Generation Justice: Stargirl Episode 108, "Shiv Part Two"

When we reached the end of the previous episode, Courtney, as Stargirl (Brec Bassinger), had been locked in a fight with Cindy Burman (Meg DeLacy), whom viewers know to be the daughter of Injustice Society member and mad scientist, Dragon King (Nelson Lee). The fight was interrupted, but not without Courtney sustaining injuries.

Her stepfather, Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson), rushed Courtney to the hospital and told them she'd been in a car accident. To cover his story, he then went out and purposely wrecked his vintage Buick, blaming the accident on his giving Courtney driving lessons.

Because Cindy's Shiv costume does not involve a face mask, Courtney knows exactly who she was fighting, and the rest of the new Justice Society -- Rick Tyler aka Hourman (Cameron Gellman), Beth Chapel aka Doctor Mid-Nite (Anjelika Washington), and Yolanda Montez aka Wildcat (Yvette Monreal) -- take it upon themselves to learn more about Cindy's life, presuming that she is a child of one of the original Injustice Society members. Pat intervenes in their plan as they stake out Cindy's home, but not in time to stop Beth from knocking on the door, to be greeted by Cindy's (latest) stepmother, Bobbie Burman (Lesa Wilson). What we learn from this is that Beth is a horrible liar, and her cover story and Pat's conflict constantly while they talk with Bobbie while Beth's A.I. goggles take in the details of the house. During the visit, Beth encounters the security panel that leads to Dragon King's underground lair (which fortunately for her is not occupied). She then finds a picture of Cindy's father in her bedroom, and "Chuck" the A.I. states that the man was a war criminal -- and also deceased.

While the JSA is in Cindy's bedroom, Cindy is in Courtney's, visiting her as she recovers from her injuries. She says she's there to apologize for her remarks to Courtney the pevious night at the football game, and that she could really use a friend right now with everyone else in her life bailing on her.

But then she drops the bomb. And the danger presented by Shiv gets all the more intense.

STARGIRL continues to impress with its storytelling and presentation. Cindy Burman is shown to be more than just a mean girl and a wannabe villain, as she struggles for her father's approval. We are also given the notion that one of the ISA kids may just be the next member of the Justice Society, as Henry King Jr. (Jake Austin Walker) begins to exhibit the Brainwave abilities inherited by his father. (In the comics, Brainwave Jr. was a member of the superhero team Infinity Inc, which was the second generation Justice Society.) And there may be a bit of hero vs. villain battle coming up over a woman, as Jordan Mahkent aka Icicle (Neil Jackson) continues to express an interest in his employee -- and Pat Dugan's wife -- Barbara Whitmore (Amy Smart).

The CW has announced this week that STARGIRL has been renewed for a second season, which is good news for the fans -- and for us.