Spoilers Black Lightning - Season 3
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Black Lightning
SEASON THREE / Episode 3: "The Book of Occupation: Chapter Four - Lynn's Ouroboros"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: Ah, he's trying to walk the fine line between making Odell think he's not much more than a cantankerous meta, while conducting his own investigation, but Jennifer--long exposed to the ASA occupation's effects--is sullen, thinking Jefferson (of all people) is out of touch, no matter how he was enraged by the ASA agent abuses. It remains to be seen if he can play along after Odell threatened his daughters. About his daughters...
Jennifer: She's sharper than Odell expected, but he's so relentless in working on her doubts that she's warming to the idea of military occupation/control. While the arrest of her innocent friend (Tavon) made her think twice about her position, her eyes also watched Odell-provided footage of overseas carnage. Unlike Jefferson and Anissa, her response to emotionally loaded issues only serves to confuse her..
Anissa: Jefferson's anger was justified; she's asserting authority that will ultimately place her in the sights of the ASA and Markovians and yes, she's used stolen drug money to fund her bachelorette life. Jefferson charging her with:
"..until you throw her out of your bed, and find somebody else!"
..was not as much of an exaggeration as one might think; its undeniable that she's has no trouble hooking up with random women: from the reporter and now back to Grace, she's irresponsible, not to mention exposing her entire life to the world, not knowing who stands on which side.
Gambi: So, Jefferson was not being naïve in accepting the ASA watch in having its tracking (and other things) removed. He now knows where the "pit" is, in addition to the ASA routes, but I feel he might be too late do infiltrate the area now that Odell has more cards to play in the form of an enhanced Jennifer. More on her in a bit...
Lynn: Wow--this was so unexpected--Lynn believed she removed the psycho-active addictive properties from Green Light to increase her intelligence, but it was all Odell's spiking her possessions. Still, she's not imagining the work she put into separating the psycho-active properties from her Green Light samples, so something suggests she will be able to turn that into her own weapon once she learns that she's been a Guinea Pig. Until that time, she's falling apart, all part of the plans of...
Odell / A.S.A: Always making moves. Despite the best efforts of Black Lightning as his associates, Odell always has the upper hand, and now he's provided Jennifer with a suit that--from appearances--allows her to go into the suborbital range. He's essentially getting her "drunk" with power, and disinformation--the perfect weaponized meta. From the looks of things, he's wanted to create a divide in the Pierce family, and in one way or another, by direct action or "happy coincidences" from problems related to the occupation, he has each family member going in every direction, and still includes Anissa, because she did help Jefferson rescue Tavon, but her methods and exposure do--as Jefferson put it--placed the family in danger.
Khalil aka Painkiller: Utterly lethal and sadistic. At present, there's no part of the real Khalil to be reached in this man who enjoys the "art" of torture and murder. Still hoping he breaks out of his brainwashing, but....
NOTES: This season maintains the tight but weighty pace from previous years, with the family being so wrecked, and with that lack of unity, I doubt anyone would predict a happy ending...not with the way Odell has his controlling fingers on the pulse of everyone.
The teaser revealed that the next new episode will air on Friday, November 11. If that's the new, weekly schedule, what will replace on Monday?
GRADE: A.
SEASON THREE / Episode 3: "The Book of Occupation: Chapter Four - Lynn's Ouroboros"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: Ah, he's trying to walk the fine line between making Odell think he's not much more than a cantankerous meta, while conducting his own investigation, but Jennifer--long exposed to the ASA occupation's effects--is sullen, thinking Jefferson (of all people) is out of touch, no matter how he was enraged by the ASA agent abuses. It remains to be seen if he can play along after Odell threatened his daughters. About his daughters...
Jennifer: She's sharper than Odell expected, but he's so relentless in working on her doubts that she's warming to the idea of military occupation/control. While the arrest of her innocent friend (Tavon) made her think twice about her position, her eyes also watched Odell-provided footage of overseas carnage. Unlike Jefferson and Anissa, her response to emotionally loaded issues only serves to confuse her..
Anissa: Jefferson's anger was justified; she's asserting authority that will ultimately place her in the sights of the ASA and Markovians and yes, she's used stolen drug money to fund her bachelorette life. Jefferson charging her with:
"..until you throw her out of your bed, and find somebody else!"
..was not as much of an exaggeration as one might think; its undeniable that she's has no trouble hooking up with random women: from the reporter and now back to Grace, she's irresponsible, not to mention exposing her entire life to the world, not knowing who stands on which side.
Gambi: So, Jefferson was not being naïve in accepting the ASA watch in having its tracking (and other things) removed. He now knows where the "pit" is, in addition to the ASA routes, but I feel he might be too late do infiltrate the area now that Odell has more cards to play in the form of an enhanced Jennifer. More on her in a bit...
Lynn: Wow--this was so unexpected--Lynn believed she removed the psycho-active addictive properties from Green Light to increase her intelligence, but it was all Odell's spiking her possessions. Still, she's not imagining the work she put into separating the psycho-active properties from her Green Light samples, so something suggests she will be able to turn that into her own weapon once she learns that she's been a Guinea Pig. Until that time, she's falling apart, all part of the plans of...
Odell / A.S.A: Always making moves. Despite the best efforts of Black Lightning as his associates, Odell always has the upper hand, and now he's provided Jennifer with a suit that--from appearances--allows her to go into the suborbital range. He's essentially getting her "drunk" with power, and disinformation--the perfect weaponized meta. From the looks of things, he's wanted to create a divide in the Pierce family, and in one way or another, by direct action or "happy coincidences" from problems related to the occupation, he has each family member going in every direction, and still includes Anissa, because she did help Jefferson rescue Tavon, but her methods and exposure do--as Jefferson put it--placed the family in danger.
Khalil aka Painkiller: Utterly lethal and sadistic. At present, there's no part of the real Khalil to be reached in this man who enjoys the "art" of torture and murder. Still hoping he breaks out of his brainwashing, but....
NOTES: This season maintains the tight but weighty pace from previous years, with the family being so wrecked, and with that lack of unity, I doubt anyone would predict a happy ending...not with the way Odell has his controlling fingers on the pulse of everyone.
The teaser revealed that the next new episode will air on Friday, November 11. If that's the new, weekly schedule, what will replace on Monday?
GRADE: A.
^ November 11 is still a Monday.
It's almost redundant at this point to comment on this show's weekly excellence, it's so consistent.
It's almost redundant at this point to comment on this show's weekly excellence, it's so consistent.
True, but everyone will have their personally favorite thing or things about the show.
Its such a joy to watch Black Lightning.
I'm glad Jefferson was smart enough to get the watch to Gambi and have the tracker removed. I was afraid they were going to save that for a big reveal at some point where Odell arrived and screwed up some kind of Black Lightning mission.
Where was the video Odell sent Jennifer from? I couldn't make out any of the texts that were popping up on screen.
Grace knowing about Annisa is Black Bird already kind of surprised me, I figured we'd get a big dramatic moment where she was forced to reveal her powers to Grace.
It will be interesting to see how far Odell's manipulations will go with Jennifer. Could we see her actually siding with the ASA in a fight with her father and sister?
Wow, Odell getting Lyn hooked on Green Light was unexpected.
So anybody else think this Meta virus is something else Odell set up?
Where was the video Odell sent Jennifer from? I couldn't make out any of the texts that were popping up on screen.
Grace knowing about Annisa is Black Bird already kind of surprised me, I figured we'd get a big dramatic moment where she was forced to reveal her powers to Grace.
It will be interesting to see how far Odell's manipulations will go with Jennifer. Could we see her actually siding with the ASA in a fight with her father and sister?
Wow, Odell getting Lyn hooked on Green Light was unexpected.
So anybody else think this Meta virus is something else Odell set up?
Odell and/or the other architects of the meta experiments may be behind the Meta Virus as a means of eliminating the "problem" in a way more effective than random deaths; by sealing off the city, rounding up all metahumans and/or allowing the virus to kill those still running free, if he has greater plans for a metahuman army (for one kind of application),or by using Lynn's research, he can refine the entire process, so they could crank out as many Jennifers/Khalil's--a young, perfect force. The ultimate "why" is the lingering question.
A few random thoughts...
I tried looking up the website that Odell sent...they missed a real opportunity... HEROES had "fake websites" that viewers could look up..they could have done the same with asauploads.com (wow -- what a secret web domain
)
WHile i still love the series, a few disappointments for me
1. Lynn's drug addiction is a set up, with sublimnal messages and everything... it owul dhave been better, dramatically, if she did that all on her own, with the ASA simply jumping on the opportunity. Didn't she have a drinking problem earlier? Also, that she's taking Green Light... i would be disappointed if she became a meta... her being "normal" but still a hero in her own right is one of the things that makes her a great character. Also, that she is overworking herself.... again, drmaatically, it would be better if it was JUST her own thiinking...but twisting a good quality accidentally into a liability
2. Khalil (and previously with Lala) ... i hate that the changes in character wasn't "natural" (like how Tobias Whale has progresse...or maybe degressed)... it just seems "fake"... creating a new character but using a previous actor, essentially. DOn't get me wrong, The actor portraying Khalil is completely believable as an action star, and could see him portraying this type of character...but how Khalil got there...it just robbed him of character development. Lala is the same way... he is just a zombie now. He was FAR MORE interesting as a student of Jefferson Pierce whom Jefferson "failed" to save. And the way he had twisted Jefferson's teachings... made him much more menacing.
3. For a medical professional, ANissa sure is engaging in a lot of risky behavior. All Odell would have to do to control her is give some attractive woman an STD, and Anissa would get infected.
4. Enjoying Jennifer seeing different sides of an issue, and having to come to grips with what SHE will have to decide
5. With Chief HEnderson being called an Uncle Tom... the lady on the street wasn't totally off -- from her perspective. Other people in his situation would have resigned out of principle. Now, WE know his heart, and his value in this situation...but if ANYONE ELSE knew it, he and his wife could be in danger (and just showing her being loving to him...and him asking Jefferson to protect her...that just might be coming....and with that, resentment to Black Lightning despite fighting for what it right)
6. Oh -- and funny that the principal is finally standing up for what is right... but just got popped in the face so easily. Will be interesting to see if he grows up for falls back.
7. Gambi has got to get caught at some point...
8. I am confused....what was Grace's original form? The Old man? The young girl? Back to criticism of ANissa.. i do't think BL has really shown a credible narrative of WHY Anissa would be in love with her. It just feels forced...complete opposite of the Pierce Family..where despite disagreements and and saying the "wrong" things to each other at times, the love between them all feels very real.
I tried looking up the website that Odell sent...they missed a real opportunity... HEROES had "fake websites" that viewers could look up..they could have done the same with asauploads.com (wow -- what a secret web domain
)WHile i still love the series, a few disappointments for me
1. Lynn's drug addiction is a set up, with sublimnal messages and everything... it owul dhave been better, dramatically, if she did that all on her own, with the ASA simply jumping on the opportunity. Didn't she have a drinking problem earlier? Also, that she's taking Green Light... i would be disappointed if she became a meta... her being "normal" but still a hero in her own right is one of the things that makes her a great character. Also, that she is overworking herself.... again, drmaatically, it would be better if it was JUST her own thiinking...but twisting a good quality accidentally into a liability
2. Khalil (and previously with Lala) ... i hate that the changes in character wasn't "natural" (like how Tobias Whale has progresse...or maybe degressed)... it just seems "fake"... creating a new character but using a previous actor, essentially. DOn't get me wrong, The actor portraying Khalil is completely believable as an action star, and could see him portraying this type of character...but how Khalil got there...it just robbed him of character development. Lala is the same way... he is just a zombie now. He was FAR MORE interesting as a student of Jefferson Pierce whom Jefferson "failed" to save. And the way he had twisted Jefferson's teachings... made him much more menacing.
3. For a medical professional, ANissa sure is engaging in a lot of risky behavior. All Odell would have to do to control her is give some attractive woman an STD, and Anissa would get infected.
4. Enjoying Jennifer seeing different sides of an issue, and having to come to grips with what SHE will have to decide
5. With Chief HEnderson being called an Uncle Tom... the lady on the street wasn't totally off -- from her perspective. Other people in his situation would have resigned out of principle. Now, WE know his heart, and his value in this situation...but if ANYONE ELSE knew it, he and his wife could be in danger (and just showing her being loving to him...and him asking Jefferson to protect her...that just might be coming....and with that, resentment to Black Lightning despite fighting for what it right)
6. Oh -- and funny that the principal is finally standing up for what is right... but just got popped in the face so easily. Will be interesting to see if he grows up for falls back.
7. Gambi has got to get caught at some point...
8. I am confused....what was Grace's original form? The Old man? The young girl? Back to criticism of ANissa.. i do't think BL has really shown a credible narrative of WHY Anissa would be in love with her. It just feels forced...complete opposite of the Pierce Family..where despite disagreements and and saying the "wrong" things to each other at times, the love between them all feels very real.
^ Some fine, thoughtful observations there. I'm almost as bad as TG1 in feeling the show basically never makes a misstep, but most of your points are well taken. Mind you, I'm still very happy with the Black Lightning we have (to take one example, I actually quite like what they've done with Lala), but now I sort of want to watch your version of the show, too.
I've been having the same thought about the virus, it just seems like way to much of a coincidence that this virus just happened to pop up at the same time all of this other stuff is going. It just reeks of more of Odell's scheming.
DCComics.com has posted an interview with Cress Williams.
Well, I am a Star Trek fan, so you know i gotta nitpick. (I also didn't mention how timey-wimey things feel....how Jefferson hasn't missed school prior to this without ASA excuses is beyond me
)Even with my nitpicks, for sure it is a great show...one of the best for me with DC Berlanti Shows.
Black Lightning
SEASON THREE / Episode 5: "The Book of Occupation: Chapter Five - Requiem for Tavon"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: He cannot take himself out of the middle of too many dramas: Tavon's murder, Lynn increasingly distant and distracted...suppressing his abilities as the ASA abuses children...and the all too real world-mirrored image of a black man being beaten by the worst of "law enforcement"--in front of his own daughter. Unforgettable scene.
Jennifer: Something tells me Odell's new suit could be the cause of her being a mix of fatigued to overpowered. Perhaps that was the intention all along--as a sort of "slow burn" to a planned end.
...then, there's the Brandon situation....who he is and how he was able to absorb her overloading power...
Is he a real student, or a metahuman plant....
Anissa: She's more impatient than ever, caught between the emotional poles in her life. Her new alliance with Henderson--on paper--could focus her attention on what is most pressing (undermining the ASA), but I still see her going off the rails at some time in the future.
Gambi: He was ready to shoot Odell. On the spot. One has to wonder how that would have altered the ASA's course, if at all.
In the middle of all of the tension, there managed to be one sweet moment when he mentioned having pictures of Anissa as a baby...
Lynn: Green Light addiction causing bizarre dreams, exacerbating her feelings of guilt (the 14 kids who dies under her care), and apparently delusions in thinking she can control an enhanced Tobias. Torturing him with the bone marrow extraction is so out of character for her that I wonder if this is an intended effect of the effects of her Green Light addiction.
About Tobias: surely she knows that torturing a man who is all about revenge and knows a bit too much about her connection to Black Lightning was not a wise move...
..and of course, master manipulator Odell continues to strip Lynn of her own sense of morality by pushing her to the point of saying without saying she would like to see Tobias killed. She cannot see that the Pierce family has a date with his chopping block, whether that means death, permanent imprisonment, or use them in the way he trots out Khalil.
Henderson: I suspected his arrest of the Reverend was not Henderson losing his soul to keep his job in an occupied city. However, trying to partner with Blackbird, Holt and 2-Bits...where can that go? If and when the ASA meets its end, 2-Bits will still be a criminal, and dealing with a mutual enemy is not going to change that.
The other problem is Jefferson: he's reached a crossroad marred by tragedy, a breakdown in trust in his marriage, some of his parental influence with his children, and feeling powerless despite being so...powerful. He might find support in Henderson's group, but he might be so frustrated with his lack of self-determination (at this point) that he would want quick solutions, and that usually leads to more impulsive decisions, as in the case of Tavon.
Odell / A.S.A: Still playing Jennifer: he can use the "I marched with King" defense like others who try to defend their morally questionable acts/beliefs by attaching it to MLK's life/legacy (a long line of those types live on cable news channels), but he is the ASA, responsible for how his employees act, and the gross violation of a majority black city's population over the decades rips that King reference to shreds
Khalil aka Painkiller: Even Odell is caught off guard by the unending sadism displayed by Painkiller. It opens the door to the idea that he will end up going rogue, or become so uncontrollable that he becomes a liability. Being a liability to Odell can only end one way, but I'm sure that would mean a final "clean up" of "loose ends" like Jennifer.
NOTES: There's no safe space in Freeland, and the entire Pierce family are running (or being forced to) in every direction. The family has faced threats before, but the key was that it was (usually) as a family. With that dynamic broken, there's no guarantee that they will escape this situation unscathed.
The brief scene of Tavon's mother begging her child to wake up...brutal, but a page from real life played out over and over again.
GRADE: A.
SEASON THREE / Episode 5: "The Book of Occupation: Chapter Five - Requiem for Tavon"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: He cannot take himself out of the middle of too many dramas: Tavon's murder, Lynn increasingly distant and distracted...suppressing his abilities as the ASA abuses children...and the all too real world-mirrored image of a black man being beaten by the worst of "law enforcement"--in front of his own daughter. Unforgettable scene.
Jennifer: Something tells me Odell's new suit could be the cause of her being a mix of fatigued to overpowered. Perhaps that was the intention all along--as a sort of "slow burn" to a planned end.
...then, there's the Brandon situation....who he is and how he was able to absorb her overloading power...
Is he a real student, or a metahuman plant....
Anissa: She's more impatient than ever, caught between the emotional poles in her life. Her new alliance with Henderson--on paper--could focus her attention on what is most pressing (undermining the ASA), but I still see her going off the rails at some time in the future.
Gambi: He was ready to shoot Odell. On the spot. One has to wonder how that would have altered the ASA's course, if at all.
In the middle of all of the tension, there managed to be one sweet moment when he mentioned having pictures of Anissa as a baby...
Lynn: Green Light addiction causing bizarre dreams, exacerbating her feelings of guilt (the 14 kids who dies under her care), and apparently delusions in thinking she can control an enhanced Tobias. Torturing him with the bone marrow extraction is so out of character for her that I wonder if this is an intended effect of the effects of her Green Light addiction.
About Tobias: surely she knows that torturing a man who is all about revenge and knows a bit too much about her connection to Black Lightning was not a wise move...
..and of course, master manipulator Odell continues to strip Lynn of her own sense of morality by pushing her to the point of saying without saying she would like to see Tobias killed. She cannot see that the Pierce family has a date with his chopping block, whether that means death, permanent imprisonment, or use them in the way he trots out Khalil.
Henderson: I suspected his arrest of the Reverend was not Henderson losing his soul to keep his job in an occupied city. However, trying to partner with Blackbird, Holt and 2-Bits...where can that go? If and when the ASA meets its end, 2-Bits will still be a criminal, and dealing with a mutual enemy is not going to change that.
The other problem is Jefferson: he's reached a crossroad marred by tragedy, a breakdown in trust in his marriage, some of his parental influence with his children, and feeling powerless despite being so...powerful. He might find support in Henderson's group, but he might be so frustrated with his lack of self-determination (at this point) that he would want quick solutions, and that usually leads to more impulsive decisions, as in the case of Tavon.
Odell / A.S.A: Still playing Jennifer: he can use the "I marched with King" defense like others who try to defend their morally questionable acts/beliefs by attaching it to MLK's life/legacy (a long line of those types live on cable news channels), but he is the ASA, responsible for how his employees act, and the gross violation of a majority black city's population over the decades rips that King reference to shreds
Khalil aka Painkiller: Even Odell is caught off guard by the unending sadism displayed by Painkiller. It opens the door to the idea that he will end up going rogue, or become so uncontrollable that he becomes a liability. Being a liability to Odell can only end one way, but I'm sure that would mean a final "clean up" of "loose ends" like Jennifer.
NOTES: There's no safe space in Freeland, and the entire Pierce family are running (or being forced to) in every direction. The family has faced threats before, but the key was that it was (usually) as a family. With that dynamic broken, there's no guarantee that they will escape this situation unscathed.
The brief scene of Tavon's mother begging her child to wake up...brutal, but a page from real life played out over and over again.
GRADE: A.
Wow, some pretty powerfull stuff here. I was really shocked they actually killed Tavon, and his death leading to the confronation outside the school was intense. I'm thinking the footage of ASA agents beating will be the spark that finally really turns everyone against the ASA.
I assumed it was only a matter of time before Tobias got his hands on his serum, but that was not how expected it to play out. With him having figured out who the Pierces are, and after what Lynn did, I'm thinking things will go very badly for the Pierces if/when he gets out.
I've been shocked how Henderson seemed to be just sitting back and cooperating with the ASA, so that reveal that he was part of the resistance was nice to see.
It should be interesting to see what happens with Jennifer once the conflict with the ASA really gets going.
I assumed it was only a matter of time before Tobias got his hands on his serum, but that was not how expected it to play out. With him having figured out who the Pierces are, and after what Lynn did, I'm thinking things will go very badly for the Pierces if/when he gets out.
I've been shocked how Henderson seemed to be just sitting back and cooperating with the ASA, so that reveal that he was part of the resistance was nice to see.
It should be interesting to see what happens with Jennifer once the conflict with the ASA really gets going.
A few of my thoughts...
How does Tobias Whale survive this season? I know it's been a looooong time coming, but his death seems like it OUGHT to happen this time! My one regret for that is that Marvin Jones III (a.k.a. Krondon) does an amazing job of a villain. Like Nora on the Flash, someone who should have been out of the picture long ago "realisitically:, is still such a joy to see because of a well cast actor.
I was worried about Henderson's loyalities for a minute, but his last couple of actions now make perfect sense. The thing is...the public scorn he has gotten I know is an "easy"price for him to pay....but i think the last time we saw his wife, she was all lovey -dovey... seems like a set-up to show the REAL cost Henderson will pay for this. ANd if so, what will be the repurcussions for him and his other relationships.
I hope what Lynn did to TObias isn't written off as "just" the drug... but is REALLY her. Not that i want herto be a bad guy, but i feel like the writers and especially Christiana Adams have done a great job portraying an amazing woman who still has faults...and faults that are not at all unreasonable.
@TREK_GOD_1 , i wouldn't call 2bits "just" a criminal... I mean, i thought Black Lightning helped him turn his life around... yeah, some relapses...but not like Lala. He reminds me more like ELias from the V mini-series and TV show.
Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the mystery of Brandon to be revealed. And Odell is NOT spying on ANissa? He doesn't know about Grace?
How does Tobias Whale survive this season? I know it's been a looooong time coming, but his death seems like it OUGHT to happen this time! My one regret for that is that Marvin Jones III (a.k.a. Krondon) does an amazing job of a villain. Like Nora on the Flash, someone who should have been out of the picture long ago "realisitically:, is still such a joy to see because of a well cast actor.
I was worried about Henderson's loyalities for a minute, but his last couple of actions now make perfect sense. The thing is...the public scorn he has gotten I know is an "easy"price for him to pay....but i think the last time we saw his wife, she was all lovey -dovey... seems like a set-up to show the REAL cost Henderson will pay for this. ANd if so, what will be the repurcussions for him and his other relationships.
I hope what Lynn did to TObias isn't written off as "just" the drug... but is REALLY her. Not that i want herto be a bad guy, but i feel like the writers and especially Christiana Adams have done a great job portraying an amazing woman who still has faults...and faults that are not at all unreasonable.
@TREK_GOD_1 , i wouldn't call 2bits "just" a criminal... I mean, i thought Black Lightning helped him turn his life around... yeah, some relapses...but not like Lala. He reminds me more like ELias from the V mini-series and TV show.
Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the mystery of Brandon to be revealed. And Odell is NOT spying on ANissa? He doesn't know about Grace?
DCComics.com has posted interviews with China Anne McClain (Jennifer), James Remar (Gambi), and Marvin "Krondon" Jones III (Tobias).
I caught up on these recently and well the Freeland under martial law is not really my thing and it is a bit surreal. I’m not completely sold on the way the character’s behaviors under it though sometimes it is weird how easily people acclimate to adverse circumstances and normalize them.
The tech has gotten pretty crazy, Gambi’s making cloaking devices now? Though as early as the guns used way back on Lady Eve the show has embraced being as over the top as any comic show despite the veneer of being more grounded.
In fact, the tech is so advanced it sort of undercuts the focus on metas to an extent. The metas we see on the show seem to be fairly evenly matched against the tech. The motives might be easier if the threats were more outsized. Like I’d be more interested in Tobias youth serum or even the spinal implants than most of this green light stuff we’ve seen. Hell, it even deages his beard hair.
Have they explained Lala’s powers at all yet? I know he was seeing ghosts or something for a while but after his apparent full-on healing factor is recently shown I can’t remember where that’s all at. He kind of seems like he’s part of a different show.
The tech has gotten pretty crazy, Gambi’s making cloaking devices now? Though as early as the guns used way back on Lady Eve the show has embraced being as over the top as any comic show despite the veneer of being more grounded.
In fact, the tech is so advanced it sort of undercuts the focus on metas to an extent. The metas we see on the show seem to be fairly evenly matched against the tech. The motives might be easier if the threats were more outsized. Like I’d be more interested in Tobias youth serum or even the spinal implants than most of this green light stuff we’ve seen. Hell, it even deages his beard hair.
Have they explained Lala’s powers at all yet? I know he was seeing ghosts or something for a while but after his apparent full-on healing factor is recently shown I can’t remember where that’s all at. He kind of seems like he’s part of a different show.
Black Lightning
SEASON THREE / Episode 6: "The Book of Resistance: Chapter One - Knocking on Heaven's Door"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: His outrage at Lynn--and the bruises from last week's beating--said it all; this is not just "This Week's Superhero Problem!" but he's seeing generations of a city's struggle all fall to pieces. At the moment, he has no options, he cannot trust Odell, and apparently...Lynn.
About Odell...the back and forth threats really made me want to see both carry that out, but as Dozier used to say on the 1966-68 Batman, TV series, "The worst is yet to come", and that's what happened with his failed trap on Mosin. Jefferson saving his life meant nothing--as an advantage for the Pierce family. I would not put it past him to tell Lynn that Jefferson somehow "failed" to help him, and as a result, their daughters' safety cannot be guaranteed, then....
Jennifer: So Brandon not only has undefined powers which neutralize Jennifer's, but he has files on Lynn, and room full of natural elements as if he were conducting experiments. The first assumption might be he's a plant for Odell...and despite his sharing his secret with Jennifer, and the Jace/revenge story, it seems too easy...or will he end up being her secret ally, especially in the event she runs into Khalil...
Anissa: I almost thought Anissa's farewell video was a set-up of some kind, but her impending death from the meta-gene suppressing poison turned out to be her hard truth. Very unsettling to say the least. One could feel the hopelessness in Anissa and Gambi's conversation. For once, it was easy to understand her pushing Jefferson away, just so his presence won't make her "last" moments worse.
On Gambi's end, he being outmatched in all of what were once tech advantages for him, but being brilliant, he did not resign himself to watch Anissa's last days, If he can counter the poison, one would imagine he will create his own version of it as a means of stopping the entire meta-war, since the poison's key function is to suppress the meta gene.
Lynn: She cannot stop finding herself in compromised corners--now, with her supplying Tobias with the names/powers of the "pod-kids", for fear that he has eyes on her family....she seems ready to make a serious mistake...and yes, she did by leaving Jefferson.
Part of the problem may stem from her ego in relation to Jefferson's "destiny" to fight for his city, which was the source of an argument in season one; she's so headstrong about trying to save the "pod-kids" (and any other metas) to the exclusion of everything else, including forgetting her family's safety with her continuing, always losing end deals she makes with Odell and now Tobias. Both men had planted the seeds of doubt and resentment in her relationship with Jefferson, knowing that her ego would prevent her from ever seeing anything but how much she is needed.
Tobias: Nothing changes him (and no one should expect it), as he's still drowning in self-hate with lines such as
"...and they say black women are difficult. I think--like most Negroes--they just need the proper motivation..."
..or referring to Black Lightning as "The Neon Negro".
Sickening, but his is a realistic reflection of the mind of those sharing that generational curse of hating yourself for the benefit of a society's controlling race.
Helga Jace / Colonel Yuri Mosin: Alright, both sides seek to stabilize and/or cure the lethal effects of the meta experiments, but Mosin--unlike Odell (on the surface) is not about killing off lab rats, which would give his campaign the clear advantage...
Henderson: His rogue team--now including the reporter (Olsen) is an interesting turn, but next week's episode has them come into conflict with Black Lightning, and that can only mean more troubles with Anissa.
Khalil aka Painkiller: Anissa gave him the "Bruce LEEroy" nickname. That's actually an old slang from the early 70s in some black communities, and yeah, it was never flattering.
NOTES: Gambi now knows Khalil is alive. Valuable information (if only to protect Jennifer), but at this point, it would not be wise to share it with his fractured family, out of the concern that someone might lose what's left of their senses after accepting such a morbid idea.
The show's drama's keep the fantasy in check--that is to say, that the heart, who the characters have been carefully built to be and the real consequences always take center stage, even in action set-pieces (e.g. BL telling Odell he does not kill, only for Odell to get under his skin by dismissing him as weak--their central ideological difference). There's nowhere to turn for a comic relief, or to just shut down your attention during a fight scene (a problem hurting many superhero productions), you are always drawn into every moment, which has something to say.
Wonderful show.
GRADE: A+.
SEASON THREE / Episode 6: "The Book of Resistance: Chapter One - Knocking on Heaven's Door"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: His outrage at Lynn--and the bruises from last week's beating--said it all; this is not just "This Week's Superhero Problem!" but he's seeing generations of a city's struggle all fall to pieces. At the moment, he has no options, he cannot trust Odell, and apparently...Lynn.
About Odell...the back and forth threats really made me want to see both carry that out, but as Dozier used to say on the 1966-68 Batman, TV series, "The worst is yet to come", and that's what happened with his failed trap on Mosin. Jefferson saving his life meant nothing--as an advantage for the Pierce family. I would not put it past him to tell Lynn that Jefferson somehow "failed" to help him, and as a result, their daughters' safety cannot be guaranteed, then....
Jennifer: So Brandon not only has undefined powers which neutralize Jennifer's, but he has files on Lynn, and room full of natural elements as if he were conducting experiments. The first assumption might be he's a plant for Odell...and despite his sharing his secret with Jennifer, and the Jace/revenge story, it seems too easy...or will he end up being her secret ally, especially in the event she runs into Khalil...
Anissa: I almost thought Anissa's farewell video was a set-up of some kind, but her impending death from the meta-gene suppressing poison turned out to be her hard truth. Very unsettling to say the least. One could feel the hopelessness in Anissa and Gambi's conversation. For once, it was easy to understand her pushing Jefferson away, just so his presence won't make her "last" moments worse.
On Gambi's end, he being outmatched in all of what were once tech advantages for him, but being brilliant, he did not resign himself to watch Anissa's last days, If he can counter the poison, one would imagine he will create his own version of it as a means of stopping the entire meta-war, since the poison's key function is to suppress the meta gene.
Lynn: She cannot stop finding herself in compromised corners--now, with her supplying Tobias with the names/powers of the "pod-kids", for fear that he has eyes on her family....she seems ready to make a serious mistake...and yes, she did by leaving Jefferson.
Part of the problem may stem from her ego in relation to Jefferson's "destiny" to fight for his city, which was the source of an argument in season one; she's so headstrong about trying to save the "pod-kids" (and any other metas) to the exclusion of everything else, including forgetting her family's safety with her continuing, always losing end deals she makes with Odell and now Tobias. Both men had planted the seeds of doubt and resentment in her relationship with Jefferson, knowing that her ego would prevent her from ever seeing anything but how much she is needed.
Tobias: Nothing changes him (and no one should expect it), as he's still drowning in self-hate with lines such as
"...and they say black women are difficult. I think--like most Negroes--they just need the proper motivation..."
..or referring to Black Lightning as "The Neon Negro".
Sickening, but his is a realistic reflection of the mind of those sharing that generational curse of hating yourself for the benefit of a society's controlling race.
Helga Jace / Colonel Yuri Mosin: Alright, both sides seek to stabilize and/or cure the lethal effects of the meta experiments, but Mosin--unlike Odell (on the surface) is not about killing off lab rats, which would give his campaign the clear advantage...
Henderson: His rogue team--now including the reporter (Olsen) is an interesting turn, but next week's episode has them come into conflict with Black Lightning, and that can only mean more troubles with Anissa.
Khalil aka Painkiller: Anissa gave him the "Bruce LEEroy" nickname. That's actually an old slang from the early 70s in some black communities, and yeah, it was never flattering.
NOTES: Gambi now knows Khalil is alive. Valuable information (if only to protect Jennifer), but at this point, it would not be wise to share it with his fractured family, out of the concern that someone might lose what's left of their senses after accepting such a morbid idea.
The show's drama's keep the fantasy in check--that is to say, that the heart, who the characters have been carefully built to be and the real consequences always take center stage, even in action set-pieces (e.g. BL telling Odell he does not kill, only for Odell to get under his skin by dismissing him as weak--their central ideological difference). There's nowhere to turn for a comic relief, or to just shut down your attention during a fight scene (a problem hurting many superhero productions), you are always drawn into every moment, which has something to say.
Wonderful show.
GRADE: A+.
I think our affection for this show is one of the few things you and I agree on. 
I'm curious just how far Lynn is going to go before things finally reach some kind of a breaking point. With her giving Tobias the information on the pod kids, and now leaving Jefferson, she does seem to be getting pretty close to rock bottom.
It was nice to get some answers about Brandon, what he said does seem believable, but I wouldn't put it past writers to throw some kind of twist in there.
I was really surprised they didn't show Black Lightning fighting the ASA agents and burning the lightning bolt into the building. I fell asleep Monday night, so I was shocked when I went back to watch the whole thing yesterday morning, and realized I didn't sleep through it.
So I'm assuming Jamila Olsen is their alternate version of Jimmy Olsen? I hadn't caught her name in her other appearances, and I find it very hard to believe that it's a coincidence that she's a reporter in a DC property and her name happens to be J. Olsen.
It'll be very interesting to see what happens now that Gambi know Khalil is still alive.
I wonder how close to death Anissa will end up getting before they manage to save her? Things were definitely not looking good last we saw her.
I'm curious just how far Lynn is going to go before things finally reach some kind of a breaking point. With her giving Tobias the information on the pod kids, and now leaving Jefferson, she does seem to be getting pretty close to rock bottom.
It was nice to get some answers about Brandon, what he said does seem believable, but I wouldn't put it past writers to throw some kind of twist in there.
I was really surprised they didn't show Black Lightning fighting the ASA agents and burning the lightning bolt into the building. I fell asleep Monday night, so I was shocked when I went back to watch the whole thing yesterday morning, and realized I didn't sleep through it.
So I'm assuming Jamila Olsen is their alternate version of Jimmy Olsen? I hadn't caught her name in her other appearances, and I find it very hard to believe that it's a coincidence that she's a reporter in a DC property and her name happens to be J. Olsen.
It'll be very interesting to see what happens now that Gambi know Khalil is still alive.
I wonder how close to death Anissa will end up getting before they manage to save her? Things were definitely not looking good last we saw her.
Black Lightning
SEASON THREE / Episode 7: "The Book of Resistance: Chapter Two - Henderson's Opus"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: Once again, his hands were tied; Henderson will not stop believing his underground group is the way to go, but trying to dress down/guilt trip Jefferson from fighting in the only way he knows how accomplishes nothing. The one powerful meta he needs is constantly pushed outside of the loops of all around him. Jefferson's had issues with anger in the past (usually warranted), but at least he stays on his own point and values no matter what else happens. Unlike some TV heroes, he does not suffer from bouts of moral ambiguity / shelved conscience--he's the last steady thing in the city despite his internal struggles.
Now that he's a part of Henderson's underground (up to a point), his very presence has placed the core group in grave danger.
ASA / Major Sarah Gray: "Beware of old men in a profession where they die young" Actually, that is a very true statement.
Jennifer: Still thinking of Khalil...and I can see where that's going.
Brandon believing education is his way out, and nothing ever lasts (the occupation)-in light of all he's going through--is a level of maturity Jennifer does not share. Granted, she's on the inside of the problem, but her protests lose air, as she has few real issues working for Odell in acts of rage/revenge. Then, there's her playing games with Brandon about Jace--no matter her motivations, surely she cant believe toying with a superpowered kid who lost his mother to Jace is a good thing.....
LOL @ her "Eddie Munster" crack at Gray. Fitting, but she may come to regret her "woman in charge" comment, as Gray has been nothing short of a thug wrapped in a monstrous blanket.
Anissa: Finally, some of the arrogance fades as she admits how much she loves/needs her father. She even acknowledged her past claims of being "grown" are now not providing the strength she was only going to get out of that father/daughter relationship.
Lynn / Gambi: Shocked that she so readily capitulated to Gambi's requests, as she knows that not only means the potential for a rapid escalation in threats (not yet thinking of the Markovians), but personally, its also something Jefferson would do/agree to, and that irritates her to no end.
While its technically honorable to want to save Khalil, Lynn is out of her element (at the moment() in trying to restore the real Khalil to life, since she cannot possibly now if the Painkiller identity has been developed to act as an manufactured outgrowth of his own personality (meaning he's never exhibited an ounce of violence/sadism in his original life, but he is made to think he has always been that way).
Then, there's hiding this from Jennifer; eventually, she will find out--either through the manipulative Gray (knowing about Jennifer's past and/or Khalil's file), or as Gray is the one who issued the kill order on her own father, which will draw her to the center of the disaster waiting to happen.
Note Gambi's proud gaze at Anissa as she mentioned planting a tracking device on Grace; in her underpowered state, she's doing exactly what he would, so she's has been paying attention all along.
Dr. Matthew Blair: Self-described Brown Noser….hmm...
Henderson / Reverend Holt / 2-Bits Tanner: Holt quickly realized any law offering protection for a house of worship meant nothing to the ASA, and it was refreshing to have him hide the refuges elsewhere, instead of being played like a fool (like a few other TV productions would with people of faith).
NOTES: Tangled web: Jennifer getting information on Jace--who would welcome a visit from a "prize" metahuman, but in the event she tries to help her father, there's no way she will not only discover Khalil is alive, but in that moment of hesitation, allow Painkiller to gain an upper hand.
Then, there's Lynn, who is so off-the-rails with her ego that she's threatening to turn Gambi over to the ASA, while believing she has a way to restore Khalil. I ill believe that when I see it (e.g., in a moment when Painkiller is moments away from killing someone, and his true self / memories causes the equivalent of a system crash as he's restored).
Grace leaves, but I'm thinking she will make a timely return toward the end of the season--or maybe she will grow tired of feeling like a fugitive and attempt to aid the underground in a more direct way.
GRADE: A+.
SEASON THREE / Episode 7: "The Book of Resistance: Chapter Two - Henderson's Opus"
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning: Once again, his hands were tied; Henderson will not stop believing his underground group is the way to go, but trying to dress down/guilt trip Jefferson from fighting in the only way he knows how accomplishes nothing. The one powerful meta he needs is constantly pushed outside of the loops of all around him. Jefferson's had issues with anger in the past (usually warranted), but at least he stays on his own point and values no matter what else happens. Unlike some TV heroes, he does not suffer from bouts of moral ambiguity / shelved conscience--he's the last steady thing in the city despite his internal struggles.
Now that he's a part of Henderson's underground (up to a point), his very presence has placed the core group in grave danger.
ASA / Major Sarah Gray: "Beware of old men in a profession where they die young" Actually, that is a very true statement.
Jennifer: Still thinking of Khalil...and I can see where that's going.
Brandon believing education is his way out, and nothing ever lasts (the occupation)-in light of all he's going through--is a level of maturity Jennifer does not share. Granted, she's on the inside of the problem, but her protests lose air, as she has few real issues working for Odell in acts of rage/revenge. Then, there's her playing games with Brandon about Jace--no matter her motivations, surely she cant believe toying with a superpowered kid who lost his mother to Jace is a good thing.....
LOL @ her "Eddie Munster" crack at Gray. Fitting, but she may come to regret her "woman in charge" comment, as Gray has been nothing short of a thug wrapped in a monstrous blanket.
Anissa: Finally, some of the arrogance fades as she admits how much she loves/needs her father. She even acknowledged her past claims of being "grown" are now not providing the strength she was only going to get out of that father/daughter relationship.
Lynn / Gambi: Shocked that she so readily capitulated to Gambi's requests, as she knows that not only means the potential for a rapid escalation in threats (not yet thinking of the Markovians), but personally, its also something Jefferson would do/agree to, and that irritates her to no end.
While its technically honorable to want to save Khalil, Lynn is out of her element (at the moment() in trying to restore the real Khalil to life, since she cannot possibly now if the Painkiller identity has been developed to act as an manufactured outgrowth of his own personality (meaning he's never exhibited an ounce of violence/sadism in his original life, but he is made to think he has always been that way).
Then, there's hiding this from Jennifer; eventually, she will find out--either through the manipulative Gray (knowing about Jennifer's past and/or Khalil's file), or as Gray is the one who issued the kill order on her own father, which will draw her to the center of the disaster waiting to happen.
Note Gambi's proud gaze at Anissa as she mentioned planting a tracking device on Grace; in her underpowered state, she's doing exactly what he would, so she's has been paying attention all along.
Dr. Matthew Blair: Self-described Brown Noser….hmm...
Henderson / Reverend Holt / 2-Bits Tanner: Holt quickly realized any law offering protection for a house of worship meant nothing to the ASA, and it was refreshing to have him hide the refuges elsewhere, instead of being played like a fool (like a few other TV productions would with people of faith).
NOTES: Tangled web: Jennifer getting information on Jace--who would welcome a visit from a "prize" metahuman, but in the event she tries to help her father, there's no way she will not only discover Khalil is alive, but in that moment of hesitation, allow Painkiller to gain an upper hand.
Then, there's Lynn, who is so off-the-rails with her ego that she's threatening to turn Gambi over to the ASA, while believing she has a way to restore Khalil. I ill believe that when I see it (e.g., in a moment when Painkiller is moments away from killing someone, and his true self / memories causes the equivalent of a system crash as he's restored).
Grace leaves, but I'm thinking she will make a timely return toward the end of the season--or maybe she will grow tired of feeling like a fugitive and attempt to aid the underground in a more direct way.
GRADE: A+.
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