WARNING: This interview includes spoilers from DC’s Stargirl season 2, episode 9 – read at your own risk.
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The ninth episode of DC’s Stargirl season 2 has finally arrived and it officially brought John Wesley Shipp’s Jay Garrick into the Stargirl universe by revealing his history on Earth-2. While fans of The Flash know Jay as the Golden Age speedster as part of Barry Allen’s team, Jay’s superhero history goes way back as he was part of the Justice Society of America.
ALSO READ: Part 1 Of The Flash Podcast/DC TV Podcasts’ Exclusive Interview With John Wesley Shipp
But as the ninth episode revealed, the JSA did have its fair share of dark chapters. Following the big debate about how to deal with Eclipso, “Summer School: Chapter Nine,” established that the way they defeated Eclipso the first time wasn’t exactly something all of them agreed on, including Jay. Following our first part with Shipp, the actor broke down the dynamics of episode 9, including the relationship they were touching upon between Jay and Pat. When asked about what is different with Jay’s history on Earth-2, especially after Crisis on Infinite Earths, Shipp touched upon the tough choices that the JSA had to deal with;
“The choice that we have here is short-term pain for long-term gain or short-term gain for long-term pain. The way the society votes, deeply disappoints Jay. I think Jay understands it. Because there is no perfect choice, and you don’t get to abstain, you must choose. And if it’s the lesser of two evils in your mind at that time, that’s what you need to choose. Different members come down. I think, Pat expresses it so beautifully in the tone of voice that he uses both times. I think he says the word no, three or four times in the scene. And every time he says it, there’s a slightly different color. ‘No, I voted no.’ [Starman goes] ‘Get the car.’ [Pat says] ‘I voted no’, I so relate to him in that moment. And I think we see an extremely great affection that I don’t know was protectiveness that, that Jay as a founding member and a person who has a lot of authority within the society feels toward tat because those the pack comes from a place of absolute sincerity.”
When asked about what his headcanon is for Pat and Jay’s dynamic, Shipp shared how understanding the Golden Age Flash was for Stripsey. While exploring his history with Pat, Shipp also described how the scenes hinted at Jay’s respective relationship with the individual JSA members.
“Well, I think I think that Jay is the kind of leader that that wouldn’t interfere. In the thing in the society. It’s like interfering in nature, Jay wouldn’t interfere in how each member hooks into the society and the roles that they play. But he sees what’s happening. He knows that Starman used to be Pat. Joel McHale who is playing Starman was the assistant. In an earlier incarnation, he was the one that was told to go do this, go fetch this, go get that. And so it’s odd that now he turns around and is treating Pat the way that he was treated in comic book lore. Jay sees all of this happening. Then he also appreciates the exquisite sensitivity of Pat and so he relates to that, you know, when packets called down for calling and The Flash in public, he turns to purposefully calls him Stripsey, when Pat asked the question, and there was the members asked the question, I think Starman says that.
I turned to Pat to give the answer. Jay says more with his actions than he does with his words. Although I have to get a little tough with Wildcat when he’s saying that Pat doesn’t get a vote. I’d say ‘He does!’ The firmest that we see him be and that’s what we tried to differentiate. How does Jay relate to Pat, as opposed to how does he relate to Wildcat? How does he relate to Ted? How does he relate to Rex? From the way he relates to Sylvester and I leave Sylvester to last because I feel like I’m going to be pitching a lateral pass, I assume that Sylvester is going to be on the side of not violating the principles of the JSA for any reason. And so I tried to talk, even I may have one line, when I call their names, I try to differentiate so that we get a little glimpse of Jay, Jay’s different relationship. He has the authority within the JSA when Wildcat says he doesn’t get a vote, and I say he does, that’s end of discussion! Jay has said he does. And so Jay knows that he’s moving within his own seat of authority in this group at that time, and that’s a really different experience for me playing Jay. And was a wonderful color to get to explore that I don’t necessarily get to explore now that I’m on The Flash show, and there’s a faster Flash than I am, you know. So that was very interesting for me.”
“JOHN WESLEY SHIPP GUEST STARS AS JAY GARRICK — As Eclipso (Nick Tarabay) takes aim at the Whitmore/Dugan’s, Pat (Luke Wilson) is reminded of painful memories from his past involving the original JSA and their fight to take down Eclipso. Meanwhile, Mike (Trae Romano) is forced to confront the guilt he feels for his role in Icicle’s death, and Barbara (Amy Smart) comes face to face with someone from her past. Finally, Courtney (Brec Bassinger) struggles to hold onto hope after Eclipso targets those around her. Hunter Sansone also stars. Andi Armaganian directed the episode written by Alfredo Septién & Turi Meyer (#209). Original airdate 10/5/2021.”
DC’s Stargirl season 2 air new episodes on Tuesday nights at 8/7c on The CW – stream them the next day only on The CW and The CW app!
DISCLAIMER: Please do not reproduce the interview or break up pieces through screenshots. We request that you link to our original articles when using it on other platforms.