BLACK LIGHTNING 4.3

RECAP - BLACK LIGHTNING 4.3:  "The Book of Reconstruction - Chapter Three:  Despite All My Rage..."

There's no time for fussin' and fightin', my friend......or is there?  Appears that there's A LOT of that going on in Freeland these days---especially fightin'.  Appears that Lala has opted for a new venture to make some cash:  underground cage fighting.  And he managed to get Marcel Payton---one of Jefferson's fellow teachers---roped into it.  But Marcel is at the end of his rope:  his kids were taken away from him, and he needs to prove he's a good father---especially in the wake of his son dying.  Otherwise, Child Services will ensure he never sees his children again.  

But wait....there's more!

Lynn and Jefferson continue their separate therapy, Jennifer now has a new target:  cable news networks, and Gambi manages to work is way into Montevista to gain intel on the new GEN gun.  And Anissa---she gets some GOOD news for once.   Oh....and then there's Tobias...lurking about as usual.  

This week saw Jefferson still in the doldrums about life, about his role as Black Lightning, and how his family is torn apart right now.  He and Lynn are both seeing the therapist separately.  Jefferson feels that all the mistakes he's made is that he's trying to be the man he used to be---but he can't.  He's still convinced that being Black Lightning is more a curse than a cure, and that had he NOT picked up the mantle again, things would NOT have gone down the way they did.  This is further pushed along when he actually helps out Marcel, whom he notices looks a little beat up when he gets to school.  Jefferson later follows him to Lala's underground fight club.  He watches Marcel get the snot beat out of him, all the while talking to Lala about how illegal this is.  Lala can care less what Jefferson thinks, and says that this is going to be ONE way to make some bank.  Jefferson then heads into the cage himself to help his fellow faculty member out of this jam.  And despite taking a bit of a beating against a larger opponent, he manages to NOT use his powers, and wins the fight.  Jefferson is invigorated by this, and feels he's taken a positive step forward.  This is something he reiterates to Gambi later on, as Gambi tries to warn him about the GEN guns.  Jefferson feels he's done as Black Lightning, and that HE made a difference...as Jefferson Pierce.  Oh...there's also that issue with the nightmare he had at the beginning of the episode---the one where he couldn't stop Tobias in his own home.  

Lynn's therapy also makes progress, as she realizes that she's been trying to fit into Jefferson's world again.  She has kept using the different drugs that grant her powers to better understand them.  This week, she's using Jen's, and using the electrical powers while in the bath, which causes yet another argument between her and Jefferson.  She said she'd keep going out there until HE suited up again, which he calls her out on her hypocrisy---rightfully so---as she had BEGGED him to give up Black Lightning 10 years ago, and he did.  We also get more backstory on HER, as we find out that she comes from a military family, but she decided science instead.  She comes to the rationalization that she's trying to fit in where she doesn't belong, and that she should do what she does best:  be a scientist.  

Jennifer has found a new focus for her energies:  cable news networks...especially talk shows that tend to eschew the facts in order to tell their own narrative.  We see this in a news show hosted by a woman named Rebecca Larson (who just gives off BAD Laura Ingraham vibes), using doctored footage of Lightning's presence at the gun fight between the Cobra Cartel and The 100.  This pisses Jen off enough to have TJ (isn't he useful?), to track down the kid who had the original footage.  She offered to make nice with the boy if he gave her the uncensored footage to post, and throw the narrative back in Rebecca Larson's face.  She has TJ construct a website for her, and she starts getting followers immediately.  I am not sure how THIS angle will play out, but it has the potential to blow up in Jen's face.  This is stuff taken RIGHT out of real life---as ANYONE knows that EVERY single "news network" on cable is nothing more than a crass commercialized propaganda machine to instill fear in the public, and get them to choose sides.  That is Larson's duty on this show---to get people to hate metas.  

Some GOOD news that came out of this week's installment is that Grace finally awakened from her coma.  And it also meant that her and Anissa could do what they had planned on before the Markovian battle last year:  get married.  And thanks to Lynn's new staff member, and Anissa's new buddy, Dr. Darius Morgan, got himself ordained and married the happy couple off.  Glad that SOMETHING good happened this week.  

Gambi's friend and head of Montevista, Lauren, showed him around the premesis, and gave him a gander at the GEN guns.  She gave a little info on them, and said that they're looking to get mass produced and out on the streets quickly as possible.  Gambi managed to pilfer one, and bring it back to the bunker to check it out.  TJ also gave it a look-see, and found it had no tech.  But Gambi fired it at the Black Lightning suit, and it burnt a hole clean through it...and that was on the LOW setting.  These guns aren't just dangerous to metas....they're dangerous to EVERYONE.  Gambi's going to have to pull in some OT in the spy game to try and stop these weapons from hitting the streets....because not only will law enforcement have them....but so will the criminals.  ESPECIALLY if Lala gets HIS way.  

Speaking of the ACTUAL bad guys, Lala was NOT pleased with Lydell for killing the kid last week.  And despite Lydell saying it wasn't personal, just business...it's NOT good business when he kills a kid, and that brings Blackbird and Lightning to his front door.  And though Jefferson helped out his faculty member, Lala's fighting cage is still going to operate....long as Black Lightning stays on the sidelines.  

Tobias, however, continues to play HIS cards close to he vest, though he starts putting his plan to work to ruin the Pierce Family.  He tries to bribe the Mayor to defund any city monies to Garfield High, and invest in his new hospital plan....but the Mayor is onto his act.  But then there's the OTHER card he plays...and it's right at Lynn.  As Lynn was supposed to meet Jefferson for dinner....to reconnect...she is met by Tobias, who wants to use her talents as a scientist to help find a cure for the disease that killed his sister Tori.  Lynn is reluctant, but he still makes his pitch nonetheless.  And guess who should bump into them as he finally makes his way to the restaurant?  Yep....Jefferson.  He spots this and is NONE too happy, as he bails as the show ends for the week.  

This show is always good at selling the drama, and setting things up for the next chapter.  So, we are getting a slow build into the next "book" with what is transpiring now.  I'm STILL not happy Jefferson is talking out of both sides of his mouth, but it seems as if the therapy is doing SOME good...albeit, he can't run from Black Lightning....no matter WHAT he does.  But it WAS nice to see him NOT have to solve a problem with powers...just the will to help a colleague.  We'll see how long this lasts---especially with Tobias making his moves against the family.

Lynn seems to be in a BIT of a better place after tonight, though SHE is getting worked by Tobias right now.  We'll see how well he feeds into her ego about being a great geneticist.  If there is anyone who MIGHT be easily swayed by Tobias...it's Lynn.  But at least we know she won't be doing the hero thing anymore..which is a relief.  

Jennifer is taking more and more risks.  She's emboldened.  And while that can be a GOOD thing sometimes, I have a rotten feeling she's going to get singed in the ass because of it.  Too much time in the ionosphere, sucking up all that ionic energy, is causing her powers to fluxuate and become unstable.

And with all the good will she THINKS she'll get from that video going viral....what happens when she CAN'T control her powers, and someone DOES get hurt in a battle?  She'll have no way to spin a positive narrative on that.  But in reflection of how today's media operates---it's like trying to fight City Hall.  

Was glad that we got Grace to wake up, and that Anissa and her can finally tie the knot.  What happens going forward is anyone's guess, but I'm curious.

Gotta love this version of Tobias---continues to be fairly hands-off as a villain, and seems to be taking a page or two from Lex Luthor's bag of tricks.  He's far more calculating, and he's planting the seeds of dissent in the Pierce Family starting with Lynn.  No matter HOW noble he comes off...his intentions are dubious and sinister, make no mistake.  He's being built back up as a badass and a threat, and look forward to the final confrontation between him and Jefferson.  It has all the makings of a heavyweight title fight.  And don't forget our Tattooed Man---Lala is also making his moves to take over Freeland and be the only gang in town....and that means eliminating the Cobra Cartel of Lady Eve's.  My question is....will SHE return?  Last we saw HER, she went to Metropolis to join The Council.  And will THEIR presence creep back in?  We got some pretty decent bad guys here, with stories to tell.

I wonder how long Gambi can play HIS cat-and-mouse game with Lauren and Montevista before he's caught?  

We got questions, but we also got entertained this week.  Loads of drama, not much on action, but the story is moving forward.  Let's see where the chips fall.  So....what did YOU all think of the episode?  Subscribe and leave a comment below.  

Until next time....the Power is OFF!