BLACK LIGHTNING 4.4

 

RECAP - BLACK LIGHTNING 4.4:  "The Book of Reconstruction - Chapter Four:  A Light In The Darkness"  

In Freeland.....things are going to get WORSE before they get BETTER.  And for the Pierce Family....it's getting downright UGLY.  Tobias, along with talk show influencer Rebecca Larson are doing what they can to sway public against metahumans, as well as gain public support for their causes.  Meanwhile, Gambi continues HIS dalliance with Lauren and Montevista, as he tries to find a way to shut down the DEG guns before they hit the street and cause REAL damage.  Lynn and Jefferson are still at odds, Anissa and Grace adjust to life as newlyweds, and Jen is continuing to build up power, and not thinking of the consequences....but TC is.  

Jefferson spent the majority of this episode vehemently pissed off.  So much so, that he continued to do the one thing he SHOULDN'T have done:  continued cage fighting.  At first, he having more nightmares about Tobias, this time with Lynn poisoning him, then herself, before Tobias finishes him off....at that point, he wakes up.  He's been mad at Lynn  for the last few days for NOT telling him about her so-called "dinner date" with Tobias.  Gambi tries to reason with him, and Jeff manages to let up on her...for a bit.  But he then goes to face Tobias himself, and they have a chat.  Tobias continues his little cat-and-mouse game with Jefferson, getting under his skin and goading him about destroying his family as much as possible.  

He then eventually goes to vent some steam...this time to Lala's underground cage fight club.  Lala doesn't want Jefferson there, and wants him to quit---mostly because IF Jefferson somehow dies fighting someone....the fact that Jefferson is such a public face in the community, raises flags, and brings heat right to Lala's door, and HE doesn't want that.  However, Jefferson continues to fight, and he takes down yet another fighter.  However....there's consequences this time around:  TC had stumbled upon the cage fights online, and watched with Jen, who had just popped into the Bunker.  The faces were hidden with colored distortion.  But Jen noticed something, and had TC use his powers to remove the distortions.  Jen is pissed off and shocked when she sees her dad celebrating a victory.  

This, in turn, brings yet ANOTHER argument between Jefferson and Lynn when he gets home, and he finds out from Lynn that Jen saw the whole thing.  This is when he brings up the meeting she had with Tobias, and he storms out to the bar.  There, he listens to yet another Rebecca Larson broadcast about how Lightning used the REAL footage of what happened (and not the doctored crap Larson used for her broadcast), to twist the narrative yet again on Lightning, and essentially threw it back in Jen's face.  The patrons at the bar Jefferson went to all talk about the younger heroes, and then mention Black Lightning.  Jefferson hears how they think he's a hero, but he counters with what if he really ISN'T?  What if he caused more harm than good.  It's then that the detective (who was also a pal of Henderson), got up and gave his speech about how Black Lightning saved his life, and got him on the right path.  So, they need to speak of him with respect---because he misses Black Lightning.  Jefferson hears all this as the bar patrons agree.

Jefferson goes home and actually TALKS to Lynn, and they hash out some things.  Lynn says she has no interest in working with Tobias, and Jefferson apologizes for his behavior, because he let Henderson's death haunt him.  He also realizes that Tobias has been one step ahead of them the whole time...and it's time to turn the tables.  So, he encourages Lynn to work with Tobias.  She says it's a dangerous game he's asking her to play.  He then goes to try and apologize to Jen through her bedroom door....promising that he'll work on redeeming himself in her eyes....be the man he's supposed to be.

As for Tobias....aside from goading Jefferson, he managed to influence the Mayor (who'd brushed him off the week before), with his new initiative to help continue to renovate Freeland.  He also thought it would be a good idea for the Mayor to hold a gun buyback for the police, as they're about to get the new DEG weapons, at a homeless shelter.  The Chief and the aforementioned detective were there to ensure the peace be kept, but leave it to Lala to find out about it through the corrupt Deputy Mayor, and wanted the new guns, as the old ones had a glitch.  So, Lala and the 100 sneak into the rally, and they attack, looking to get the shipment of guns.  This brings out Blackbird, Wild (as Grace is now calling herself), and Lightning to the proceedings to try and prevent anymore violence.  They managed to try and stop Lala from getting what he wanted, but in the process, the Mayor himself is killed.  The Chief blames the three heroes for his death, and that can only spell trouble for more metahumans.  It turns out, Tobias set the whole thing up, and made sure the Mayor paid the ultimate price for defying him.  

Anissa and Grace started newlywed life off on the wrong foot, as Anissa was so used to her home being EXACTLY that:  HER home.  And when Grace wanted to move some of HER things into the loft, Anissa resisted, thus causing their first fight as a married couple.  It took Anissa some time to realize that it's not just HER that lives there, anymore---it's them.  So, with that, they kiss and make up before they get the call to spring into action.  

Jen, though.....paid the BIGGEST price this week, as her absorbing energy from being in the ionosphere finally had consequences.  After the last couple of weeks of TC TRYING to warn her about her continued power absorption, and her lack of ability to control it....she kept pushing him away.  He told her that she had gotten more followers as Lightning, tried giving her soda to give her energy, because she looked beat---but time and again, she brushed him off.  After being upset at watching her dad fight in the cage, and listening to him apologize, she took off to the skies again.  TC had been keeping tabs on her, and warned her that she was overloading, as she started to feel pain, and unable to move.  TC told her to come down, but she couldn't---and in one quick go...she build up like a bomb....and exploded her atoms across the sky.  I am not sure what this means for Jen...or if she's destroyed herself...but now the family is going to have to fly into panic mode to save her.  

Gambi's worked his way into Montevista, and is working with TC to try and get the guns stalled from entering circulation.  He noticed the sights were off and told Lauren about it, but with her boss there, she reamed him for it.  Of course, she later apologized in her own little way (there's something romantic going on there), but Gambi knows those guns will kill everyone if put to use.  And while they were delayed a few days, it won't be enough once the police get them.  So, working from the inside is his best bet.  But Lauren saves her last surprise for him:  a secret project where she's trying to harness electricity remotely, and thus being able to power the city...for which she's gotten a few square blocks.  She wants Gambi to help her work on it....and he agrees.

Overall, not too bad an episode.  It looks like Jefferson is coming out of his deep funk, and realizes that....like it or not...Black Lightning IS needed.  He can't take Tobias down as Jefferson Pierce, and can't deal with Lala that way either.  Plus...the city still looks up to him. Now we see if he, Lynn and the the rest of the team can rally together before things get REALLY bad.  CAN they get one step ahead of Tobias?  He's been playing Master Chess the whole time, and he's done a great job of keeping himself OUT of trouble, while making himself teflon in the process. While Lala wants to expand his hold on the criminal underworld, he's still going about it in a thug mentality.  He'll take down everyone in his path....Tobias included, to get what he wants.  But he has no idea how much of a patsy and a chess piece he is at the hands of Tobias.  Tobias already took one pawn off the table---the Mayor---and he'll ensure he has his hands in police affairs before he eventually turns his attention to the Pierce family.  And he's going to pick THEM off one by one.  And anyone else happy that Grace is back, and back in action?  "Wild" is a new name we'll have to get used to.  

Can the team save Jen?   That is going to be the BIG issue coming up in the next installment.  And will she be the same IF she...or the team...can manage to get her to reform herself?  The next book will begin soon.  And this final ride is going to be fun.

What did YOU think of this week's show?  Subscribe and drop me a comment.  I look forward to everyone's thoughts on the show.

Until next time...the Power is OFF!

BATWOMAN 2.6

RECAP - BATWOMAN 2.6:  "Do Not Resuscitate"  

Lies.....they're gonna get you.  And the more we've seen on Batwoman, the more they have bitten everyone in the ass---and this week is a prime example of that.  We have Alice and Ocean being lied to by Safiyah, Mary had lied to Jacob about her underground clinic, and Ryan has been lying about the severity of her injury from the Kryptonite blast she took.  And YET....all roads are eventually leading towards ONE place:  Coryana.  

It seems that ever since Jacob and Mary sold their shares of Hamilton, they've begun doing some SERIOUSLY shady stuff.  And we see it on display this week, as one of the doctors on staff there has been aiming to get the cure to the bat toxin, so that they can market it, and make a new cure.  But there is no more of the antidote, since they used all of Mary's blood to synthesize it the last time.  But that's not enough of this guy.  This Dr. Rogers wants to get it...any way he can.  And he sets free an unstable patient named Aaron out to get the cure...and that means getting it from the source.  

This directly leads into story #2, as Mary and Jacob are driving, talking about someone trying to nab a piece of Kate's estate.  Mary likes the fact she's gotten a bit more attention from her father, but she also understood that when she was younger, it was about finding Beth, and dealing with Kate.  Jacob gets a call about the Napier painting from Sophie, which she verifies as a fake.  They track the info about it to Ocean, and Jacob tells Sophie to start tracking him down.  But before they get any further, they're t-boned in a car accident by Aaron, who takes the both of them hostage.  

Aaron takes them to Mary's underground clinic, demanding to know where the cure is.  Mary informs him that there IS no more cure, and Aaron stabs Jacob in retaliation.  This is forcing Mary to reveal more about Alice, the Desert Rose, and Coryana.  Aaron wants the map, and this has Mary calling Luke and Ryan and telling them in her own way that they're in danger.  She also finally did fess up to her father that the place they're being held hostage at is her underground clinic. Sophie is also called.  Sophie had managed to track down Ocean and Alice, and got the Napier painting from them.  

Speaking of Alice....she and Ocean discuss how it is that their memories were wiped when they were in Coryana.  She tells him that they were closer than they realized, and Safiyah wiped their minds of the entire romance.  Turns out that Ocean didn't agree with this sister's ideals, and felt that the Desert Rose could be put to use in saving lives, and she wasn't happy with it, hence WHY she wanted Alice to kill him.  Alice had a choice to make....and she made one.  She disguised a body as Ocean, called Safiyah to confirm the kill, but Safiyah wants to see the body.  Alice and Ocean are happy to oblige.  

Ryan herself is dealing with the problem of her wound, which causes her pain while out in the field.  Angelique has her go to the hospital, and wants them to run tests, and pays for it.  Ryan doesn't have health insurance, so Angelique covers it all with the money she got dealing snake bite.  Ryan isn't thrilled that Angelique is still dealing, and Angelique had been on the fence about getting out, and Ryan offers to help.  Ryan then gets a visit from Sophie at the bar, where Sophie asks her to get info from Angelique's phone for info about Ocean.  Ryan refuses at first, but Sophie tries to convince her that all Angelique did was get her thrown into prison.  Ryan asks Sophie if she's ever been in love, which Sophie says 'yes'.  But Ryan says that when you love someone, you fight for them, you don't abandon them.  Ryan and Angelique talk further, and Ryan has another attack.  As Angelique is distracted, Ryan uses the equipment to get the required info.  This comes back to bite Ryan later on, as Angelique finds out.  Ryan wanted to have Angelique quit selling drugs, but Angelique actually likes it, and doesn't want to quit.  The two argue, and Angelique leaves her...especially when Ryan needs her most.  

Now, before Ryan and Angelique's fall out, Ryan gets bad news from the doctor:  she's got radiation poisoning.  He informs her that there are some alien elements he can't identify, so she's in the Cave researching Kryptonite when Luke shows up.  She eventually reveals her wound, and said that she didn't fess up to it, because she's been trying to prove to him AND the city that she CAN be Batwoman.  She didn't want to be taken out of the field.  Luke actually helps her out by installing an adrenaline shot into the suit to help her should she falter.  She goes to save both Jacob and Mary, and does so, but Sophie was hurt by Aaron.  And as she has taken care of Aaron, and goes to get Sophie, Sophie is held hostage by people who are looking for the map of Coryana.  Rather than hold onto the map, Batwoman makes the choice to save Sophie instead.  

Luke and Mary talk about Ryan's wound, and Luke realizes that Ryan has done everything she can....even hurt....to inspire the city, and be the hero Gotham needs.  He now realizes that the ONLY way to save Ryan is getting the Desert Rose.  Mary then talks to Jacob, and he plans on shutting Mary's clinic down, despite her saving lives.  He says that because there were experiments happening at Hamilton...probably at the behest of Mary's mother, that he can't take chances.  Mary is crushed, and said that he is taking the ONE THING that gives her purpose....and she liked it better when he paid no attention to her.  I can tell you right now...Jacob is a crap parent.  His total devotion to law and order, his hatred of ANYTHING Batman related, and what went on with Hamilton Dynamics, has put him at odds with his own kids.  First Kate, now Mary.  He's really batting 1.000 right now.  

This was another solid episode, and we are now seeing all lines crossing and heading towards one place:  Coryana.  You have Hamilton Dynamics wanting the Desert Rose, Alice and Ocean wanting to end Safiyah, and Sophie & Jacob wanting to save Kate---along with Mary and Luke---who NOW have to obtain the Desert Rose to save Ryan's life.  Things criss-crossing and coming to a head has been making this season fun to watch thus far.  Luke FINALLY getting on board with the fact that Ryan has been the Batwoman they've needed right now has been long overdue.  But I do love the interaction between Sophie and Ryan this week....talking about sticking by the ones you love...even when there's trouble involved with it.  But Ryan also finds out  the hard way that no matter how much Angelique apologizes....Ryan took the fall for her activities, and she doesn't plan on changing anytime soon.  I can only imagine what will happen when Batwoman is going to have to take her down in order to get to Black Mask....because HE is still out there somewhere.  

Business is about to pick up in Gotham...and beyond.  And I'm along for the ride.   Are you?  What did you think of this week's installment?  Subscribe and drop me a line....would love to hear your thoughts. 

Until next time...the Signal is OFF!

 

SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.1

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.1:  "Pilot"  

Welcome back to Smallville...albeit different from what WE remember.  This is a brand new show for The Man of Steel as he faces many new challenges:  devious criminals, saving his parent's farm, and balancing his life as the World's Greatest Superhero....and a husband and father.  Superman has come a looooong way, and now we get to see a NEW aspect of The Man of Might, as he and Lois Lane try to balance their professional lives, while trying to raise two sons.  And we packed A LOT into the debut episode of this new Arrowverse series.  So, let's dive in, and see what happened to kick off this new program:

One of the things we get to kick off this show is a quick recap of Kal-El's life from the time he landed on Earth, until he and Lois had Jonathan and Jordan.  We also find out that Jordan suffers from a sociological disorder.  Jonathan is protective of his younger brother, and Lois and Clark struggle with him....as well as just being there for the boys as they try to balance their work at the Daily Planet (as well as Clark's time as Superman).  It's a good way to catch us up to speed on the happenings in the life of the Kents as we dive into current time, where this story truly begins.  

This episode gives us Superman saving a nuclear reactor from having a meltdown, being called in by Lois' father, General Sam Lane.  Apparently, this isn't the FIRST reactor that's been attacked.  Someone put a hole into it, to cause it to overload and heat up.  Superman and the General discuss what's happening before the General mentions that he wants to spend time with the boys (especially Jonathan), and Superman says he'll talk to Lois, and flies off. Once Clark gets home however, Lois reminds him that he missed Jordan's therapy session, and Jonathan wanted to talk to him.  We see in this episode that Clark is truly struggling as a father, and having trouble balancing everything.  Lois IS supportive, however, but she also sees that Clark hasn't done the ONE thing he needs to do with the boys:  tell them the truth.  He ends up talking to his mother Martha about what's going on, and she suggests that he come home to Smallville.  Clark agrees to do make those arrangements.  

Things go from bad to worse, as it turns out that Clark has been the newest Planet employee to be laid off since Morgan Edge took over the paper.  Lois is pissed about it, but Clark says they will find a way to manage.  Lois mentions that ever since Edge took over, he's gotten rid of all the members of the staff, and the paper isn't what it used to be.  Clark gets another call, this time from his mother's doctor, and he's off like a rocket---racing back to Smallville, only to find out that Martha had a stroke, and she passed away. Here, we meet up with Lana Lang, her husband Tyler, and their two daughters.  Lana gives her condolences to Lois and Clark, and the boys catch up with the elder daughter of Lana, Sarah Cushing.  Lana, Tyler, Lois, and Clark talk about Martha, but also talk about how bad Smallville has gotten---fallen on hard times.  Tyler brings up Morgan Edge, and his plans on revitalizing the town, which certainly gets Lois' dander up, and she has a debate with Tyler about it.  The conversation is tabled, and Lana tells Lois and Clark to show up at the bank, because they need to discuss what's going to happen with the farm.  

The boys are in the barn trying to fix the wifi, and Jordan falls after he slips on the pipes in there.  They fall, and Jonathan goes to save his brother, and they're buried under the pipes.  Sarah warns Lois and Clark about it, and they head to the barn, and help moves the pipes and save the boys.  However, Jordan wonders WHY they didn't suffer more severe injuries.  This leads the boys to investigate the barn---which they've been told to stay OUT of all their lives---and they go into the cellar of it....and find their dad's rocket that he came to Earth in. In the meantime, Lois tells Clark he needs to fess up to them about him being Superman.  General Lane shows up with info on the attacks on the reactors, and he says that whomever it is, is sending messages saying that Kal-El is no hero, meaning they know who he is.  The General tries to get Clark to check it out, but Lois tells him that the family needs him more right now.  Clark agrees with her.  But the General says that because he's Superman, he doesn't get to have a life, and Lois knew this going in.  She throws it back in her own father's face when she says that Clark is doing what he needs to be doing---being a father. 

Turns out, when the Kents go to see Lana, that Martha and many other farmers took out loans on their farms at extremely low prices, and now they have had to sell them.  And despite Martha's help, many lost their land.  She tells Lois and Clark that they have to make a decision on what to do with the Kent farm----sell it, or pay off the loan.  Clark now understands WHY his mother told him to come home. 

After finding the rocket ship, the boys confront Clark about it...and he finally tells them...and shows them....that he's Superman.  They are pissed because he kept this secret from him...and aren't happy with their mother, either.  They want space, and Jordan gets invited to a party with a bunch of kids by Sarah later on.  Clark, however, is mulling over the fact that he's a bad parent, and Lois informs him that it wasn't going to be easy, and that it's what makes him human.  Clark then hears about another reactor being attacked, and he's off.  Superman arrives at the facility, but it's lined with lead, ensuring he can't see his attacker, but he does.  They have a battle that rages from the reactor, to Metropolis, and eventually into subspace just above the Earth, where Superman gets stabbed with Kryptonite, and is falling helplessly back to the planet.  The perpetrator flies off as The Last Son of Krypton falls.  

Back at the party, Jordan plants a kiss on Sarah, but she tells him she has a boyfriend, he feels bad, but not before the boyfriend sees this, and attacks Jordan.  This brings Jonathan into the fight, and the elder Kent boy tussles with Sarah's boyfriend, all the while, Jordan's eyes light up, and eventually fires heat vision out, causing a fire, and the kids start fleeing.  As Superman falls back to Earth, he think about his life, his kids, Lois....and pulls the Kryptonite out and manages to save himself.  He then flies off, hearing that his kids are in trouble, and goes to save them.  He arrives to see Tyler---who's a firefighter---make sure the kids are okay.  He thanks him, and he takes the boys home.  Lois had contacted Clark as she was starting to get dirt on Morgan Edge and his interest in Smallville.  

Lois and Clark talk, and now he realizes that his mother meant to come home and save the farm.  So, Lois and Clark believe that they can live on the farm, and make everything work.  Of course they discuss it with the boys.  He apologizes to Jordan for not being there, and promises to work harder on being a better father.  They boys, of course, have A MILLION questions for their superhero father, and it seems like they're beginning the healing.  Earlier on, Sarah and the boys make amends, and decide to remain friends as well.  

The episode ends with us seeing the mysterious assailant arriving at a remote, artic HQ, where he says he needs more Kryptonite in order to destroy Superman.  The computer system refers to this man as "Captain Luthor".

This was a pretty raucous start to series.  We got a HEAVY dose of drama, and we get to see just how much more HUMAN Superman can be.  Despite all his powers...and all he can do...he's still learning A LOT about being human---especially now as a parent.  And while Lois is there to ground him...give him his humanity...she is ALSO learning on the job as a mother.  You have, essentially, two really good young men...but one is troubled, and NOW has this added burden of superpowers manifesting.  This is going to be the next challenge for both Lois AND Clark as parents...to navigate Jordan through his special abilities.  

I DID enjoy Lois dressing down her dad on this show in regards to Clark NEEDING to be a parent at that point in the episode, and NOT just go zooming out as Superman---especially at General Lane's request.  It's another little subtle clue as to the acrimonious relationship Lois has had with her father her whole life.  While we haven't seen Lucy in awhile (and not sure if we'll get to see Jenna Dewan as Lucy anytime soon), Lucy is the military gal that followed in Sam's footsteps, while Lois was the military brat who bucked the trend.  So, it will be more fun to explore Lois' relationship with her father as the series progresses.  But I DO wanna see her and Lucy interact---would be fun!  

Jonathan and Jordan---these kids are GREAT.  I love the chemistry between the two actors, and I enjoy the relationship they have with each other.  Jonathan is protective of Jordan when it matters most, and they seem to have a pretty tight bond.  Being twins, I guess that's what happens.  But to know that they have each other's backs  is an awesome feeling to have, and just reminds me of the relationship I have with my own brothers.  The addition of Lana Lang's older daughter Sarah just means that the boys can get into more trouble in Smallville with her in tow.  She seems to also be someone who's slightly damaged, considering that it seems that her mom and dad don't always see eye to eye.  It appears that Lana and Tyler's marriage is contentious at best, and they're together for the girls' sake.  But Lana's story is one to pay attention to.  

And as for the villain---is this the "new" Lex Luthor we've been hearing rumors about?  And a much different LOOKING Luthor at that?  And what happens to Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor?  Where does HE fit into all this?  Will we even SEE him on this show?  I get that the pilot wanted to established Superman in the Arrowverse, but I AM hoping we get Kara's name dropped or SOME kind of Easter Egg planted that will tether the show to the rest of the Arrowverse.  Maybe we'll get Diggle this season---sure would like to get him into being Green Lantern at SOME point---this show would be a good start to do it (hey....if it worked out for Barry Allen being on Arrow....it can work here!).

And to give you all a quick lesson on Morgan Edge:  You saw him in Supergirl, and he hasn't been seen since.  And...on top of that....CRISIS kind of re-wrote the Arrowverse in a way, so it could be that the Morgan Edge we get to meet on THIS show will NOT be the same Morgan Edge we saw in National City.  But don't quote me on that.  But it's interesting to know that HE is still playing dirty, and is someone the town will have to deal with.  I like that Lois' reporter itch is getting scratched, as she looks into what he wants from Smallville.  It allows us to not only get our dose of Clark/Superman, and the boys....but also allows Lois her own little side story.  

Overall, I'm happy with this show, and curious how it will all play out.  Hats off to the show as well for giving us the flashback of Superman in one of his classic suits.  "My mom made it" is such a great quote from this first episode.  Enjoyable program, and looking forward to how the story plays out.  

What did YOU think of the show?   Do you enjoy THIS version of Lois & Clark?  Parents with kids?  And what about the new Luthor?  Subscribe and leave a comment below.  

Until next time....Up, Up, and Away!  

 

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!

 

BATWOMAN 2.5

 

RECAP:  BATWOMAN 2.5:  "Gore On Canvas"

We're getting some little plot twists and turns on this show, and I'm liking it.  This season of Batwoman has hit the ground running, rather than having to take the time to find its footing.  It KNOWS where its footing is at, it just needed to walk before it could run.  But the cast has settled in, and I'm very intrigued by the story being told, and how all the players on the board are moving about.  

This week, we had a focus on two major plot points:  Alice's search for Ocean, and her connection to him....and the hunt for the Jack Napier painting.  The Napier painting has drawn attention, because not only is it the only painting from Jack Napier AKA The Joker, but it also contains a secret map to Coryana underneath the blood spattered masterpiece The Clown Prince of Crime left us.  So, Jacob is on the hunt for it, even going so far as to talk to his stoolies on the street about its whereabouts, only to be confronted by a man who's also looking for it....who kills Jacob's stoolie.  Batwoman intervenes, and---much to Jacob's dismay---takes off with the assailant to pump HIM for information about the whereabouts of the painting herself.  She also makes sure to take a dig at Jacob and the Crows, reminding him of the graffiti on the wall:  "ALL CROWS ARE BASTARDS".   PR work is apparently needed for The Crows.  Ryan and Luke disagree and just how to pump the assailant for info on the whereabouts of the paining, as well as getting info on how to find Kate.  

Meanwhile, Ryan herself is mending bridges with Angelica...her former girlfriend (soon to be again?), about how Angelica was back in the day.  Angelica IS concerned about Ryan's shoulder wound, and urges her to get it looked at, but Ryan insists that she can't afford time off for an injury.  Meanwhile, we got Sophie and Jacob trying to question Kate's old art friend Evan about what he might know about the Napier painting, and he gives them the brush as well.  Sophie thinks they should ask Batwoman for help.  Sophie and Batwoman meet, but it isn't pleasant at all.  Batwoman agrees that it's a one-time deal, and only because of Kate, and that Sophie admits that Kate is the love of her life.  All the while, we got SOMEONE spying on THAT conversation.  Ryan is still not thrilled with working with them, but Luke and Mary feel it's one of the ways that could possibly help them get the painting and get Kate back.  Ryan recalls her story about how she got busted with Angelica's drugs, who had left her high and dry.  And how the Crows treated her.  This also allows Luke to open up about how they were responsible for the death of his father Lucius.  It seems that for the first time, we see Ryan and Luke finally start tearing the walls down between them a bit. 

While Team Batwoman plans out a way to get to the painting from this underground art show, having gotten the info that the painting and Coryana are connected, Alice has been in pursuit of Ocean, and manages to track HIM down at a bar.  After some light conversation, she again as a memory of he and her, and it was something familiar about him.  He leaves the bar, and she follows, only to be knocked out by him.  He ties her up, and they talk about why she's after him.  She tells him that Safiyah wants him dead, and HE reveals that she is his sister.  He did try to kill Alice, but when he touched her, he got hit with a memory of her as well.  Turns out, Ocean was being followed, and his sister's assassins come after him, so Alice and he escape, and hit the road before they are followed.  

Ryan arrives at the art show, bringing a Batarang as a way in, but gets held up by Evan at the door.  Out of nowhere, Angelica arrives to vouch for her, and she's in.  Angelica has plans of her own, though, much to Ryan's dismay.  But Ryan sticks to the job, and she gets to the painting.  She manages to smudge her fingers on it enough to get a sample of it to have Luke verify it.  All of the sudden, the event is under an attack from the masked guy we saw underneath the roof listening in on Batwoman and Sophie---a man named Wolf-Spider.  There's chaos in the building, and soon Batwoman comes face to face with the thief.  They fight it out a little bit, but Batwoman's injury causes her to lose focus a bit.  The Spider flees, and Batwoman takes a beat to recover, and then is hot on his tail, but she informs Sophie that he booked.  A Crow vehicle is on him, and then runs him down, nearly killing him.  They grab the case that the painting is in, and take off....leaving the Spider for dead.  Batwoman arrives, and tends to him...only to unmask him and find out that it's Evan.  

Batwoman is pissed, and tells Sophie in no unreleated terms that THEIR partnership is DONE.  Even though the two Crows members were fired, it's not enough for Batwoman.  Mary tends to Evan, who will recover, and advises him on finding better ways to help Kate....since THAT is why he suited up to begin with...to get the painting to get HER back.  It turns out, however, the painting was a forgery, because the blood on it was pig's blood---and NO WAY The Joker would use pig's blood.  

And WHERE is this painting, by chance?  Well...it just so happens that the two fugitives on the run from Safiyah's assassins have it, as Ocean reveals a case to Alice that has the painting in it.  She then has another memory of him....but this one shows that they were romantically involved.  

I really liked this episode.  It had good pacing, some more background on both Ryan, Angelica, and even Evan.  It also shows that despite ALL of Jacob's desire to do good in Gotham...the Crows have a SERIOUS PR nightmare...and it DIDN'T get better this week with the two agents who left Evan for dead after running him over.  Ryan's distrust because they busted her without probable cause continues, and she isn't fond of Sophie, because Sophie herself has run Ryan in on several occasions without a real reason.  Even Evan stonewalls Sophie and Jacob because of how they handle things.  For supposedly being the GOOD GUYS....they totally SUCK at it---and Sophie is going to have to make a choice at some point---stay the course and TRY to change it from the inside?  Or walk away?  

Ryan and Angelica mending fences is good to see...but will Angelica be able to STAY on the straight and narrow?  Her own past is black-marked, and will Ryan be enough to save her from going over the cliff?  For now, we at least see Angelica TRYING to make an effort to reconnect with Ryan.  And with tonight's revelations between the two...has the ice melted a little more between Luke and Ryan?  Luke is still holding out hope for Kate, but Ryan is TRYING to make Batwoman work for HER.  She is trying to feel comfortable in someone else's skin...and it's not easy for her.  While she has had Mary's support, Luke is the harder sell, because he just sees her as a fill-in.  And as for her injury....that little Kryptonite wound is getting WORSE by the day, and it's becoming a liability.  How much longer can she think she can get away with hiding it from Mary and Luke before it costs her in the field?  Pride only goes so far....

And apparently, Alice and Ocean's relationship goes much deeper that we could ever realize, and what IS it with this connection they have, where all they have to do is TOUCH each other, and they get these flashbacks?  And what does Ocean having the Napier painting do for him?  Is this his leverage against his sister , which is a big reveal in itself, and what does he hope to gain from it?  And how long will Alice ride with him until she makes her OWN move?  Curious to see where THIS relationship goes.  

Again, we're getting more questions, but were also getting some fairly solid storytelling that isn't dragging the show down.  IT's all steady, and entertaining.  I'm invested, and not bored.  

What did  YOU all think of this week's edition?  Subscribe and leave a comment below.

Until next time....the signal is OFF.