Spoilers Black Lightning - Season 4: The Final Season

Aside from the stated year that's passed since the Markovian war, I assumed the in-universe time was not exactly like real world time. Then again, after watching Superman and Lois' pilot, someone should create a timeline chart detailing where all of the CW-DC shows are in relation to one another and/or real world time.

I do believe Gambi and Caruso are playing each other; the sudden, out-in-the-open presence of the company in Freeland (no matter that they're saying via PR), and the fall of the ASA's activities one year ago seem to be less than a coincidence. Gambi's past may not be known to the general public, but he cut a broad path in the intelligence community, so Caruso's interests may be a trap--or a roundabout way of destroying metas, rather than trying to use their abilities like the ASA.

Its bold in that he can push buttons, but the reactions of your enemy are not always predictable. Tobias believes he knows the route to take in order to destroy Jefferson, but he should not assume he knows all of Jefferson's assets (beyond Lynn, who he is manipulating at the moment).

Thankfully, he had an answer (the house), but as far as knowing what Payton was going through, if he (Payton) was not comfortable sharing that intensely private (and in his mind, shameful) information, Jefferson would not know. They're not even hat close, as Payton was used to addressing Jefferson as "Mr. Pierce", even after years of working with him. That could be read as Payton's respect for Jefferson, but it does indicate distance.

That's an interesting idea, but I believe she sees Gambi as being as "out there" with his intelligence background as she views meta--both have knowledge and abilities far beyond her experience and academic background, so I'm not sure Gambi would be able to provide support for her. That, and at no time in the series has Gambi ever expressed a feeling of being an outsider to meta, since an entire family (and new recruits, like T.C.) all share their world / rely on him for their meta issues, in addition to his familial relationship to them.

That just read as Anissa thinking she's going to be happy...only for the rug to be pulled out from under her, as Grace is not fully cured yet, and there are too many anti-meta enemies surrounding them (Lopez, Caruso, Lala, Tobias, et al.) for a happy ending to be promised with this marriage.

I do hope it is the end of Payton's troubles, but I still believe Tobias--wanting to hurt everyone Jefferson cares about--will cause some damage to the family, and the house where Jefferson's father (Tobias' victim) one lived.

Would a superpowered character have any difficulty kidnapping anyone?

Oh, yes, he is acting in a Satanic manner: most of his ways of controlling people comes through temptation--the promise of something considered great and/or personally desirable, whether it was advanced strength and healing to Khalil, or to Lynn, personal, historic recognition as a black geneticist completely separated from the heroics of her meta family. Yes, he has his feet firmly planted in that kind of dark manipulation.

Coincidence, as Tobias could only guess that Jefferson would eventually return home and see the card/flowers. If he was occupied long enough, Lynn could have returned to the house, discarded the flowers and there ends the chance for misunderstanding. That said, it will be interesting to see just how Jefferson approaches Lynn...and if she will tell him that it was a set up, or will she consider Tobias' offer to finally "earn" recognition of her own (even after realizing that has been a lifelong problem she's never overcome).

That's just it: Tobias's bait was dripping with the idea of Lynn coming out of the shadows of her family and being seen--and celebrated for curing ALS. He reads the room very well, but Lynn's self esteem issues were barely exposed around him, even while both were in ASA custody, so it it appears as if he was given very specific information about the Pierce couple's issues.

 

Black Lightning - The Final Season
Season 4 - Episode 4 - "The Book of Reconstruction - Chapter Four: A Light in the Darkness"

Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning / Lynn: As usual. I love the back and forth with Tobias. As part of the final season, I do hope Jefferson's longing for revenge does not give Jefferson the"end" to Black Lightning he's wanted for a year, even as the bar "chorus" (including Hassan) debates the merits of Black Lightning in Freeland. More on that to come...

GREAT, realistic tension / borderline hatred between Lynn and Jefferson. Although I still do not believe Tobias intended Jefferson to discover Lynn having dinner with Tobias, the Pierce's internal decay is working in his favor. In what is typically wonderful about this series (unlike all other CW-DC series since their launch) is the maturity of relationships. Lynn and Jefferson's conflicts are not the Afterschool Special level whining one would see elsewhere, but it feels like there's a real, rich history between the them, leading to the kind of arguments seen. This carries over into their period of reconciliation, but that might be threatened by Jefferson's idea for Lynn to gather information on Tobias by working for him.

Jennifer / Anissa: "Are you my friend. or are you my father?"
Its Jennifer's bull-headed resistance to help that is guaranteed a sad end--right at the time others are watching her, like Chief Lopez.

I suspected T.C. would be able to disable Lala's distortion of his fighter's identities, but Jennifer confronting him about it? As Lynn pointed out, she could not even look at her father.

Her silent, tearful acceptance of Jefferson's apology/promise was touching, but once again, her bull-headed nature sent her to the ionosphere, when she's been warned time and again due to its effects...apparently including her body being consumed by her energy, then reduced to scattered particles....

Now this would be too tragic if it turns out she died...

Gambi / Monovista International / Lauren Caruso: Gambi's working overtime trying to exploit the flaw in the weapons, and perhaps he was successful considering Lauren's statements about the delay in distribution...but that's taking a back seat to Gambi and Lauren rekindling their relationship...

Now, she's into the renewable energy business...with an unnamed partner. I do sense Lauren is using Gambi as much as he's using her, but the full extent of her interest in him is unclear.

Lala: Ah. Lopez's deputy chief has spilled information about the upgraded D.E.G.'s he intends to use against the metas...including Tobias. With Tobias himself made aware of the shipment (during this meeting with the mayor and Lopez), this sets the stage for another arms race in a back community, similar to the blatant flooding of those neighborhoods with military weapons in the 70s and 80s.

Despite being a dyed-in-the-wool criminal, he was honestly concerned with Jefferson's well-being, not just the look / trouble that would come his way if Jefferson was hurt or killed.

Tobias: "Sit your weak, monkey ass down. before all the people Freeland learns that the Pierce family is the chocolate-covered Incredibles". Tobias' self hate is almost smothering and typically contradictory, as he plays the game some lighter-skinned black people engage in against others, yet we've seen him make underhanded slurs against white people. He's a man without a "country." Then. referring to Lynn as a "baby's mama"

So, the mayor's integrity did not last long....and he did not last long.

Chief Lopez / Hassan Shakur: She's so ambitious (self centered), that she's willing to take Tobias' advice on the location of the gun buy-back...ignoring Hassan's concerns / warnings. Quite stupid on her part.
Hassan is dealing with a crisis of his conscience in working for Lopez, yet defending Black Lightning...
If he has sense, he would grow eyes on the back of his head around Lopez.

Speaking of Lopez, she is so focused on Jennifer--blaming her for the mayor's death, and I'm certain she will try to make her the poster child for the "evil" committed by metas, her hatred preventing her from seeing Tobias' set up.

Rebecca Larsen: DC's Laura Ingraham is very much like the cable news pundit--relentlessly going after target (Jennifer), no matter how much evidence presented her as a hero. The use of a fiery, truth-challenged character like this has to go somewhere, as I cannot see a person of influence just popping in for a couple of episodes, then vanishing. Which makes me wonder about Jefferson and Anissa; if Jennifer died, and they hear another rant against Jennifer, what would stop them from losing all composure and think of hurting her in some way?

NOTES: The plot thickens, with Tobias wanting the D.E.G.'s to primarily use against the Peirce's, at the same time, partnering with Lopez, who has a vendetta against Jennifer, and of course, she will blame all metas as the root of a "problem" she was hired to eliminate.

Then, there's Lala--also wanting the weapons, to use against any meta opposition, including Tobias, and he too has much hatred for the Pierce girls.

GRADE: A+.

 

The D.E.G.s seem to be turning into a bit of a McGuffin for the season, everybody wants them.
I figured the mayor's days were numbered once he stood up to Tobias.
Jefferson's confrontation with Tobias was a pretty good scene.
That was a hell of a cliffhanger, hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of Jennifer.
Was Grace's Wild name and costume taken from the comics?
I love how they had the guy in the bar standing up for Black Lightning be the thing that started to bring Jefferson out of the dark place he's been in since Henderson's death.
I'm curious how Lauren Caruso's energy device is going to come into play later on. That's a total Chekov's Gun.
Just as a little note, this was the end of The Book of Reconstruction, and next week we start The Book of Ruin, which is not an ominous title at all...

 

The tension with Lynn and Jeff is definitely real.. think most people who have been married over a decade might resonate to some part of it.

i don't think that Jefferson will die at the end...hopefully he will establish the Outsiders instead,

Lynn is definitely in danger...but at the same time this is where she can show how she is a hero like the rest of her family, but just in a way that suits her. She has to use her intelligence, and including her deceptive ways, to fool Tobias, while at the same time doing some good, but delaying at appropriate times.

The ending of this episode actually did feel like an aftershcool special type ending -- i..e the tensions they had have been put aside to deal with a bigger issue... time will tell if we go back to this or not.

I was really hoping Jenn would open that door (as a father myself in the same age range as Jefferson, i was yelling internally for Jenn to open that door)

What happened to Jenn is set up very well, so that she could return if she wanted to, or could be just dead. Maybe she went into another universe (it wouldn't be the first time), maybe she "disassembled" but finally gets around to literally pull herself together.

Don't forget, she still has to take the SAT

Oh...and about the Outsiders (again) -- any signifcance of that issue (other than it being a real issue, and Black Lightning NOT being on the cover). ? I know BL doesn't do a whole lot of easter eggs, but curious about this one.
...

I appreciated the digital masks -- because just a few minutes before i thought it was silly that Jefferson would be doing this, and no one knew. Well, now we know why he and the teacher never "got caught". It looked a little cheap, but works for me and dealing with that kind of loophole.

Interesting to see where that goes, and who/what Caruso is really involved in.

I very much like the respect Lala has for "Mr. Pierce" -- it was would made him a unique villain in that first part of the 1st season... a smart leader who is still a "failure", but yet Jefferson reached him to a certain degree. I think very much a reality for those who work with youth in urban ministry.

Tobias pulling Lala's strings behind the scenes? Hmm... looks like a Lala/Black Lightning team up by the end of the series. (Possibly redeeming Lala in his inevitable death, and helping Jefferson be re-inspired to be an educator).

This episode feels like the writers did not read the previous episode's script. If it were a a public setting, i could see the mayor flipping on working with Tobias, to not look bad. But this was private (i know, due to Covid), so his flip seemed to come out of the blue. Sure, i was expecting revenge by Whale... but not so soon, and the mayor not walking into it so easily.

An end that very logically was orchestrated by Whale... but just seems out of the blue based on last episode (i.e. no build up to make it happen).

Oh, and non-VictorZasz is a meta? With telekinetic or magnetic powers? Tobias had an assistant like that before... where did they come from? Hope we get that answered.

Hopefully, Hassan's words in the bar (which, interestingly, he's drinking the same bootleg Mountain Dew Jennifer and TC were) will inspire Jefferson to hurry up and trust him already. I also hope we get a flashback to help illustrate that (though unfortunately, not betting on it). A team-up with Hassan also "infiltrating" will be a logical future chess move (i am hoping 2 episodes from now, with Lynn being next week's move).

With Jenn seemingly gone, Larsen and Jenn's Instagram seem like plot threads about to dropped, or at least kinda randomly in there.

That illogical flip by the mayor defintely would knock down the grade away from A+ for me... but still the strongest season i think.

 

Interesting! So far, I'm finding it the weakest season of a show whose quality has remained remarkably consistent (and remarkably high) throughout its run. I feel like their budget may have been cut; the show feels depopulated compared to previous years. Tons of terrific secondary characters have gone MIA, and even the hallways of the school seem to lack for extras. They're trying to compensate by doing some deep-dive character work on our main cast, much of which has been effective, but I still feel like it's a little less compelling than its prior seasons.

But mind you, it's all relative, and slightly diminished Black Lightning remains superior to the vast majority of shows.

 

I don't think it so much budget as much as Covid. Especially with youth -- they might not be allowed to be close to many (if any) people. For example, on Walking Dead, so far the child Herschel was seen on the show, but in a tree, not even able to hug his "mom".

Also, it might explain why we still have Anissa as Blackbird rather than her old Thunder costume. (And why Grace added her own).

Next episode , I will have to watch a little more closely to see if people are being filmed as socially distant as possible (such as when Tobias and Lynn had dinner... he conveniently rented out the whole restaurant for them to be alone. Also, the next episode, other patrons were spread far apart)

 

That's a fair point about COVID. I had been concerned about how that might affect Superman & Lois, which, as a show about a family unit, couldn't very well have its characters shouting at each other from across the room and never touching. I didn't feel like it had any effect on that show's first episode -- or if it did, it was so artfully concealed I was never conscious of it. Still, you could be on to something there.

 

I am thinking the main actors, after testing and quarantining, are probably sequestered TOGETHER, so they might feel safe to unmask during shooting. But the extras? Probably far off in the distance and/or relatives or something. I am posting n the general TV & Media Group, to see if people have noticed this in other shows (other than shows like America's Got Talent, The Daily Show, and the awards)

 

TC and Jennifer seemed to be pretty close together when they were looking at the stuff on her phone and then when they were watching Jefferson fight. And Annisa carried Grace and they were pretty close together in the apartment. I can't remember how close together we saw Jefferson and Lynn.
I think with most of these show the stars are being tested enough that they don't seem to be worrying to much about social distancing.

 

i would guess that the regular characters would be close... If they don't live in the area, they might be sequestered in a hotel or something, so they will extremely minimize exposure, and feel "safe" to be close like that. But those who are extras or one time guests...?

 

I honestly haven't noticed, I'll have to try to pay more attention next time.

 

I know I’m in the minority here but this season just isn’t doing it for me. Lots of talk, exposition and feelings and no black lightning. Final season of the show and we have yet to see the super hero in action. Yes I get the story theme of why not. But still. And is it just me or did Cress Williams lose a considerable amount of weight during quarantine. It think it especially noticeable in his head/face/neck area.

 

Black Lightning - The Final Season
Season 4 - Episode 5 - "The Book of Ruin- Chapter One: Picking Up the Pieces"

Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning / Lynn: Nice to see Jefferson applying his education to the mystery of Jennifer's disappearance.

Although Lynn apologized for the following, placing all of the blame for Jennifer's fate on Jefferson...was not entirely incorrect; as a fellow meta, he could have counseled Jennifer on not becoming addicted to the ionosphere but he had not learned to not allow grief turn into self-pity and unavailability.

Now that he's Black Lightning again, he's just placed a target on his back, but he will invite that...

Jennifer / Anissa: You just knew something had to go wrong with the reconstitution process, and while Jennifer is back in mind, its occupying the body of another girl. This could be an alternate universe situation, where the "Team Black Lightning" of the other universe attempted to retrieve their own "Jennifer" but ended up--in "Mirror, Mirror"-like fashion--switching places with this world's Jennifer.

I'm sure the rumors about China Anne McClain wanting to leave the series danced around the minds of viewers--probably thinking there will be a new Jennifer for the remainder of the series, but that does not feel right. If McClain knew the show was ending in its fourth season there would be no reason to make an abrupt exit only 5 episodes in, unless she was making a fuss about it / becoming a problem to the producers.

Gambi / Monovista International / Lauren Caruso: Love seeing Gambi and Jefferson sharing the story about Jennifer. He's back in his postiioon as a surrogate father to Jefferson--and T.C., telling the latter that he cannot hold himself responsible for Jennifer's decisions.

Lala: He's not interested in a truce with Destiny--or anyone else---other than Black Lightning (SEE NOTES), but the second he agrees to a meet, in comes Lopez's troops, who gun him down. It would be amusing to see his body sent for an autopsy, but he recovers and walks out in front of horrified staff. It would be more amusing to see Lopez's reaction to Lala's apparent immortality.

Tobias: "That's the problem with white privilege: you get to be ignorant and still command respect. Makes you white folks overestimate yourselves." Some might read that as a racist statement, but it is based on the nature of structural racism and the advantages it naturally grants to those who--in a number of cases--are out of their intellectual depth, yet still assume the posture of being in a position of authority about all things--and that is witnessed on both sides of the ideological fence.

Val was right: Tobias' obsession with the Pierce family stands to be his undoing, but that's the long-lived failing of a villain. To audiences, the circle of the Tobias / Jefferson conflict should mean he will be killed, but I feel the showrunners will not have Tobias end in such an expected fashion.

Chief Lopez / Hassan Shakur: "She serves he purpose." Lopez is corrupt to the core, but his defense of Black Lightning--and no wanting to pin murders on Lightning means he's going to turn on her...unless she's anticipating that.

The irony is that Lopez has a monument-sized hard-on for Lightning...based on Jefferson's attacks.

Devonte tried the "I can't breathe" line, only to be countered with Hassan writing off his shortness of breath as the result of being fat..and warned him to stop disrespecting the dead (a not to George Floyd).

Khalil: Since Jordan Calloway is listed in the credits, I wonder what will drive Khalil back to Freeland, and when...

NOTES: Ha! Central City/Flash reference and absolutely no Flash appearance. It was not needed.

Lopez issuing a warrant for Lala's arrest, then gunning him down seems like the kind of move that will drive Lala toward his old friend (Jefferson) for another unlikely partnership.

GRADE: A+.

 

The major tip-off Jennifer was going to be altered in some way was when Jefferson fainted and fell to Earth. They lingered on the handful of particles close to him not so subtly implying he didn't quite get all of her.

I have a feeling there's no multiverse shenanigans going on because the Earth-Prime shows seem to be avoiding universe jumping stuff at the moment. I think they're simply going with the "she's different because we didn't quite have all of her when we reconstruct her" premise.

Her exit was probably already set in stone before they knew it was the show's final season.

 

Someone finally did what everyone always complains about and got some help from the other heroes out there. I'm not sure if they were just being budget conscious in how they pulled that off or if that wasn't a little shade.

It's interesting that as "grounded" as this show is at times that when they dive into comic book science and schlock they jump in with both feet.

I'm not sure what I think of this season. The show has been sticking to its guns and going back to it's small scale roots of Pierce famly drama/Tobias/Lala as opposed to the seeming opening of scale suggested by the end of last season. Sometimes it gets a bit too insular for my tastes, I miss when they had other things going on in their life with school and so on. They certainly look fabulous doing it though, everyone is always dressed so nice and the sets so rich that my life looks downright shabby in comparison lol.

Maybe China has other comic roles in her future.
https://twitter.com/chinamcclain/status/1363606799916613633

 

There is a character named Wylde in the Outsiders comics who is male and bearlike. Grace in the comics just went by"Grace".

 

Surprised no one has said this already but....

You could say...she re-jenerated. Call a Doctor.


I'll be here all week...

 

Nice catch, I didn't notice that.
This was a nice way to keep Jennifer in the show, even though China Anne McClain left. I wonder how her new face effects Lightning being named the city's Public Enemy #1.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Hassan now that's part of the Meta taskforce. I can definitely see a major conflict coming up at some point where he'll have to choose between Black Lightning & Co. and Lopez.
It was nice to finally see Jefferson back in the Black Lightning suit.
I'm happy that Jefferson and Lynn seem to be trying to work out their issues again.
My biggest problem I'm having right now is that I have a really hard time understanding the big guy who's always hanging around with Lala.

 

Jennifer would get a break, since Lopez, Tobias and others are familiar with Jennifer's appearance. If she used her powers (or wears the suit) again, they will just assume she's another meta who crawled out of the woodwork.

It would be so gratifying if he set her up, or uncovered something about her that would end her power grab.

Devonte is Lala's longtime lieutenant / point man.

 

The married couple's fight and reconciliation is real and powerful...but i hope this doesn't happen again during the rest of the season --- i feel like we've done it like 2 or 3 times now...and it will seem to get old if we go through it again.

I wonder if China might have some projects that she wants to do, and the timing is off due to the pandemic (she would have filmed the season a while ago, and the timing would have worked before)? I think she , like Jordan Calloway, REALLY have a bright future, but they really need to get on it NOW while they are young (and single?), to maximize their careers.

i do like the idea of a parallel universe situation...and with her, they canhave them merge memories/experiences when needed. Definitely interested to see how it plays out. I was expecting her to be in the containment field for the rest of the season until the finale.

Yeah...definitely great in that role. James Remar must really love the chance to have this as one of his most memoriable roles

Yeah, definitely would have been a fun scenario. Maybe still time...?

Just wondering -- anyone know why Jill Scott isn't available? Seems kinda weird for Lady Eve to be around, but not really. They even had an opportunity for that to happen, as they had Destiny in a video chat.

i am hoping that the Black Lightning family does not kill Tobias, though it seems to be only way to stop him. Though certainly Lady Eve and/or Lala could be the factor in making that happen.

if Tobias can be deprived of his secret drug (that we still know nothing about), and become aged like in season 3 (or was it 2), THAT would be an interesting "end" to Whale.

Definitely want to see how they use Hassan. He is smart...and i would be interested to see exactly what Chief Henderson has told him...i have a feeling he will not die, but it will be a battle of wits in a different arena.

I didn't catch that as being Devnte trying to do a false George FLoyd -- i thought it was Lala using his powers to suck Devonte's life force for resurrection. Thanks for clarifying.

I noticed his name too. Was there perhaps a cut scene (where they referred to an assassin of metas, and they were supposed to show him)? His name didn't show up previously this season, did it?

Appearance not needed, but shows how being in the same universe actually helps! Also, as Gambi mentioned, Black Lightning was the hope of Freeland... so one of many cities and towns that do not get regular (or EVE) help from a meta hero. That's how i rationalize the self-containment of Black Lightning (and other heroes).

Does Lala know that Jefferson is Black Lightning? Sure, i can see him respecting both separately, but if he is really respecting Jefferson Pierce-- that makes it the more poignant, and interesting for the plot.

I wonder if Lala will have a redeeming turn of events by the end? (Or something where Jefferson knows that his efforts on Lala, especially as a teacher, were not in vain)

Thanks for pointing that out... i didn't notice. So a backup in case they want to use it.

i don't think it was budget as much as the different locations for filming... pre-pandmeic, it wouldn't necessarily be that big a deal to fly over to Atlanta...but during THIS time? A little harder...though they could have just done a video call, that doesn't require much to set up.

WOw-- China sure would make a great Harley Quinn...now what Marvel character...?

Thaaaaaat was actualy pretty funny.