DC’S STARGIRL: Episode 1.1: Pilot
An engaging superhero opening with discernment concerns.
Should You Watch It?
The pilot is engaging fun and does a good job setting the stage. The script and cast make this an appealing opening to a superhero series, with a clear battle between good and evil and a stepfather who wants to protect his family.
But the episode does not yet reveal the heroic themes that will animate the series. It also includes brief foul language, intense jeopardy and action violence, an occult comment, crude name-calling, and implied political and romantic elements. The source review also notes a rich-versus-poor, anti-capitalist motif.
So, if you are choosing for older children or adults, this is a watchable beginning that calls for discernment. For younger children, wait for more information about the series.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTen years after the Justice Society is defeated and Starman dies, Starman’s former sidekick, Pat, marries Barbara, a woman with a teenage daughter named Courtney. The family moves from Los Angeles to Nebraska, where Pat plans to open a garage.
Courtney is unhappy with the move until she discovers Pat’s hidden superhero gear, including Starman’s powerful Cosmic Staff. The staff appears to choose Courtney as Starman’s heir, pulling her into a battle between heroes and villains.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an engaging, effective opening, though not yet a fully developed statement of what the series will be. The script and cast do a good job setting the stage for what is to come.
The episode offers engaging fun and some morally uplifting elements. Its battle between good and evil is clear, even if viewers do not yet get a good look at the heroic themes that will guide the story.
The Worldview
The pilot presents a light moral worldview centered on good versus evil. The heroic side is distinguished from villains and bullies, while Courtney’s mother and new stepfather are concerned about protecting Courtney and her stepbrother, Mike. Pat’s decision to open a small garage also gives the episode a small-town business atmosphere.
The review identifies implied Romantic, politically correct elements that seem to promote a liberal view toward tradition. It also notes a rich-versus-poor, anti-capitalist motif, especially through the wealthy supervillain. At the same time, the pilot includes a positive stepfather who owns a small garage, creating some tension within that motif.
The episode also includes a comment about the stars being aligned for Courtney’s discovery of the Cosmic Staff, along with a visual image supporting that astrological idea. This establishes a possible metaphorical link to occult astrology.
The pilot’s central moral idea is that good and evil are real, and that protecting others matters. Scripture likewise calls us to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Light moral worldview about good versus evil, tinged, however, with some implied Romantic, politically correct elements that seem to promote a liberal view toward tradition and a rich versus poor anti-capitalist motif, but title character’s positive stepfather owns a small garage (future episodes in the series will show how politically correct the program’s creators will take the program), plus there’s an comment and a visual image supporting the astrological idea that the stars are “being aligned”
Foul Language
Teenage boy calls one girl the “b” word after calling another girl “slut,” teenage girl says the “h” word, boy uses a** word, and character says OMG profanity
Violence
Strong action violence in several scenes includes man and teenage girl use staff with super powers to fight villains and bullies, mansion is filled with green fires, blue and yellow energy bolts hit people and things and cause a couple explosions, man impaled in stomach by some kind of pointy object thrown by villain, heroes and villains punch and hit one another during opening fight scene, man dies of his stomach wound, staff with super powers drags teenage girl into the air and to other places, supervillain uses telekinetic powers to hurl rocks and tires at a couple people, same supervillain uses his power to drag a teenage girl toward him to interrogate her, he threatens to “melt” the girl’s brain, teenage girl does gymnastic tricks with staff that levitates, etc.
Sex
No sex, but teenage boy calls a girl a “slut”
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Bullying but rebuked, teenage girl sneaks out of the house, girl’s father doesn’t show up for Christmas and vanishes, and teenage girl is wary around her stepfather but she comes around when he shows he wants to protect her and her mother and her stepbrother.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The pilot presents a clear battle between good and evil. How does Scripture describe the way Christians should respond to evil?
Romans 12:21 · Ephesians 5:11Courtney is wary of her stepfather before she sees that he wants to protect her family. What actions help build trust in a family?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Ephesians 4:32Bullying is rebuked in the episode. What does God ask us to do when we see someone being mistreated?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · Philippians 2:3–4The story includes an idea about the stars being aligned. What does Scripture teach about the Creator and the heavens?
Genesis 1:14–18 · Psalm 19:1The Final Word
This pilot is engaging fun with a clear moral conflict and an appealing family-protection theme. Its content and worldview concerns make discernment necessary, and the series has not yet shown where its heroic themes will lead. For older children and adults, WAIT AND SEE.
