After three seasons, Stargirl brought its acclaimed run to a close with a show-stopping finale that delivered arguably one of the finest, if not the finest hours in the entire history of DC TV.
The episode followed the shocking reveals of last week's penultimate chapter, where we learned that the Ultra-Humanite had been inhabiting the body of Sylvester Pemberton (Joel McHale) for the past nine months and had also been working in tandem with the very much alive Icicle (Neil Jackson) and Dragon King (Nelson Lee).
We then pick up with Courtney (Brec Bassinger), Beth (Anjelika Washington), Yolanda (Yvette Monreal), Rick (Cameron Gellman), and Barbara (Amy Smart) beginning to suspect that something is off about Starman, but just when they start to piece it together, they're interrupted by a call from Cameron (Hunter Sansone), who invites them to the junkyard for a meeting between his family and the Justice Society of America.
At the meeting, they learn that "Starman" and Icicle have mended fences and want them to join forces in an effort to take down the Ultra-Humanite, and it seems like their plan is working when the young heroes learn about Pat Dugan's (Luke Wilson) apparent death. Fortunately, however, Pat shows up - in his S.T.R.I.P.E. armor - right on cue and reveals to everyone the deception before the JSA throw down with the Mahkents and the true Ultra-Humanite.
It's a thrilling battle between the two evenly matched sides, and once Courtney reclaims her staff, ultimately results in the defeat of the resurrected Injustice Society of America, costing Jordan and his mother Lily (Kay Galvin) their lives while the Ultra-Humanite is left brain-dead after being defeated in battle by the combined efforts of Stargirl and Stripesy.
Cameron and his grandfather Sofus (Jim France) - who was tired of the constant fighting - manage to survive, but the unimaginable loss of the day forces them to retreat and mend to their wounds alone, leaving Courtney heartbroken.
Meanwhile, the Young All-Stars of Cindy (Meg DeLacy), Mike (Trae Romano), Jakeem (Alkoya Brunson), and Thunderbolt (Seth Green) find themselves in their own final battle as they take on the Dragon King in a gorilla body, and just when all hope seems lost, Jakeem comes through with the wish of a lifetime that ends the Dragon King's reign of terror once and for all.
The final twenty minutes or so essentially serve as an extended epilogue, as we get to see the immediate aftermath of the battle, which leaves us with many intriguing teases for a promising future - that, unfortunately, we won't get to see unfold.
To recap all of the final moments,
- The real Sylvester Pemberton is actually still alive and his brain has been kept in a hidden lab in the mountains.
- Courtney is successful in tracking down The Gambler's daughter Becky and delivers her the note he left her
- Rick and Beth both apologize to Beth's parents before the latter formally asks her parents to be her sidekicks.
- Yolanda reaches out to her mom and promises to tell her the actual truth to strengthen their bond.
- Pat and Barbara take Mike to reconnect with his mother Maggie.
- Rick visits Solomon Grundy's grave one final time to bid farewell, disappointed that so many evildoers were able to come back from the dead, but not his friend. However, just as he gives up hope, Grundy punches through the ground, to Rick's delight.
- Courtney is walking by the Mahkent house at night and finds Cameron there waiting, who asks for her help before they hug and that's a wrap on our series lead.
- Jordan Mahkent is alive and well, hiding somewhere in Europe, but finds himself in a sticky situation when Artemis (Stella Smith) finally tracks him down and burns him alive.
To end the series, the show takes a ten-year time jump to 2032, where we catch up with The Shade (Jonathan Cake), who is now leading tours at the new JSA museum. Through his monologue, we learn:
- Courtney is now Starwoman
- Jade (Ysa Penarejo) and Obsidian (Tim Gabriel) have formally joined the JSA
- Cindy is now Dragon Queen
- Mike takes on the S.T.R.I.P.E. 2.0 mantle while his best friend is officially Jakeem Thunder
- Cameron joined the JSA and is now going by Icicle
- Artemis returned and is now a member of the JSA
- Sand and Damage have joined the JSA
- Wildcat, Hourman, and Dr. Mid-Nite are still active
- Rick and Beth are getting married - with The Shade officiating their nuptials.
- Solomon Grundy is also now a member of the JSA
- The team retrieves Sylvester's brain and they're successful in bringing him back to life.
- They saved the Seven Soldiers of Victory by defeating the Nebula Man.
Then, just as we think the story is over, Jay Garrick (John Wesley Shipp) zips into frame, telling The Shade, "Our adventures are not over," with the latter retorting, "Are they ever?"
The Stargirl title card appears and we're left with a final message reading, "Never The End," and that's all she wrote. A premature, but satisfying and fitting conclusion for a pretty terrific series.
Relive the epic final battle and a few key scenes below:
Brec Bassinger headlines the series as Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl, with a supporting main cast featuring Yvette Monreal as Yolanda Montez/Wildcat, Anjelika Washington as Beth Chapel/Dr. Mid-Nite, Cameron Gellman as Rick Tyler/Hourman, Trae Romano as Mike Dugan, Hunter Sansone as Cameron Mahkent, Neil Hopkins as Larry Crock, Joy Osmanski as Paula Brooks, Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore, Meg DeLacy as Cindy Burman/Shiv, Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan/S.T.R.I.P.E., and Joel McHale as Sylvester Pemberton/Starman.
The recurring cast consists of Jonathan Cake (Richard Swift/The Shade), Ysa Penarejo (Jennie-Lynn Hayden), Stella Smith (Artemis Crock), Alkoya Brunson (Jakeem Williams), Tim Gabriel (Todd Rice/Obsidian), Seth Green (Thunderbolt), and Keith David (Mister Bones).
Stargirl is now streaming on The CW and HBO Max.