Black Lightning – The Book Of Revelations

By: Jessica Wolff

As news footage shows community’s reaction to Black Lightning being the prime suspect in Lady Eve’s murder, Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) trains with Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams). Jefferson activates a simulation of passerby, and sneaks up on Anissa and knocks her to the ground. He chastises Anissa for attacking a non-threatening civilian wearing a confederate flag shirt, stating that he’s not a threat even though he’s a racist. Jefferson warns her that she can’t be reactive, and she declares that she isn’t perfect. He distracts Anissa and then hits her, warning her that she can’t be startled as a mistake can kill her. Jefferson tells her that they need to clear Black Lightning’s name before he can get back in the suit, and announces that their first mission is to find the real culprit.

LaLa (William Catlett) approaches two of his gang members as they rap on the stage of Tobias Whale’s (Marvin ‘Krondon’ Jones III) club. They are surprised to see him, and they tell him that there were rumors of him being in jail or dead. LaLa admits that he thinks he was dead, and tells them that he likes the song as he walks out. A car pulls up besides Peter Gambi’s (James Remar) car and Martin Proctor (Gregg Henry) comments that he regrets not killing Black Lightning as soon as he returned. Gambi maintains Black Lightning’s innocence, but Proctor warns him that Black Lightning is a danger to both of them. Despite Gambi’s attempts to dissuade him, Proctor declares that he’s going to put a price on Black Lightning’s head and reminds him that Lady Eve’s death puts the Freeland experiment back. Proctor reminds Gambi that he failed to get rid of Black Lightning, and he has no choice but to bring in the ASA to take care of him. He insists that their work is good for the community and that they’re doing God’s work before driving away.

Lynn Pierce (Christine Adams) talks to Jefferson about Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain) before asking about his and Anissa’s training. He tells her how hard this is for her, and she admits that this is worse that watching them learn how to ride bikes. Jefferson refuses to let her think catastrophic thoughts, and assures her that Anissa is taking training seriously. He tells her about Anissa’s tendency to react and they laugh about a time that she kicked a teacher to defend a friend. Jefferson assures her that Anissa will realize that she needs to change herself if she wants to change the world.

At the lab, Jennifer complains about being forced to clean up after the break-in. Lynn tells her that she’s not going to let her do nothing with her free time since quitting track. Jennifer asks her what’s going on with Jefferson and Anissa, commenting how weird they’ve been lately. Lynn lies that there’s nothing going on, and notices that some of the files are missing. She refuses to answer what the files were, and tells Jennifer that she can go home.

Jefferson and Anissa break into the city morgue, and explain that examining Lady Eve’s remains might help prove Black Lightning’s innocence. Gambi doesn’t believe this is a good idea, mentioning that there’s a reward for Black Lightning’s capture without admitting who is behind it. He guides them to the best place to break in and Jefferson tells Anissa to control the force behind her breaking of the wall.  They determine that tapping the wall with her finger isn’t enough force, but Anissa overcompensates with her next strike. They walk through the wall and find Lady Eve’s body bag. Upon examination, Anissa and Gambi determine that the lightning strike couldn’t have come from Black Lightning and interrupt Jefferson’s monologue to tell him. They determine that the strike came from a weapon and Gambi speculates that the weapon was created with nuclear power.

Lynn asks the Plasmacorp Clerk (Rachael Thompson) about the status of the samples she requested to be tested. She tells Lynn that there was a break-in, and checks to see if Lynn’s sample was affected. Upon confirming that the sample was affected, and Lynn asks if there’s a back up. The clerk comes up with a possible place it could be and promises to check. Jennifer rants about her parents to Kiesha (Kyanna Simone Simpson) as she helps her put up campaign posters for school treasurer. Kiesha climbs a metal structure to hang a poster, and refuses to listen to Jennifer’s warnings. As Kiesha falls, Jennifer’s eyes change color and sparks from her hands burn her phone. Kiesha is fine, but Jennifer is shaken by what happened.

Lawanda White (Tracey Bonner) appears to LaLa as his gang members drive him around and asks him what his plan is. He admits that he doesn’t know, and she reminds him that everyone is trying to take his spot because they think he’s dead. LaLa responds that nobody is taking his spot, and Lawanda suggests that he kill his drivers. The drivers look at each other strangely as Lawanda continues to suggest that LaLa kill them. LaLa calls her crazy and tells her that he isn’t going to kill anyone yet.

Gambi continues to advise Jefferson and Anissa that their investigation is a bad idea, but they insist they need to clear Black Lightning’s name. Gambi begs them to let him clear Black Lightning’s name, but Jefferson insists that they won’t get discovered. Anissa wants to continue their investigation, but Jefferson points out that they don’t know the effects of nuclear power on her abilities. They trace the weapon to the woods, but Jefferson insists to Gambi that he and Anissa are going to investigate. He and Gambi argue, and Gambi storms off after complaining about how stubborn Jefferson is.

Lynn discovers that the DNA makeup of the Greenlight sample matches the makeup of the sample from Jefferson’s father’s files. Jefferson and Anissa go to investigate in the woods, and Lynn calls Jefferson about her findings. They determine that Greenlight has been in development for years and decide to search for the creator of Greenlight. Lynn tells him that she’s hit a dead end in research, and Jefferson advises her to talk to Gambi about it, warning her to be careful. Gambi goes to church is overcome by a performance by a choirboy. Mrs. Johnson (Marion Guyot) approaches him and asks if there’s anything she can do for him. He comments on the beauty of the song, and asks if the message of the song is true. She thinks it is, and states that though God expects them to do their part, he is there to help them to the finish line. Gambi agrees, and Mrs. Johnson promises that he’ll be in her prayers.

Anissa asks Jefferson how he decided to become Black Lightning and why he stopped. He admits that it was a complicated journey and decision. Jefferson tells her that Gambi trained her and they find the weapon buried in the middle of the woods along with the body of the killer. Jefferson calls Bill Henderson (Damon Gupton) as Black Lightning and gives him the coordinates for the location. Anissa teases him about his choice of burner phone and asks if Henderson knows he’s Black Lightning. Jennifer tries to activate her powers again and succeeds when she focuses. Lynn visits Gambi and shows him the research she’s been doing. She asks if there was a company doing research at the time, but he claims that there wasn’t. He cuts off her questioning and says that he can’t talk about. She realizes that he was involved and reminds him that Jefferson trusts him. Gambi admits that it’s time to have a talk with him and excuses himself.

Anissa and Jefferson joke around during their stakeout and they witness a mysterious man approach the burial site. They realize that Henderson’s dispatch must have been intercepted, and Jefferson tells Anissa to stay where she is. He goes to investigate and watches as the man picks up the weapon. Anissa sees the man activate it and pushes Jefferson out of the way as the weapon explodes. She argues that whoever sent the man thought he was expendable and Jefferson embraces Anissa. Later, Jefferson expresses his disbelief to Lynn and he didn’t follow his own warnings to Anissa to anticipate danger. He declares that Anissa saved his life, and realizes that something is bothering Lynn. She tells him that he went to see Gambi, and tells Jefferson that he needs to talk to him and find out the truth. LaLa takes a shower and questions how he’s alive. Lawanda joins him in the shower and shushes him before assuring him that everything will be okay. They make out before Lawanda disappears.

Jefferson visits Gambi, who tells him that he was trying to protect him. He explains that his real name is Peter Esposito and that he came to Freeland as an agent for a government organization called the ASA. Gambi explains that the organization was experimenting on the people of Freeland and inadvertently created metahumans. He was tasked to find the metahumans, but leaked the details of the experiments to Jefferson’s father when he found out that children were being killed. Jefferson angrily reminds him that his father was murdered, and Gambi tells him that he’s been protecting him ever since he found out he had powers. Gambi warns him about Proctor, and that he can no longer protect him. He tells him to stop being Black Lightning, but Jefferson tells him to stay away from him before storming out. Jennifer shows Anissa her phone and explains that she destroyed it with her hands.