Blue Valley is full of tensions as former villains try to integrate into a new way of life and the returned Starman tries to find his own place in a world that thinks he’s dead. Those tensions rise still further when an old enemy reappears and professes a desire also to turn over a new leaf.

Stargirl season 2 (aka Summer School) felt like a weird side project rather than an actual full second season, and the best part was the setup it left us with before its final credits, of the former villains suddenly wanting to go straight and live side by side with their former enemies, as well as the reveal that Sylvester was still very much alive. So how does all this play out in this opening episode of Season 3 (‘Frenemies’)? Interestingly.

Life it seems, is never straightforward for poor Courtney. On the one hand, she has to deal with the fact that the O.G. owner of the staff is back in town and living in her basement. That’s awkward, because as much as he might protest that he’s not here to reclaim the staff and that it chose Courtney and he’s fine with it, his actions speak differently. A new case for the staff, a joyride with Pat, and even subtle things in the way that he speaks to his old friend and sidekick emphasise that there’s more going on here, and tensions aplenty to ratchet in the season to come.

As if that weren’t enough, Courtney also has the small issue of unrest in the ranks of the JSA. Having admitted Cindy to the group, Courtney may be wishing she hadn’t bothered between Cindy’s inherent obnoxiousness and Yolanda and Rick’s general displeasure at the situation. You’d think that maybe given both their respective backstories these two might have a little more sympathy for the idea of second chances but then Cindy really isn’t making herself easy to like here.

And of course, there’s the factor of the Whitmore-Dugan’s new neighbours – Crusher is determined to get Pat back in the gym and Paula has a subject she wishes to broach with Barbara, and that’s before we get to the fact that Cindy isn’t the only baddie looking to maybe get in on the JSA’s act.

Against all this backdrop, into town walks the Gambler, looking as sinister as ever but insisting that he’s a changed man looking to make amends and with a powerful motivation for reform. Courtney, for her part, is intent on believing in him (for reasons which actually make sense) but nobody else – either her family and friends or his former partners in crime – is buying it.

I will say that unlike the previous season, this feels more like it actually has somewhere to go, and that might be very interesting indeed. Add in that the Shade is still very much around and as charming as ever and I for one am looking forward to where this third go around of Blue Valley takes us.

Verdict: A strong opener for what promises to be an interesting season. 8/10

Greg D. Smith