Black Lightning - S1E3 - Lawanda: The Book of Burial

Previously on Black Lightning, “Lawanda: The Book of Hope”

Black Lightning slowed down the action just a tad this week, and made room for some much-needed conversations between the characters.

In the wake of Lawanda’s murder, Reverend Holt (Clifton Powell) rallies the community to march in her honor and as a show of taking back the streets from The 100. This doesn’t sit well with Tobias Whale or the other power on the streets, Lady Eve (Jill Scott). His monetary reparations for the trouble LaLa caused only scratches the surface. She instructs him to shut down the march and Black Lightning by any means. As we’re slowly introduced to Freeland’s criminal hierarchy, the villains get more frightening than the last.

With things heating up on the streets, and the community actively calling for Black Lightning’s intervention, Lynn asks Jefferson to consider letting Jennifer move in with her. Not exactly what a man who wants to put his family back together wants to hear, especially when Anissa’s newfound power has caused her to isolate herself from the family. On that front, it appears she’ll have someone to confide in with Grace Choi (Chantal Thuy), a librarian/bartender with a passion for comic books. Chenoa makes Anissa return her key when she catches the two dancing. Even though Anissa spends time working on her power(s) and understanding it, she doesn’t tell Lynn about them when her mother tries to find out why she’s been so preoccupied. Her abilities are already making her feel like marching and organizing aren’t enough. She’ll most likely be taking her power to the streets; like father, like daughter.

Despite Jeff’s and Gambi’s efforts to keep the march route safe (and with the conspicuous absence of any real police presence), one of Tobias’ henchmen fires upon the protestors. He and a few others are stopped by Black Lightning, and the superhero’s appearance finally confirms his return to the community and to Tobias. He orders Syonide (Charibi Dean Kriek) to kill him, but she hits Holt and Khalil instead.

It’s Lit

The introduction of another crime boss, and one that Tobias seems to have some respect for, was something I didn’t see coming, but Lady Eve is intriguing. We see how it turned out for Lala when Tobias put the pressure on. Now I want to see what kind of moves Tobias will make with Lady Eve stepping on his neck.

The shooting at the march provided Gambi with surveillance footage of Tobias, which he then deleted to keep from Jeff. What’s that about?

While it was refreshing — if a tad unlikely — to see Jennifer inform her parents of her intention to lose her virginity to Khalil, it was hilarious to watch Jeff remain quietly supportive to her, but menacing to Khalil in an effort to shut it down. Unfortunately for Khalil, his injuries mean he may never walk again so now he has bigger problems.

What are your thoughts on this week’s episode of Black Lightning? Leave them below or on our Facebook post for this review, and we’ll read them on tonight’s podcast.