Fun DC superhero show has fantasy violence, strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Lots of fantasy violence (people flying through the air, explosions, etc.), car crashes, stabbings, and other violent moments. Sometimes bloody (and on rare occasion, fatal) injuries are visible. References to violent video games.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
A vintage Cadillac is central to the series. Smartwater, Ocean Spray, and other brands are shown. The Goonies film is visible.
Positive Messages
some
Themes like good versus evil, family, and friendship are explored. Themes include courage, curiosity, perseverance, and teamwork.
Positive Role Models
some
Courtney is young and makes mistakes like most teens, but finds her purpose by following Starman's footsteps. Despite pressures from school, she isn't intimidated by, or looking for praise by men. Villains ultimately want to control or destroy the world around them, and Stargirl wants to stop them.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Stargirl is a fun series about a young superhero from the DC Comics universe (Brec Bassinger). It has lots of both teen drama and fantasy violence -- including car crashes, explosions, and people being thrown across rooms, stabbed, and more (bloody wounds are visible). Language can also be strong, with words like "ass," "hell," "bitch," and "crap." A young woman is called a "slut" by school bullies. Boyfriends and dating are mentioned. Adults drink alcohol on occasion. A vintage Cadillac is featured throughout the series, and logos for products like Smart Water and Ocean Spray are displayed prominently. The show offers positive gender representation and has themes of courage, curiosity, perseverance, and teamwork.
This is a fun super hero show with its story steeped in the Golden Age of DC Comics that starts a little slow, but after a few episodes, really takes off!
There are some dark moments and bloody violent scenes as season 1 progresses, and you really start to see the stakes being raised when one innocent child is killed a few episodes in while Stargirl is fighting a villain.
Also, some of the themes such as texting inappropriate pictures and the consequences of that are shown.
And the language can be rough at times, especially when some of the villains speak up.
So this isn't for younger children.
But, overall, this is a fairly lighthearted and fun show that should be good entertainment for everyone 12+.
Come on season 2!
Hopefully the CW doesn't ruin this one.
What's the Story?
From the co-creator of The Flash, Batwoman, and Arrow, comes STARGIRL, a story about a young woman who discovers her true legacy as a superhero. Ten years ago the Golden Age of Heroes ended after members of the Justice Society were murdered, including Starman (Joel McHale) the holder of the Cosmic Staff. Today, young high school gymnast Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) finds herself moving to Nebraska from California with her mom Barbara (Amy Smart), step-dad Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson), and new stepbrother Mike (Trae Romano). But after coming across some of Pat's things in the basement, she discovers that her stepfather is not who he seems to be. She also realizes that her place in the world is defined by a birthright that she knew nothing about. Now it's up to Courtney to ensure the survival of The Justice Society, and protect the world from its enemies, including Icicle (Neil Jackson) and Brain Wave (Christopher James Baker). But she and Pat have to keep her identity a secret, which makes it harder to deal with school bullies like Henry King Jr. (Jake Austin Walker) and Cindy Burman (Meg DeLacy). Luckily, she's got friends like Yolanda Montez (Yvette Monreal), Beth Chapel (Anjelika Washington), and Rick Tyler (Cameron Gellman) to help her deal with them.
This fun series, based on a newer DC character, offers all the expected comic-style heroics plus a healthy dose of teen angst. Courtney Whitmore is young, energetic, and doesn't always listen, but she also doesn't shy away from standing up for what she believes is right. Her new role as a superhero gives her a larger sense of purpose, but it's the relationship with her stepfather that makes her journey all the more interesting. The tension created by some of the villains' high school-aged progeny also adds to the fray. Overall, Stargirl tells a fresh, fun story, and is an entertaining addition to the DC Comics TV universe.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Courtney Whitmore. How does DC's Stargirl set her apart from other female superheroes like Kate Kane or Kara Danvers? Are there any similarities between them?
How do you see Stargirl show character strengths like courage? How does her bravery make her a good role model?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
