Spoilers Black Lightning - Season 4: The Final Season
- Thread starter TREK_GOD_1
- Start date
I forget nothing.
Seriously, like most things on this show, I found her very memorable, and it was definitely a "Woah!" moment for me when her picture turned up last week in Tobias's ledger.
It looked lower than the heart to me. And it wasn't a bullet. We saw Red levitating a bunch of metal ball bearings that he flung at Jen and Uriah.
Incidentally, most bullets aren't magnetic, so Red's power shouldn't work on them, unless it's some kind of psionic metallokinesis rather than magnetism.
Katana already exists in the Arrowverse, as realized by Rila Fukushima on Arrow in season 3 and after. However, with only two episodes left in BL, I doubt there'll be time to put together an Outsiders team.
Speaking of which, I do find it odd that they made Looker a villain here, when she was an Outsiders member herself in the comics.
Let's see, how many Outsiders have we had in this show or elsewhere in the Arrowverse? Black Lightning, Katana, Looker, Grace, a version of Geo-Force (Jen's friend Brandon from last season). Looks like Lightning was on the team at some point too. Also apparently Martian Manhunter was an Outsider for a time, though that's not his primary team affiliation. We still haven't seen an Arrowverse version of Halo or Metamorpho, the two remaining members of the original team, though there was a Metamorpho Chemical company name-dropped in Arrow season 2.
I know, I just want to see her on show because of the Outsiders connection.
TC is based on an Outsiders character called the Technocrat.
Red could have moved the bullet around inside Uriah's body damaging vital organs.
They're bullets.
Them looking like ball bearings is an optical illusion caused by them being tip forward when Red pulls them out of his pocket.
I remember thinking Looker was done when Thunder planted her on a hook way back when. Then again people have had a habit of coming back on this show.
It certainly seems they decided to keep it more intimate this season between the Pierces and Tobias and sticking with its roots. Gravedigger, Outsiders, and so on seem unlikely except maybe in a coda.
It certainly seems they decided to keep it more intimate this season between the Pierces and Tobias and sticking with its roots. Gravedigger, Outsiders, and so on seem unlikely except maybe in a coda.
That's overthinking it. It's just standard TV/movie writing where a character's ability to survive a wound is dictated by drama rather than medical reality.
And whether it was a bullet or not has no bearing (pardon the pun), since even bullet wounds are often more survivable in reality than they're usually presumed to be in fiction. The main mechanism of death in bullet wounds is usually blood loss, and that's why I think Jen's first move should've been to cauterize the wound, and her second should've been to call an ambulance. Of course, that wouldn't help if it had struck the heart or a major artery, in which case he'd need medical treatment within a few minutes at most, but at least it would've been worth trying. The writers just had her give up too quickly so they could rush into his death scene, and I found that contrived.
Well, they made it clear at the time that she wasn't dead, and that Jefferson was going to turn her over to the ASA. (As I recall, Anissa said something like, "Don't they experiment on metas?" to which Jefferson replied, "That's her problem.")
Of course, you're right that even if she had died, that's just a sneeze in the world of BL.
Random thought... but was there a reason Jill Scott was unavailable? I thought she had been brought back to life? And I saw her in a commercial the other day so she SEEMS to be active.
Will she be back for the finale to release Lala? Or just forgotten (when Tobias took over Destiny's operation ).
It's too bad, because she made a formidable villain and her being ex-ASA would have made it great for her to face off with Gambi from time to time (maybe having a similar respect as Lala for Jefferson)
Will she be back for the finale to release Lala? Or just forgotten (when Tobias took over Destiny's operation ).
It's too bad, because she made a formidable villain and her being ex-ASA would have made it great for her to face off with Gambi from time to time (maybe having a similar respect as Lala for Jefferson)
I see you point, but in reality, he did not need to that; as a person who has witnessed people shot, and in two cases, died, I know bullets do not have to target a vital organ to be lethal. That's a common misconception about the effect of bullets on the body and what it takes for the shooter to kill his intended victim.
Yes, he sent bullets at Uriah, not ball bearings or anything else. Aside from the lethality of bullets, Red using them plays into the sub-narrative of this series about the kind of deaths people (particularly young black males) in the Freelands of the world end up suffering.
Shakur becoming the new chief is where I'm suspecting the series will go, but someone as vile as the current chief needs a major downfall, and not just being ousted.
Well her technical prowess has been referred to or implied in other scenes, and yes, Gambi was being a gentleman.
I would not wish to see him take on another role like this; I've seen Calloway in various roles over the years, and he's a very good actor to the point that I'd like to see him use his range in non-action roles outside of this series (or a spinoff).
Jefferson and Lynn seem to be the kind of couple that have subconsciously used marriage as a symbol of their problems, so even as they reunited as a couple, they see marriage as a capper of what went wrong, rather than as an official bond/recognition of their love and life together. That may explain Lynn quickly dancing around Jefferson's question.
I like the idea of Lala sacrificing himself to end Tobias; all series long, because of his history with Jefferson, he's had a less criminal relationship with him, and knows--even if he will not admit it--that Jefferson's life and career are the examples that Freeland needs to move forward, not criminals who occasionally "help out" the town or city (like Lala or Tobias), which--to the citizens--is like making a deal with Satan.
Well, TC's guilt was misplaced, as Red was ordered to target anyone close to Jennifer to act as an order for her to get out of the hero business, and that would've happened anywhere, to anyone Tobias is aware of. Regarding romance between TC and Jennifer--I think she sees him in a strictly platonic manner, like a brother.
Yes--its a shame that this lone jewel of the Arrowverse was cancelled, while other series were renewed.
When we last saw Gravedigger, he walked off with an unfinished life, although he was satisfied with the Pierce's testimony. Whether or not he was going to make a return is anyone's guess, but in a way, he is so connected to the history of meta experimentation, the ASA, etc., that it might make sense for a character with his specific history to return in a Painkiller series, since Odell and his daughter are supposed to be the central antagonists.
Of course not, but usually the determining factor is how quickly the victim can get medical treatment to stop the blood loss. I'm not saying it couldn't have killed him; I'm saying it made no sense for Jen not to at least attempt to cauterize the wound or call an ambulance. When someone is badly wounded, the first thing you do is call for help or try to assist. Even if it's hopeless, you still try. You don't write them off as done for until you've exhausted the available options. The tendency of narrative fiction to have characters skip all that and just rush into the death scene is a lazy and implausible storytelling shortcut.
Black Lightning - The Final Season
Season 4 - Episode 12 - "The Book of Resurrection - Chapter One: Crossroads"
Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning / Lynn: Jefferson suggests team Black Lightning attempt to erase Tobias' memory (similar to what he did to the police earlier this season). Jefferson calls Tobias, setting him up by saying he will sign the deed; Tobias agrees to meet him...at Alvin Pierce's house, where this "dance" (as Tobias refers to it) began.
Gambi gives Jefferson a Prometheum-powered device that will send an electric charge to penetrate Tobias' hippocampus, disrupting Tobias' ability to recall long-term memory...but it will only work one time. Gambi wants to accompany Jefferson for this fight, but Jefferson refuses, stating that this coming fight is just between himself and Tobias.
Jefferson--thinking there's a risk he might be killed in his mission against Tobias, gives Lynn his update will, and apologizes for everything he put his family through. Lynn also shares her regrets--and reiterates how much she loves Jefferson.
Jefferson tries to use the device, but Tobias anticipates his move, and tells Jefferson that yes, he killed his father. Jefferson tells the criminal that he was under the bed watching Tobias murder his father. Classy as ever, Tobias mocks Jefferson for spending his life trying to avenge his "dead daddy". Tobias gives Jefferson a terrible beating, and decides to kill him in the same way he murdered Alvin Pierce--by stuffing a sheet of paper into Jefferson's throat.
Tobias uses Jefferson's phone to call Jennifer, reminding her that she would continue to lose those she loves everytime she used her powers. To prove he's good on his word, he shoots a clip of an apparently dead Jefferson....
Gambi / Lauren Caruso: Lauren asks Gambi to fill her in on why he's looking for the emitter, but he says its not his information to share. With Lynn believing there's a way to localize the emitter's signature (apart from the vein of Prometheum that runs underneath the city), she is introduced to Lauren, and together--after exchanging interesting notes about Gambi's personality--the two get to work. Lauren believes Lynn knows more than she's willing to share, but Lynn (thanks to trusting Gambi with her life) decides to let Lauren in on her family's secret and the fight against Tobias....
Khalil/Painkiller: Khalil and Painkiller drive Looker to Freeland to testify against Tobias; Looker spits out a couple of racist insults, leading Painkiller to express his desire to kill her, but the Khalil half talks him down from that counter-productive act.
While on the road, their van comes to a screeching halt, coming face to face with Ishmael. Painkiller and Khalil merge and engage in a vicious fight against Ismael, but they're evenly matched...until Painkiller manages to poison Ishmael, who collapses in a dead heap.
Khalil tries to convince Looker to testify and help Jefferson as Shakur--who was contacted by Khalil off screen--arrives to take Looker into custody. Looker promises to own up to all of her crimes, but she's less than trustworthy, so Painkiller gives Shakur a drug that will nullify Looker's powers, as long as as its administered every 12 hours.
Instead of traveling to Freeland for obvious reasons, Khalil tells his Painkiller side that Jennifer is "better off without us" and with that, Khalil drives away.
Jennifer / Anissa / Grace: Jennifer's suffering from survivor's guilt about Uriah's death--but feels Tobias' threat (to kill someone she loves everytime she uses her powers) is stripping her of the stability she believed she's regained as "J.J." and Lightning. Jefferson--feeling the need to be completely honest--finally reveals how he watched as Tobias beat his father to death, and realized that he could not save everyone (hiding in silence or risk being killed himself) and that his hands were tied, just as Jennifer's hands are now.
Seeking revenge against Red, Jennifer wants to get "charged up" in the ionosphere to have enough power to take on the murderer; T.C. does not agree with her plan, but finds himself supporting her--as usual.
That evening, Lightning confronts Red, with and delivers a single blast which destroys the bracelet which gave him his powers. She delivers him to Chief Lopez, but instead of being grateful, Lopez refers to her as "metafilth" and vows to hunt down Lightning and all other metas. Jennifer warns Lopez that "the world is watching"--meaning she livestreamed this exchange. With everyone--including her own police force judging her, an enraged Lopez injects herself with one of the metaboosters....
Grace feels every mother who had their embryos taken under false pretenses (by you know who) deserve to know the truth, recognizing how many of the women were just as broken as she was--and did not come from a happy home like Anissa. Anissa initially disagrees with this idea, but comes around, just before the couple destroy the building containing the harvester...
Tobias: Tobias is close to owning Alvin Pierce's house...if Jefferson signs the deed. The Shadow Board contacts Tobias and rescinds his seat due to Lightning still being active. Tobias kills one of the members (through an assassin rendered invisible by one of the metaboosters). Tobias effectively threatens his way over control over the Board--and intends to eliminate any metas who might oppose him in Star City, Metropolis--anywhere.
Det. Shakur / Chief Lopez: Lopez--armed with Metaboosters--orders Shakur to arm select officers with the booster in her neverending quest to destroy Lightning. Lopez is motivated by not being a failure as Freeland's 1st female chief than any moral standard she claims to be held to. Shakur gets personal, warning her that meta powers once corrupted her husband's mind, leading him to kill her brothers. This is said to warn her off of using metapowers on others who might suffer the same fate, and after a moment, Lopez accepts Shakur's reasoning...for the time being...
NOTES:
Another fantastic, yet grim episode. I wondered how the showrunners were going to tie up all plotlines in any acceptable manner, and so far, they are doing a wonderful job, despite the fact that I feel there's a good chance one of the heroes (aside from Jefferson) might not survive.
Next week: the series finale of Black Lightning.
GRADE: A+.
Season 4 - Episode 12 - "The Book of Resurrection - Chapter One: Crossroads"
Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning / Lynn: Jefferson suggests team Black Lightning attempt to erase Tobias' memory (similar to what he did to the police earlier this season). Jefferson calls Tobias, setting him up by saying he will sign the deed; Tobias agrees to meet him...at Alvin Pierce's house, where this "dance" (as Tobias refers to it) began.
Gambi gives Jefferson a Prometheum-powered device that will send an electric charge to penetrate Tobias' hippocampus, disrupting Tobias' ability to recall long-term memory...but it will only work one time. Gambi wants to accompany Jefferson for this fight, but Jefferson refuses, stating that this coming fight is just between himself and Tobias.
Jefferson--thinking there's a risk he might be killed in his mission against Tobias, gives Lynn his update will, and apologizes for everything he put his family through. Lynn also shares her regrets--and reiterates how much she loves Jefferson.
Jefferson tries to use the device, but Tobias anticipates his move, and tells Jefferson that yes, he killed his father. Jefferson tells the criminal that he was under the bed watching Tobias murder his father. Classy as ever, Tobias mocks Jefferson for spending his life trying to avenge his "dead daddy". Tobias gives Jefferson a terrible beating, and decides to kill him in the same way he murdered Alvin Pierce--by stuffing a sheet of paper into Jefferson's throat.
Tobias uses Jefferson's phone to call Jennifer, reminding her that she would continue to lose those she loves everytime she used her powers. To prove he's good on his word, he shoots a clip of an apparently dead Jefferson....
Gambi / Lauren Caruso: Lauren asks Gambi to fill her in on why he's looking for the emitter, but he says its not his information to share. With Lynn believing there's a way to localize the emitter's signature (apart from the vein of Prometheum that runs underneath the city), she is introduced to Lauren, and together--after exchanging interesting notes about Gambi's personality--the two get to work. Lauren believes Lynn knows more than she's willing to share, but Lynn (thanks to trusting Gambi with her life) decides to let Lauren in on her family's secret and the fight against Tobias....
Khalil/Painkiller: Khalil and Painkiller drive Looker to Freeland to testify against Tobias; Looker spits out a couple of racist insults, leading Painkiller to express his desire to kill her, but the Khalil half talks him down from that counter-productive act.
While on the road, their van comes to a screeching halt, coming face to face with Ishmael. Painkiller and Khalil merge and engage in a vicious fight against Ismael, but they're evenly matched...until Painkiller manages to poison Ishmael, who collapses in a dead heap.
Khalil tries to convince Looker to testify and help Jefferson as Shakur--who was contacted by Khalil off screen--arrives to take Looker into custody. Looker promises to own up to all of her crimes, but she's less than trustworthy, so Painkiller gives Shakur a drug that will nullify Looker's powers, as long as as its administered every 12 hours.
Instead of traveling to Freeland for obvious reasons, Khalil tells his Painkiller side that Jennifer is "better off without us" and with that, Khalil drives away.
Jennifer / Anissa / Grace: Jennifer's suffering from survivor's guilt about Uriah's death--but feels Tobias' threat (to kill someone she loves everytime she uses her powers) is stripping her of the stability she believed she's regained as "J.J." and Lightning. Jefferson--feeling the need to be completely honest--finally reveals how he watched as Tobias beat his father to death, and realized that he could not save everyone (hiding in silence or risk being killed himself) and that his hands were tied, just as Jennifer's hands are now.
Seeking revenge against Red, Jennifer wants to get "charged up" in the ionosphere to have enough power to take on the murderer; T.C. does not agree with her plan, but finds himself supporting her--as usual.
That evening, Lightning confronts Red, with and delivers a single blast which destroys the bracelet which gave him his powers. She delivers him to Chief Lopez, but instead of being grateful, Lopez refers to her as "metafilth" and vows to hunt down Lightning and all other metas. Jennifer warns Lopez that "the world is watching"--meaning she livestreamed this exchange. With everyone--including her own police force judging her, an enraged Lopez injects herself with one of the metaboosters....
Grace feels every mother who had their embryos taken under false pretenses (by you know who) deserve to know the truth, recognizing how many of the women were just as broken as she was--and did not come from a happy home like Anissa. Anissa initially disagrees with this idea, but comes around, just before the couple destroy the building containing the harvester...
Tobias: Tobias is close to owning Alvin Pierce's house...if Jefferson signs the deed. The Shadow Board contacts Tobias and rescinds his seat due to Lightning still being active. Tobias kills one of the members (through an assassin rendered invisible by one of the metaboosters). Tobias effectively threatens his way over control over the Board--and intends to eliminate any metas who might oppose him in Star City, Metropolis--anywhere.
Det. Shakur / Chief Lopez: Lopez--armed with Metaboosters--orders Shakur to arm select officers with the booster in her neverending quest to destroy Lightning. Lopez is motivated by not being a failure as Freeland's 1st female chief than any moral standard she claims to be held to. Shakur gets personal, warning her that meta powers once corrupted her husband's mind, leading him to kill her brothers. This is said to warn her off of using metapowers on others who might suffer the same fate, and after a moment, Lopez accepts Shakur's reasoning...for the time being...
NOTES:
Another fantastic, yet grim episode. I wondered how the showrunners were going to tie up all plotlines in any acceptable manner, and so far, they are doing a wonderful job, despite the fact that I feel there's a good chance one of the heroes (aside from Jefferson) might not survive.
Next week: the series finale of Black Lightning.
GRADE: A+.
Jefferson reduced to a hand buzzer! I could've respected it if he just used it for a gag handshake because everyone knows it wasn't going to work. Might've been better to have Jefferson try to sign it in good faith instead and then get beat down because there was no suspense in how this was going to play out.
The cops have anti-dampening bracelets for their power boosters, I wonder if those might come into play for our heroes if they could acquire some.
Looks like The Book of Resurrection was an apt name for the final episodes.
The cops have anti-dampening bracelets for their power boosters, I wonder if those might come into play for our heroes if they could acquire some.
Looks like The Book of Resurrection was an apt name for the final episodes.
Yeah, I was surprised that Shakur turned them down instead of pretending to take them for the task force and then delivering them to the Pierces. But I guess he was being a decent guy and trying to win over Chief Lopez honestly rather than tricking her. Although it looks like trying to redeem Lopez may be a wasted effort, unless she hits rock bottom and has a breakthrough in the finale. I wish they'd seeded the reasons for her anti-meta bigotry earlier instead of just doing one big infodump now.
When Tobias talked about taking over in Star City and Metropolis, my first thought was, "You know Superman's not a meta, right?" But then I remembered, oh yeah, Superman isn't based in Metropolis anymore. Although the world doesn't necessarily know that.
Did you notice the "cover" artwork at the top of the episode? The image of the Pierce family and Gambi marching forward?
It included the original Lightning, not the "JJ" model. And the online episode credits list China Anne McClain.
The CW passed on Painkiller
https://deadline.com/2021/05/powerp...rooklyn-painkiller-picked-up-dead-1234762992/
https://deadline.com/2021/05/powerp...rooklyn-painkiller-picked-up-dead-1234762992/
Sorry it took me a while to respond, but wanted to reply real quick before the finale tonight .
I agree what @Christopher said about the Chief Lopez revelation -- seemed like a last minute thing. I very much appreciated the way Shakur handled it. I wonder if was an intentional message to black police officers in terms of how to help their fellow officers do the right thing... even if the "problem" officers ultimately reject the guidance. What Shakur did reminds me of Sam WIlson trying to talk to Karli in Falcon and the WInter Soldier.... they weren't able to accomplish their intended goal, but they truly did the right thing, the right way.
I would also say that the Tobias thing also seems to come out of nowhere. I mean, he is TOTALLY capable of doing what he did, and makes him that "ultimate" DC nemesis...but it feels like we skipped steps getting there. (Or also, the Shadow Board might not be as powerful as they seem).
the Khalil/Painkiller battle was good... though a bit contrived for the "realism" of Black Lightning. Ishmael was a pretty arrogant/bad assassin...or must have had relative easy targets. And the set up for the fight... just so Matrix-y... but an appropriate end to Ishmael and Khalil.
So who is going to die? Who wil survive? Who will change?
Last thought -- the previews sure "spoiled" a couple of "surprises." Despite the "c;iffhanger", i think we all knew Jefferson wasn't dead at the end of that last episode. Also, we saw Lala... definitely expected, but wonder how it will play out. Maybe a dying plea to Jefferson to NOT give up being an educator? i forget..did Lala also know Jefferson is Black Lightning? (Especially since Jefferson fought as himself)
I will have to record the episode but will try to watch it early tomorrow morning. I will miss these conversations with @TREK_GOD_1 and everyone.
I agree what @Christopher said about the Chief Lopez revelation -- seemed like a last minute thing. I very much appreciated the way Shakur handled it. I wonder if was an intentional message to black police officers in terms of how to help their fellow officers do the right thing... even if the "problem" officers ultimately reject the guidance. What Shakur did reminds me of Sam WIlson trying to talk to Karli in Falcon and the WInter Soldier.... they weren't able to accomplish their intended goal, but they truly did the right thing, the right way.
I would also say that the Tobias thing also seems to come out of nowhere. I mean, he is TOTALLY capable of doing what he did, and makes him that "ultimate" DC nemesis...but it feels like we skipped steps getting there. (Or also, the Shadow Board might not be as powerful as they seem).
the Khalil/Painkiller battle was good... though a bit contrived for the "realism" of Black Lightning. Ishmael was a pretty arrogant/bad assassin...or must have had relative easy targets. And the set up for the fight... just so Matrix-y... but an appropriate end to Ishmael and Khalil.
So who is going to die? Who wil survive? Who will change?
Last thought -- the previews sure "spoiled" a couple of "surprises." Despite the "c;iffhanger", i think we all knew Jefferson wasn't dead at the end of that last episode. Also, we saw Lala... definitely expected, but wonder how it will play out. Maybe a dying plea to Jefferson to NOT give up being an educator? i forget..did Lala also know Jefferson is Black Lightning? (Especially since Jefferson fought as himself)
I will have to record the episode but will try to watch it early tomorrow morning. I will miss these conversations with @TREK_GOD_1 and everyone.
I don't think I would've been that interested in it anyway. At least they let Khalil and his tech guy have a story arc of sorts on BL over the last few episodes.
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