Official CW Black Lightning Discussion Thread (Fonzi Approved!) FINAL SEASON! NO Painkiller SPINOFF
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- Start date
Maya from Girl Meets World in this..
For a second i almost thought it was going to be a reboot/remake of this show
Just heard this new song
Should have been the theme
Maybe for the reboot
Rest in peace bro
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Charlbi Dean, Triangle of Sadness actress, dies at 32
The actress and model died after a sudden illness.
By Jessica WangAugust 30, 2022 at 01:50 PM EDT
Actress and model Charlbi Dean, best known for her roles in the DC superhero series Black Lightning and the Palme d'Or-winning film Triangle of Sadness, died Monday from a sudden illness. She was 32.
Details of Dean's illness remain unknown at this time, but EW can confirm the South African star died at a hospital in New York, as first reported by TMZ.
The up-and-coming actress made her film debut in the 2010 film Spud, a comedy starring musician Troye Sivan as a first-year student attending an elite private boarding school set against the backdrop of apartheid's impending collapse in South Africa.
Charlbi Dean
Dean reprised her role in 2013's Spud 2 before appearing in Blood in the Water (2016), Don't Sleep (2017), An Interview With God (2018), and Porthole (2018). She also appeared in TV, starring in CBS' Elementary for one episode and portraying Syonide in the CW's Black Lightning series, which concluded last May after four seasons.
Most recently, the actress starred in Triangle of Sadness, director Ruben Östlund's satire about a group of wealthy passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship who find themselves trapped on an island after the mega-yacht sinks. Her final film role, Dean played influencer Yaya, one half of a fashion model celebrity couple stranded.
Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson, and Dolly De Leon also star in the film, which will hit theaters Oct. 7. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Dean celebrated the win on Instagram, heralding Östlund as "the GOAT." She wrote, "I'm forever thankful for you for trusting me to be a part of your genius. . . Can't believe I had the best year making this during one of the hardest times in my life."
The actress and model died after a sudden illness.
By Jessica WangAugust 30, 2022 at 01:50 PM EDT
Actress and model Charlbi Dean, best known for her roles in the DC superhero series Black Lightning and the Palme d'Or-winning film Triangle of Sadness, died Monday from a sudden illness. She was 32.
Details of Dean's illness remain unknown at this time, but EW can confirm the South African star died at a hospital in New York, as first reported by TMZ.
The up-and-coming actress made her film debut in the 2010 film Spud, a comedy starring musician Troye Sivan as a first-year student attending an elite private boarding school set against the backdrop of apartheid's impending collapse in South Africa.
Charlbi Dean
Dean reprised her role in 2013's Spud 2 before appearing in Blood in the Water (2016), Don't Sleep (2017), An Interview With God (2018), and Porthole (2018). She also appeared in TV, starring in CBS' Elementary for one episode and portraying Syonide in the CW's Black Lightning series, which concluded last May after four seasons.
Most recently, the actress starred in Triangle of Sadness, director Ruben Östlund's satire about a group of wealthy passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship who find themselves trapped on an island after the mega-yacht sinks. Her final film role, Dean played influencer Yaya, one half of a fashion model celebrity couple stranded.
Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson, and Dolly De Leon also star in the film, which will hit theaters Oct. 7. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Dean celebrated the win on Instagram, heralding Östlund as "the GOAT." She wrote, "I'm forever thankful for you for trusting me to be a part of your genius. . . Can't believe I had the best year making this during one of the hardest times in my life."
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Salute...
www.vulture.com
Rap Sh!t’s RJ Cyler Wants to Explore Lamont and Mia’s New Dynamic Next Season
“Even if they don’t end up together, they’ll still end up being great co-parents.”
www.vulture.com
I miss this show
Me too, the only show on CW I looked forward to seeing weekly.
Black Lightning and the crisis of conscience inside the Lex Luthor White House
A controversial moment from Black Lightning’s history is revisited, with his tacit support of President Lex Luthor. Here’s why Jefferson Pierce agreed to fall i
Black Lightning and the crisis of conscience inside the Lex Luthor White House
A controversial moment from Black Lightning’s history is revisited, with his tacit support of President Lex Luthor. Here’s why Jefferson Pierce agreed to fall in behind Superman’s nemesis.
Feature by Sam StoneContributing writer
Published on Aug. 30, 2022
Jefferson Pierce was a hero a long time before he created the superhero mantle of Black Lightning, dedicating his life and career towards public education by working as a high school principal in Metropolis’ notorious Suicide Slum neighborhood. Jefferson would make an immense personal sacrifice and moral compromise by agreeing to serve as the Secretary of Education on Lex Luthor’s US presidential cabinet. This decisive moment in Black Lightning’s history is revisited in the educationally-minded comic book anthology special DC's Saved by the Belle Reve #1 in a short story by Brandon Thomas and Craig Cermak. Thomas and Cermak delve directly into why Jefferson would make such a decision as he stands among the rest of the cabinet to pledge his begrudging allegiance to the newly inaugurated President Luthor.
Here’s how Black Lightning justifies his tacit support of and recruitment into the Luthor Administration, the short-lived history of the Luthor Presidency within the DC Universe, and how Luthor’s time as Commander-in-Chief feels even more relevant and resonant than ever 18 years after its explosive end.
Spoilers ahead for DC's Saved by the Belle Reve #1.
Why Black Lightning joined the Luthor administration
Thomas and Cermak’s short story 'This Is Why,' is framed by Jefferson joining the rest of Luthor’s recently appointed cabinet to vocally express their support for their president. As all sorts of conniving types, leering at a supervillain being lawfully elected to the highest office in the United States and being given the keys to the federal government’s executive branch, it falls on Jefferson to take his turn in figuratively kissing the ring to express his loyalty to the President. Visibly straining under the public display of submission and fealty, Jefferson immediately begins thinking back on why exactly he took on such a controversial career decision in the first place.
For Jefferson, the answer of why he does what he does in education always comes down to giving the students the support that eludes so many nationwide in the public school system. Even with a cabinet position, Jefferson makes a dedicated effort to continue to keep up with his students at his old school, meeting each of them with their individual needs and encouraging them to learn and grow. With all of the advanced resources available to them under Jefferson’s connection to the Luthor Administration, the educator and superhero quietly admits that he can do more good within the cabinet while privately recognizing Luthor’s obvious villainous overtones.
Thinking of each of his current students as Luthor calls on him, Jefferson publicly thanks the President for the opportunity to join his cabinet and compliments him on his leadership skills, appeasing the Supervillain-in-Chief. The statement is a visibly hard one for Jefferson to make, with his clenched fists crackling with electrical energy but Black Lightning falls in line on behalf of the American people and the electorate’s decision.
How Lex Luthor became President of the United States
Despite years of battling Superman and manipulating Metropolis and the wider DCU as sinister corporate overlord, Luthor successfully ran for President in the 2001 one-shot special Lex Luthor 2000 #1 by Jeph Loeb, Tony Harris, and Ray Snyder. Luthor’s path to the presidency was a relatively legitimate one, at least free of visible electoral interference as the American people willingly voted him into the White House, though the path to his candidacy was a more underhanded one.
During the JLA storyline 'Rock of Ages,' by Grant Morrison, Howard Porter, and John Dell, the Injustice Gang acquires the Worlogog, an ancient artifact capable of rewriting reality. In the hands of the Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime uses the Worlogog to clear Luthor’s public reputation of any wrongdoing, effectively giving Superman’s nemesis a legal clean slate. With his name wrongfully cleared, Luthor then set his sights on Gotham City.
After Gotham was devastated by a massive earthquake in the 1999 crossover event 'No Man’s Land,' it was Luthor who spearheaded the rebuilding efforts after the municipality was officially reintegrated into the United States. This seemingly altruistic campaign endeared Luthor to millions of Americans while causing the current presidential administration’s standing in the polls to plummet, leading to Luthor’s electoral triumph. While Superman publicly respects the decision of the American public, he destroys one of Saturn’s moons in a rage at the election results. Luthor appoints Clark Kent’s childhood friend Pete Ross as his Vice President while both General Sam Lane and Jefferson Pierce accept appointments to Luthor’s presidential cabinet.
The end of the Luthor administration
Jefferson’s tenure as the Secretary of Education would not last the entire duration of the presidency though not entirely of Jefferson’s own accord. After accepting his cabinet position in Superman #166 (vol. 2) by Loeb, Ed McGuinness, and Cam Smith, Jefferson intended to retire from his superhero career to focus on his commitment to education. This proved short-lived, with Black Lightning suiting up in the 2004 Outsiders storyline 'Devil’s Work,' by Judd Winick, Tom Raney, and Scott Hanna to help his daughter Anissa and the Outsiders battle the magical supervillain Sabacc. With Jefferson’s double life as a superhero already something of an open secret within the White House, acting President Pete Ross privately asked for Jefferson’s resignation, with Jefferson complying.
Ross' succession as President of the United States following Luthor came when Lex became increasingly unstable by secretly dosing himself with Venom laced with synthetic Kryptonite due his paranoia that Superman may someday attempt to overthrow him, with the matter coming to a head in the Superman/Batman storyline 'Public Enemies' by Loeb, McGuinnes, and Dexter Vines. Publicly blaming Superman for a coming meteor largely composed of Kryptonite, Luthor ordered heroes serving the government to bring the Man of Steel into custody, along with Batman for serving as his accomplice. When Luthor admitted that he had no evidence the meteor was linked to Superman along with the admission that he made illegal arms deals with Darkseid to defend Earth from Imperiex, the confession was recorded and internationally broadcast, resulting in Luthor going on the run as a criminal, no longer fit for public office, ending this bitter chapter in DCU history for good.
The bitter real-life parallels
Luthor’s presidency came at a time when the United States had just emerged from the closely scrutinized and contested 2000 U.S. presidential elections between George W. Bush and Al Gore. In the 20 years since that storyline hit comic book shelves, Luthor’s tenure as President has only gained more visible resonance and a startling sense of prescience with the current state of global and domestic politics.
While the idea of corrupt politicians who routinely abused their power towards their own selfish ends may be as present as the concept of politics itself, the past 20 years have seen a rise in oligarchs successfully taking public office, including being elected into heads of state positions worldwide. The huge public missteps committed are largely brushed aside with these affluent tycoons and populists being perceived as aspirational figures that presumably understand their fellow person despite the billionaire digs, jet-setting lifestyle, and obvious contempt for the proletariat. As a boy who grew up in a single parent home in Smallville, Kansas, Luthor provides a sinister twist on that Horatio Alger self-made success archetype that clearly appealed to the DCU electorate.
This resonance is further compounded by the state of public education in the United States, in no better a state than it had been in 2001. There has been a significant and steady decrease in public and private education positions since February 2020. With long hours and low salaries nationwide affecting quality of education and employment retention. With all that in mind, Jefferson Pierce was a superhero a long time before he created the mantle of Black Lightning, instead proving his immense selflessness and capacity for unending compassion with his work as a teacher and principal in Metropolis’ most neglected neighborhood. Joining the Luthor Administration may have seemed like a leap in logic on the surface level, but it shows just how much Jefferson is willing to sacrifice of himself in the name for the greater perceived good through educating the masses.
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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.
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Women who always talking about about God have issues. Mfs be inhaling as much hotdog they can get their hands on. Something about about being freaky. Guess the Bible make em horny. Let’s pray for a min then fuck.
Charlbi Dean, Triangle of Sadness actress, dies at 32
The actress and model died after a sudden illness.
By Jessica WangAugust 30, 2022 at 01:50 PM EDT
Actress and model Charlbi Dean, best known for her roles in the DC superhero series Black Lightning and the Palme d'Or-winning film Triangle of Sadness, died Monday from a sudden illness. She was 32.
Details of Dean's illness remain unknown at this time, but EW can confirm the South African star died at a hospital in New York, as first reported by TMZ.
The up-and-coming actress made her film debut in the 2010 film Spud, a comedy starring musician Troye Sivan as a first-year student attending an elite private boarding school set against the backdrop of apartheid's impending collapse in South Africa.
Charlbi Dean
Dean reprised her role in 2013's Spud 2 before appearing in Blood in the Water (2016), Don't Sleep (2017), An Interview With God (2018), and Porthole (2018). She also appeared in TV, starring in CBS' Elementary for one episode and portraying Syonide in the CW's Black Lightning series, which concluded last May after four seasons.
Most recently, the actress starred in Triangle of Sadness, director Ruben Östlund's satire about a group of wealthy passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship who find themselves trapped on an island after the mega-yacht sinks. Her final film role, Dean played influencer Yaya, one half of a fashion model celebrity couple stranded.
Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson, and Dolly De Leon also star in the film, which will hit theaters Oct. 7. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Dean celebrated the win on Instagram, heralding Östlund as "the GOAT." She wrote, "I'm forever thankful for you for trusting me to be a part of your genius. . . Can't believe I had the best year making this during one of the hardest times in my life."
'Triangle of Sadness' star Charlbi Dean's cause of death confirmed
The cause of death for Charlbi Dean, the 32-year-old actress from 'Triangle of Sadness,' has been confirmed by a New York medical examiner.
'Will & Grace' almost had a fifth cast member: Cress Williams
On their new podcast Just Jack & Will, Will & Grace stars Eric McCormack and Sean Hayes recalled how Cress Williams was originally part of the show's ensemble.
i miss that show so much