The Markovians are attacking Freeland, and the ASA are more concerned with eliminating loose ends – like Lynn and Dr. Jace – than the threat itself, leaving Black Lightning and friends alone to stop Gravedigger from reaching the Pit. Let’s pick up the pieces from Black Lightning‘s third season finale:
1. Baby Lightning
During their initial clash that began during last week’s cliffhanger, Gravedigger quickly deduces Jennifer is Black Lightning’s daughter and dubs her “baby Lightning,” presumably explaining why she’s finally taken on her comics counterpart’s codename during the hearing at the end of the episode. However, oddly, Gambi refers to her as Lightning when he’s coordinating things during the episode – these oversights happen when you have a million moving pieces like this finale, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
2. EVERYBODY DIES!
OK, not everybody, but the stakes are set high early on when Jamillah Olsen gets shot down live on her broadcast (which is very bleak). Commander Williams finds Jace in Brandon’s apartment and executes her, and tries to do the same to Lynn, but she’s taken another meta-booster and deflects his bullets, knocking him out and leaving him for dead. Major Grey tries to retrieve the briefcase from Gambi’s shop, but she and her team are no match for the veteran former agent and TC, and she’s left to die from a bullet wound.
But the big death of this episode, and perhaps of the whole series until now, was Chief Henderson, who goes down getting the jump on a pair of snipers who their scopes fixed on Jefferson and Jennifer. It’s the most infuriating demise, not because he dies saving someone’s life, but because he’s subjected to the indignity of a hole in his chest, denying him hospital transport. I admit I welled up slightly when Jefferson admitted Henderson was his best friend, because he’s been part of the cast for so long. Farewell, and thank you for your work Damon Gupton: it’s just a shame we didn’t see him in the last few episodes, or to see the teased prospect of his character running for mayor playing out.
3. Gravedigger Goes from Likable to Unlikable
Having made Gravedigger really sympathetic, the show’s creators backtrack a little by his character’s dirty secret: he hates Martin Luther King Jr.! He calls him a coward! Er, excuse me, but where were you during the Civil Rights Movement? Sipping vodka in Markovia? I just love that the writers thought they’d made Gravedigger too reasonable, and pulled the nuclear option of him badmouthing one of history’s greatest leaders, right after his common criticism of Obama.
4. Khalil’s Himself, for Better or Worse
Like I suggested last week, Khalil defeats Painkiller by accepting this is a part of who he is, and we’re symbolically shown this through his (now rather ’90s music video-esque) mental landscape when he defeats his evil alter-ego in combat. It’s a cool sequence, even if there was no money to show both of their faces in the same shot. Afterwards, Khalil intercepts Odell when he’s trying to skip town and pulls a gun behind him, explaining he needs to avenge his mom. Black Lightning quickly shows up (which was fast: how’d he even know?), and explains Odell needs to held publicly accountable. Disgruntled, Khalil shoots Odell in the spleen, meaning he’ll suffer but survive, setting up an intriguingly morally ambigious relationship for next season.
5. Season 4 Thoughts
So on that note: the judges at the hearing at the end of the episode declare the ASA has been disbanded after Black Lightning has exposed its crimes to the public with the briefcase. I suppose post-Crisis this opens the door to Jefferson working with a much more reasonable government agency like ARGUS – which is just as well, given Gardner Grayle will need a new employer.
Gravedigger’s shown to have survived the Pit’s detonation, and very pleased the truth that the ASA’s history of experimentation on Black people has been exposed: it’ll be very interesting to see whether we start seeing a more passive side to him, who can work with Jefferson instead of in opposition to him. We’re also shown Lynn is still stashing Green Light to help with her anxiety, and Whale hints from his hideout he’ll be blackmailing her to regain his throne in Freeland – well bully for you Tobias, ‘cos her family knows and is helping her! Right?
Continued belowBonus Thoughts:
– Wait, so how’d everyone else survive the explosion in the Pit? Answers in the comments please.
– Black Lightning and Gravedigger’s opening bout is the most comic booky fight on the show to date.
– Painkiller performing gun fu was short but sweet.
– It brought joy to me seeing Henderson and Lala’s people doing a pincer move on the Markovians.
– Gravedigger actually tells Lynn, “You should’ve aimed for the head,” because he apparently still thinks he’s won like ol’ Thanos.
– Very cool seeing Black Lightning’s creators Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden cameo as two of the judges.
Well that’s it for this season folks, but do stick around when Legends of Tomorrow resumes, er, tomorrow.
