Warning: SPOILERS for DC’s Stargirl season 1, episode 7, “Shiv Part One”
Stargirl season 1 is continuing to establish not only the second generation of the Justice Society of America but also the Injustice Society, as Cindy Burman (Meg DeLacy) takes center stage in the latest episode as Shiv. The primary focus, when it comes to the Injustice Society, has been on the adults as the series follow their lives in Blue Valley ever since they took down the JSA a decade ago. In the first few episodes, Stargirl season 1 has established how many of them have large roles in the town, giving them a lot of power. However, as they get further fleshed out, including their plans for Project America, the DC drama is also putting the spotlight on their families who may or may not play bigger parts in the future.
With Cameron Mahkent (Hunter Sansone), Henry King Jr (Jake Austin Walker), Artemis Crock (Stella Smith), and Isaac Bowin (Max Frantz) all having been villains in the comics, only time will tell if they’ll eventually begin to evolve into their comic counterparts. However, there is at least one of the kids that is evidently meant to play a significant part in the Injustice Society and that is Cindy. Known as Shiv in the comics, the TV version has so far followed her as the mean It Girl of Blue Valley High and been a rival for Courtney since her first day. But as Courtney’s new JSA is taking shape, the set-up for the next potential generation of the Injustice Society had a big development in the latest episode.
Throughout Stargirl season 1, episode 7 “Shiv Part One”, Cindy takes center stage as more layers about her character are revealed other than being the Queen Bee of school. It’s established that she knows about her father’s criminal life as Dragon King and his part in the Injustice Society. She also knows that the Injustice Society’s kids don’t know about their parents’ true identities. Additionally, Cindy is wanting in on her father’s criminal activities by becoming a member of the Injustice Society. But her father, who gave Cindy powers, is against the idea despite her wanting to do more than just be a teenager in high school.
As Cindy learns about the existence of Stargirl, she decides to defy Dragon King’s wishes when she begins suspecting that Courtney is the new heroine that the Injustice Society is trying to stop. Cindy goes to look for her father to tell him what she has discovered. But as she fails to find him, Cindy steals a uniform as well as a powerful staff and confronts Stargirl in a showdown that ends with Courtney’s defeat. During their fight, not only is Cindy seen as an experienced fighter, but her ability to instantly heal is revealed after she gets blasted by Stargirl’s staff in her face.
While she fails to kill Stargirl, Cindy’s first outing as Shiv establishes that she is a formidable foe for Courtney. With the next episode being part 2 of Shiv’s debut, Stargirl has made the case for how she might be the leader of the next Injustice Society, should the other kids embrace their respective DC roles as villains. Whether or not Shiv will be setting up the next Injustice Society this season or if she will join the current one against the new JSA remains to be seen. But with only 6 episodes remaining of Stargirl season 1, viewers will find out soon enough.
