his father had stored away, and eventually beginning to find out about his powers.

Pat and Courtney talk, and she admits her mistake in going after Cindy, but she knows more is going on.  She discusses Cindy, and Dr. Ito, and Pat remains silent.  When he DOES speak, he talks about Dr. Ito, and how he was a war criminal, and that he performed a lot of experimental procedures, and he managed to prolong his life, and now goes by the name Dragon King.  Pat then pulls out another picture, with him and Sylvester in it when he was the Star Spangled Kid.  We see him, Sylvester, Green Arrow, Crimson Avenger, Shining Knight, Vigilante, Wing, and Speedy.  Pat says they stopped Ito from blowing up the world years ago, but  he ended up escaping.  He tells Courtney that he lost touch with them, but that he KNOWS that they need more help to battle the ISA.  Courtney is insistent on getting Hank.

At this time, we see the Janitor in the hallway of the high school mopping, when he then holds the mop like a weapon, and gets hallucinations about the mop being the Cosmic Staff.  He's remembering his days as the Shining Knight.  He drops the mop, and just kind of gazes off in a frightened trance.

Courtney talks to the team, and tells them she wants to recruit Hank, especially since he knows about her, and he could read her mind.  As she told Pat, that she can understand Henry's pain, and that he's not as bad as they think.  Yolanda is dead set against it, since she isn't over what happened to her at his hands.  Courtney says they need all the help they can get, and Yolanda holds firm, and Rick is with her on this one.  Beth tries to be the voice of reason, but Yolanda says that she refuses to be on a team that has Hank on it.

Back at the King mansion, Hank continues to watch his father's video journals, and his father is explaining on what he can do with his powers, and Hank begins to practice with them, and is amazed at what he can do.  His father also states that after all the times he's read people's minds, and how he had killed again because a man on the subway had impure thoughts about a woman...had determined that people are evil, and that he hates them.  The maid comes in, and he can hear HER thoughts, and gets angry, as she tells him his father's lawyer is there to see him.

Rick and Beth show up at the garage, and Pat says that from what info they gathered, there's a tunnel system underneath that allows the ISA to work in secret.  He wants Beth and Rick to gather more info about the tunnels, and Rick isn't so willing.  Pat tells him that this is part of the job...sometimes, gotta do some grunt work. He's gotta take off to handle some family matters.

While all of this is going down, we do check in on Dr. Ito, who has put his daughter Cindy in a cell, because she disobeyed him.  Beth had earlier tried to find her, but Chuck said that Cindy had left Blue Valley High, and is "studying overseas".  Beth knows better.  Ito is pleased that he now knows that Hank has the same powers as his father, and thus, can complete the plan the Icicle has laid out.  Cindy wants out, and threatens to kill her father just like she did her mother.  But ito just closes the peep hole on his daughter and goes back to work.  Has her gassed to quiet her.

Beth is doing research on the town, while Rick has been wracking his brain trying to figure out his father's formula in his journal.  He has no such luck, but Beth does.  She finds out that the town had been built in th 1800's, and that there was a tunnel system underneath.  They know that the ISA can run in the town, in disguise, and undetected.  Things just got serious.

Ito calls the ISA to a meeting, where he informs Jordan that Hank has his telepathic powers, and they can use him to complete his plan of New America.  They'll use Hank's telepathic abilities, and channel them through the satellite the pilfered, and take control of everyone's minds.  Jordan is extremely pleased that his plan is finally coming to fruition, but seems unsettled.  At his work office, he runs into Barbara, and explains to her his dream is coming to reality, but feels unfulfilled by it, because it cost him time from his family.  Barbara understands, but then invites him to dinner, and he accepts.

Hank goes to see his father again, and Courtney shows up.  As he can read her mind, she also tries to talk to him.   She admits that she was the one responsible for putting his father in the hospital.  He's angry, but she says that he believes what his father said...all people are evil. Courtney explains to him that not everyone is evil...but sometimes, when in pain, or when they are hurt, they can think of evil thoughts....but that doesn't mean people are evil.  That behavior comes out of love.  She knows that Hank's father has abused him his whole life, and says that while his father treated him so badly, he's there by his father's bedside, caring for him.  He wants her to leave, and as she does, she says that when he's ready, she'll be there to talk to him.  She doesn't feel he's as bad as people think he is.

Pat arrives home, and Barbara is trying to make dinner.  Pat goes to help, but wants to confess about his activities with Courtney, when she shows up, and tells him to stay silent about it.  The doorbell rings, and the Mahkent family shows up.  Cameron is along for the ride, as the two families sit down to dinner.  Courtney then goes to get more food in the kitchen, and delivers a hot plate of food in front of Jordan, who handles it with no problem or pain.  Courtney excuses herself and wants Pat to go with her.  She tells Pat she thinks Jordan is the Icicle, and tells Pat about how he handled the hot plate without any pain.  He gets her to cool it, and dinner goes on.  The parents of Jordan like Barbara,  but are NOT fond of Courtney.  They see her as trouble.  After dinner, the Mahkents go to leave, and Jordan talks to Courtney, asking her why he is there.  She is nervous, as she feels that he's going to tell her he knows she's Stargirl, but he says that he's there to meet the girl that Cameron has been talking about.  After that, Cam asks Courtney out on a date, and she nervously accepts, wondering if Cameron is anything like his father.

While the Dugan family is busy entertaining the Mahkents, Hank is still with his father at the hospital when Wildcat shows up, threatening Hank to stay away from Courtney and her friends.  Hank realizes it's Yolanda, and he says she really thinks the worst of her because of what happened, and reads her mind, hearing her thoughts.  In her thoughts, she admits that she's hurt because of his betrayal, and that she loved him.  She makes her threat final, and says she'll cut him to ribbons if he comes near her friends, and leaves.

Later on, Hank is still with his father when the lawyer shows up in the hospital room, with papers for Hank to sign.  These are papers that the lawyer wants signed so he can get at Henry's money.  Hank realizes that the lawyer is trying to cheat them, and ends up killing him with his powers.  He stands in disbelief at what he had done, but then, he hears his father (who he'd heard earlier in the episode, and tried to mentall communicate with, but was unable to), wakes up, and wonders what is going on.

After the Mahkents leave, Courtney is down in the basement, grabbing the staff, and Pat says that they need to tell her mother about what's up.  Courtney says she wants to use the Staff to prove that Jordan is the Icicle.  Just as they're chatting, Barbara comes down into the basement, and screams when she sees the Cosmic Staff.  It shuts off, and falls to the ground.  Courtney and Pat's secret isn't a secret no more.

We packed a bit in this episode, which was terrific.  We got into Henry King, Sr.'s past, and how he became Brainwave.  A nervous man, who gained confidence as he explored his powers, but it has twisted his own mind, making him more sinister and spiteful towards the human race.  He's not even good to his own son, and Courtney senses the hurt Hank has suffered at his father's hands.  She gets him, and sees the good in him, while Courtney, Rick, and many others do not.  Especially Yolanda.  Her moment with him was brief, and adversarial, but even he can see the pain he caused her, as she had admitted that she loved him.  Hank killing the lawyer is one step in the wrong direction, and now that his father is awake, it's going to spell trouble for the JSA, because now Henry will work his son into a lather about how bad people are, and keep preying upon Hank's feelings, in order to help the ISA with their plan.  

Jordan visiting Courtney and her family, now gives him an edge, for when he finds out Courtney is Stargirl, he will be able to threaten her with Mike and Barbara.  Cameron is still an innocent (as far as we know), and we'll see how complicated his relationship with Courtney gets before the end of the season, and whether or not he'll join his family in their evil plan.

We get more info about Blue Valley, and what the ISA had been trying to do.  Pat pieced togetgher that they came to Blue Valley after disposing of the JSA to hide out and disappear until they could plot their next move.  Beth and Rick find out about the tunnels being there from the beginning, and know that the ISA can do whatever they want undetected.  Beth also continues to be the voice of reason on the team, and is doing her best to keep them cohesive.  Rick is still gung ho and hotheaded, and is determined to figure out the formula in his father's journal.  But the rest of the team had minor parts to play this episode to help the plot along, and did a great job.  But I am glad the even Pat knows they need more help.  

Speaking of Pat, how great was it that we got the picture of the Seven Soldiers of Victory?  It gives us more about the Shining Knight as well, as he is now hallucinating about the Cosmic Staff, beginning to remember his old days.  He seems to be the only member of the Seven Soldiers still around, and it won't be long before he gets involved in this conflict.  I honestly still think he's been there in hiding the whole time, keeping tabs on the ISA.  

I guess we won't be seeing Cindy for a little bit, as Ito has put his daughter in a cell to keep her from screwing up the plan of the ISA.  

This is the first episode since the pilot, where Courtney has NOT gone out as Stargirl.  There was literally no superhero action this week.  It was more backfill story, and prepping for the final push towards the season finale.  Only Yolanda suited up as Wildcat to threaten Hank about staying away from the team.  But I am NOW curious as to how Pat and Courtney explain to Barbara about her role as Stargirl and him telling her about the old JSA, and being a part of it.  Barbara knowing might help, but it might also hinder as well.  Things will fall into place for her, and we are not sure how she'll take it all.  So, we'll have to be prepared for the fallout of that.  

This series has just been steallar, and I'm really loving the ride.  Smooth storytelling, great characters, and a great build towards the season finale..which I'm hoping for an epic battle in the season finale.  

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That's it for this installment, kids.  But besure to leave a comment about what YOU thought of this episode, and please subscribe to the blog, and pass along the good word...I'd be grateful.

Until next time....keep your eyes to the stars.

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

Welcome back to our Anniversary edition of the most important covers in the history of The Flash.  This week, we jump ahead to 1987, and we debut a brand new FLASH series.  But before we do, we have to make sure we take a moment to remember the life of Barry Allen, whom at this time, had sacrificed his life to save the universe during Crisis on Infinite Earths #8.  In Crisis #12, in the wake of the new singular universe being created, and the new DC Universe now streamlined, Kid Flash...who had been out of action since New Teen Titans #39 when he gave up the hero gig, was wrangled into Crisis, decided to take over the mantle of his Uncle, and became the third man to call himself The Flash.  After dealing with Darkseid looking to destroy the heroes in the Legends mini-series, Wally West was given his own series.  We take a look at the debut issue of that series.  

FLASH #1

COVER ART: Jackson Guice & Larry Mahlstedt

WRITER: Mike Baron

ARTIST: Jackson Guice

LETTERS:  Steve Haynie

INKS: Larry Mahlstedt

COLORS: Carl Gafford

EDITOR: Mike Gold

COVER DATE: June 1987

PUBLISHER: DC Comics

TAGLINE:  PRESENTING....THE NEW FLASH!

STORY TITLE: "Happy Birthday, Wally"

Flash #1 debuted in 1987 just after the min-series Legends.  This series was all about Wally West, and his quest to live up to the legend of his mentor and uncle, Barry Allen, who had died saving the universe.  Wally had quit the hero biz with the Titans, after the HIVE affair, and finding out that continuing to use his super speed was killing him.  After being called back into action during Crisis, Wally, searching for Barry, was blasted by the Anti-Monitor, and was cured of his disease.  However, it seriously dampened his powers, and he now could only go just above the speed of sound.  

This series focuses on a now 20 year old Wally, who feels the burden of not only the hero gig, but mostly living up to everything Barry taught him.  But he's also NOT Barry.  He doesn't lead a double life, and everyone knows he's the Flash.  Mike Baron broke new ground as a writer, showing a very capable, if not still somewhat immature, Wally trying to navigate early adulthood, and having to keep the legacy of a man who's heroic deeds gained him legendary status.  The entire 247 issues during it's run (including a brief halt from issue #230-231, and issues #0 for Zero Hour, and #1,000,000).  The series ended in 2007, and made way for Barry's eventual return after Flash: Rebirth.

THE STORY:  It's Wally West's 20th birthday, and as he celebrates with his friends, he gets a call from a hospital, asking if he could deliver a new heart to sci-fi writer Eugenie Hedstrom.  He needs to travel from New York to Seattle, and he asks them for health insurance along the way.  He gets through to Wyoming before he crosses paths briefly with the immortal villain, Vandal Savage.  He successfully delivers the heart, and stops a hijacking on a plane ride back home to New York.  He also finds out that he has won the New York State Lottery.  

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This was a great way for everyone who had not known who Wally West was to get introduced.  Not that there was too much backstory, but they give you enough details, including why he jumped back into the hero game, and why he took up the mantle of The Flash.  We see that he isn't anywhere near as fast as he used to be, and we see the pure human struggle of a young man who just turned 20, still trying to step into the real world.  We also see the return of an old Flash villain in Vandal Savage, and Baron sets up the next few issues of his first arc nicely.  Jackson Guice was the book's artist, giving us a new interpretation of our hero.  His art was different, and seemed to have an okay style, though I didn't care much for how he drew Flash in action with his superspeed, but when you've grown up on Carmine Infantino, you have high standards.  But it worked for the time in 1987, though he didn't last with the book too long...only about a year before he left.  Baron would also leave eventually for William Messner-Loebs, who took Wally into a completely different direction.  But for fans who wanted a new Flash comic...we certainly got one, and I was eager for it, and happy when I got it.  The series as a whole is worth a look-see...just to witness the maturation of Wally West.

One thing of note:  It became common practice for comic books to list the writer, artist, and inker's names on the front of the books.

NEXT WEEK:  We are introduced to a new member of the Flash Family...

THE ARROWVERSE STATE OF THE UNION - 2020/2021

THE ARROWVERSE STATE OF THE UNION - 2020/2021

I have been thinking about things that have been happening in the Arrowverse over this past season, and I feel that there are some things to talk about, address, and where I think the universe (via their individual shows), should go.  So...with cast changes, replacing main characters, and what's to come, let's see where we stand as our shows are on hiatus until 2021.

BATWOMAN:  Of all the shows that has A LOT of changeover coming for the next season, Batwoman is the show that is going to be the one with the BIGGEST change.  And how the direction of the show going forward is going to depend on how the show runners can not only tie up the loose ends and finish the storyline that's been left hanging because of the shutdown, and how they can incorporate the changes while keeping an audience.  This show was the one that came off low on the totem pole, because it took a long while for it to catch its footing, and even then, some people were put off by aspects of the show.  

The big change, as everyone knows, is that Ruby Rose is OUT as Kate Kane/Batwoman.  She departed the show due to not particularly liking the heavy work schedule, and she also apparently suffered an injury while performing a stunt on the show.  There were also rumors about the fact that Rose was a bit difficult to work with.  Whatever you believe, Rose is gone, and the CW had to scramble to figure out how to replace her, since the show had gotten the green-light for a Season 2.  Now, many had THOUGHT that they would just simple recast the role of Kate Kane, and pick up from there.  And with about 2-3 episodes that were still slated from Season 1 that had NOT been shot, or completely shot prior to the shutdown, you have a storyline that's left unfinished, and with Rose gone, how will they fulfill the rest of that storyline, and give viewers a satisfying ending to the story arc?  

Well, it turns out that the showrunners decided to go in a completely different direction, and go with a completely NEW character instead.  So, Kate Kane is gone, and Ryan Wilder is in.  Not much is known about this new character other than that she USED to run drugs on the streets of Gotham before having a change of heart, and is now homeless, and a lesbian, and will now inherit the mantle of the Bat in the upcoming season.  She is also NOT a character from the comic books.  She is an original CW idea, and will have no real connection to Kate Kane or anyone in the Bat mythos.  I can see how, as a viewer, it will be quite jarring, and can pose a HUGE problem for the show.  Many people weren't happy with the direction of the show to begin with, weren't happy with Rose's casting, and felt that Kane's sexuality became something of an issue, because it seemed to permeate the show, and it became LESS about Batwoman, and more about Kate and her trying to fit into the world.  Now, I had believed that they could easily avoid any complications in storytelling.  But, this is where the show is at, and I will be curious to see how they handle Kate's departure, and the impact it will have on those around her:  Jacob, Mary, Luke, Sophie, Julia, and even Alice.

It took awhile, but the showrunners FINALLY found their new Scarlet Knight:  Javicia Leslie, who'd been on such shows as God Friended Me.  She becomes the first African-American woman to take the lead role in a superhero show.  She's got a GREAT look, and I feel that she will benefit, because Ryan Wilder is a blank canvas of a character right now, and that will give her free reign to define this character on her own merit, and mold her into our hero.  She'll have room to play and experiment, and hopefully, they will be able to write her into the Bat mythos in a way that will appeal to the fans, and give her a chance to get the audience behind her, and make them believe in her as our Lady Crusader.  Flash star Grant Gustin has already welcomed her to the Arrowverse family, and I'm very curious to see what she can do...so I'm on her side, hoping she can give us a new Batwoman to cheer on.  Hoping that she will also have great chemistry with the cast.  So, pulling for Javicia here for her success.  Now, I had actually lobbied for WWE Superstar Sonya Deville...since she kind of checks pretty much all the boxes for what the showrunners were looking for, but I'd still be okay with her being a guest star on the show...perhaps as a new nemesis for our heroine or even a new love interest.  I just want one thing from the show runners:  while I DO want character development, her sexuality should NOT be the focal point of the show...her redeeming her dark past to become the protector of Gotham should be the driving storyline, and how she molds herself into this superhero.  I'm all for representation across the board, but you have to remember:  it's a superhero show FIRST---that's what fans want to see...the superhero kicking ass when called upon.  Also (okay...TWO things), get the stunt and fight crew from Arrow to do the fight scenes for this show.  Arrow was gritty, with really well executed fight scenes...Batwoman deserves the same thing.  If there is one show in the Arrowverse that has an uphill climb to avoid cancellation...it's this one.  So, finishing the last story arc strong, and hitting the ground running with our new heroine is of the utmost importance.  This show is also supposed to have a crossover this upcoming year with the new show Superman & Lois, but not sure if the casting change has altered that particular story.  We'll have to wait and see.

THE FLASH:  The new anchor show of the Arrowverse, our old pal Barry Allen is quickly losing his speed, the Speed Force is gone, and Iris is missing in the Mirror Universe.  As we left off with Team Flash, they were looking to stop the new Mirror Master (I'm not calling her Mirror Mistress..lame), and get their friends back.  They too had to leave on a cliffhanger due to the lockdown, and had about 2-3 episodes before their season finale as well.  There shouldn't be too much problem finishing that story arc, and moving into a new story immediately after.  The show runners were really smart in breaking up the season into two "graphic novel" type stories.  Throw in CRISIS to separate the two, and the show had another solid season.  There IS, however, ONE storyline that will prove to be a possible problem...that is, provided, they make the deicision as to whether or not to either write off or kill the Elongated Man - Ralph Dibny - and remove him from the show.

Hartley Sawyer, who had been playing the malleable sleuth since Season 4, was recently fired from the show for past tweets he had posted that were of a racial matter, and of sexual misconduct.  It is yet another blow to a CW show, as Ralph was universally liked by fans, and had just recently begun his own storyline with Sue Dearbon.  Now, at the end of the season, it was written into the story that Sue had been accused by Eva McCulloch of killing her husband (which we KNOW she didn't, but since he was blackmailing her family, it made her the easy target).  Ralph informed her, just as she thought she'd manage to solve the part of her life.  Now with a criminal charge over her head, the show runners left the story hanging there, and I feel there is a couple ways they COULD go with this story:

1.  Ralph ends up getting killed...along with Sue...thus kicking off a storyline that had been featured in the comics called Identity Crisis, in which Ralph did die, as well as Sue.  While this WOULD create some huge drama, since you'd have a heavy hitter villain involved, and could threaten all of Team Flash...I feel it's a cop-out idea.  Killing off Ralph and Sue right now would be a monumental waste of two characters who'd barely gotten their feet wet as a team.  There's great chemistry there, and there are a NUMBER of stories to tell with Ralph and Sue if you give it a chance.  

2.  Simply write the two off for the remainder of the story arc.  Sue is a wanted criminal, so it would make sense for Ralph, wanting to protect Sue until he can clear her name, to go on the run and stay in hiding until the case can be solved.  It keeps them off TV for awhile, and it gives you a chance to do what I feel  is the BEST option:

3.  Recast the role.  Look...there are SEVERAL ways to get around recasting Ralph Dibny.  And even using the "going on the run" story would fit.  Think about it...Ralph's face is malleable...have him reshape it into someone else's face as a disguise, and simply put another actor in the role.  It's an easier fix than having to replace the Lady Crusader. And something can happen to the extent that the face he has becomes his permanent one.  It's not that hard.  I like Ralph and Sue, and these are two characters you could LITERALLY spin off into their own show, with crazy hijinks and mystery involved.  If you're familiar with Nick and Norah Charles of the old Thin Man series of movies---that is who Ralph and Sue are.  It would be shame to waste a TON of story ideas with those two.

Outside of that, the show is running on all cylinders.  This past season was one of the best yet, and if they keep the formula of "mini arcs" instead of dragging a big bad throughout, it will allow for better storytelling, character development (as we got out of Iris this season, which I LOVED), and we can bring back some more of the Rogues Gallery.  Eric Wallace has done an excellent job as the show runner.  But, I WOULD like a crossover with the rest of the Arrowverse at SOME POINT in the future...and I WANT something to be done with the Hall of Justice and the Justice League (yes, we need to get moving on that...Warner Bros. and DC need to stop being pansies about that and let it happen!).

SUPERGIRL:  The Maid of Might is the one show that might take a bit longer to get back into production.  That is due to the fact that star Melissa Benoist is in her pregnancy, and is not slated to give birth utnil the end of the year.  With most of the CW shows coming back in January, this show will probably be delayed until Melissa is ready to come back to work.  Plus, not sure how much of the final episode or two they had filmed before production halted.  They have this current storyline with Lex Luthor to finish, then it's onto the next threat.  Now, I have been VERY stoked that Lex has been a major thorn in the side of the House of El...but I feel that, after this arc is completed, Lex needs to take a powder for awhile.  And when the time is right...he needs to go back to terrorizing Superman.  Supergirl needs new threats and enemies of her own, and to NOT heavily borrow from her cousin's list of enemies.  This show has a solid cast, and their stories are there to be told.  We got Alex in a new role as a superhero, so to have HER learning to accept and adapt to this new role will provide some good stories.  What becomes of Catco what with Andrea Rojas possibly being outed (we're not sure, have to see what the finality of this arc brings), will Kelly end up joining the Super Friends in the Tower, and will we see the blossoming relationship between J'onn and M'gann?  As for Brainy and Nia...need resolution to THAT story as well.  And how will Kara and Lena repair THEIR friendship?  It's also time that Kara got a new relationship, and I am not sure William Dey is the guy, but it's a start.  She's been stuck in neutral in the romance department, and it's time to get her back out there.

If there is one thing...ONE THING....that I ask of the showrunners for this season:  PLEASE BRING BACK CAT GRANT!   Even if it's just for a guest spot.  Calista Flockhart is SORELY missed on this show, and it would benefit from JUST a touch of Cat...especially to finally get Cat to tell Kara she's known she's Supergirl for awhile, and NOTHING she did fooled her.  But just for the comedy ALONE.  And, we can use a guest appearance by James Olsen for an episode, just to check in on him.  Of all the shows in the Arrowverse that was MOST effected by the outcome of CRISIS...it was this one.  Supergirl is the Paragon of Hope, and I want to see that more explored in this season.  Gotta lighten up just a little.  Oh...and another trip to Argo just so we can have another Erica Durance appearance as Alura...I'm all for it.

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW:  Our misit gang of time travellers finished off yet another rousing season, but with it came change.  With the departure of Brandon Routh and his wife Courtney Ford, we bid farewell to The Atom and Norah Darhk.  We also bid farewell to Charlie, as actress Maisie Richardson-Sellars departed the show a second time to puruse other projects.  It leaves only Sara and Mick as the originals of the crew when the series began.  Tala Ashe's original version of Zari made one final appearance on the show, before going back into the totem, wrapping up her storyline with Nate.  The "new" Zari, Behrad's sister in THIS timeline, is now involved with John Constantine, and we'll see how THAT relationship plays out.  As for Nate...with no other plotholes tying him down, he can be refocused into something more, giving him a wider canvas to work with, and more character development, other than being comic relief.  So, the team will be slightly different this coming season, with Ava, Nate, Zari, Behrad (the actor has been moved to series regular for next year), Mick, Gary, John, and the missing Sara, there is your team.  I am not sure if  Mona will be back full-time, but I am sure she'll have SOME involvement with the upcoming storyline, as the team will have to locate a missing Sara Lance, who was abducted in the season finale.  Not sure if it's aliens or even something else that has her, but the main focus will be in getting her back, and Ava having to lead this motley bunch to save her.  Not sure if  Mick's daughter Lita will be tagging along, and whether or not we get an appearance from Astra, who is now holding down the fort at John's house in London.  Either way, it opens it up for more mirth and mayhem, and I'm kinda hoping that MAYBE this is the season we can get Booster Gold on the show.  He'd be a great addition.  But regardless of the cast changes, the show always finds a way to keep us entertained, as it tends to throw all the rules out the window.  But this will be a chance this season to allow Jes McCallan to give some more development to Ava Sharpe, and mold her into a better leader.  And the more off-kilter they keep this show, the better it will continue to be. One of my OTHER hopes, is that we get Ryan Choi to join the team as the new Atom.  But this show is in good shape, and I feel it doesn't need any changes.  

BLACK LIGHTNING: This show I honestly have no new ideas on how to improve it.  Last season was a banger, and they can only go UP from there.  You still have the threat of Gravedigger, who survived his encounter with our heroes, and Lady Eve, Lala, and Tobias, the threats are not gone from Freeland, even if the ASA is.  We have an actual team for Black Lightning now, other than the Pierce Family themselves.  With Geo-Force, Erica, and even Grace (providing she comes out of her coma), they are more than ready to take on any threat that comes their way.  I don't expect the Markovian issue to be so easily resolved, and I want to see how all these newbies react to becoming a real team.  This would also be a GREAT way to introduce a new character to the Outsiders....and old friend:  Tatsu.  Katana would provide great training, and keep the kids on their toes...and would give an equal to Jefferson to bounce ideas, strategy, and support to and from.  The character development on this show is top notch, and everyone has had pretty equal time to explore their turf.  I look forward to continuing to see the growth of these characters, as they continue to get used to the new Earth around them...and that means some serious crossover with other members of the Arrowverse.  I feel that with Grace's condition, she can be taken to STAR Labs, which would allow Lynn and Anissa a chance to interact with Cisco and Caitlin, and put their heads together to help Grace.  It's time for the Pierce family to explore outside of Freeland and Markovia.  I want Black Lightning to feel like an equal member of the League, and someone who not only can ASK for help from his fellow Leaguers, but GIVE help in return.  Outside of that, I completely trust the show runners with this program.  Arguably, it's been the best show of the entire Arrowverse.  

SUPERMAN & LOIS:  This is the new show that's already been lit to series by the CW.  This will undoubtedly pick up where we left off in CRISIS:  With the Man of Steel and his stoic Daily Planet reporter wife having to navigate saving the world, getting the story...and raising two sons at the same time.  This will be a perfect opportunity to show a new dynamic not really explored for the Last Son of Krypton:  parenthood.  I can see A LOT of comedic moments, all the while giving us the time honored tropes that go along with Superman and Lois Lane.  It will also give us a chance, if they decide to, give us appearances from John Diggle and Lyla Michaels, since they're living in Metropolis now.  Maybe...JUST MAYBE...we can finally see Diggle embrace being Green Lantern.  But we're also not sure if he's going to be on the mentioned, but not in production as-of-yet, Green Lantern Corps show on HBO Max.  But I have no doubt this show will give us a lot of what Supergirl already does, but I think with a tad more lightheartedness.  I find it crazy that in this age...we have TWO superhero shows based off our Kryptonian friends.  I'm hoping for a lot of fun in this one.  Supposedly, we're SUPPOSED to get a crossover between THIS show and Batwoman, but not sure if that's still possible, what with the casting change going on over at that show.  But we'll keep an eye out.

We are still not getting any confirmation as to whether or not Green Arrow and The Canaries has been green-lit to series, so we're in a holding pattern there.  I am not sure how much THAT show will bump into anyone else in the Arrowverse, since it takes place 20 years in the future.  Lots of people liked the "backdoor" pilot that aired as the 9th episode of Season 8 of Arrow.  We'll find out more probably next year some time.  

That's where we are as of this time for the Arrowverse.  We've got a long wait until January of 2021 when these shows are supposedly going to start up again...but A LOT has to come into place---mostly---having production start UP again.  This COVID virus has been a pain, and with a lot of the states here in the US seeing spiking numbers, and travel bans still in place, it will be difficult for the shows that film in Vancouver to get back there to shoot.  Black Lightning and Stargirl are shot in Georgia, but even THEN, codes have to be followed.

It's tough time right now, kids...let's just hope that this country can get on top of this thing, so that EVERYONE can go back to work...and WE as a nation, can get moving again.

That's all for now---be sure to continue subscribing to the blog, tell your buddies, and leave a comment.  What do YOU expect or wanna see from your favorite shows this next season?  Lemme know!

Until then......

STARGIRL - SEASON 1.8

REVIEW:  STARGIRL - SEASON 1.8:  "Shiv Part 2"

Well, Courtney Whitmore learned a hard lesson last week:  The Cosmic Staff alone cannot save Stargirl from an ass-whipping.  And Stargirl took one, courtesy of her high school arch rival, Cindy Burman, who we also know is Shiv, daughter of the Dragon King.  Shiv has been created and trained as a killer, and was about to polish off Stargirl last week, had it not been for the timely intrusion of the Janitor of the school...whom we now know is the Shining Knight.  Shiv wants a seat at the Injustice Society Table, and is bored with playing the snobby high school girl.  However, after this battle, she now knows Stargirl's ID...and that will win her some brownie points with the Icicle and the team, who're looking to discover the identities of this new Justice Society that's popped up.  Now, we continue on and see what Cindy does with her newfound knowledge...

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We jumped into Part 2 of Cindy's story, with her armed with the knowledge that Stargirl is Courtney Whitmore. She is also looking to impress her father, Dragon King, enough to get invited to have a seat at the Inustice Society table.  This episode dealt with the fallout of her first encounter with Stargirl, and what the dominoes that fell because of it.  

We got Pat doing what he could this episode, covering up for Courtney's injuries at the hands of Cindy, by crashing his car into a light post, and getting her from the hospital.  She apologizes for jumping into the fray without thinking, and while he's not happy, he's also determined to find out what else is going on with the ISA, as well as finding out WHO Cindy's parents are.  But one thing he IS not happy about, and let's Courtney know:  keeping Barbara OUT of the loop.  He had to inform Barbara of what happened while she was in Oakdale finishing a deal with Jordan.  They were at dinner discussing the deal, and he excused himself for a meeting, while she got the call from Pat about the accident.  

Pat and Courtney were about to leave the hospital when they saw Hank in the room with his dad, who is still comatose.  Courtney says 'hi' to him, but he's in no mood to talk, and shuts the door in her face.  At home, Courtney is resting, and Mike brings her up cookies.  He apologizes for his behavior about being overprotective of his relationship with his dad, but she says it's behind her.  This is the first time that Mike and Courtney bond as brother and sister, and that will be huge down the road.  Barbara gets home, Pat lies about teaching Courtney to drive, and explains the accident.  Barbara's not happy, and really doesn't wanna talk when Pat is about to explain the truth to her.  She sees Courtney asleep, and goes off to bed herself.

Cindy has a chat with her father about her fight with Stargirl, and he's upset that she went after him, and took the suit without her permission.  She again reiterates her desire to join the ISA, but he refuses.  He's upset that he had to halt HIS work to clean up HER mess, but she says she knows who Stargirl is.  He orders her home, and not to do ANYTHING in the meantime.  Cindy storms off, hating on her father for disregarding her yet again.

The rest of the new JSA meet up at Pat's garage, and Rick is visibly upset about what happened to Courtney the night before.  He knows it was Cindy, so, he figures that finding her, and punching her out would resolve the issue, but Beth does what she can to reason with him.  She tells him he needs to mellow out, and that she has a plan to get info on Cindy AND the ISA.  So, Rick and Yolanda go along with it.

Pat later on the night before, had a sit down with the Cosmic Staff.  He remembers about how Sylvester Pemberton had already been the Star-Spangled Kid by the time the Staff found him...he'd already been an established hero.  But Courtney is new at this, and she doesn't have the experience. He asked it to protect Courtney, and to take her FROM dager should it get to be too much for her.  He also can't believe he's talking to a Staff...but after he leaves...it glows---showing it listened.

We check in on Jordan, who has cornered a man named Mr. Riley, who had worked for a company called Bannerman Chemical.  Apparently, THEY were the one's responsible for the death of his wife.  Riley denies any involvement in it, but that doesn't save him.  Jordan says he is looking to rid the world of chemical plants like his, and ends up killing Riley for his troubles.

Bet's brilliant plan has the crew show up at Cindy's house, and Beth is going to get some intel.  Pat shows up, and both Yolanda and Rick inform him of the plan, and Pat goes to run interference before Beth gets herself in deep water, only to have Cindy's stepmom Bobbi answer the door.  Pat and Beth have to act quickly, by acting like adopted father and daughter.  While Pat has to run interference for Beth, she finds a way to sneak away to the hallway, where she uses Dr. McNider's goggles to scan for anything, and sees a pinpad there, manages to find the code, and finds the secret passage into the ISA lair.  Meanwhile, Pat is having to schmooze Bobbi to provide distraction.

While all this is happening, we have Hank back at home, suffering some nasty migraine, looking in his father's office for some pills.  He finds them, but with his powers emerging, they're out of control, and causing him pain.  But...he finds a key.  Curious, he begins to get a bit of a handle of his power, and uses them to find out what the key fits into.  He ends up finding out it goes into a keyhole in the bookcase.  Once opened, he finds his father's Brainwave costume, and several videotapes.  He also finds a file on Cindy, with a note from her father, telling Brainwave about his daughter's abilities, and that she's ready for him and the ISA.  Hank is in shock, and he takes off.

Also happening at this time, is that Barbara tells Courtney she's got a visitor - Cindy!  Cindy shows up with balloons and chocolates, and they end up having a little chat.  Cindy talks about how lonely she feels since Hank spurned her for Homecoming, and that her one friend spurned her.  Then she was really upset that Courtney decided to spurn her because Cameron asked Courtney to Homecoming, so she "overreacted".  Cindy goes on to say that she and Courtney are a lot a like, and under different circumstances, they'd be the same.  But, as she leaves, she makes a threat to Courtney about killing her friends and Pat.  Courtney frantically texts Yolanda to let her know that Cindy knows who she is, and that everyone is in danger.

Beth is in the tunnels, and she can't communicate with the rest of the team, because either she's underground, or whatever the ISA has down there, blocks the goggles from doing what they're designed for.  She then hears the growling of Solomon Grundy, and she promptly beats a hasty retreat.  She then makes it up to Cindy's room, and notices an old picture of a man that is described as Dr. Ito...a war criminal from World War II.  Just then, Cindy arrives home, and Yolanda tries to get Beth out of the house, as well as Pat.  Pat had been working on Bobbi's plumbing in the kitchen, and Bobbi appears to hit on him, but he keeps the distraction up.  Yolanda gets suited up, and manages to get Beth out of Cindy's room before she's caught.  Yolanda gets Beth to drop down into Rick's arms, and the trio retreat, and Pat does the same once he sees the kids get to safety.  They all meet back up, and Pat ushers them out of the way before they are seen.  Cindy enters the house, and goes up to her room...and she knows someone's been there.

Courtney, despite her injuries, goes down to the basement and grabs the Staff, but the Staff is reluctant to go with her, wanting to honor Pat's wishes.  She then coaxes it into action when she says that the team is in danger.  Back at Cindy's, as she tries to assess who had been in her room, Stargirl bursts through the window, and Round 2 between the new rivals begins.  They fight all over the room, and eventually fly out the window into the street.  They continue to go back and forth in battle, but Stargirl is still suffering some injuries, so Shiv is getting a bit of the upper hand.  Then, during the course of their fight, Hank shows up out of nowhere to witness the battle.

Hank sees Cindy, and asks what's going on, and she says that he's supposed to help her kill Stargirl.  Hank is confused,and his powers are still haywire.  Shiv attacks again, and this time, gets Stargirl down, and ready to finish her off.  Hank can her the two's thoughts, with Cindy wanting his help to kill her, and Stargirl looking to try and survive.  He ends up stressing out because of the overload, and he sends a mental blast out, separating the two girls from each other.  As Cindy tries to recover, her father's henchmen come up from a manhole, and take her down into the tunnels, much to her dismay.  Stargirl recovers, and goes to find Shiv, only to find her gone.  Hank goes up to Stargirl to find out what she did with Cindy, and he can hear her thoughts, and he finds out she's Courtney, and he hears her thoughts about the JSA.  He's more confused than ever, and before Stargirl can reach out to him, he takes off running.  From down in the tunnels, we see Dragon King watching all that had transpired on his monitors, seeing that his daughter was wrong about Hank---that he DOES have powers...which will serve the ISA perfectly if they can't have Brainwave himself return.

Alrighty!  The show is REALLY picking up some steam now!  More than halway in, and we're seeing the tension heightened, more revelations, and the eventual collision course between this new JSA and the ISA is on the horizon much quicker.  We now have the two main enemies for the show set between Stargirl and Shiv, and now Hank's powers have emerged.  

Brec Bassinger and Meg DeLacy chew up scenery so beautifully.  Whether it's just a conversation between the two, or the actual battles their two characters have, it's magic in the making.  They feed off each other as actresses, and know how to bring the tension and rivalry between these two to life.  You feel the hatred, and the battle scenes thus far have been freaking superb!  I love the effects and battle coreography on this show, and I'm enjoying everything thus far.  I will never get enough of these two on-screen together.  DeLacy especially has done a great job as a villain---both as the snotty Mean Girl Cindy, and as the deadly Shiv.  I'm loving her work.

We got to see Beth step up on their mission, and take charge this episode.  She is really coming out of her shell since she became the new Dr. Mid-Nite.  And for her to stand her ground against Rick...who is just "smash first, think later", and stuck in that revenge mode, she deserves some MAJOR props.   Yolanda didn't have much to do this episode except keep in contact with Beth, but ended up pulling the rescue this episode, was another voice of reason, though she herself wants to get after it from time to time.

Pat had to pull A LOT of duty this episode....having to cover for Courtney's injuries by smashing the car (which sucked...I like that car!), to having to run interference for Beth as she did recon at Cindy's house.  What we DID notice is that Bobbi is more than likely a creation of Dragon King, and she apparently has the hots for Pat.  On the other hand, Pat had to pull the kids out of the fire, as well as come up with the exuse to Barbara about Courtney.  Barbara wasn't happy with him, but he managed to cover.  But you can tell that lying to her is becoming a HUGE problem for him.  He feels that he and Courtney need to fess up, even though Courtney says it's a bad idea, at least as long as the ISA is still around.

I'm happy that Mike and Courtney managed to patch things up, and it looks like their brother/sister dynamic is going to head into a positive direction.  

Hank's powers came out this week, and it will be interesting to see where he stands before the end of the season.  He might join the ISA, because of wanting revenge against Stargirl for putting his dad in a coma (though we haven't reached THAT little nugget of truth as yet, but trust me, we'll get there). Or, will he not join his father's team due to the evil misdeeds .  Either way, Hank is confused right now, and he is just learning about his powers, but he can't control him.  If there's ANYONE that's a wild card in this story---it's Hank King.  

All in all, this show just keeps getting better, and I'm totally hooked!  I'm eager to see how the rest of the season plays out, and we're not far away from that!  The writing, effects, and cast has been spectacular, and this show is thoroughly enjoyable!  It has the perfect balance of drama, action, effects, and character development.  And the nostalgia feels for ME personally as a comic book fan are right there on display.  The actors are REALLY enjoying themselves, and it shows in their work, and that makes for a great show.

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That does it for this week, but make sure you subscribe, leave a comment, and pass this blog along to everyone in sight!  

Until next time....keep your eyes on the stars!