Stargirl was first published in 1999 and was written by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder. Her name, Courtney Elizabeth Whitmore, as well as her appearance and personality are inspired by Johns' late-sister who passed away in 1996. The CW's show is part of the DC Comics Multiverse but isn't yet considered part of the Arrowverse, although this may change.
The first season has been well received, gaining an 89% rating from critics and 80% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. So what is it that audiences have loved and what aspects of the show have really let it down? We take a look at the best and worst things about Stargirl Season one.
Loved: Character Development
One of the strongest aspects of the show is the character development. Each of the main characters undergoes huge changes throughout the first season in a way you rarely see. Often superhero shows focus on one main hero character but Stargirl gives us a group of next-generation heroes and villains who all discover themselves as the series progresses.
Seeing the teenage heroes and villains all discovering their potential at the same time makes for some interesting dynamics, especially as they are required to work alongside people they don't get along with.
Hated: Underusing Mike
Pat's son Mike is the most underused character in the show. He appears to be sidelined by Pat in favor of Courtney once she becomes Stargirl and is understandably upset. This leads to him appearing only as a sulky teenage boy who is useless. However, if given a chance he could prove to be a valuable asset, he's just never given one.
Mike doesn't learn the truth until the last possible second, despite being in danger for a large part of the show, and yet he is still incredibly supportive of Courtney, who he sees as his sister, and of his dad. We're just glad he has Barbara, who at least takes an interest in what he's doing.
Loved: Dr. Mid-Nite And Beth
The concept of Dr. Mid-Nite appearing through goggles he invented is one we really got on board with. While we've seen the very smart AI technology concept in many comic books, the old school flying goggles always raise a smile.
It's the combination of this and the very smart but chronically lonely Beth that really makes this character so endearing. One feeds the other in a wholesome relationship we absolutely adore. We hope to see this combo return.
Hated: The Terrible Parents
We know that superheroes often have absent parents but in this show, while some are absent, most are just terrible human beings. Even if we take away the villainous parents, who aren't above murder and imprisonment of their offspring, there are still some terrible guardians around.
Rick Tyler's uncle resents being his guardian after his parents passed away and appears to remind him of it every single day. Meanwhile, Yolanda's parents won't forgive her mistake in sending a topless photo to her boyfriend and insist that his distribution of it is her fault and has brought shame to their family forevermore. Finally, Beth's parents are both working all hours and completely ignoring her, saying they "want their lives back." However, they seem annoyed when she finds friends and no longer makes them lunch every day. Not even the Whitmore's are parents of the year since Pat spends the season ignoring Mike.
Loved: The Unpredictability
One thing you can't say about Stargirl is that it's predictable. For anyone unfamiliar with the comics, the storyline throws you through a loop. There were several unexpected twists, deaths and changes of heart that we didn't see coming.
This combined with things that seemed predictable but turned out differently than we expected, meant that the show kept us on our toes for the most part. There's always a certain formula to superhero shows but this one throws many of the cliches out of the window.
Hated: Brainwave's Logic
Brainwave has some skewed logic that we just can't cope with. He's the lynchpin of the operation to "make a better America" but has some severely lacking morals. We can't understand how he claims to be so fiercely against people's "disgusting thoughts" while having so many himself.
This man has killed people for a passing negative thought yet he also killed his wife who he claims was "incredibly good." When he experimented on himself he certainly blew a few fuses along the way.
Loved: S.T.R.I.P.E
S.T.R.I.P.E is one of the highlights of the show. We know he's a knockoff Iron Man suit, with less technology and made from an old car but we love that about him. Somehow he feels more real than the billion dollar tech Stark deals in.
S.T.R.I.P.E is rough and ready and yes it's still impressive that he was built in a garage by Pat, using random parts from a scrapyard. Although, we aren't sure how we feel about the whole remote control idea. It may be a step too far.
Hated: Stargirl's Carelessness
Stargirl is ridiculously careless. While we're sure a lot of this comes from being 15, it's still annoying. When she consistently manages to reveal her identity we can't help but get frustrated that she doesn't learn and seems surprised when it isn't very secret.
It's a lesson the entire teenage Justice Society needs to learn and embrace. They aren't going to get far when everyone knows who they are, leaving them with a permanent target on their backs.
Loved: Broad Appeal
You can tell the show is aimed squarely at a teenage audience, yet it is engaging enough to keep an older one amused as well. It can feel a little flat in places but overall the pace is good and there are a lot of tiny touches that make it enjoyable for all.
Stargirl is a great family superhero show that combines humor, action and comic book cliches with some real drama and chaos. Just be aware that some parts are very dark if your children are too young. They may react badly to some of the more dramatic scenes and demises.
Hated: Wasted Potential
The show appears to be setting the scene to become primarily a battle of the next generation of heroes and villains but yet it feels like a wasted opportunity. We were introduced to so many intriguing Injustice League villains who failed to reach their potential before their stint was cut short by a teenager.
Presumably this is to even up the ranks a little, since many Justice Society members lost their lives before the show began, but the next generation of villains was thinned out as much as their parents. There are a lot of interesting characters who haven't made season two that we'll miss. Here's hoping their replacements are up to the challenge.