Black Lightning – Shadow Of Death: The Book Of War

By starrymag | April 24, 2018

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

Thirty years ago, Alvin Pierce (Keith Arthur Bolden) walks with Young Jefferson (Kaden Washington Lewis) and quotes Malcolm X. Upon seeing Peter Gambi (James Remar), Alvin tells Jefferson to wait in the car. Gambi criticizes Alvin for exposing more than they agreed upon, but Alvin declares that exposing the corruption of Tobias Whale (Marvin ‘Krondon’ Jones III) is a good thing. Gambi urges to leave the story alone and think of Jefferson, and Alvin replies that he is thinking of Jefferson.

 

Jefferson stands at Alvin’s funeral, as Gambi watches from the distance. Gambi watches news footage of riots as Jefferson is chased by police. They grab him and his lightning powers manifest. He throws them back with his lightning and continues running. Jefferson attempts to climb a high voltage fence, but he absorbs the electricity and is knocked out. Gambi approaches him and feels a spark when he tries to touch him.

 

In the present, Lynn Pierce (Christine Adams) attempts to revive Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) as Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain) asks if this is normal after defibrillation. Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams) assures her that she saved Jefferson’s life, and Jefferson starts convulsing. Lynn explains that Jefferson’s powers are short-circuiting, and Gambi tells Anissa that it’s too dangerous to bring him to a hospital. Lynn is confident that Jefferson will be all right.

 

Outside the cabin, Gambi checks on Jennifer, who is struggling. She asks who Tobias and Syonide (Charlbi Dean) were and if they’re metahumans as well. Gambi explains that they aren’t metahumans since their powers didn’t manifest naturally. He explains that they are the ones that transformed Khalil Payne (Jordan Calloway), as Tobias was able to see and exploit the worst in him. Gambi tells her that Tobias found Syonide abused in an orphanage and took her in, outfitting her with carbon-fiber body armor implanted in her skin and training her to become an assassin. Jennifer asks what they did to Khalil, and Gambi presents his theory that the procedure produced a paralysis toxin that they weaponized as darts. She suggests that Khalil is still a good person, but Gambi argues that Khalil made a choice.

 

Khalil attempts to apologize to Tobias for killing Black Lightning, but Tobias laughs. He asks Syonide what she thinks, and she asks if he can tranquilize her before she shoots him. Tobias and Syonide laugh, and Tobias tells him to sit down. He tells Khalil to never apologize, explaining that he has a different morality system and is not mad that Black Lightning is dead. Tobias tells Khalil that he intends to bring Martin Proctor (Gregg Henry) down as well.

 

Proctor asks where Black Lightning is, and Klovic (Cory Scott Allen) tells him that the only lead they have is LaLa (William Catlett). Proctor is not pleased, and Klovic informs him that the people in the pods are starting to die from the move. Klovic tells him that they ten hours, and Proctor demands that everyone stop working. Proctor labels himself as a hard ass and declares that they need to be able to harness the power of the metahumans. He orders them to find Black Lightning and Thunder, and warns them that failure is not an option.

 

Jennifer and Anissa ask Gambi about how Jefferson discovered his powers, and he tells them the story. He explains that Jefferson’s powers took fifteen years to fully manifest and tells them how he decided to become Black Lightning. Anissa is pissed about walking down memory lane when she could be out searching for Proctor, but Gambi warns her that it’s dangerous. Lynn lies with Jefferson and describes how she felt his death, explaining that they have a connection. She urges him to find it and use it to come back to her.

 

LaLa lunges at Tobias as he taunts him, but Tobias throws him across the room with a punch. He gets back up but freezes as Tobias says a quote. Tobias explains that he put a lot of resources into bringing him back to life to make his purpose LaLa’s purpose. He tells LaLa that it’s time for him to pay him back, and confirms that Lawanda and Will are both dead. Tobias tells him that everyone he’s ever killed will come back to haunt him and that it’s time to get back to work.

 

Thirty years ago, Alvin yells at Jefferson for getting suspended, stressing the importance of education. Jefferson argues that the other kid started it, but Alvin replies that an eye for an eye doesn’t solve anything. Alvin gives him a mantra to recite, and expresses his love for him before telling him to study. In the present, Jefferson gasps in pain and Lynn determines that his nervous system is shutting down.

 

Proctor asks LaLa where Tobias is, but LaLa tells him he can’t tell him. LaLa tells Proctor that his cuffs are tight, but Proctor replies that he should be used to it before asking where Tobias is again. LaLa starts coughing, revealing a bomb in his mouth. Proctor and his agents leave the room, and Proctor orders them to focus on Gambi and the metahumans as the room blows up.

 

Lynn tells Gambi that Jefferson’s vitals are failing, and tries to talk to him. Meanwhile, Alvin calls for Jefferson, but an adult Jefferson comes down the stairs. Jefferson is surprised to see him, and Alvin tells him to sit down. Alvin tells him that he helped him by doing what he was told, and Jefferson apologizes for everything he’s done as Black Lightning. Alvin tells him he has nothing to be sorry for, and that peace isn’t always peaceful. He tells him that only he will know if it was worth it, and Jefferson asks if his death was worth it. Alvin admits he doesn’t know, but tells Jefferson that he’s proud of him.

 

Alvin tells Jefferson he loves him, but that he can’t stay there. Jefferson walks up the stairs and his body regains consciousness. Lynn kisses him and yells to everyone that he’s awake. Everyone runs upstairs, and run to greet him. Jefferson tries to sit up, but Lynn urges him to take it easy. He tries to activate his powers, but he can’t feel them and declares that they’re gone.

 

Klovic reports to Proctor that they were able to pinpoint Black Lightning’s possible location using the power grid. Proctor orders a full tactical team, and declares that he’s got Gambi now. Tobias injects himself with serum, and Syonide reports that they’re unsure if LaLa managed to hit anyone with the explosion. Tobias tells her to find out where Proctor and the ASA are going.

 

Lynn tells Jefferson that his vitals have returned to normal, but Jefferson asks if he’ll get his powers back. Gambi tells Jefferson that the ASA found them, and Jefferson laments that he can’t help Anissa and Gambi. The ASA tactical team approaches the cabin and Gambi and the Pierces observe on security cameras as they discuss strategy. Gambi believes that they’re outmatched and their best option is to retreat. Anissa declares that she’s not running, but Gambi warns her that her family will die.

 

Jennifer starts freaking out and everyone urges her to calm down. Gambi gives Anissa instructions and tells Lynn, Jennifer, and Jefferson how to escape. Jefferson walks out in costume and asks if there’s a way to light up the suit without his powers. Jefferson tells them that he will use the bulletproof suit as a decoy while Gambi leads everyone to safety. Jefferson says goodbye as Jennifer breaks down. Gambi warns Jefferson that this is suicide, but Jefferson tells him to light him up.

 

Gambi lights up the suit and Jennifer’s hands start sparking as she cries. Everyone backs away from her, but she runs to Jefferson and embraces him. They are surrounded by energy that envelops them and Jefferson discovers that the hug gives him his powers back. Jefferson remarks that Jennifer has a habit of saving his life, and Jennifer replies that it’s what they do. Gambi warns Jefferson that the ASA will not stop coming after him, and that he should escape with his family. Anissa refuses to turn her back on the people of Freeland, and Jennifer and Lynn back her up as well.

 

Proctor commands the operation from the control center as the ASA advances. Thunder steps out and deflects the bullets with her suit. She throws the agents back with her powers, and Black Lightning takes them out with his lightning from the roof.  Proctor orders the tactical team to keep going when they ask to abort the mission. Gambi reports that they’re continuing their approach and Lynn demands that he give her one of the guns. She grabs it from him and explains that she went hunting with her dad. Lynn declares that they need to end this, as she wants her life back.

 

Khalil and Syonide report that the ASA is attacking Black Lightning and Thunder, and Tobias declares that it’s good for him. At the police station, Bill Henderson (Damon Gupton) is informed of the attack and he orders everyone to go. Thunder and Black Lightning continue fighting, but one of the agents hits Thunder with a beam that neutralizes her powers.

 

Black Lightning jumps to help Anissa and the ASA start to infiltrate the cabin. Gambi and Lynn shoot the incoming agents. Jennifer embraces Lynn, and shoots a bolt of lightning at an incoming agent over Lynn’s shoulder. Black Lightning blasts the remaining agents, and frees Anissa from her hold. Proctor is frustrated, and his frustration grows when Klovic informs him of the police’s arrival. Proctor calls off the mission and orders for the pods to be moved.

 

The alarm sounds indicating a security breach and Khalil walks down the hall shooting at agents. Tobias and Syonide walk in behind him and approach the control room. Proctor dodges Tobias’ bullet, and the doors close as they advance. Proctor goes into a secret room, leaving his agents to die. The police arrive at the cabin as Gambi escapes with the Pierces.

 

At the ASA facility, Black Lightning, Lynn, Thunder, and Jennifer corner Proctor. Proctor is thrilled to be right about Jefferson being Black Lightning, and Jefferson tells him it’s a problem. Proctor warns that he’ll have the weight of the government on his hands, but Gambi tells him that he knows this is a rogue operation. Gambi yells at Proctor for killing kids through the experiments, and Jennifer attacks him with her powers.

 

Proctor calls her powers beautiful, and Jennifer asks if he wants more. Proctor suggests a deal to help the pod kids if Jefferson gives him a DNA sample. He threatens to expose and kill the Pierces, but Gambi calls him a monster before shooting him. Gambi declares that Proctor won’t hurt any more kids, and Lynn tries to fix the pods. Anissa demands that man in lab coat (Josh Henry) tells them how to free the kids from the pods, and he tells them he needs the briefcase. Lynn thinks she knows someone who can help.

 

News footage shows Freeland’s reactions to the ASA experiments, and Henderson gives a press conference promising to give Freeland answers. Henderson thanks Black Lightning and Thunder, despite not condoning vigilantism. Jefferson runs with Anissa and Jennifer and they find Lynn waiting for them on the porch. As the family sits on the porch together, Jennifer narrates that the people who continue to find hope in their situation are the real heroes and that they intend to use their gift to protect the city.

 

Syonide gives Tobias a bag of Proctor’s thumbs and he uses them to open the briefcase. The attempt fails and Tobias tells Klovic that he better hope this works. Tobias tries another finger and the briefcase opens. He looks inside and has Syonide kill Klovic before declaring that she’s looking at the king of Freeland. He declares that his first move is to kill Black Lightning.