BLACK LIGHTNING 4.7

 

RECAP - BLACK LIGHTNING  4.7:  "Painkiller"  

This week, we got the long awaited backdoor pilot for what the CW hopes to greenlight into  a series:  Painkiller.  We took the focus AWAY from Freeland to an unknown town somewhere adjacent to it called Akashick Valley...a neon colored town that gave me serious Madripoor vibes from The Falcon & The Winter Soldier. Here we catch up with Khalil Payne/Painkiller as he still deals with the duality of his personality, and to try and rid himself of the bloodlust that has consumed part of his personality.  

This started out as a honeymoon spot for Anissa Pierce and her new bride, Grace Choi, as they get away from the problems of Freeland to finally celebrate their marriage.  However, things go from good to bad in a hurry, as they are in a bar enjoying the nightlife when a photographer takes their pic.  They're a tad annoyed, but brush it off, until Grace feels bad, and has to use the bathroom.  As Anissa goes to pay the tab, Grace is flashed again, knocked out, and kidnapped by the photographer and a few of his buddies.  Anissa goes to give chase, meanwhile, a figure watches all that transpires on various video screens.  When Anissa gets close, she runs smack dab into Painkiller, who uses his powers to try and kill her...feeling that he needs to complete his orders that Odell gave him:  kill the Pierce Family.  The kidnappers get away with Grace, and Khalil and Painkiller argue and fight within their mind until Khalil regains control.  He releases Anissa, and ensures that she's taken back to his lair.

There, Khalil explains to Anissa that he took off to try and find himself, and gain some peace...and try to quell Painkiller as best he can.  She's still not 100% convinced, but Khalil's new pals help her heal and get back on her feet.  One was a former Army medic that lost his way, and the other is a techno wizard and sort of a "zen" guy, both helping Khalil try and keep control, and prevent Painkiller from going on a killing spree.  Anissa tells Khalil that if he wants to to right...save Grace for her.  Khalil promises he'll do that, and thus the adventure begins.

We see this episode, that Khalil and his crew set up this lair in order to find ways to help cure him from Painkiller, and they begin to search where Grace might be.  Khalil catches up with the photographer, who reluctantly gives up a name:  Maya.  Maya is a powerful person in this town, and she apparently likes to kidnap people with gifts in which to use to create an army of sorts.  She's pleasantly surprised when she finds out that they captured a metahuman--Grace.  She has big plans for Grace, as they keep her sedated in order to learn more about her.   

Painkiller and Khalil continue to debate each other throughout the show, and we see the internal struggle for control.  Khalil tries to reason with Painkiller, and tell him that if this plan works...Painkiller can be free of HIS pain and not feel under the control of Odell or anyone else...they can coexist.  With one of the contacts that Khalil's zen buddy has, they get info on where Maya's safehouse is.  Once he arrives, Painkiller tells him that in order to survive, they have to trust each other, and that he has to let Painkiller out.  Once Khalil does, Painkiller does his damage to Maya's crew to get to her and find Grace.  Grace, however, wakes up, and uses her shapeshifting powers to escape, and begins tearing through the gang herself in order to escape.  Meanwhile, Anissa is feeling good enough to go after Grace, and get her back herself.  Khalil's buddies follow, and they make it to the safe house.  Once Painkiller is in the safe house, he finds some people hooked up to laptops that show their brain patterns.  Khalil's buddy tells him to nab them, and he does.  As he continues to look for Maya, she's begun the self destruct sequence of the safe house, and takes off.  

Khalil and Painkiller contemplate ending it all, and blowing up with the building, but Khalil says that they can still find a way to rid themselves of the pain, and coexist...but he wants to live.  So does Painkiller.  They realize they're joined at the hip, and they make their way out.  Grace had already bumped into them, and she left, only to be met by Anissa and Khalil's friends.  Khalil makes his way out, and the safe house goes up.  Later on, Khalil and his friend discover that they were messing with the minds of the subjects with the laptops, and it COULD hold the key to helping Khalil and Painkiller heal.  He and Anissa talk, and they bring up Jen, and he asks Anissa to not tell Jen where he is.  Anissa says keep up the good work...and wishes him luck.  Khalil and his crew now see that they need to take Maya down before she starts up her cult.  Speaking of Maya, she's in her office when she gets a call....from Agent Odell...who just HAPPENS to be her father!  She lets him know about Painkiller being in town, and it arouses great interest for him.

This show moved along fairly fast, and Grace and Anissa were only there to help jumpstart Khalil/Painkiller's path.  We see that he's set up his own lair, of sorts, in a bar, and keeps tabs on everything.  We also know that Khalil has been doing some extensive reading and meditating...trying to quell the beast inside.  While we see him and Painkiller still debate and fight for control, at the end of the episode, both know that they cannot live without the other.  And Khalil promises he'll find a way to end the pain and suffering of Painkiller.  One of the poignant parts was when...during their conversation with each other...they brought up their mother.  It's here that we see that they CAN co-exist, and it gives this upcoming series a bit of a basis:  the battle for a man's mind and soul.  I was a bit disappointed that I really didn't get actual NAMES for his companions, because either I MISSED hearing them, or they NEVER brought them up.  But he's got a crew, which seems to follow the pattern of all CW Arrowverse shows.  Anissa and Khalil's talk was nice...and it shows Anissa that Khalil is struggling, but making the honest effort to be better, and her encouragement helps spark him into his new role:  taking down Maya's gang or cult.

And who here was surprised as hell that Maya is the DAUGHTER of Odell?  It certainly sets the landscape for Khali/Painkiller to have a new (and old) enemy in the Odells.  And in this TRON looking new city, it provides an interesting backdrop for the show should it get greenlit.  But I do like the premise, and VERY curious if this show gets to series.  

It moved a bit fast...maybe a little rushed.  But when you're trying to establish the set up for a new series....you run that risk.  Either way, it was very enjoyable, and I did like catching up with Khalil, and seeing what had happened to him since he left Freeland.  Much more exciting stuff ahead.  

What did YOU all think of this backdoor pilot?  Does Painkiller deserve his own show, and has this episode given you enough curiosity to check it out?  Subscribe and drop me a comment below.  I should also note this:  This is the first episode in a LONG while that did not belong into a "book".  I think that because THIS was a backdoor pilot to a possible new show...they decided it didn't fit specifically into Black Lightning's narrative.  Besides....Anissa was primarily a secondary character this episode, and Grace served as Painkiller's "McGuffin" as you will---the object to begin his journey.  

Back to Freeland next episode.  But until then....the Power is OFF!