WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "The Justice Society," the latest episode of Stargirl.

DC Universe's Stargirl has revealed why Hourman's super strength lasts for only one hour.

In "The Justice Society," the latest episode, Pat discovered Courtney had stolen the Justice Society of America's equipment from their headquarters. Worse, she had given it out to several of her classmates -- including Rick Tyler, the son of Rex "Hourman" Tyler. As a result, Pat sought out Rick and explained Hourman's intentions for the hourglass.

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First, Pat brought Rick back to his mechanic shop, where he was working on the truck that belongs to Rick's Uncle Matt. The truck was bent nearly in half, with a fist imprint at the center of the blow. Pat, of course, had already put two-and-two together as soon as he realized Courtney gave the hourglass away. So, he asked Rick if he was the one who had broken the truck, and then admonished him.

"Your father would never have used his power like that," Pat chided. Rick insisted it didn't matter because his father is dead, then reiterated his need for revenge. Nevertheless, Pat offered him a chance to help and gave him his father's journal, in the hopes he could decode it.

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After a while, Rick was able to make some headway by pointing out some inaccuracies; for instance, the journal claimed Rex grew up in Michigan and met his wife at Calvin College, when in reality they grew up together in Connecticut. He suggested this might be part of the code, then promised to keep looking at it.

However, Pat asked for both the journal and the hourglass back. "Because I don't think you're ready for it, Rick," he admitted.

"You don't know me any better than you knew my dad," Rick shot back.

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"I know that he invented the hourglass, the power inside it," Pat replied. "I also know how much he respected that power. He knew how addictive that power could be and how tempting it was to use it in all the wrong ways. Limiting the powers was his idea. One hour a day, and I never saw him abuse it. Not like you have."

At that, Rick accused Pat of being useless, since Pat hadn't tracked down the Injustice Society after all these years. Then, he took his father's journal and the hourglass and stormed out of the shop.

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In this, Pat echoes an old adage by Lord Acton: "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Using the hourglass, Rex had super strength for one hour -- but for that one hour, he was incredibly powerful. With this built-in limitation, though, he intentionally circumvented any temptation to use this power for evil or selfish purposes. Thanks to this, Rex may also teach his son a lesson in patience, albeit indirectly. After all, Rick wants to charge in and exact revenge on the Injustice Society, but this limitation may end up preventing him from making a risky move like that on his own.

DC Universe's Stargirl stars Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore (Stargirl) and Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan (S.T.R.I.P.E.). The series airs Monday on DC Universe and Tuesdays on The CW at 8 pm ET/PT.

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