BLACK LIGHTNING 4.2

RECAP - BLACK LIGHTNING 4.2:  "The Book of Reconstruction - Chapter Two:  Unacceptable Losses"  

It's not a good time to be a part of the Pierce Family right now....nor is it a good time to be living in Freeland.  You would've thought that after the Markovian War and the ASA Occupation, that this town would get a breather.  But nope....we get over THOSE humps, just to go right back to dealing with the ORIGINAL threat the town faced:  gang war.  Seems that things have amped up between Lala's group The 100, and Lady Eve's group, the Cobra Cartel...which is actually been run by Eve's lieutenant.  All the while, Tobias returns to town, determined to use his brand new role as philanthropist to work on his OWN machinations.  All the while, we see Jefferson spiraling out of control.  

This week saw the family splinter even more, as Jefferson and Lynn continue couples therapy, where things don't get better, and now they're being seen by the therapist separately.  Jefferson continues to allow Henderson's death dictate his behavior, and his reluctance to suit up as Black Lightning again.  Meanwhile, Jen is overexerting herself again, Lynn is continuing to experiment with everyone's different powers, and go out into the field, even though she is in NO WAY qualified to do such....a point that---at one point in the episode---BOTH her kids call her out on.  Jen's recklessness with her powers, and her determination to play superhero has caused a problem between her and Lynn, as she decides to skip going to college to be a hero full time.  And while Anissa seems to come OFF as the smart one, and the most level-headed....she's also pulling double duty with TRIPLE ID's:  herself, Thunder, and Blackbird.  And, as Blackbird, she's trying to negotiate SOME kind of control over the gang war situation by trying to keep BOTH the 100 AND the Cobra Cartel within a limited working space---something Lala ain't too keen on.  He's also NOT keen on Lady Eve's gang, either.  He already had his boys attack hers, and is also wanting to put Lightning down, as he feels SHE is the most dangerous.  

Jen's recklessness got her injured this week, but also, once again, shows that she's taking her powers for granted TOO much.  Anissa AND Lynn are concerned, and Lynn actually had to save her, but got hurt herself.  With Anissa AND Jen telling Lynn to stay OUT of the field, she feels like she's made to feel worthless.  Jeff, meanwhile, argues with Lynn about the girls, her continued addiction to the power drugs, and his hate for Tobias.  He feels Black Lightning is the reason for everything that went down, and refuses to suit up.  At one point, he just expunges his power outside his house, and passes out, only to have Lynn find him the next day.  He finds out that, because of the gang fight Lightning broke up the night before caused the death of a little boy, that the boy's father---a teacher at Jeff's school---can't stay in Freeland anymore, and quits.  He argues with Gambi, who's been on his OWN secret mission by invading Montevista International to get intel about the new NextGen guns that Chief Lopez had been seeking to help quell the metahuman "menace" in Freeland, and see if he can find a way to get around it, to track the man that killed the boy, only for Gambi to say 'no'.  Jeff has to go it alone, and finds the gangbanger, and uses his powers to beat him, and smash his leg, warning him that if he didn't turn himself in, he'd be back.  

Gambi's not the only one who's trying to get something on the NextGen guns....Lala wants to get some as well....for the sole purpose of killing Thunder and Lightning.  Anissa, meanwhile, had to try and save the boy that died, but couldn't.  Her and the new employee at Lynn's lab were hanging out, after Lynn saw that Grace had gone through another shape change...this time a tiger, and just couldn't deal...so her and this guy have a drink and chat...only to answer the call of gunshots.  They were too late on the scene when they tried to save the boy.  

But we also got one big scene this week, and it was the long-awaited face-to-face between Jefferson and Tobias.  Tobias has somehow been enhanced, as Jefferson tried to blast him, but his powers had no effect on Tobias.  This is going to be a problem for Jeff down the road when he finally gets his act together and suits up again.  Tobias is as powerful as ever, and he's managed to hack into Lynn's lab mainframe, having access to all her research.  

It seems that---through the first two episodes of this season---that guilt, remorse, fear, and anger are the main themes.  Jefferson is experiencing ALL of them....and right now---it make me NOT like him.  He's so self-absorbed in his OWN misery, and his inability to CONTROL everything, that it's made him a huge dick to be around, and it's no wonder WHY his relationship with Lynn is where it's at, and why the girls won't prop him up, either.  They are upset because THEY have to pick up the slack, while their own father wallows in his own self misery.  Lynn is STILL lying to the therapist about her addiction, and has done the 180 from where she was about a year or two ago---when she HATED all this metahuman stuff.  NOW she wants to help and be out in the field...despite her lacking in the skills needed to be a superhero.  The family is NOT fun to be around right now.  And even Gambi's got his own agenda right now, having to suck up to his old co-worker in order to gain access to her company...which is making the weapons to kill metas.  The team is fractured, and everyone is dealing with their own personal crap.  Meanwhile, the gangs are running roughshod over the town, and then there's Tobias....plotting from behind the scenes, while being a public face.  

I did enjoy the episode, and DO tend to trust the writers know what they're doing here...but I also fear that they'll drag Jefferson's depression on TOO long, and it'll drag down this final season.  This has been the MOST solid CW show for every season it's been on the air, and it would behoove the writers to ensure it STAYS that way, by allowing this show one LAST epic season, and go out on a high.  If Jefferson spends the entire first half of this season in the doldrums...I'm gonna be pissed.  At SOME point in the next episode or two, he'll snap out of it.  

What did YOU guys think of this week's installment?  Do you agree with my assessment?  Subscribe and leave a comment below.  

Until next time...the Power is OFF.