[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Director: Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Writer: Tony Isabella
Starring: Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvon Jones, James Remar
Summary
Anissa has reached the end of her rope. She packs her bags to move in with Gambi. Seems her ideas of what a hero should be differs from her dad”s. Jennifer begins to have more control of her powers, but reaches out to Khalil, which is distressing given his connections to Tobias. She could get in over head. Thanks to shoddy police work Tobias is redeemed in the public eye, so now it will be up to Gambi, Jefferson and Anissa to take him down. Lynn needs to be careful because Dr. Jace isn’t playing around. She uncovered a metahuman family in Freeland.
Positives
Once again family is the heart of the show. The drama between Anissa and Jefferson feels real. It’s rough, but in the end we know they pull through, not because we know it’s a TV show, but that the actors and writers create believable characters who have bonds strong enough to get through these things.
The action is heating up as the season gets closer to it’s stride. I really dug the opening fight scene, even if it was only imagined.
Anissa, Jefferson and Gambi’s big climactic scenes at the clinic offered a fun way to bring our characters back together, and its good to see the gang back.
Tobias continues to be an intriguing villain. Most shows deal with one big bad per season, but Tobias is on his second season and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Negatives
The scenes in the lab felt a bit rushed. I hope over the next episodes we can settle into that plot with more depth.
Jennifer’s arc may be getting unnecessarily complicated. Khalil is bad news, and she should know it.
Principle Lowry is so annoying! I know that’s the point, but man he is hard to take. Can he be written out of the show now, please? Enough is enough.
Verdict
Once again Black Lightning has a solid episode. If I get a bad episode I will say, but so far so good. I’ve asked myself why, and I think that the core of the show, the bible of the show is so solid that everyone involved can approach the work from a point of confidence and strength. There are a few weaker spots (Khalil, Lowry), but still there’s a feeling of something bigger going on that will be made clear as the season goes on. We are in good hands here.
Translucent Freak is an episode that will only make you like the Pierces more, and that’s the secret to a good TV show. You have to like the characters.
