DC’s Stargirl- Summer School: Chapter Seven

By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

When the episode opens Yolanda (Yvette Monreal) is still having a really rough time. She’s in confession again and is trying to understand if the devil’s real. And if the devil’s real and there’s evil on earth, if God’s not on earth then isn’t humanity responsible? The priest (Kenny Alfonso) is just really confused. If she kills something truly evil, Yolanda asks, can she ever be forgiven? For obvious reasons the priest is alarmed. Then the conversation is interrupted by an intense headache which Yolanda runs out after.

At this point it’s supposed to be the Fourth of July in Blue Valley, but because of Eclipso it looks more like November. The weather isn’t the only thing impacted. During the fight Courtney (Brec Bassinger) recalls to Pat (Luke Wilson) that the staff managed to hurt Eclipso, but he hurt the staff back. Courtney doesn’t understand what Eclipso wants, but unfortunately Pat doesn’t have any answers for her.

At the diner Yolanda is still shaken and Maria (Maria Singer), her co-worker, notices. She decides to help Yolanda out by waiting on a difficult customer for her. Grumpy Joe (Gregory Konow) starts ranting when something takes over Maria and she pours hot coffee all over him. She gets sent home early for the day despite not fully understanding what happened. In the midst of all the commotion Yolanda goes to comfort a little boy, who unbeknownst to her is Eclipso in disguise as Bruce (Milo Stein).

Courtney checks in with Beth (Anjelika Washington) on her search for Dr. McNider. After witnessing Eclipso’s mind games firsthand Beth admits that worries that Pat might be right about hearing Chuck’s voice having been a trick. She wants to believe Dr. McNider could be alive, but she’s just not sure anymore. Courtney says they should keep looking, but be cautious.

Courtney runs into Cameron (Hunter Sansone) and throws him into a wall after he startles her. After apologies are exchanged she agrees to help him with Fourth of July parade decorations. Yolanda leaves the diner and sees them laughing together while decorating, but doesn’t go over because she gets another intense headache and hears Brainwave’s voice again. This sends her running to the church for sanctuary, but she finds her mother there with Father Thomas.

Father Thomas said he didn’t tell Mrs. Montez (Kikéy Castillo) any of the things Yolanda told him in confidence, but he was just concerned after their conversation this morning. Yolanda’s mother scolds her for dragging Father Thomas into her insignificant problems, but he says there’s been enough judgement this year and encourages her to really listen to her daughter. Unfortunately, another headache causes Yolanda to leave.

In summer school Courtney is texting Cameron and Yolanda is still haunted. She sees the old text message from Henry that requested the naked photos he’d ultimately share. This causes her to leave and she sees what appears to be his ghost, but in actuality is an illusion from Brainwave (Christopher James Baker) who blames her for Henry’s death. More than that it’s revealed to have been another nightmare.

After class Yolanda tells Courtney that she’s not just having nightmares about Brainwave anymore she’s seeing and hearing him everywhere. She’s starting to wonder if she did the wrong thing by killing him. Courtney tries to convince her that she had no other choice, but she’s not convinced. Elsewhere Mike (Trae Romano) is working with Pat to rebuild S.T.R.I.P.E. and is haunted by Eclipso’s (Nick Tarabay) presence. He makes Mike see himself being covered in leeches. When Pat comes in it turns out the influence from the few diamond shards Pat held onto. He tells Mike not to touch them ever as they could be Eclipso’s weakness.

In the meantime Courtney calls an emergency JSA meeting where Yolanda finally tells the group that she killed Brainwave. Before everyone just thought that he died when the tunnels collapsed. Rick (Cameron Gellman) tries to reassure Yolanda by saying he would’ve done the same thing. Beth says she’s not judging Yolanda, but she’s not so sure. Yolanda thinks that Rick didn’t even kill Grundy, who killed his parents, because he’s a better person. She feels they’re all better because she’s a killer and they’re not and that’ll be her role in the JSA now, the person who has to kill villains that can’t be contained. She’s afraid she’ll be the one who has to kill Eclipso because as far as she’s concerned she’s already tainted and runs off.

She heads back to church to talk more to Father Thomas, but instead she finds Brainwave. At first she thinks it’s another nightmare, but it’s all very real. Brainwave’s consciousness tells her that since she took his life now he’s going to take over her body. He attacks and things don’t look good for Yolanda. That is until Courtney comes in and saves her. But that’s not the end of either of their problems. Yolanda says that all she wanted was to be left alone, but Courtney just kept pushing and now she’s a killer. She vows to never be Wildcat again.

Later Courtney tries to call Yolanda so they can talk more, but she’s not taking her calls. Yolanda’s mom answers and goes as far as to blame her for corrupting her daughter. Not only that but we see a disheartened Maria receive a phone call saying that Yolanda’s decided to quit her job at the diner. Maria tells Yolanda’s mother that she’ll always be welcome there should she change her mind.

The episode ends at Beth’s house with her asleep, but not as alone as she thinks. Eclipso is lurking outside of her window.