Summer School: Chapter Three

## Episode Guide

"**Summer School: Chapter Three**" is the third episode of the second season of *Stargirl*, and the sixteenth episode overall. This episode aired on August 24, 2021, on The CW.

## Synopsis

**JIM GAFFIGAN VOICES THUNDERBOLT IN THIS EPISODE DIRECTED BY LEA THOMPSON —** After getting a taste of the superhero life, Mike pleads with Pat to let him join the team. Elsewhere, after seeking help from Thunderbolt, the JSA prepare for a confrontation with The Shade.

## Plot

Eleven Years Ago, Dugan is in his garage when Johnny Thunder comes in and complains that the JS benched him. Pat commiserates, but Johnny takes out his pen and says that he's more powerful thanks to the Thunderbolt than all the other JSAers individually or combined. Wildcat comes in and tells them that that the ISA has Grundy, and only members are called in. Johnny goes with Wildcat, while Pat is disappointed at being left behind.

Now, Mike is on his paper route, and misses most of his throws. Three bullies shows up and harass him.

At the Dugan house, Pat is making breakfast. Courtney smugly points out that she was right about an old JSA villain being in Blue Valley, and Barbara suggests that STRIPE go with the JSA. Courtney points out that STRIPE isn't subtle, just as Mike comes in. Pat says that no one is going to make a plan until they have one that everyone agrees on. Mike is interested in the "superheroing stuff", and Pat tells his son that he doesn't have to worry about it. Mike leaves, disappointed, goes up to his room, and calls his boss Mr. Bloomkiss.

As Mike writes down the address of a new customer Bloomkiss has for him, his pen goes dry. He goes into Courtney's room and takes the pink pen she has on her desk. After the call is done, Mike wishes that he was a superhero.

Later, Mike is on his route when he notices the words "So Cool" printed on things he rides past. Mike hits a rock and falls off his bike, and notices that one of his newspapers has a headline "So Cool!" When Mike says the words, a pink man-sized and shaped Thunderbolt appears and tells Mike he's Mike's new best friend. The Thunderbolt tells Mike that he's now in control of him, and he used to be a partner with Johnny Thunder, a member of the JSA.

The Thunder bolt explains that in his homeland of Bahdnesia, "Sowkewl" sets him free and gives the speaker control of the Thunderbolt. It can grant any wish Mike makes. When Mike asks for water because he's thirsty, Thunderbolt douses him with water then tells Mike that he has to be specific.

Thunderbolt hides in the pen when a woman comes by. As Mike goes home, Thunderbolt explains that it's not good when people see him. Mike wishes that he was taller and grows, until he realizes that Thunderbolt put him on a bench. It tells Mike that he can't wish for the same thing and says the rules. Mike can't wish for someone to die or bring someone back from the dead.

At the garage, Rick arrives late and says that he had to feed the dog. He sits down with other JSA members, and Pat admits that Courtney was right. Pat explains that Shade used to work with the ISA but quit, and he's at least a hundred years old. Shade can manipulate shadows and travel through the shadows, and Pat says that he watched Shade kill Dr. Mid-Nite. Beth is shocked to hear that, and points out that the original Mid-Nite is the only JSAers they haven't avenged. Pat says that he on0e saw Starman knock out Shade with the Staff, but doesn't know what to do with Shade afterward.

Barbara goes up to the clocktower to check out Zarick's collection and a top hat falls on the floor behind her. Richard comes up and taps her on the shoulder, and says that he was told Barbara was up there, and thought they could look around together. Barbara points out that Richard is trespassing, and he says that sometime breaking the rules can be fun.

Barbara asks Richard if he's looking for anything in particularly, and he finds the phone that she dropped. She realizes that its battery is dead, and Richard finds a box. He opens it but there's nothing inside, and asks if he can keep it. Barbara says that she can't because it's part of the inventory, and Richard advances on her. The lights go out and when they come up, Richard is gone.

In summer school class, Yolanda has a piercing headache. Courtney notices, and Yolanda tells her that she won't do what she did with Brainwave by killing him. Mr. Desinger interrupts them, and Courtney answers his question much to Yolanda's surprise. Courtney tells Yolanda that she read the book.

Mike sneaks up on the bullies, who are harassing a girl selling Girl Scout cookies. They take her cookies, and Mike wishes that Thunderbolt would make them stop. He drops stop signs in front of them, and tells Mike that he can't stop until the bullies do. Mores signs come down, surrounding 4he three bullies, and they run off in different directions.

Courtney and Yolanda are coming back from school, and see what's going on. Mike introduces himself as the newest member of the JSA, and Thunderbolt emerges from the pen and introduces himself.

The group go to Pat's garage, and Pat says that the pen is dangerous and someone could have been called. Pat warns that Thunderbolt could cause trouble no matter what they wish, and tells Mike to give him the pen. Mike is offended that Pat thinks he can't handle it. When Mike gives Pat the pen, it teleports back to Mike's hand.

Pat wants to talk to Thunderbolt alone, and Mike calls him out. It's impressed by STRIPE and the new JSA, and Pat points out that even with Thunderbolt's power Johnny died. Thunderbolt says that Johnny's last wish was that Thunderbolt find a friend, and it can only be friends with someone who feels alone.

Mike is outside waiting, and Courtney comes out and tells him that it's up to Pat. Her stepbrother reminds her that Courtney ignored Pat, and Thunderbolt picked him so it's his destiny to be a superhero. Courtney considers and agrees.

The JSA tells Pat that they voted and decided Mike will be a JSA member, and they can use Thunderbolt to find Shade. Pat agrees to let Mike and Thunderbolt find Shade, but they need to come up with a foolproof wish. They whiteboard ideas, then recite the wish in great detail. Thunderbolt causes a spot on a nearby map to burst into flame, at Zarick's old house. Pat tells Mike to stay there while the others confront Shade, much to Mike's disappointment.

That night, Pat calls Barbara and tells them their plan to capture Shade and negate his powers. Beth has modified Barbara's old tanning bed, and Pat tells Barbara that Mike is out of it. The JSA join Pat, who says Barbara thinks the plan is acceptable. Stargirl makes sure for Wildcat's benefit that they'll just imprison Shade.

At the Pit Stop, Mike contemplates the pen and sighs. He finally gets up and starts a wish on the whiteboard.

The four JSA members and Pat break into the house, and they find Shade waiting for them in the dining room. He isn't impressed, and invites them to sit down for tea. Pat asks him what he's doing in Blue Valley, and Shade knows Pat was Stripesy. When the team doesn't sit down, Dr. Mid-Nite accuses him of killing the original Mid-Nite and Shade tells him that she doesn't know what she's talking about.

Pat tells everyone to sit down, and Stargirl says that she won't let Shade hurt the town. Shade says that Icicle was a lunatic and they were at odds. Stargirl insists that they'll never stop fighting people like Shade, and he tells the JSA to stay out of their way and it's better that none of them know why he's there.

Mike runs in and tells Thunderbolt to zap Shade, spelling it out in detail. Shade grabs Thunderbolt with shadow tentacles, knocks out Mike, and grabs the others with similar tendrils. They try to pull away the Staff, but its light dissipates them. Shade tells them to stay out of his way and teleports away.

Later, Mike goes out on the porch of the house. Wildcat joins him and asks if he's okay, and he says that he thought he would help them but blew it. She asks if he feel bad about killing Icicle, and Mike says that it was an accident. As he tells Wildcat that he's no hero, Stargirl comes out and says that they searched for Shade but the villain is gone.

At home, Barbara and Pat confront Courtney and Mike. Mike admits that he screwed up and wishes the pen was in better hands, and then the pen disappears.

At his home, Mike's friend Jakeem is playing a video game. He admits that he is a loser, and the pen appears on the table in front of him.

Pat tells Barbara that Thunderbolt chose Mike because he felt alone. Barbara says that she and Mike are part of the team, and says that the empty box Richard took contained a black diamond. Pat realizes that it's the Black Diamond, and very very bad.

At the garage, Beth fails to get Chuck working. She snaps at Rick, who is watching her, and he asks what is going on. Beth finally tells Rick that she thinks her parents are getting a divorce, and Rick says that she should talk to them. Before Beth can reply, Chuck comes on line, says a warning about Eclipso, and then goes off line.

At the4 clocktower, Shade stands on the ledge and opens the box. He figures that "he" will kill the children and closes the box.

## Cast

### Starring

* Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl
* 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
* Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore
* Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan

### Guest Starring

* Jim Gaffigan as the voice of Thunderbolt
* Jonathan Cake as Richard Swift/The Shade
* Alex Collins as the voice of Charles McNider
* Ethan Embry as Johnny Thunder
* Brian Stapf as Ted Grant/Wildcat
* Alkoya Brunson as Jakeem Williams

### Co-Starring

* Randy Havens as Paul Deisinger
* Aldan Karanovich as Lutz Lone
* Zachary Connor as Marky Malarky
* Daniel Abi-Sarkis as Devin Dupree
* Selah Kimbro-Jones as Molly Schut
* Ashley Winfrey as Jenny Williams

## Notes and Trivia

* Lea Thompson previously directed the season one episode, "*Shiv Part One*".
* The montage of the JSA writing down their versions of the perfect wish to make is completely improvised. Lea Thompson gave the actors fifteen minutes to do what they thought would work.
* During the outdoor scenes, all the roofs had snow on them due to the series being filmed during Winter in Atlanta.
* Summer School: Chapter Three" features the most Golden Age JSA appearances since the Season 1 premiere.
	+ Wildcat is not only physically seen for the first time, but delivers his first speaking lines.
	+ Johnny Thunder is seen. He was seen only in photographs throughout Season 1.
	+ Dr. Mid-Nite is briefly seen in a flashback to December 24th, 2010 during his death at the hands of The Shade. This footage is archived from the series premiere, "*Stargirl*".
* The Shade calls Courtney "Star Spangled Kid" which is Courtney's alias in the original Stargirl comics. It is also Sylvester Pemberton's original superhero alias before he became Starman.
* Mike confirms that his killing of Icicle was an accident and not intentional.
* This episode is the first time a member of the new JSA, in this case Yolanda, has a proper conversation with Mike (aside from Pat and Courtney).
* This episode confirms a widely believed fan theory that Jenny and Jakeem Williams are related. The end of the episode reveals they are siblings.
* Thunderbolt mentions Bahdensia, which is the original home of The Thunderbolt in the Golden Age comics.
* Barbara usually uses an iPhone, but because Apple provides phones to use for tv shows free of charge. One of their rules it that anyone Evil can't use their products. Because of this, the prop department played it safe to have her use a non-iPhone. The barcode on the back of the phone says, "Property of The American Dream", as the crew deemed it her work phone.
* Jim Gaffigan was never on set and only recorded his voice for the series. The actor who portrays Mr. Diseinger in the series voiced The Thunderbolt on-set so that Trae Romano had something to react too.
* This episode hints at Isaac Bowin possibly joining Cindy's team when he overhears Yolanda and Courtney talking about The Shade.
* This is the first episode of *Stargirl* to credit the graphic designer of the series, Shawn McBee, for his contributions to the episode.

## Gallery

### Videos

DC's Stargirl - Season 2 Episode 3 - Summer School- Chapter Three Promo - The CWDC's Stargirl - Season 2 Episode 3 - Rick And The Gang Scene - The CWDC's Stargirl - Season 2 Episode 3 - Thunderbolt Scene - The CWDC's Stargirl - The Real Cost - The CW

## References

1. ↑ https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/dcs-stargirl-season-two-ratings
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/Brecbassinger/status/1430328375533506570
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/Brecbassinger/status/1430322573141753856
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://www.spreaker.com/user/fandom-limb-media/stargirl-203?utm\_medium=widget&utm\_source=user%3A10739937&utm\_term=episode\_title