Summer School: Chapter Ten

## Episode Guide

**Summer School: Chapter Ten** is the tenth episode of the second season of *Stargirl*, and the twenty-third episode overall. This episode aired on October 12, 2021, on The CW.

## Synopsis

**CHOSEN FAMILY -** Courtney is left devastated after discovering a dark secret that Pat has kept hidden from her. However, when they learn that Jennie may be able to help in their plan to stop Eclipso, they're forced to put their issues aside as they set out on a road trip to find her. Meanwhile, Beth makes a shocking discovery about The Shade.

## Plot

**Decades Ago**

In Starman's garage, Pat is packing up and looking at the costumes on display. Sylvester come in and says that he was wrong to bring Pat with them, puts out the beers that he's brought, and says that he thought they could find a way to save Bruce together, because they always find a way. He talks about how they met, and how Pat remembered his birthday when his parents didn't. The next day Sylvester got back the watch the bullies stole from him, and the watch meant the world to him and still does.

Sylvester sets the watch down on the Racer, and says that Pat taught him how to drive, stand up for himself, and think for himself. He says that Pat is his brother, and apologizes for how he sometimes treats him. Pat tells Sylvester that it's okay, and Sylvester says when Eclipso was threatening everyone's family, he threatened Pat. Sylvester tells that he doesn't want what's happened to destroy their family. Pat picks up a beer and they toast to chosen families.

**Now**

In the kitchen, the family argues about how Courtney's parents kept secrets from her. Courtney points out that the JSA killed an innocent man, and Pat insists that it was more complicated than that. Courtney says that her JSA didn't kill Cindy when she had the diamond, and Courtney says that it's on Pat.

The lights go out briefly and Shade crashes in. He takes a seat and tells them that he can die, and Shade tells them that he's there to offer his assistance against Eclipso, who has tortured Courtney's friend and him. Courtney tells Shade that Eclipso is free, and Shade says that if they fuse the diamond back together then it will drag Eclipso in. They have to avoid not touching the diamond.

Pat tells Courtney that they can't trust Shade, and Shade says that he told the truth to Starman in the past and is telling the truth now. Mike asks how they can put the diamond back together, and Shade tells him that they have to use the power of light: with the Staff.

In the basement, Courtney uses the Staff to try and fuse the pieces together, but it isn't strong enough. Pat says that he has an idea.

The next morning, Beth and her parents sit in their living room. James and Bridget stare at the goggles Beth is wearing, and she says that she has to wear them because they show her what's real. Beth refuses to explain further, saying that it's safe if they don't know. She sees something in the goggles, and leaves and tells her parents they should stay there and figure out what is going on their life. When the Chapels ask what she's doing, Beth says that she's made friends and they need her.

Pat tells Barbara that Jennie's ring can fuse the diamond back together, and she has a lead. Barbara worries that Mike and Courtney will never trust them, and Pat says that they'll have to earn their trust back.

Mike tells Courtney that the diamond does weird things without Eclipso in it. She's preparing to go with Pat to find Jennifer, figuring that Pat knows if he told Courtney she'd go off on her own. Mike worries about him and Barbara being alone if Eclipso comes after them, and Beth arrives and says that she's there to protect them.

Pat drives out of town with Courtney, and neither one of them talk. They fight over which channel to turn the radio to, and Pat finally says that he thought it was better that Courtney didn't know what happens. Pat tells Courtney that there was a vote and the JSA voted, and the ones who voted to kill Bruce though their families were going to die. Pat says that he didn't stop them, and Courtney tells her stepfather that his keeping secrets left her friends without the full story. Pat says that he didn't want Courtney to look at him differently, and she says that it has.

Rick is in his cell at the police station, laying on the bunk. There's a soft thud on the ceiling above him, and then someone throws an apple in through the window. Rick realizes that Grundy threw them in, chuckles, and takes a bite from the apple.

At the Whitmore house, Beth looks around while wearing the goggles. She asks Barbara about the things that happened, and wonders if McNider voted to kill Bruce. McNider speaks through the goggle, saying that he took a vow never to take a life. He then goes silent.

Mike sneaks out, and tells Buddy to "keep an eye" on Shade while he gets reinforcements. Buddy growls at the sleeping Shade, while Mike leaves.

Courtney asks Pat where they're going. He refuses to say, and Courtney tells him not to shut her out. Pat gives her a newspaper with a headline about green fire burning a Federal building. There was another green fire earlier that week that burned down an abandoned orphanage in Civic Center... where the JSA HQ is.

At the Whitmore house, Beth is working on her laptop computer when McNider contacts her via the goggles. He says that the connection got stronger, and Beth tells him that Shade is there and she knows Shade killed McNider. McNider says that Shade saved him, and Shade never wanted any part in killing McNider. When Shade tries to pull McNider to safety, McNider was pulled into the Shadowlands instead.

McNider tells Beth that in the 19th century, Shade was a conman and a thief hired to procure the diamond by the Men of Tears. They wanted to trap the diamond's god to kill their enemies, and Shade had a forgery made of the diamond. The ritual was botched and it opened a doorway to the Shadowlands and the immensely powerful dark energies entered the Shade's body and subconscious.

Barbara goes to Shade and says that she has questions. In his delirium he mistakes Barbara for his sister Emily, and says that he left Emily alone to watch their father died, while he lied and cheated his way into oblivion. Shade tried not to abuse his power, but then Emily died of old age and Shade lost his way.

McNider tells Beth that he'll try to help the JSA from where he's trapped. Beth figures they might be able to get McNider back, and has him open the files on Eclipso. The goggle display the JSA files on Eclipso, and Beth realizes that she has a lot of reading.

Pat and Courtney enter the headquarters garage, and Pat says that it was his and Starman's workspace. Courtney looks at the mounted newspaper talking about the heroes' exploits, photos, and the costumes. She finds signs that Jennie has been staying there, and papers about the Helix Institute. Todd Rice's name is on all the paper, and Courtney figures Todd is Jennie's brother.

At the garage, Mike works on S.T.R.I.P.E. but is unable to get it working. He turns won the radio, and the announcer says that pink lightning is arcing across the sky.

Pat and Courtney drive to the Helix Institute for Youth Rehabilitation, that was mentioned in the papers Jennie were reading. They go in and tell the receptionist that they're friends of Jennie. Pat points out that Jennie's name is on the sign-in list, and the receptionist says that Todd isn't there, but Jennie is.

Jennie is in Todd's former room, looking at a map he was studying and a photo of the two of them as children. The receptionist leaves Pat and Courtney there, and Courtney tells Jennie that they need her help. Jennie explains that she broke into the Federal building to find Todd's sealed adoption papers, couldn't find them, and her emotions flared along with her the green energy.

The girl's eyes glow green, and Pat calms her down. Courtney tells Jennie that she's not alone, and Jennie calms down. She says that Todd was arrested for shoplifting, end up at the Institute, and then ran away. Jennie figures that Todd is looking for her and that's while he got in trouble, and tells Pat and Courtney that she'd do anything to protect her family.

Pat and Courtney leave with Jennie, while the receptionist, Louise Love, watches them from a window. She then calls Mr. Bones and tells him that Todd has a sister and she told them the newcomers that Todd isn't there.

Mike rides his bike to Jakeem's house and finds giant candy on the yard, and figures the Thunderbolt is responsible.

In Civic City, Pat lays out the shard while Courtney tells Jennie about Eclipso. Jennie says that she's sorry she left, and Courtney assures her that at least she's there now.

At the Whitmore house, Beth goes through the file while Barbara watches over Shade.

Jennie uses the ring energy to try and fuse the shard. They start to come together, and Shade wakes up, his eyes solid black. Beth reads one of the files and stares in shock. She goes to Barbara and tells them that they have to get the others to stop. Restoring the diamond connect the real world to the Shadowlands. Shade says that now he can access his powers and heals, tells Barbara that he's sorry to deceive her, and teleports away. Beth tells Barbara that putting the diamond together will summon Eclipso rather than trap him.

In the JSA workshop, Eclipso appears and picks up the diamond. Pat attacks him and the demon casually knocks him back. Courtney tries to use the Staff but it doesn't work. Jennie tries to hold Eclipso back with the energy, but Eclipso knocks her aside and creates a shadow portal that pulls Courtney through. Pat tries to hold onto his stepdaughter, but the force is too strong and he can only watch as Courtney disappears.

## Cast

### Starring

* Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore
* Anjelika Washington as Beth Chapel
* Cameron Gellman as Rick Tyler
* Trae Romano as Mike Dugan
* Nick Tarabay as Eclipso
* Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore
* Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan

### Guest Starring

* Joel McHale as Sylvester Pemberton/Starman
* Jonathan Cake as Richard Swift/The Shade
* Ysa Penarejo as Jennie-Lynn Hayden
* Alex Collins as Charles McNider/Dr. Mid-Nite

### Co-Starring

* Kron Moore as Dr. Bridget Chapel
* Gilbert Glenn Brown as James Chapel
* Lynne Ashe as Nurse Louise Love
* Robert Stevens Wayne as Forger
* Armondi Stokes-Hicks as Video Store Al
* Kristen Lee as Sonia Sato

## Notes and Trivia

* *Summer School: Chapter Ten* is the first time Jennie's full name, Jennie-Lynn Hayden, is said on screen.
* *Summer School: Chapter Ten* confirms Todd's adoptive surname as Rice.
* *Summer School: Chapter Ten* confirms the location of the Justice Society's headquarters to be in Civic City. In the DC comics, Civic City, Pennsylvania was the location of the first JSA headquarters.
	+ Moreover, Pat references that he hasn't been back to the headquarters in ten years, which matches the timeline of the Battle of Los Angeles.
* When Beth uses her goggles on Richard Swift, she is presented with names of his known associates. Those names included the ISA, Simon Gulp, Captain X, Ted Knight, and the JSA.
	+ Captain X was a superhero named Richard Dare. In one iteration, he was a member of the All-Star Squadron, while in newer versions, he flew top-secret missions behind enemy lines in an experimental plastic plane during WWII and the Cold War.
	+ In the DC comics, Ted Knight is the superhero known as Starman. He took the mantle in 2016 and is a member of the All-Star Squadron and Justice Society of America. Pat mentioned Ted Knight in *"S.T.R.I.P.E.",* being the creator of the Cosmic Staff.
	+ Shade's home is also noted as being Opal City. In the DC comics, Opal City is the home to the many generations of Starman, with Starman serving as an heir to the city.
	+ Richard's birth year is also stated to be 1808 in London, England.
* With The Shade’s power being returned when Jennie reformed The Black Diamond, it’s possible that his quick defeat at the hands of Eclipso in "*Summer School: Chapter Six*" was made possible by Stargirl destroying The Diamond.
* Courtney mentions Gentleman Ghost, a former ISA member, when Jennie asks if ghosts are also real. Gentleman Ghost was the spirit of a 19th Century gentleman thief named Jim Craddock returned to commit further crimes. He was a member of the ISA and first appeared in 1947.
* When Courtney finds newspapers in the JSA headquarters, the following headlines about superheroes are seen:
	+ Green Arrow and Speedy Stop The Spider
	+ The Vigilante Retires!
	+ The Shining Knight Defeats Deathbolt
	+ The Star-Spangled Kid Has Grown Up-Enter Starman!

## Gallery

### Screenshots

All Screenshots are courtesy of Screencapped.net. For a complete image set, see their gallery.

## References

1. ↑ https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/dcs-stargirl-season-two-ratings/
2. ↑ https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Richard\_Dare\_(New\_Earth)
3. ↑ https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Opal\_City
4. ↑ https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Gentleman\_Ghost