Thread by @auronburner

I wish I had it in better quality, but I've been wanting to talk about the anatomy of this #DCStargirl fight scene all day. Because wow just what a show, the acting, the directing, the score, the choreography, this is peak superhero TV.

First of all, I love that Stargirl embraces its essential "comic bookyness". They're not trying to make the fights John Wick. There's zero effort to make characters move realistically or hide that the stunts are on wires. The movements are like live action comic panels.

Characters soar through the air, strike heroic poses mid-battle, and toss off one-liners. It's a ham and cheese sandwich and it's GLORIOUS. And that makes it all the more shocking when the tone suddenly changes and what's going on becomes frightening.

It's clear from the start that Starman is going off the reservation here as civilians panic like a mass shooter is on the loose in their supermarket. These characters have unresolved issues and maybe they needed to settle it, but this wasn't the time and certainly not the place.

But still, it seems fun at first, blowing off steam. The Crocks certainly don't seem to mind, they've fought Starman again and again in the past, he's a fun opponent, they like a good brawl. But then he gets serious and the whole thing stops being amusing at all.

That moment, where the lights blow out and the music shifts, was just chilling. At this point Starman has clearly won, he's made his point and it's time to stop. But he doesn't, and the Crocks can sense something is wrong, this isn't like all the other times they've fought him.

They stop smiling and joking, they make one last assault with everything they have because suddenly they realize...he's not there to arrest them. He's there to kill them.

What comes after could be a scene from a slasher movie as he slowly walks after his enemies with a look of implacable determination, enemies who clearly have no ability to meaningfully fight back anymore.

And as the cosmic staff floats in the air off Starman's shoulder, it's clear that he's only moments from giving the mental command for it to fly forwards and shish kebab them both when, thank God, Pat arrives in STRIPE and forces Sylvester to back off.

And SO much credit to Joy Osmanski and Neil Hopkins for selling the shit out of this. You can see how terrified they are, they know what's going to happen, they know their daughter is about to be an orphan, and yet their determination to die on their feet, with their dignity.

It really redeems those two characters, who have often seemed like bullies in the past, but bullies are cowards and here they are, standing strong against an impossible foe so that even if they can't be there for Artemis anymore, she'll be proud of them. It shows they've grown.

Stargirl is notable for its amazing fight scenes despite a CW budget, but this one was next level in the gravitas and fear it brought to the table. Kudos @geoffjohns @stargirl_cw @joyosmanski @neilehopkins @joelmchale and of course director Walter Carlos Garcia!

#RenewStargirl