Black Lightning, Thunder and Gambi are the Three Wise Men, searching for their brightest star Jennifer. As Khalil has been poisoned by one of Cutter’s daggers, she’s gone to find medicine for him while leaving him at an abandoned barn. But being stationary just makes it easier for the assassin to play Herod…
1. Handheld Cameras
Benny Boom, who also helmed “Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder,” helmed this episode, and there were a couple of curious directorial flourishes: the episode opened with handheld close-ups of Black Lightning on the phone with Lynn, and then checking on Khalil’s aunt before talking to Anissa and Gambi. Black Lightning‘s such a smoothly produced show it was odd to see the cold open framed this way. Later, Jefferson and Gambi have an argument outside the old man’s recon van, and it looked humdrum, being shot during the day, that it rather resembled an indie movie.
2. The Dark Side
Jennifer’s on the run with a wanted criminal, who steals medical supplies to try to save his life. She’s definitely walking on a knife’s edge, and it’s a theme emphasized further in the episode when she manages to get the jump on Cutter, tying her up and threatening her with her own poisoned knives for the antidote. I’m surprised once Khalil recovered that he didn’t want revenge on the vulnerable assassin – guess Jen got him to leave soon enough before it became an issue.
3. Well That Was Weird
Jennifer senses Cutter’s tracking them thanks to a bizarre moment where she’s drawn back into the mental plane Perenna created, except it’s bathed in her power’s golden colors instead of the usual white glow. Perenna’s not actually, just personifying Jen’s logic, while another version of herself personifies her fear. Both Jennifers talk it out to determine what to do – like I said, weird. I thought it was funny how much make-up the fearful side of Jennifer had on as well.
4. New Folks
Suddenly in the middle of this arc, Black Lightning introduces a new character: RJ Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, 2017’s Power Rangers) as Todd, a tech prodigy who gets fired when he calls the bosses who keep passing him over racist. Whale reaches out to him, offering him work. It was fascinating to see Whale be so courteous and graceful pitching him, making sure he’s comfortable with their female companions, even suggesting that he can replace them with men if he likes.
Meanwhile, Lynn tries to preoccupy herself during her daughter’s disappearance by tracking down Khalil’s father Kito Payne (Kendrick Cross), hoping he could reveal his son’s whereabouts. Lynn deciding to take one of Gambi’s guns before meeting the felon was intriguing, but he proved to be quite cordial, which was a pretty progressive move. He reveals Khalil hasn’t been staying with Whale, but as his own place, but Lynn doesn’t get any more clues, and inevitably breaks down with Jefferson on the phone again.
5. The Hunt Continues
Cutter escapes from the barn before Black Lightning, Thunder and Gambi arrive – it’ll be interesting to see if she continues her hunt, or her discovery Jen is a metahuman has put her off. Whale would seethe, but I think he also fears her enough to not cross her over it. In the final scene, we meet Tosin Morohunfola as one brutal brother with the power to teleport, dispatching a whole bar of criminals in Texas. I wonder if Whale will bringing in other metahumans from across the country to nab Khalil – it’s exciting to see the show grow beyond Freeland, to say the least.
Bonus thoughts:
– We learn Giselle is Cutter’s first name, and that really is her surname – comics everybody!
– I like Thunder’s new big four-wheel bike.
See you all in January.
