This week on Black Lightning, Whale framed Jefferson for embezzlement, prompting an FBI search of the Pierce household. As Garfield High was rocked by the allegation, Jennifer returned to the school for the first time under her new persona J.J. Stewart; Lynn and Gambi sought to work out the identity of Mayor Black’s assassin; and Anissa and Grace found themselves pursued by Ishmael.
1. Pleasant and Unpleasant Surprises
The episode begins with Anissa and Grace receiving a surprise party at the Pierce household after their honeymoon in Akashic Valley — well, it’s more of a surprise party for Grace, since Anissa decided to disclose to her parents that they got married over the phone. Isn’t it great that Black Lightning decided to push aside the family drama caused by secrets for once?
Unfortunately the mood is quickly deflated when a SWAT team, led by Special Agent Kevin Mason (Jamal Akakpo), knocks on the door with a search warrant. We’re shown (although Jeff doesn’t notice) that Mason is a metahuman who also has electricity coursing through his veins, but since he doesn’t appear again in the episode, what exactly this portends for the rest of the season, I can’t say — it may just as well have been a worldbuilding, “hey, this is part of the DCU” touch.
2. Montel v Eriah: Dawn of Cancel Culture
When Jen returns to the school, she sees popular boy Montel (Jemarcus Kilgore) protesting against Jeff’s alleged corruption, and the more withdrawn Uriah (McKalin Hand) standing up to him, explaining he’s skeptical about the reports. Being a “new kid,” “J.J.” decides to befriend the outcast, who says he dislikes “cancel culture.” Firstly, it is peculiar to see a Black kid use that term, which is a centrist/right-wing misappropriation of what was an AAVE phrase to dismiss legitimate criticism — it feels like the writers tried too hard to think of what a teenager would say, and wound up using the version wielded by middle-aged elitists trying to cling onto power.
Secondly, do you remember the allegations about showrunner Salim Akil? For a moment, it felt like he was using the show as a soapbox for a personal grievance, rather than representation for the whole Black community. I understand, as Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote, that Black people are more likely to be “canceled” for spurious reasons than white people, but still; it took me out of the moment.
3. Salt in the Wound
Whale buys the land Jeff’s childhood home is on to build a hospital, which would require bulldozing the house Alvin Pierce bought — bad enough he murdered his father, now Whale wants to destroy the property Jeff intended to pass on to his children? Jennifer says she’ll probably be fine if it is demolished, since she can always wing her way towards gaining her own home, but the fact is, Whale is pulling out all the stops to hurt Jeff any way he can, and we are well and truly headed for a reckoning: matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this all ends in the house where their feud began.
4. Full Leopard
Destiny’s new assassin Ishmael shows up again, targeting members of Anissa’s Blackbird network, before attacking her and Grace while they were looking for evidence to clear Jeff’s name. The couple put up a good fight, but are eventually overpowered, and only escape when Grace fully transforms into her leopard form, which prompted the lacerated assassin to flee. It was a decent, drawn out fight scene, but it made me long for the likes of Daredevil with their unedited takes — but at least it fulfiled its goal of making you realize just how formidable Ishmael truly is.
5. Khalil Surprise
It seems T.C. has been in sporadic contact with Khalil since his departure, updating him and Philky on what’s happening in Freeland, and remotely helping him with the Painkiller persona still in his brain. Khalil can smell Whale’s behind the embezzlement charges, and this is a strong indication he’ll likely return to help Jeff get his revenge… or maybe he’ll dig up some evidence in Akashic Valley. Who knows?
Bonus Thoughts:
– I felt so sorry for Gambi not getting to play with any powers when it seemed like Val’s tissue sample had proved to be a bust, but nope, turns out she can nullify powers; something that’ll likely make the final battle with Whale even more challenging.
Continued below– Lynn discovers Jen’s molecules are still unstable, but decides not to make Jeff worry about it; do any of you reckon it’s at all possible we’ll see another version of Jennifer this season?
– Gambi and Jeff should probably leak that footage of Red threatening Baxter at Monovista.
– Jen turning off the music with her powers was a funny touch.
See you all next week for “The Book of Ruin, Chapter Four.”
