Between Anissa breaking the superhero rules, Jennifer trying to control her powers, and Tobias Whale maybe getting out of prison, Jefferson is having a really intense week. Read our review of Black Lightning, “The Book of Consequences: Chapter Four: Translucent Freak.”
Yes, I ship Jennifer/Khalil. Yes, I deserve your judgement.
In another one of Black Lightning’s Season 2 opening montages (ON FIRE, especially the music), Jennifer is getting ready to go to prom! She’s surrounded by her date and family, which is just lovely. At least until Khalil shows up and starts to kill folks. WHATTTT?! It becomes clear that this some sort of dream… however, what follows is a pretty epic showdown between Jennifer and Khalil as she kicks his booty all over the house and eventually out of her window. Jennifer is actually in her safe salon space learning to control her feelings and powers, and Perenna asks the most pertinent question: “Who is this Khalil?”
Judge me if you must, but this Jennifer/Khalil angst is so deliciously juicy. I’m a sucker for forbidden romance, and the added possibility that Khalil could cross over from the dark side to be with Jennifer is too much for me to pass up.
So, when Jefferson and Lynn decide that Jennifer can’t return to Garfield and must be homeschooled, it doesn’t bother me at all that Jennifer goes to see Khalil. Not at all.
Anissa is still showing her ass
When Gambi finally tells Jefferson that Anissa has been doing the Robin Hood thing by stealing money from criminals to fund various pursuits in the community, Jefferson is livid. But he should know that Gambi is always going to keep secrets. ALWAYS.
In any event, Jefferson confronts Anissa and demands that she smarten up: “I have a different set of rules!”
Anissa has been trying to get out of her father’s shadow for awhile, and this seems to be the final straw. Anissa decides to move out of her parents’ house.
Jennifer isn’t happy about Anissa moving out, but older sister reassures younger sister that nothing will change.
Jefferson is having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day… or weeks.
As if this drama with Anissa isn’t enough to put Jefferson in a bad mood, he’s dealing with some other serious crises, too.
Henderson calls Jefferson to tell him that Tobias has been arrested, and Jefferson is ready to do whatever it takes to make sure Tobias goes to jail for the rest of his life. Jefferson suggests testifying to witnessing Tobias killing his father. According to the police report, Jefferson wasn’t in the house, but this is a lie Gambi counsels Jefferson to tell in order to protect him. This gives Henderson something to think about. Ultimately, it’s a difficult friendship moment between Jeff and Henderson because Henderson still can’t believe he’s been lying about Black Lightning all these years? Can’t we just forgive and move on?! *CRIES*
Meanwhile, at school, Jefferson breaks up a fight between two students. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a principal to help calm things down? Oh…wait… *SIGH* And when Mike Lowry does show up, he expels one student and suspends the other. It’s savage and extremely excessive. Jefferson tries to convince Lowry to show a little mercy, but he’s committed to the zero-tolerance policy. But then Lowry attacks Jefferson: “I understand why they [the school board] need their Black Jesus, but I don’t!”
Whyyyyyyyy is that necessary?!
Tobias Whale has been playing long game, y’all!
Tobias Whale is being held in prison, and oddly, it seems like that’s exactly where he wants to be. Even being questioned by Henderson (who calls Tobias a “translucent freak”) doesn’t seem to phase him. In fact, Tobias hols court in the prison like it’s any other day. When a fellow criminal shows up to ask for permission to take out the meta who stole from him (Anissa), Tobias agrees.
They decide to bomb the clinic that is one of the beneficiaries of Anissa’s exploits, but Daddy and Daughter have reunited and are back to being a crime fighting team. They are able to stop evacuate the building and prevent the bombs from having a wider impact. Yes, Black Lightning and Thunder have saved the day, but a bigger threat is about to be let loose.
After Henderson and the Assistant DA Ms. Montez expose why Jefferson wouldn’t be a reliable witness. On top of that, all of the evidence that links Tobias to Alvin Pierce’s death has disappeared. And don’t forget that Tobias has been tying up loose ends by killing everyone who might know anything about it. In a ridiculous turn of events, Tobias is released from prison and exonerated, for all intents and purposes. He speaks to the press, offers support to the Pierce family as they try to find the real murderer (UGH), and even talks about serving the community. Tobias toasts the good news with The 100.
A few other points…
–Speaking of secrets, Kara Fowdy has been with Gambi this whole time! After being shot in the gut with a harpoon by Tobias Whale, she escapes by jumping out of a window… and apparently makes her way to Gambi. However, according to him, Kara is dying, no matter what. As I said, Gambi will forever keep secrets. He doesn’t know any other way. As I said, Gambi will forever keep secrets. He doesn’t know any other way. In any event, Kara does provide one piece of information. She tells Gambi that Tobias has Proctor’s briefcase.
–Lynn needs to be really worried about Dr. Jace. That woman is sociopathic in her willingness to kill for the sake of “science”. And the fact that Dr. Jace has seen Lynn’s data about Jefferson, Anissa, and Jennifer is highly disconcerting. Lynn won’t let things go down in a way that threatens her family. NOPE.
Black Lightning airs Tuesdays at 9p/8c on The CW.