WiC Watches: Stargirl
By Ariba Bhuvad
Pictured (L-R): Yolanda Montez as Wildcat and Brec Bassinger as Stargirl — Photo: Jace Downs/The CW
Episode 4: “Wildcat”
As the first season of Stargirl goes on, we’re diving deeper and deeper into its lore. We haven’t been rushed into everything or overwhelmed with the details about the Justice Society of America. There’s a lot of information there and the series is doling it out in a way that’s fun and engaging for the audience.
Instead of hitting us with a bunch of flashbacks, we’re learning about the JSA through the characters who are taking up the cause in the present day. We’ve already seen a lot of Stargirl’s abilities, and her connection with the Cosmic Staff. This week, we get another past JSA member brought into the mix: Wildcat.
The episode does kick off with a flashback, but not about Wildcat; it’s about a girl named Yolanda. Things seem pretty great for Yolanda; she has a loving family, is running for student government, and has a jock boyfriend. But things take a turn for the worst when she sends her boyfriend a topless selfie, after he pleads for one. Unfortunately, he shares the picture with others, and it eventually makes its way around the entire school.
And just like that, Yolanda falls through the ranks very quickly and ends up at the “Losers” table, where we find her in the present day. Oh, and her family can’t seem to stand the sight of her, which only adds to the heartbreak and shame she already feels. Ugh, high school.
As we saw at the end of last week’s episode, Courtney snuck into the old JSA headquarters and took objects belonging to past members. Her goal is to create a new-age JSA, but she is missing one key piece: new members. Her goal is to seek out students at Blue Valley High School who might fit the mold. Enter Yolanda.
The Yolanda we saw at the start of the episode is long gone given everything that’s happened to her. She’s been shunned by everyone, including her family, so her very obvious rage is what draws Courtney to her.
Despite Courtney’s many attempts, Yolanda isn’t interested in even befriending her. Can we blame the girl? I mean, high school sucks. It isn’t until Courtney shares that it was her who blew up Yolanda’s ex-boyfriend’s car that she finds a way through. Side note: Yolanda’s ex is Henry, who is Brainwave’s son, the guy in the hospital after his encounter with Courtney and Pat.
Courtney asks Yolanda over for dinner in the hopes she can share the JSA stuff with her, and hopefully convince her to join. While she doesn’t show up the first night due to being grounded for life and all, Yolanda does show up the next day. Courtney quickly catches her up to speed on all she’s recovered. It’s a lot to take in, but Yolanda absorbs it like a champ. I truly enjoyed the moments between Courtney and Yolanda in this episode because they are so different, but somehow their past experiences are bringing them together. What better way to get through high school than to become a superhero?
It doesn’t take long before Courtney convinces Yolanda to try on the Wildcat outfit. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit well and more or less makes Yolanda feel like she’s walking around in a garbage bag. But never fear: the magical properties of the Wildcat outfit kick in and shape it to Yolanda’s body.
Pictured: Yolanda Montez as Wildcat — Photo: Jace Downs/The CW
So, the outfit looks great, but what can it do? One trip to Wikipedia later, and the girls find out that Wildcat was one fierce feline, with quick reflexes or the ability to use razor claws.
While out on the town testing Wildcat’s many abilities, the two spot Henry going to visit his dad at the hospital. This gives them the idea to investigate who has been visiting Brainwave in the hospital. Perhaps it will help them identify other members of the Injustice Society of America. (Seriously, they couldn’t think of anything else?)
But what they find is stranger than they expected. The visitor log is pretty useless, but Yolanda sneaks into Brainwave’s room while Henry is by his bedside as Courtney hovers on the Cosmic Staff right outside the window. Just as Yolanda is about to leave, a woman walks in that both she and Courtney recognize as their principal from school. She walks in, plays the violin for a minute or two, and leaves. What the heck was up with that? Music therapy?
After this strange encounter, Yolanda chooses to opt out of the whole superhero thing because, with everything that has happened to her, she doesn’t really know who she is. And if she doesn’t know who she is, how can she put on a mask and go climbing up and down walls and solving crimes?
Courtney respects Yolanda’s decision, but makes sure to drop off the WIldcat outfit in Yolanda’s room anyway. After all, them teaming up was pretty cool. Before Yolanda returns to her room, she has a horrible encounter with her family who still won’t accept her apology for and regret over sending that selfie. It felt so harsh the way they rejected her plea to forgive and forget. That’s enough to get Yolanda back on team JSA. Stay tuned for more!
Elsewhere in the episode, we catch up with Icicle at the ISA headquarters, where we meet Dr. Ito, aka Dragon King. Remind me to never look straight into this character’s eyes again, because it was frightening. Between the Dragon King and Icicle, there are a lot of evil plans brewing that will only make Courtney and Yolanda’s job more difficult. Here’s hoping they can recruit more members and garner Pat’s support.
Speaking of Pat, he encounters the Wizard’s — or rather, William Zarick’s — widow, who seems to be on her way out of town after losing both her husband and son on the same day. Something seems off about her, and then Pat finds her car in the local junkyard. Is this the work of Icicle or Dragon King? I wouldn’t put it past them.
There are still a lot of mysteries remaining, but we’re only four episodes into Stargirl’s first season, so there’s plenty of time to solve them!
