Spoilers Black Lightning - Season 1

[cylkoth]

I think Remar may be most familiar to many folks as the psychotic cop killer in 48 Hours. He was memorably chilling in that role, with a mean, stupid volatility that made him seem truly vicious and lethal.

And Dexter Morgan's dad on Showtime's Dexter. He also killed The Phantom once. He's been everywhere...

 

[Mr. Adventure]

These days it's hard to fold digital ones.

Thank heavens! lol I spent so many years holding those in the flat of my hand being careful not to crease the covers that it's just plain wrong to see one folded in someone's pocket.

 

[dahj]

it's just plain wrong to see one folded in someone's pocket.

Wait till flexi-screens become a thing...

 

[Shaka Zulu]

It seems to me CW has a very relaxed stance when it comes to ratings. For its position as "the 5th network", they're surprisingly forward thinking when compared to other, bigger networks, they're treating TV as a global market, most their shows "air" internationally on Netflix within days.

For me living in Toronto, I can see the CW shows on TV from Buffalo (WNLO, channel 23) over the air just fine.

The simple fact is Nielsen Ratings stopped being the only relevant yardstick for show's popularity a long time ago, and the thing they influence, advertising sales, isn't the only, and for most CW shows not even the primary source of income.

That being said, Black Lightning started very strongly in the ratings, with great reviews and viewer response, so I don't think we'll have to wait long till they announce the second season pickup.

Let's hope so.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Black Lightning
Episode three: "Black Jesus"

Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: Jefferson's "Black kids OD-ing is not newsworthy" was a direct and necessary comment on how the media sells white drug abuse (e.g. opioids) as a sympathetic crisis but spent generations writing off drug use in the black community as a problem of thugs, losers and criminals.

Jennifer Pierce & Anissa Pierce: Anissa is too eager to get into a fight (the drug dealer scene). That's not going anywhere good. Anissa thinking "marching and praying" (which she mocks) is not helping is--of course--the set up for her leading her father to disaster.

Jefferson & Lynn not understanding Jennifer's dedication to Khalil is...understandable; they are so focused on their kids' futures, that they suffer from good-intentioned tunnel vision. Still, they are correct in that she cannot sacrifice her responsibilities (or opportunities) for someone who is...grounded, so to speak.

Tobias Whale: The fact his sister is not an albino, yet he's so divisive in his ideas on black people illustrates how disturbed he is.

Buying Khalil off / getting him to blame Black Lightning is a somewhat clever scheme. Even Jefferson is beginning to blame himself. Of course, where Khalil goes, Jennifer will not be far behind, as in finding herself in the hands of Tobias.

Lady Eve: plays into Tobias' warped identity issues by turning his cherished albinism against him with the African folk tale.

"Green Light" drug enhances strength and apparently revives the dead, if the Lady Eve embalming scene is any indicator.

Henderson: The "vigilante" / "more harm than good" dinner debate with Anissa seemed patterned on the dinner scene between Peter Parker and Captain Stacy from the first Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man film.

NOTES:
The episode title--in addition to its meaning to the episode--is a reference to black identity beliefs regarding Jesus Christ (re-emerging as a larger interest in the late 1960s) , but the belief by some (not just those of African descent) that Jesus' mother, and actual racial make up of the region meant he was not white (as depicted throughout film history and centuries of graven images otherwise called objects of idolatry and/or art), but of some African appearance, as opposed to the "well....he was not white, but probably middle eastern looking" defensive arguments of the Bill O'Reillys of the world.

Ms. Fowdy's sniping at Jefferson about not being his secretary was out of line, as vice principals do carry out the requests of the principals.

GRADE: B+

 

[The Realist]

Jefferson's "Black kids OD-ing is not newsworthy" was a direct and necessary comment on how the media sells white drug abuse (e.g. opioids) as a sympathetic crisis but spent generations writing off drug use in the black community as a problem of thugs, losers and criminals.

No disagreement here, with Pierce or with you. I invite you to consider, however, that this kind of overt political statement is the very sort of thing you consistently criticize and disdain when it's addressed to women's concerns in Supergirl.

 

[Christopher]

Well, I've been hoping for an episode that had more Black Lightning appearances than just one action scene at the climax, and this one delivered. BL did a lot this week. And he's got a nifty new power too.

Nice bit of realism -- Anissa starts beating up bad guys and has to call an ambulance because she almost kills one of them. She's got to learn to measure her use of force. She could use a mentor... perhaps a family friend who's a tailor specializing in superhero costumes...?

I was kind of hoping Anissa would come to her parents and reveal that she has superpowers, in the same way Jennifer confided in them about being ready to have sex. That would've been a nice sidestep of the usual secrecy cliche. Looks like that isn't happening just yet, though.

In the climactic fight, when they played the Black Lightning theme song under the action, I noticed a lyric something like "He's Superman, Robin, and the Bat all at once." I wonder, does that song exist in-universe? And if so, is it referring to fictional characters or real superheroes?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

♫Black Lightning's back come to shock the haters.♫

What was Lady Eve doing there in the beginning? I didn't quite get that.
EDIT: I guess preparing a guy for the morgue while he's still alive? Pretty cold.

I'm curious what Gambi's game is, I don't think that's going to end well.

 

[Snaploud]

I think it's pretty much inevitable that the school board will try to replace Jefferson with the vice principal (despite Jefferson's claim that they would choose somebody from outside the community). I hope they aren't setting up Jefferson to feel "betrayed" by her taking the job.

 

[The Realist]

What was Lady Eve doing there in the beginning? I didn't quite get that.
EDIT: I guess preparing a guy for the morgue while he's still alive? Pretty cold.

I was a bit confused by that also. I considered your interpretation, but the guy had autopsy stitching on his torso, so it's hard to see how he could not be dead. So I reached the same tentative conclusion as TREK_GOD_1, that she was reviving him? Though that's more fantastical than the show has gone to date, plus I don't know that it would serve it well going forward to establish a world where death isn't consequential and permanent. Seems at odds with its overall tone and approach.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I was a bit confused by that also. I considered your interpretation, but the guy had autopsy stitching on his torso, so it's hard to see how he could not be dead. So I reached the same tentative conclusion as TREK_GOD_1, that she was reviving him? Though that's more fantastical than the show has gone to date, plus I don't know that it would serve it well going forward to establish a world where death isn't consequential and permanent. Seems at odds with its overall tone and approach.

I missed that in the recap by @TREK_GOD_1. It's probably a more sensible reading but it's so fantastic as you point out that I didn't even consider that might be happening. Talking about albinism and godhood in that scene is probably a sign as well, I need to rewatch that scene when I get a chance.

 

[dahj]

No disagreement here, with Pierce or with you. I invite you to consider, however, that this kind of overt political statement is the very sort of thing you consistently criticize and disdain when it's addressed to women's concerns in Supergirl.

Not to mention this episodes addresses the three strikes laws with Two Bits in danger of doing 30 years for a minor crime, shitty health care system with Khalil's mom having to work extra shifts to pay medical bills, and anti-gay hate groups attacking the gay bar.

It's even more liberal-per-minute than Supergirl...

I think it's pretty much inevitable that the school board will try to replace Jefferson with the vice principal (despite Jefferson's claim that they would choose somebody from outside the community). I hope they aren't setting up Jefferson to feel "betrayed" by her taking the job.

Well it seems that the show is going to put both Jefferson's and Black Lightning's standing in the community in jeopardy, but I don't think it'll go so far as him losing his job.

I've got no idea what Lady Eve was doing there, but it was scary and creepy and she already seems deliciously evil with the little screen time she had so far.

I see BL's got the Detective Mode upgrade from the Arkham games.

Gambi's keeping more secrets. Did he recognize Anissa? We only see him watch the footage from after she puts the hood on, so I'm guessing no. Grace doesn't know yet either, right? I'm assuming she was knocked out during all the ass-kicking. Those were two very close calls, so next week someone better find something out...

 

[Christopher]

Gambi's keeping more secrets. Did he recognize Anissa? We only see him watch the footage from after she puts the hood on, so I'm guessing no.

It's possible he suspects. I mean, he seems to be the expert in how BL's powers work, so he might have been aware of the possibility that they'd be hereditary.

I'm wondering if Gambi will end up in a position like Alfred vis-a-vis Batman and Batgirl in the third season of the '66 TV series -- knowing both of their identities but keeping them secret from each other as he assists them both in their crimefighting.

 

[dahj]

It's possible he suspects. I mean, he seems to be the expert in how BL's powers work, so he might have been aware of the possibility that they'd be hereditary.

Hmm, she didn't visibly shoot any lightning, so that'd be a big jump, especially since the focus of their investigation here was a drug that gave people slightly-super strength(though not concrete-stomping-level strong).

 

[DigificWriter]

anti-gay hate groups attacking the gay bar.

I didn't get the sense that what happened to Grace was indicative of anything more than a couple of bigoted and clearly intoxicated yahoos picking that exact moment to act on a personal beef they had with her specifically.

 

[dahj]

I didn't get the sense that what happened to Grace was indicative of anything more than a couple of bigoted and clearly intoxicated yahoos picking that exact moment to act on a personal beef they had with her specifically.

They've been harrasing the bar for weeks, to the point of getting a restraining order.
They also made comments about burning the "lesbian whorehouse" to the ground.

It clearly wasn't just a "moment."

 

[Christopher]

Hmm, she didn't visibly shoot any lightning, so that'd be a big jump...

Depends on how metahuman powers are understood to work in this reality. Thunder & Lightning's powers are hereditary in the comics, so we know that metas don't have to have the same powers as their parents.

especially since the focus of their investigation here was a drug that gave people slightly-super strength(though not concrete-stomping-level strong).

Gambi likened Green Light to PCP combined with crack. PCP is well-known for enabling people to manifest what appear like superhuman feats of strength and endurance, simply because it hyperstimulates them and dulls their sense of pain and bodily injury so that they can push themselves beyond safe limits and remain conscious and mobile after sustaining an amount of damage that would normally incapacitate them. Nothing we saw here is inconsistent with the normal effects of PCP, at least as they tend to be depicted in fiction. So I'm not convinced the drug is giving anyone superstrength. (The reference to crack was probably in connection with its ability to addict users after a single use.)

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I see BL's got the Detective Mode upgrade from the Arkham games.

Gambi likened Green Light to PCP combined with crack. PCP is well-known for enabling people to manifest what appear like superhuman feats of strength and endurance, simply because it hyperstimulates them and dulls their sense of pain and bodily injury so that they can push themselves beyond safe limits and remain conscious and mobile after sustaining an amount of damage that would normally incapacitate them. Nothing we saw here is inconsistent with the normal effects of PCP, at least as they tend to be depicted in fiction.

He was probably on PCP. Broke every bone in his hand and wouldn't feel it for hours. There was this guy once, you see this scar...

 

[Morpheus 02]

Black Lightning
Episode three: "Black Jesus"

Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: Jefferson's "Black kids OD-ing is not newsworthy" was a direct and necessary comment on how the media sells white drug abuse (e.g. opioids) as a sympathetic crisis but spent generations writing off drug use in the black community as a problem of thugs, losers and criminals.

Jennifer Pierce & Anissa Pierce: Anissa is too eager to get into a fight (the drug dealer scene). That's not going anywhere good. Anissa thinking "marching and praying" (which she mocks) is not helping is--of course--the set up for her leading her father to disaster.

Jefferson & Lynn not understanding Jennifer's dedication to Khalil is...understandable; they are so focused on their kids' futures, that they suffer from good-intentioned tunnel vision. Still, they are correct in that she cannot sacrifice her responsibilities (or opportunities) for someone who is...grounded, so to speak.

I was hoping Jefferson & Lynn could talk and compare it to their situation 9 years ago.

Tobias Whale: The fact his sister is not an albino, yet he's so divisive in his ideas on black people illustrates how disturbed he is.

Buying Khalil off / getting him to blame Black Lightning is a somewhat clever scheme. Even Jefferson is beginning to blame himself. Of course, where Khalil goes, Jennifer will not be far behind, as in finding herself in the hands of Tobias.

But doesn't what Tobias talk about reflect what some people in the community think about others in their community.

They did a good job casting, as his sister looks like him (minus skin tone).

And the scheme is a good one -- especially as the actor is really selling it.

Lady Eve: plays into Tobias' warped identity issues by turning his cherished albinism against him with the African folk tale.

"Green Light" drug enhances strength and apparently revives the dead, if the Lady Eve embalming scene is any indicator.

Henderson: The "vigilante" / "more harm than good" dinner debate with Anissa seemed patterned on the dinner scene between Peter Parker and Captain Stacy from the first Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man film.

NOTES:
The episode title--in addition to its meaning to the episode--is a reference to black identity beliefs regarding Jesus Christ (re-emerging as a larger interest in the late 1960s) , but the belief by some (not just those of African descent) that Jesus' mother, and actual racial make up of the region meant he was not white (as depicted throughout film history and centuries of graven images otherwise called objects of idolatry and/or art), but of some African appearance, as opposed to the "well....he was not white, but probably middle eastern looking" defensive arguments of the Bill O'Reillys of the world.

Ms. Fowdy's sniping at Jefferson about not being his secretary was out of line, as vice principals do carry out the requests of the principals.

GRADE: B+

Well, i think Ms. FOwdy 's response is understandable..she's a near-peer rather than"lower" in the "food chain".

As someone else posted, she might be angling for his job. I suspect, perhaps next season, she will get his job, but the school will protest, and he will get his job back within the span of 3 or 4 episodes.

Well, I've been hoping for an episode that had more Black Lightning appearances than just one action scene at the climax, and this one delivered. BL did a lot this week. And he's got a nifty new power too.

Nice bit of realism -- Anissa starts beating up bad guys and has to call an ambulance because she almost kills one of them. She's got to learn to measure her use of force. She could use a mentor... perhaps a family friend who's a tailor specializing in superhero costumes...?

I was kind of hoping Anissa would come to her parents and reveal that she has superpowers, in the same way Jennifer confided in them about being ready to have sex. That would've been a nice sidestep of the usual secrecy cliche. Looks like that isn't happening just yet, though.

The smile when Anissa left...i was wondering was it simply Jefferson thinking how great it was she was defending him without knowing it, or does he suspect something? (Like it sounded like him when he first discovered his powers).

I agree it would be great if she would just be open with her parents...if she had no problem with her sexuality, that should open the door for he rpowers.

In the climactic fight, when they played the Black Lightning theme song under the action, I noticed a lyric something like "He's Superman, Robin, and the Bat all at once." I wonder, does that song exist in-universe? And if so, is it referring to fictional characters or real superheroes?

At this point , does it matter? COuld they simply be referencing the most famous heroes in the DC universe?

I was a bit confused by that also. I considered your interpretation, but the guy had autopsy stitching on his torso, so it's hard to see how he could not be dead. So I reached the same tentative conclusion as TREK_GOD_1, that she was reviving him? Though that's more fantastical than the show has gone to date, plus I don't know that it would serve it well going forward to establish a world where death isn't consequential and permanent. Seems at odds with its overall tone and approach.

If a person can have electrical powers, and some other kind of powers (we know there are superheroes somewhere), i don't think it would be that crazy.

It's possible he suspects. I mean, he seems to be the expert in how BL's powers work, so he might have been aware of the possibility that they'd be hereditary.

I'm wondering if Gambi will end up in a position like Alfred vis-a-vis Batman and Batgirl in the third season of the '66 TV series -- knowing both of their identities but keeping them secret from each other as he assists them both in their crimefighting.

That would be a little weird... now, Gambi had in a previous episode some video footage that he erased. Was that also Anissa?

Depends on how metahuman powers are understood to work in this reality. Thunder & Lightning's powers are hereditary in the comics, so we know that metas don't have to have the same powers as their parents.




Gambi likened Green Light to PCP combined with crack. PCP is well-known for enabling people to manifest what appear like superhuman feats of strength and endurance, simply because it hyperstimulates them and dulls their sense of pain and bodily injury so that they can push themselves beyond safe limits and remain conscious and mobile after sustaining an amount of damage that would normally incapacitate them. Nothing we saw here is inconsistent with the normal effects of PCP, at least as they tend to be depicted in fiction. So I'm not convinced the drug is giving anyone superstrength. (The reference to crack was probably in connection with its ability to addict users after a single use.)

Umm, also, in addition to the addictive nature of crack, i am sure there is also a connection with how crack has been the scourge of the black community since its introduction.

 

[jamesraykenney]

♫Black Lightning's back come to shock the haters.♫

What was Lady Eve doing there in the beginning? I didn't quite get that.
EDIT: I guess preparing a guy for the morgue while he's still alive? Pretty cold.

I'm curious what Gambi's game is, I don't think that's going to end well.

Is Kingsman in the DC universe? Could he be working for them? It would explain a lot.