Official CW Black Lightning Discussion Thread (Fonzi Approved!) FINAL SEASON! NO Painkiller SPINOFF
- Thread starter playahaitian
- Start date
Black Lightning: Too Black, too strong for a pasty face, all white enclave like the WB. It always was. They put out an all black cast to offset the momentum Marvel was getting off Black Panther. But now we know they never intended for it to last. MFers has Black Lightning WALKING around town fighting crime in season 1. Not until the very last episode does he come to the realization that he IS lightning and could probably travel through power lines. His daughter could too.
FUCK THE WB
FUCK THE WB
damn, now i gotta start watching boring ass Flash again.
'Black Lightning' star Cress Williams reveals his potential future in the Arrowverse
Cress Williams breaks down the 'Black Lightning' series finale and reveals that another Arrowverse show has already reached out to him.ew.com
The Black Lightning Series Finale is Imperfect and Powerful
Black Lightning's legacy lies in giving us a world where Black people are empowered and where Black people win.
www.denofgeek.com
The Black Lightning Series Finale is Imperfect and Powerful
Black Lightning's legacy lies in giving us a world where Black people are empowered and where Black people win.
By Nicole Hill|May 25, 2021|
Jefferson Pierce is not dead, but he’s buried alive, and still without his powers. As he prays for his family and his city to be protected—and reflects on his own heaven- worthiness— his family pushes back against Tobias. Gambi, Anissa, and Grace infiltrate Tobias’ heavily secured building and destroy the emitter. In the coffin, Jefferson talks to his father in an ancestral plane, a life/death spiritual in-between, and he is able to get closure about his father’s death and be affirmed as a hero by the very person he modeled his heroism after. He returns to consciousness aware of his power, and recalling what his father says about him having everything he needs, he pulls power from the earth—drawing from the Prometheum under Freeland—and breaks free.
“The Book of Resurrection: Chapter Two: Closure” is a powerful, if imperfect finale whose weaknesses don’t detract from overall enjoyment of the episode. The episode follows through on all of the stories built up over the season, to varying degrees of success. The decades-long rivalry between Jefferson Pierce and Tobias Whale culminates in a physical altercation that, while brutal, doesn’t really live up to the level of animosity the two harbor for one another. Fortunately, this brawl is just the final stand in a season-long battle that played out through politics and manipulation instead of fists. The real victory isn’t the knockout, and by the time Jefferson lays hands on Tobias, the Pierces have already won.
Jefferson has always tried to live up to the example his father set for him. He’s always strived to be a good man, and to do right by his people. Being Black Lightning was just one part of that, and it weighed heavily on Jefferson whenever he felt like he failed. Having his father tell him that he’s a good man, that he’s lived up to that ideal, is a powerful moment for Jefferson. We know that when he goes after Tobias there is no glee there.
That’s what makes these two men different. Jefferson doesn’t want to kill Tobias, but he isn’t given much of a choice. Jefferson doesn’t relish the kill—the way LaLa or Painkiller does—he takes satisfaction in the victory because he kept his family and his city safe. Equal to that, his daughters proved themselves capable of protecting themselves, each other, and Freeland. He succeeds as both a hero and as a father. He and Lynn decide to get remarried, and he and Gambi officially retire, leaving Freeland under the protection of Thunder, Lightning, TC, and Wylde.
Anissa and Grace have been in sync this entire season and have moved as a unit, powered or otherwise. It has been incredible to watch their relationship as both a married couple and a vigilante team grow and flourish. It’s also amazing to watch Jenn become her full and truest self. When JJ returns to the ionosphere to charge up, Jenn—the real Jenn— follows her back to Earth. JJ is an entity that existed in the Glaze without physical form, who latched onto Jenn, replicated her DNA, and took her memories so she could have a physical existence. We were given hints throughout the season that there was more to JJ. Jeff had a sense that something was off and particles lingered around JJ whenever she went back into space. I applaud the creativity here and how it allowed Jenn to stay on the show with China Anne McClain gone. China’s return was exciting, and Jenn’s fight with JJ was a fun and cool moment that allowed both actresses to shine, and showed how powerful Jenn truly is.
The same cannot be said for Lopez. She takes energy absorbing powers—Black Lightning’s powers, it appears—and almost drains Freeland’s power grid, to obtain enough juice to kill Lightning. Detective Shakur and the meta task force hold her off until Lightning shows up, and makes quick work of her. Lopez is the biggest disappointment of the season. She’s not allowed to be anything more than a minor foil, and the time spent with her this season is not rewarded in her final confrontation with Lightning.
There is a sense that there are some stories left untold or that are incomplete, but none that have a strong negative impact on the finale.
What is the Shadow Board and what do they want with Freeland? What did it mean for Tobias to lead them? There may be comic context I’m missing, but within the show, they’re never really given an identity and it feels like narrative energy that could’ve been better spent elsewhere, perhaps in making Lopez a more fully realized character.
TC tells Khalil he can remove Odell’s kill order but Khalil will have to forget the Pierces. Khalil accepts, which is a definitive choice that doesn’t necessarily work if Painkiller had been ordered to series. The choice for Khalil to forget the Pierces would resolve one of the major conflicts for the character and undermine the story that show was aiming to tell. It makes me wonder whether an alternate scene was filmed for Khalil that was contingent upon the spin-off being picked up or if Akil had low expectations for the series being picked up and wanted to close out Khalil’s story satisfactorily. Whatever the case, I have enjoyed Calloway this season and wish we could see more of him, but am happy with the way his story concludes.
Finally, What happened to Lauren? Again, why spend time introducing her to the family if not to make her a part of it in any way? Gambi is as central to the show as any of the Pierces and it seems like a missed opportunity to give him a happy ending that doesn’t solely revolve around the Pierces.
I am happy that the Pierces are alive and whole and healthy and happy. This is the ending I wanted for them, even if it felt at times like it might’ve come too easily. What I wanted for this episode was to feel full and I do. I feel an immense amount of joy and satisfaction after this finale, not because it does everything right but because it does right by the characters we love. Black Lightning has always been on-the-nose when it comes to cultural and political dynamics, and it has always played with concepts of power, but more than anything, it has given us a world where Black people are empowered and where Black people win. The series finale drives that point home by showing us a family of Black heroes who are alive and whole and healthy and happy which is a powerful thing in and of itself. Black Lightning is a superhero show that leaves us with Black triumph and Black joy.
I bet China was amongst them
you would be correct
MacGyver‘s Lucas Till, Black Lightning‘s Nafessa Williams Among Additions to Spook Who Sat by the Door Pilot at FX
'MacGyver' star Lucas Till and 'Black Lightning' alum Nafessa Williams have joined FX's 'Spook Who Sat by the Door' pilot.
tvline.com
MacGyver's Lucas Till, Black Lightning's Nafessa Williams Among Additions to Spook Who Sat by the Door Pilot at FX
By Rebecca Iannucci / May 27 2021, 3:54 PM PDT
AP Images (2)
RELATED STORIES
TV’s former MacGyver has fashioned himself a new job.
Lucas Till has boarded FX’s The Spook Who Sat by the Door drama pilot, along with Nafessa Williams (of the also-recently-ended Black Lightning), Nathan Darrow (House of Cards) and Tom Irwin (Devious Maids).
Based on the novel by Sam Greenlee, the 1960s-set Spook stars Y’lan Noel (Insecure) as Dan Freeman, the first Black operative in the CIA. A patriot, Vietnam veteran and, secretly, a revolutionary, Freeman goes through high-level combat and espionage training, only to be assigned to the “reprographics” (aka photocopying) department, positioned by the door so visitors can see there is a Black employee.
Till will play CIA Agent Graham Renfroe in the potential series, while Williams co-stars as high-class working girl Etta Henry. Darrow and Irwin respectively round out the new additions as CIA Assistant Director Alfred Ames and CIA Director Jack Turner.
Lee Daniels (Empire) is attached as an executive producer on the project, with Leigh Dana Jackson (Raising Dion) serving as writer and showrunner.
For Till, the gig marks a swift follow-up to CBS’ MacGyver, which was cancelled in April after five seasons. The series finale aired April 30, and after news of the axing broke, Till wrote, “The past five years have been what I will look on later as the most formative years of my life… Was nervous to take up the mantle of an icon and you guys allowed me into your homes and accepted me.”
Williams, meanwhile, just wrapped a four-season run on The CW’s superhero drama Black Lightning, where she co-starred as Anissa Pierce (aka Thunder aka Blackbird), daughter of Cress Williams’ Jefferson Pierce. The show’s final episode aired May 24.
Lucas Till has boarded FX’s The Spook Who Sat by the Door drama pilot, along with Nafessa Williams (of the also-recently-ended Black Lightning), Nathan Darrow (House of Cards) and Tom Irwin (Devious Maids).
Based on the novel by Sam Greenlee, the 1960s-set Spook stars Y’lan Noel (Insecure) as Dan Freeman, the first Black operative in the CIA. A patriot, Vietnam veteran and, secretly, a revolutionary, Freeman goes through high-level combat and espionage training, only to be assigned to the “reprographics” (aka photocopying) department, positioned by the door so visitors can see there is a Black employee.
Till will play CIA Agent Graham Renfroe in the potential series, while Williams co-stars as high-class working girl Etta Henry. Darrow and Irwin respectively round out the new additions as CIA Assistant Director Alfred Ames and CIA Director Jack Turner.
Lee Daniels (Empire) is attached as an executive producer on the project, with Leigh Dana Jackson (Raising Dion) serving as writer and showrunner.
For Till, the gig marks a swift follow-up to CBS’ MacGyver, which was cancelled in April after five seasons. The series finale aired April 30, and after news of the axing broke, Till wrote, “The past five years have been what I will look on later as the most formative years of my life… Was nervous to take up the mantle of an icon and you guys allowed me into your homes and accepted me.”
Williams, meanwhile, just wrapped a four-season run on The CW’s superhero drama Black Lightning, where she co-starred as Anissa Pierce (aka Thunder aka Blackbird), daughter of Cress Williams’ Jefferson Pierce. The show’s final episode aired May 24.
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Some liked JJ better(she was not bad or anything), but original is much better as Lightning imo.
over the ENTIRETY of the season ESPECIALLY that first season the chemistry within the ENTIRE cast
and those 2 beautiful young black women represented so damn WELL
and were AUTHENTIC
as a father I FELT their performances.
AMAZING
HOWEVER
as she could no longer HIDE her obvious fatigue from being on that show?
It negatively effected her performance
an JJ was a VERY WELCOME breath of fresh air and melded with that existing cast AMAZINGLY well
It was rather shocking and her ability to imitate a few of Jennifer's mannerisms?
She was a amazing discovery and I wish sh e could have somehow been incorporated into the cast cause a season with the :new girl" on the show who Jeff would either LIKE BETTER or NEVER TRUST would have been ILL
and a cool twist on the "outside" kid joining the family later in like
especially in BLACK culture.
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“Somebody finally stuck it to your ass.”
A villainous Lala (Will Catlett), upon emerging from a rock he was entrapped in and discovering his archenemy Tobias was impaled on a rod
“I knew you’d show up, you bitch.”
“We got a problem. I don’t like being called out of my name.”
Jennifer aka Lightning (China Anne McClain) claps back when a power-hungry Chief Lopez hurls an insult… and uses electricity to take down Lightning, but fails miserably
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Still wonder if she wouldve guest starred on Painkiller had it been picked up as a series..
They let him ad-lib that final line.. what was he actually supposed to say
“Somebody finally stuck it to your ass.”
A villainous Lala (Will Catlett), upon emerging from a rock he was entrapped in and discovering his archenemy Tobias was impaled on a rod
She was supposed to
her and Thunder would have made appearances on the series (hpefully they can still do so on other shows)
I think it would have probably been some twisted love story
It could have been good
I hope she did not have issues with HIM either.
It seems he wasn't really supposed to say anything.
But stay COMPLETELY in character like that is real dope.
sidebar...
the WASTED Lala
and if you see REAL early in this thread I had mapped out an ENTIRE multiple season arc
I had SO MUCH hope for them
but they routinely got lost in the weed sometimes their eyes were just to big for their stomachs...
but honestly?
I wouldn't have it any other way
they ALWAYS TRIED ALWAYS you cannot hate on that.
It just they needed much more FOCUS.
EP Salim Akil Talks Black Lightning’s Ending,
’s Return & More
BLACK LIGHTNINGINTERVIEWS May 24, 2021 Craig Byrne, Editor-In-Chief 0
Warning: Spoilers for the Black Lightning series finale which aired May 24 on The CW are being discussed within.
The TV story of Black Lightning is apparently over for now. Tobias Whale has been defeated and the Pierce family is finally reunited in their original forms. Jefferson Pierce is giving up his costumed alter ego, leaving the crimefighting to the younger generation of Anissa, Jennifer, and Grace. While a lot of great things went down in the final hour “The Book of Resurrection, Chapter Two,” the one that most fans will probably be talking about the most would be the return of China Anne McClain as the original Jennifer Pierce, who had been replaced by “JJ” (Laura Kariuki) for most of the final season.
KSiteTV spoke with Executive Producer Salim Akil about the series finale, and of course the first question we asked was how important it was to see China Anne McClain on the series again.
“For me, it was very important, and for the show, it was very important,” Akil answered. “China is such a wonderful person, a wonderful actress, and artist… and professionally, she’s the same exact thing. I don’t think it would have been a finale of China hadn’t been there. I felt like we had to restore the family; the way that we started, and so that was very important.”
With the authentic Jennifer back in the mix, Tobias defeated, and Jefferson being alive in the end, it seemed the family had a happy ending after four years of ups and downs in Freeland. “Everybody likes a happy ending, and we’ve put this family through quite a bit,” Mr. Akil said, “so I thought it was appropriate. I thought it was the thing to do not only for the characters, and the family, but also the fans, and the writers, and everyone who supported the show. I wanted people to know that these characters were all right, and that they were they were alive and well, and also that they were changing in ways, but ‘the family business’ is not dead.” (Sadly, the planned Painkiller spinoff is a no-go at The CW, but we are rooting for a Thunder & Lightning & Grace spinoff over here at KSiteTV Central!)
The series also ended with Jefferson and Lynn officially back together, though Akil points out that they were never actually apart.
“From an artist’s standpoint, I always said to my writers that this is a difficult family to negotiate – a crime fighting family with powers,” Akil explained. “For the entire season that they were in a fight for Freeland, and in a fight with Tobias. I f you really think about it, it was just a continuation of what was started in Seaon 1. And so, although especially in this season was a lot of bickering, and a lot of back and forth with them, what I really enjoyed about the presentation of that couple was that they were ultimately solid in the love for their family and for the love of each other. I didn’t really see it as them getting back together. I just saw them transitioning to a place where they can just be husband and wife. They can just be Lynn and Jefferson,” he said.
Salim Akil was also asked about Marvin Jones’ response to finding out that Tobias would meet his maker. Jones’ presence on the series was one of the highlights of the show, and he served fantastic performances over four years. So what was his response?
“Let me tell you something about Marvin: He is complete – 100% and add another 100% – opposite of Tobias,” Akil pointed out. “He’s a vegan. He’s a very spiritual man. He’s a wonderful artist across the board – acting, poetry, hip hop. He felt like it was it was fitting. We laughed and talked about it quite a bit.”
“I said when I first started that I would feel successful in this show is when children, all children, but in particular, African American children. Asian children, Spanish children could see themselves in the show, and I was still successful if at least on one Halloween, I could see little girls dressed up like Lightning, or Thunder, or Grace, or I could see little boys dressed up like Black Lightning, even Tobias or Painkiller, or Khalil. That would mean that, you know, as an artist, I’ve added something to the culture,” Akil reflects. In the second season, he started receiving photos and videos from people who dressed their children like characters from the show. “That really was an emotional moment, because I felt like I had added something to the culture, and something that kids could be proud of. When I was coming up, I was a huge Batman fan, but even then, you have the top of the Bat-mask, but his face was white. It always sort of turned me off later on in life that there were no superheroes that looked like me, or, or my mother, or the little girls I was going to school with. And so, to know that there is the possibility now for a kid to see themselves on TV and with Black Panther in the movies, and that I can be a part of that, is the biggest joy for me,” he says.
“It was [about the] resurrection of the human spirit, you know, not only Jefferson, but Gambi and everyone around them as the resurrection of Lightning, and Jennifer. So that’s how it ties in. Really, it’s the resurrection of this family and the human spirit within them. And Charles Holland did a fantastic job of writing that finale. It’s a hard thing to do.
Was there any point in the filming where Akil wished they had gone longer with the show?
“Oh, yeah. Of course. I’m surrounded by artists and writers. Very creative people. And I consider myself a very creative person. So yes, absolutely. But I think that we were still able to have a great time and finish the show in a way that I think was satisfying and appropriate,” he says, particularly praising Charles Holland’s “fantastic job” of writing the finale.
And finally, are there any DC Comics characters that Salim Akil would like to someday get a hold of?
“Milestone, Give me all of Milestone,” he says, pointing to Hardware as his favorite character from that historic line of comics.
We, too, would love to see it.
Warning: Spoilers for the Black Lightning series finale which aired May 24 on The CW are being discussed within.
The TV story of Black Lightning is apparently over for now. Tobias Whale has been defeated and the Pierce family is finally reunited in their original forms. Jefferson Pierce is giving up his costumed alter ego, leaving the crimefighting to the younger generation of Anissa, Jennifer, and Grace. While a lot of great things went down in the final hour “The Book of Resurrection, Chapter Two,” the one that most fans will probably be talking about the most would be the return of China Anne McClain as the original Jennifer Pierce, who had been replaced by “JJ” (Laura Kariuki) for most of the final season.
KSiteTV spoke with Executive Producer Salim Akil about the series finale, and of course the first question we asked was how important it was to see China Anne McClain on the series again.
“For me, it was very important, and for the show, it was very important,” Akil answered. “China is such a wonderful person, a wonderful actress, and artist… and professionally, she’s the same exact thing. I don’t think it would have been a finale of China hadn’t been there. I felt like we had to restore the family; the way that we started, and so that was very important.”
With the authentic Jennifer back in the mix, Tobias defeated, and Jefferson being alive in the end, it seemed the family had a happy ending after four years of ups and downs in Freeland. “Everybody likes a happy ending, and we’ve put this family through quite a bit,” Mr. Akil said, “so I thought it was appropriate. I thought it was the thing to do not only for the characters, and the family, but also the fans, and the writers, and everyone who supported the show. I wanted people to know that these characters were all right, and that they were they were alive and well, and also that they were changing in ways, but ‘the family business’ is not dead.” (Sadly, the planned Painkiller spinoff is a no-go at The CW, but we are rooting for a Thunder & Lightning & Grace spinoff over here at KSiteTV Central!)
The series also ended with Jefferson and Lynn officially back together, though Akil points out that they were never actually apart.
“From an artist’s standpoint, I always said to my writers that this is a difficult family to negotiate – a crime fighting family with powers,” Akil explained. “For the entire season that they were in a fight for Freeland, and in a fight with Tobias. I f you really think about it, it was just a continuation of what was started in Seaon 1. And so, although especially in this season was a lot of bickering, and a lot of back and forth with them, what I really enjoyed about the presentation of that couple was that they were ultimately solid in the love for their family and for the love of each other. I didn’t really see it as them getting back together. I just saw them transitioning to a place where they can just be husband and wife. They can just be Lynn and Jefferson,” he said.
Salim Akil was also asked about Marvin Jones’ response to finding out that Tobias would meet his maker. Jones’ presence on the series was one of the highlights of the show, and he served fantastic performances over four years. So what was his response?
“Let me tell you something about Marvin: He is complete – 100% and add another 100% – opposite of Tobias,” Akil pointed out. “He’s a vegan. He’s a very spiritual man. He’s a wonderful artist across the board – acting, poetry, hip hop. He felt like it was it was fitting. We laughed and talked about it quite a bit.”
“I said when I first started that I would feel successful in this show is when children, all children, but in particular, African American children. Asian children, Spanish children could see themselves in the show, and I was still successful if at least on one Halloween, I could see little girls dressed up like Lightning, or Thunder, or Grace, or I could see little boys dressed up like Black Lightning, even Tobias or Painkiller, or Khalil. That would mean that, you know, as an artist, I’ve added something to the culture,” Akil reflects. In the second season, he started receiving photos and videos from people who dressed their children like characters from the show. “That really was an emotional moment, because I felt like I had added something to the culture, and something that kids could be proud of. When I was coming up, I was a huge Batman fan, but even then, you have the top of the Bat-mask, but his face was white. It always sort of turned me off later on in life that there were no superheroes that looked like me, or, or my mother, or the little girls I was going to school with. And so, to know that there is the possibility now for a kid to see themselves on TV and with Black Panther in the movies, and that I can be a part of that, is the biggest joy for me,” he says.
“It was [about the] resurrection of the human spirit, you know, not only Jefferson, but Gambi and everyone around them as the resurrection of Lightning, and Jennifer. So that’s how it ties in. Really, it’s the resurrection of this family and the human spirit within them. And Charles Holland did a fantastic job of writing that finale. It’s a hard thing to do.
Was there any point in the filming where Akil wished they had gone longer with the show?
“Oh, yeah. Of course. I’m surrounded by artists and writers. Very creative people. And I consider myself a very creative person. So yes, absolutely. But I think that we were still able to have a great time and finish the show in a way that I think was satisfying and appropriate,” he says, particularly praising Charles Holland’s “fantastic job” of writing the finale.
And finally, are there any DC Comics characters that Salim Akil would like to someday get a hold of?
“Milestone, Give me all of Milestone,” he says, pointing to Hardware as his favorite character from that historic line of comics.
We, too, would love to see it.
