Black Lightning‘s season 1 finale saw our hero stuck in a coma after last week’s brutal assault, the ASA hunting the metahuman girl (Jennifer) spotted at Garfield High, and Tobias Whale making good on his promise to betray Martin Proctor. But did it make for a satisfying last episode before going on a hiatus?
1. Flashbacks
The episode opens with an extended flashback to 30 years ago, when Jefferson was a boy first exhibiting his powers, and showing how Gambi came into his life. These flashbacks – which turn out to be Jefferson’s life flashing before his eyes while comatose – are as beautifully filmed as any in the show, continuing to be rendered in gorgeous black-and-white, and also do a great job of making James Remar look younger.
These culminate in a sequence where Jefferson gets to speak with his dead father, who convinces him now is not the time to join him in the afterlife. As touching as that moment was, it was a bit distracting as it resembled The Flash episode “Into the Speed Force,” and my crass brain could only think about a possible connection between Black Lightning’s powers and the source of the Flash’s.
2. Memory Lane Man
Between the flashbacks and the present where Jefferson lies unconscious, Gambi gets most of the dialogue in the episode’s first half. He does so much exposition – including revealing Syonide’s backstory – that Anissa criticizes him for walking down memory lane. Proctor has a similar problem at the episode’s start, explaining many things that seem to be aimed at viewers who’ve decided to jump in the show at the last minute (but why cater to them?) There was a point, when Gambi started ordering the Pierce family around before the ASA attacked, that I felt like I was watching Gambi rather than Black Lightning. Fortunately Jefferson just stops being a bystander and makes a heroic decision that leads into an emotional and tense moment with Jennifer.
3. Tattoo Man
Whale unveils his plan for Lala, revealing he orchestrated the drug dealer’s resurrection for his own amusement, and to test out a new procedure that would presumably prolong his own longevity permanently. So nothing really grand: he just needs Lala as bomb mule he can call on again and again (I doubt he’s permanently dead this time). Given Whale mockingly dubbed him “Tattoo Man,” I imagine Lala will be back to bite him in the ass.
4. MAGA
I counted Proctor saying “Make America Great Again” twice, in case you didn’t realize he was the bad guy. It was a strange but poetic end for the character: instead of being killed by Whale like you’d expect, he escapes, only to be murdered by Gambi while bargaining for his freedom. We also learn he’s not part of the ASA anymore, and has been running a rogue outfit this whole time, which felt odd, almost like letting the government off the hook. I wondered if Black Lightning and Gambi would have a debate over whether it was right, but like many things, it gets brushed aside for next season.
5. So many questions
What’s in the briefcase? Who does Lynn think can help the kids who used Green Light? Did she just mean tipping off Henderson? Does Jefferson need to recharge his powers permanently? Does Khalil feel like he’s being threatened into staying with Whale? I have so many questions, this doesn’t really feel like a season finale, but a halfway stopgap. So on that note, does Black Lightning season 2 start this year or next year?
Bonus thoughts:
– “Shining Star” was also played in Daredevil and Doctor Strange, for those of you keeping count.
– What happens in future if Jefferson loses his charge, but Jennifer doesn’t want him endangering himself in future?
– Lynn took a life: that’s definitely something that’ll be brought up in season 2.
