This week Thunder decided to look into Gambi’s discovery of an ASA facility containing all the metahuman children who went missing in the ’80s, with disastrous (though fortunately not fatal) consequences. With the ASA abducting the children they’ve empowered once more, Jefferson asked Jennifer to lay low with Anissa while he sought to find out who was still dealing out Green Light. It certainly wasn’t Lala, who had to reassert his power without access to the drug.
1. The soundtrack
The first ten minutes or so of the episode had some great music choices. The opening, set to “Drowning” by Mick Jenkins (feat. Badbadnotgood), was an appropriate choice, not just because of the drug reference, but also because the constant repetition of “I can’t breathe” seemed like a reference to Eric Garner, a prime example of the many black people whose lives have been stolen by law enforcement. The second big track at the episode’s start, Kevin Gates’s “Really Really,” simply got my blood pumping in a way superhero TV action sequences usually don’t.
2. Will
Lala has another voice in his head, but it’s not LaWanda, it’s Will, the antagonist of our very first episode, still bearing the burnt shirt Black Lightning gave him. Honestly, these scenes were no as weird subtextually as the ones with LaWanda, but it is fascinating to see how more violent and fearless Lala is becoming with this newfound insight into the afterlife (Resevoir Dogs anyone?). I still have no idea where his story is going, or why all these ghosts from his past are haunting him, but at least I’m intrigued to find out.
3. Other returning characters
We also reunited with Malik, the youngest member of the 100, and Two Bits, Jefferson’s childhood friend who found himself on the wrong side of the tracks. I thought it was pleasant to see the community hero side of Jefferson again, given all the focus lately on his personal troubles, and it was clear from both their dialogue scenes how approachable and heroic he is as a civilian, not just Black Lightning.
Jefferson quoting Henry Ford towards Malik was a bit weird though: wasn’t he a racist who ruled Detroit like a ruthless gangster?
4. The title
So who is the father that redeemed himself of his sins? Why it’s Gambi of course, the man who raised Jefferson after his father’s murder, and who almost dies refusing to give up Black Lightning’s identity to the ASA after they start joining the dots. Something I’ve noticed about Jefferson, is that despite being a Christian who considers his powers a gift from God, is that he doesn’t seem very forgiving. I imagine it’s probably because he’s old and less idealistic than Anissa. Thankfully, Gambi isn’t dead, so hopefully they’ll have a proper opportunity to reconcile.
5. Kara
Another character whom we’ve not seen for a while, but trust me, I wanted to discuss this for last. Despite her limited screentime, the truth about Kara, Jefferson’s vice-principal, still hit me like a ton of bricks. I hope we got some insight into her and why she’s working for the ASA to oppress Freeland, though with only three episodes left I’m worried her motivations may be rushed through with all these other storylines going on. Guess there’s only one way to find out…
Bonus thoughts:
– This episode was funnier than usual, between Jefferson and Lynn’s flirting at the lab, the bounty on Black Lightning, and Jennifer asking her father how he goes to the bathroom in that outfit.
– Is it me or do Neema’s powers look identical to Jennifer’s?
