Black Lightning season 3 kicked off its second arc with Jefferson’s relationship with the ASA and Lynn becoming seriously strained; Anissa becoming seriously ill with Painkiller’s poison still coursing through her veins; and the Markovians infiltrating their way through to the ASA’s base in the 100 Club.
1. Anissa Doesn’t Feel So Good
Anissa begins the episode with a recorded last will and testament, which makes you think she’s going to do something rash to avenge Tavon’s death last week. It’s an intriguing cold open, which quickly gaves way to the reveal Painkiller’s poison is in her system, and thanks to her metahuman healing, she has a week or two at most to live, unless Gambi can strengthen the antivenom he created before. It’s worrying to see Anissa is such a sickly state this week, but it also starts to become a little dull after that striking opening (dying is dull work I suppose). (Fortunately, there’s some pay off in this episode when it leads Gambi to discover Khalil’s grave is empty.)
2. Offscreen Shenanigans
I’m pretty stunned that after the first commercial break, we’re told – but not shown – by Lynn that Black Lightning put two ASA soldiers in the hospital and “Zorro’d” a lightning symbol onto a building. Before the break we see Jefferson leaving Tavon’s funeral: it happened during commercial! That is such a hilarious way to save time and money on advancing the plot. Likewise, we’re told by Henderson that Truthteller Johnson’s body was found fished out of the river: RIP Johnson, we hardly knew ye.
3. Not Static
Jennifer sneaks into Brandon’s apartment after discovering his abilities last week, and learns he’s been keeping tabs on Lynn. After a confrontation, Brandon explains he’s actually searching for Dr. Jace, who murdered his own mother: we also learn his ability to absorb Jennifer’s energy is a side effect of his true powers, which are to manipulate earth (including the nifty trick of turning coal into diamonds).
I’m a bit confused why they didn’t talk about this immediately after he revealed his powers last week, but oh well. My primary query after this development is why didn’t the showrunners take the opportunity to introduce Virgil Hawkins, aka Static? Fans have been hoping for him to be introduced on this show, given his similar powers to the Pierce family. Perhaps they decided he was too similar?
4. Is Lynn Breaking Bad?
It’s pretty clear Lynn’s decision to separate from Jefferson again, and to give Whale the information on the kids she’s helping is meant, to be the result of her drug-addled mind. However, I can’t help but think it’s pretty understandable: we may be upset about her actions, but she can’t be seen allied with someone turning against the ASA lest it jeopardize her patients, and likewise she needs someone on the inside who hates Odell as much as she does. Is it just me?
5. Instantly Back
Tosin Morohunfola’s teleporting assassin Instant, who is easily the coolest and most underused character on the show, makes his third appearance this week, helping the Markovian colonel Yuri Mosin launch an attack from inside the ASA’s headquarters. It’s surprising that, even when his teleportation powers are disabled by Odell’s tech, they manage to effortlessly dispatch all the ASA’s soldiers inside, making them even cooler.
Odell is injured, and Mosin prepares to finish him off, but Black Lightning’s entry causes Instant to grab the colonel and teleport away. Instant says he was paid to get Mosin in but not to fight Black Lightning, establishing he’s a very smart coward. Now if someone can pay Instant to fight Black Lightning, I’d be very grateful, because I’m sure it’d be a dazzling display of choreography.
Bonus thoughts:
– There’s a somewhat amusing continuity issue with Jamillah Olsen holding up her phone while accosting Jefferson after the funeral: she’s noticeably holding it higher during her close-ups.
– Jefferson and Anissa’s discussion about feeling guilty over Tavon’s is unintentionally funny: no no, I should feel guilty, no no, I insist I take the blame.
Well, that was a sloppier episode than usual – see you next week for part two of the “Book of Resistance”!
