Can we talk about how Stargirl used the family dog as a target for Eclipso?

When it comes to dogs on TV, we have yet to discuss the fact that Stargirl really does have a doggy presence thanks to Buddy the Bulldog. And yet, in the ninth episode of Season 2, we can’t help but focus on this furry family member thanks to the series using the dog as a weapon of sorts against Mike.

In a scene that was chilling (both literally and figuratively if you will), we see Eclipso messing with Mike’s mind by having Cameron confronting him about killing his father at the end of Stargirl Season 1. And according to faux-Cameron, he plans to take everything away from Mike and Courtney.

So what does this have to do with Buddy the Bulldog? In a scene where Cameron is apparently confronting Mike about what happened to his father, we see Buddy try to come to Mike’s rescue only for the dog to be “frozen” by Cameron’s powers.

The fact that this scene was only Eclipso playing with Mike’s mind doesn’t negate the fact that Stargirl used a dog to get to our characters and make them suffer.

Stargirl used Buddy the Bulldog as a way to harm Mike

We hate even the idea of them hurting the dog to get to any member of Stargirl’s family. And the fact that Buddy wasn’t really hurt doesn’t change the threat to the Bulldog in any way. In fact, it almost feels worse because it was a ploy to mentally hurt Mike.

There is a common idea in entertainment that you don’t hurt the dog. It is one that so many of us live by. And to see Stargirl skirt that line leaves us wondering just how safe the pup really is.

We love the fact that Courtney and Mike have a dog and that dog pops up often enough to make it clear that this is a beloved family pet that even Pat talks to when he needs to vent or get something off his chest. But, since Buddy isn’t exactly a main part of the storyline, we don’t really discuss him very often. And yet, to see Eclipso use Buddy against Mike like this was awful and made it clear that even our furry friend can be a victim.

We are not okay with that idea, and yet it also added to the intensity of the scene in a way we never expected.

What did you think of this episode of Stargirl? Were you surprised to see Buddy targeted, even if it wasn’t real? We want to hear your thoughts about this whole Buddy thing.