Black Lightning – Black Jesus: The Book Of Crucifixion

By starrymag | April 9, 2018

By: Jessica Wolff

 

Kara Fowdy (Skye P. Marshall) checks on the pods after the move and the man in lab coat (Josh Henry) reports that one of the pods is experiencing abnormality. Black Lightning (Cress Williams) and Thunder (Nafessa Williams) fight some guards and Fowdy orders the pods to be monitored closely. Peter Gambi (James Remar) leads Black Lightning and Thunder to a door, and Thunder breaks it down with her powers. They find an armory of weapons designed to kill Black Lightning, and Gambi informs them that the ASA must have found a way to cloak the true location of the pods. He tells them to return, and Black Lightning destroys the armory before leaving.

 

Fowdy reports the status of the pods and is surprised to hear about the armory. She argues that there’s no way that Jefferson is Black Lightning, but agrees to follow the ASA’s orders. Gambi apologizes for not finding the pods, and promises to keep looking. Jefferson is frustrated with him, and Anissa urges Gambi to have his injuries examined. He warns her to convince Jefferson to make smart choices, and Anissa asks how she’s supposed to do that. Gambi tells her to trust her instincts, and that protecting people is in her blood.

 

In a seedy part of Freeland, Fowdy addresses Deputy Chief Cayman (Anthony Reynolds) and Detective Glennon (Faron Salisbury) from behind a covered fence. They think they are being set up, but are forced to stay when they see lasers being pointed at them. They find bags of Greenlight in a trashcan and Fowdy orders them to frame and arrest Jefferson. Anissa asks Jefferson what happened to Gambi, and he explains how he was tortured. She assesses that they can trust Gambi, but Jefferson isn’t fully convinced. Anissa points out that they have a common enemy, asking if they can all get along which causes him to quote a philosophical question. The ASA researcher checks the pod in critical condition and finds that the subject is dead.

 

The next morning, Jefferson greets his students and Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain) insists that she drive the next day. Anissa refuses and Jefferson asks Anissa to keep an eye on Jennifer. As Jefferson conducts a class, Tavon (Jasun Jabbar) hears sirens outside. The class goes to the window, where they see the police arrive, break into Jefferson’s car, and plant the bags of Greenlight inside. Jefferson demands to know what’s going on as they search his office, and an officer produces another planted bag of Greenlight inside his office. Cayman tells Jefferson that he’s under arrest, and then asks if he’s resisting arrest as Jefferson argues with the bogus charges. Jefferson notices Glennon pull out his gun and puts his hands up to comply.

 

The police put him in handcuffs and walk him through the hallway of gathered students. Jennifer runs up to him, and Jefferson promises that he’ll sort out this misunderstanding. He sees her powers start to manifest, and he tells her to be calm and be strong for Lynn Pierce (Christine Adams). The police continue to escort Jefferson, and a group of students lead by Tavon stands in their way. Jefferson urges them to step aside, as they don’t need to see another black man in handcuffs today. He asks them to help things at school run smoothly, and Tavon reluctantly agrees.

 

As Jefferson is led to the police car, Anissa runs out to them and tries to fight the police. Jefferson stops Anissa from using her powers and urges her to go back inside and take care of the students. Anissa and Jennifer watch as Jefferson is pushed into the car and driven away.

 

Bill Henderson (Damon Gupton) sees Jefferson being brought into the police station, and demands to know what they’re doing. Cayman replies that he’s doing his job, and Henderson demands to see the search warrant. They go into Henderson’s office and Cayman hands over the warrant. Henderson looks it over and argues that Jefferson is a well-respected member of the community. Cayman tells him that Jefferson is a drug dealer, and urges Henderson to tread lightly when he tries to argue. However, Henderson warns him to not forget that you have to bring ass to get ass.

 

Fowdy takes over the loudspeaker and urges everyone to return to their normal school day. Once the coast is clear, she opens an encrypted chat and informs the ASA that Jefferson is in custody. They thank her for doing it and end the chat. Jefferson gets his mug shot and fingerprints before being slammed against a wall as he is handcuffed again. He asks if it’s necessary and he is kicked. Jefferson stops his powers from manifesting as he is dragged away. The officer forces Jefferson to strip and examines him.

 

Lynn visits the station and demands to see Jefferson, identifying herself as his wife. The desk sergeant (Crystal Lee Brown) asks to see her ID, and tells her she can’t help her when Lynn admits that she’s his ex-wife. Henderson comes over and pulls her aside. Lynn declares Jefferson’s innocence, and Henderson replies that he knows he’s innocent. Henderson asks her if she trusts him, and she admits she doesn’t despite the fact that Jefferson does.

 

Anissa visits Gambi, who already knows about Jefferson’s arrest. She insists that she’s suiting up and rescuing Jefferson, but Gambi argues that Jefferson could break himself out but has chosen not to. Gambi tells her that the ASA’s next move will be to put Jefferson in a black site and prove that he is Black Lightning. He argues that the only way to save Jefferson is to prove to the ASA that he isn’t Black Lightning.

 

Henderson interrogates Jefferson, warning him that they are being recorded as he removes his handcuffs. He shows him a picture of LaLa and asks him about his connection. Jefferson tells him that LaLa was one of his former students who ended up with the 100 despite his efforts. Henderson asks him why LaLa kidnapped his daughters, but he lies that he doesn’t know. Jefferson tells Henderson that he’s being set up, but can’t answer how. Cayman comes him and ends the interrogation, as an order came in to transfer Jefferson to a high-security facility.

 

News footage shows the community’s reactions to Jefferson’s arrest, where the black interviewees maintain that the charges are bogus while a white woman is convinced that Jefferson is guilty since he allegedly forces people to call him Black Jesus. Henderson calls Lynn to inform her of the transfer order, and that there’s nothing he can do. Gambi informs Anissa of the transfer order, and Anissa agrees to his plan. He warns her to be careful with the technology they are using, as it’s an untested prototype. Anissa declares that she can’t lose her dad, and insists that the plan will work.

 

Jennifer asks Lynn why Jefferson can’t just Black Lightning his way out, and Lynn tells her that he can’t just superpower his way out of everything. She tells Jennifer it’s okay to be scared, and she replies that Jefferson told her to stay strong for her. Lynn tells her that she can stay strong and still be scared, and Jennifer asks what will happen if they can’t get him out. She starts sobbing, and Lynn embraces her. Henderson visits Jefferson in his cell, and asks if the high-security facility transfer order is due to him being a spy. Jefferson tells him he’s not a spy, and lies that he doesn’t know why he’s being transferred. Henderson promises to still help him, but wishes that he would make his job easier.

 

Henderson calls Glennon into his office, and shows him evidence of his dirty dealings. He promises to not report him if he helps him get evidence of the real target, Cayman. Fowdy monitors three students who have ingested Greenlight, but sees no evidence of abilities. In an alley, Anissa activates a hologram of Jefferson and Gambi warns her not to let anything get between her and the hologram as she plays with it. He tells her to draw attention before activating it again. Anissa walks down the street in costume and a crowd gathers around her. Fowdy get notification of a news report and she turns on TV to watch a reported sighting of Black Lightning and Thunder.

 

Thunder dodges a car as the streetlight goes out and chases the car with the activated hologram of Black Lightning. Gambi comments on Freeland’s easily hackable power grid as he works to pull of the illusion. Anissa moves a car out of the way with her powers to continue the illusion as a crowd cheers them on. Fowdy watches as eyewitnesses tell the camera how happy they are to see Black Lightning and Thunder help the community, and she turns the TV off. She gets a notification and opens up the encrypted chat link. Fowdy requests that Jefferson be released as he is not Black Lightning, but the ASA tells her that her job is only to monitor and facilitate.

 

Henderson tells Jefferson that he’s being released due to Glennon’s confession that the evidence was planted. Jefferson is relieved and thanks Henderson for his efforts. Cayman demands to know what he’s doing, and Henderson replies that he’s doing police work. Henderson tells Jefferson that he is free to go once he gets dressed and pins Cayman to the wall outside. He tells Cayman that Glennon confessed and tells him that he’s under arrest. Cayman tells him he’s making a mistake as he is led away.

 

Jefferson returns home and his family embraces him a group hug. They hear a knock at the door, and they are apprehensive. Anissa is relieved when she sees that it’s just Gambi, and lets him inside. Jefferson thanks him for his efforts, and Gambi believes that the ASA bought the hologram for now. Though Jefferson admits that it will be hard to forgive him completely, he is appreciative of all he’s done for him and his family. Jefferson asks him to help him save Freeland and he agrees.

 

News footage announces that Jefferson has been exonerated while Cayman has been arrested for framing Jefferson. The news report cuts to a press conference where Henderson declares his commitment to improving the police department as newly appointed deputy police chief. Gambi leads Jefferson and his family in saying grace before they sit down to eat dinner together.