On the penultimate episode of Black Lightning this week, Jefferson decided he would ambush Whale with a device that would simulate his ability to erase memories, while giving him the deed to his father’s house. Elsewhere, Jennifer sought justice for Uriah’s death, and the rest of the family continued to find a way to restore their powers.
1. Jefferson’s Life Comes Full Circle
Jeff comforts Jennifer over Uriah’s death at the start, by explaining he knows how she feels, because of how similarly powerless he felt to prevent his father’s murder as a child. He’s powerless again thanks to Whale’s stolen emitter device, and history repeats itself when he confronts the mobster in his childhood home, with Whale forcefeeding him his papers before apparently killing him. Whale uses Jeff’s phone to taunt Jennifer, warning her that this is what happens to anyone who tries to be a hero in her family.
Now, obviously Jeff’s not really dead, nor will he stay that way — this is part one of the “resurrection” of Black Lightning, not Lightning after all — but I imagine that for Whale, this was a poetic end for his nemesis, finishing what he started where it all began; similarly, I hope Jeff using his powers to undo Whale’s artificial youth will be a poetic end for the villain who should’ve been put out to pasture a long time ago.
2. No Back-Up?
That said, it was a bit contrived that Jeff would confront Whale alone; granted, he was trying not to arouse his suspicions, but he could’ve had Shakur, Gambi, or heck, one of the Arrow sidekicks who aren’t doing anything right now, standing by with a scoped rifle. (They would then get attacked by one of Whale’s metaboosted assassins when his ploy failed, paying off that scene with the Shadow Board.) It felt like the writers worked back from what they wanted the cliffhanger to be, which is never great.
3. Lethal Lightning No More
At the start of the season, Jeff was beating himself over his daughters killing, something that didn’t help when Jen was blamed for Mayor Black’s death. Here, we’re kept in suspense as to whether she’ll kill Red for taking Uriah’s life or not, and then witness her delivering him to Chief Lopez, complete with the evidence needed to convict him. It’s excellent that Jen has learned to play things by the rules, including holding those in law enforcement accountable too; and on that note, I really liked seeing her mask recolor her eyes while recording Lopez’s reaction, as it’s something you often see in comics, but not media for budgetary reasons. Anyway, go Lightning!
4. Backstory Time for Lopez
Speaking of Lopez, we finally get some insight into why she dislikes metahumans so much, as the conversation between her and Shakur — where he convinces her to hold off on using Whale’s boosters — reveals her husband was a meta, who went insane and killed her brothers. Don’t feel too sorry for her though: when she does inject herself at the end, she’s doing it because Lightning wounded her ego, not because she wants to bring her to justice — those are crocodile tears she’s weeping, because she clearly knows she’s becoming what she hates, and is still letting her fear and hatred consume her anyway.
5. Ignorance is Bliss
Anissa and Grace have an interesting debate over whether to inform the expectant mothers who thought they were undergoing screenings, which was the cover Whale used to harvest their children’s metagenes: Anissa wants to expose the truth, but Grace feels it’s not a trauma they should have to deal with. I can understand why Anissa felt they had to though, as nothing gets done if it’s all covered up, and medical atrocities against the Black community are still going on to this day. Still, it is nice to have a couple who can disagree without being dramatic about it (*cough*Jeff/Lynn*cough*).
Bonus Thoughts:
– Khalil and Ishmael’s fight was excellent, but I was hoping for a more dramatic exit for his character. Still, “you cheated” was a rather funny set of last words.
– I think Whale dealing metahuman powers to anyone willing to work for them is a unique thread — similar to mutant growth hormone in Marvel Comics — that other Arrowverse shows could easily pick up.
– Gambi explains the promethium was created last season when Gravedigger used Lightning to destroy the ASA’s barrier, and irradiated Freeland’s underground minerals… so so much for my theories last week.
Well folks, next week is the series finale. It’s been an interesting few years hasn’t it? Let’s keep praying for the Pierces until then.
