Black Lightning – Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder

By starrymag | March 5, 2018

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

At the police station, Bill Henderson (Damon Gupton) joins the other officers as Deputy Chief Cayman (Anthony Reynolds) informs them that they received a tip of Black Lightning’s (Cress Williams) location. As the police move to their positions, Black Lightning struggles to get up after his fight with Joey Toledo (Eric Mendenhall). After standing up, he collapses upon trying to use his powers and two kids spot him before running away. A truck pulls up and Peter Gambi (James Remar) rushes to him. As the police cars approach, Gambi drives away with Black Lightning. As Black Lightning mumbles that Tobias Whale (Marvin ‘Krondon’ Jones III) is back, Gambi calls for medical help.

 

Toledo limps to Tobias and tells him about his fight with Black Lightning. Tobias asks why he didn’t finish killing him, and grabs Toledo by the throat. Toledo tries to explain that he wasn’t able to, but he was able to send a tip to the police department. Tobias drops him, and comments to Syonide (Charlbi Dean Kriek) about how unreliable white people have become. She gives Tobias an update about his protection, and he tells Toledo about Lady Eve’s (Jill Scott) threat. Tobias orders Toledo to give an update about the police’s capture of Black Lightning, declaring that he won’t survive the night. Henderson tells Cayman that witnesses saw Black Lightning get into a van, but did not get a license plate or description. He explains that Black Lightning’s fans have willful amnesia, and Cayman questions how he has fans. Henderson asks Cayman where he got the tip about Black Lightning’s location from, but Cayman refuses to answer before taking a call from Toledo.

 

As Lynn Pierce (Christine Adams) gives Jefferson a check-up, he rationalizes his pursuit of Toledo. Lynn shows Jefferson the scans she took of his brain, commenting how abnormal they are and how he was able to recover because of his fast-healing abilities. Jefferson tells her that it’s good to be back in her hands, but she yells at him for dragging her back into this. She expresses her worries about him dying, and he tells him that he has to avenge his father’s murder at Tobias’ hands. Lynn tells him that nothing he does can bring his father back, and tells him that she hates seeing him like this.

 

Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams) gathers a group around a confederate statue. The group pulls water guns out and sprays that statue with red liquid as other bystanders cheer. The police arrive and break up the protest, tackling Anissa to the ground and arresting her. Kam (Matt Mercurio) shows Lynn scans of a Greenlight user and asks if she’s ever seen anything like it. Lynn lies that she hasn’t but pulls out Jefferson’s similar looking scans after she asks him to get her coffee. Unbeknownst to her, Kam witnesses the action and makes a call.

 

Jefferson and Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain) pick up Anissa at the police station, and she thanks them. Outside, Jefferson asks her if she’s lost her mind. Anissa argues that the statue is an insult to black people, but Jefferson reminds her the dangers of her protest. He warns her that it’s more dangerous for her to protest as black woman, and yells at her to listen to him. He tells her that he loves her and doesn’t want to lose her.

 

Anissa researches her grandfather’s notes when Jennifer walks in and asks if she’s talking to herself. She gets mad at her for eavesdropping, but agrees to look over her math homework. Anissa compliments Jennifer’s work, and asks if she’s all right. When Anissa sees through her lie, Jennifer admits she’s struggling with dating Khalil Payne (Jordan Calloway) when he’s in a wheelchair. Jennifer feels terrible, but Anissa assures her she’s human.

 

Gambi has Jefferson test his upgraded suit, and finds that he is back to normal. Jefferson asks Gambi what went wrong, and Gambi presents his theory. When Jefferson expresses his desire to kill Tobias, Gambi reminds him that Black Lightning is not a murderer. Jefferson argues that getting rid of Tobias will help save Freeland, and questions why Gambi doesn’t seem to want him to stop Tobias. Gambi tries to laugh it off, and reminds him that the 100 got stronger in the nine years without Black Lightning. However, Jefferson refuses to listen, declaring that he will avenge his father’s death.

 

Lynn finds Gambi waiting for her at the lab, and expresses his concern about Jefferson’s desire to commit murder. Gambi argues that committing the murder will kill a part of Jefferson himself. Lynn argues that Gambi raised him to be Black Lightning, and that nothing will get that out of him. Gambi tells her that she is the only one that can save him because she knows him so well. However, Lynn refuses to get involved despite Gambi’s pleas.  At school, Jefferson looks up medial issues concerning albinos and watches a video on the subject, which comments that regular check-ups are a must for albinos.

 

Jennifer furiously shows Kiesha (Kyanna Simone Simpson) a video of a classmate attacking her, implying that she wants to be white and referring to her as Becky. Anissa visits Lynn at the lab, and asks why she hasn’t been coming to family dinner. Lynn admits that she’s been having problems with Jefferson, and Anissa mentions that she heard them arguing a lot as a kid. Anissa tells her that she didn’t like being the mistress and clarifies that she means that Jefferson was married to saving the world. She comments that she has the same calling, and Lynn admits that she’s a lot like her father. Anissa shows her the files belonging to her grandfather and asks for her help with them. Lynn asks what she’s not telling her, but then asks her to promise to tell her when she’s ready.

 

Gambi observes Black Lightning walking into a building, and pleads with him to not to become just like Tobias. Black Lightning turns off the camera in his suit and cuts off communications. He breaks into Dr. Henry Mayfield’s (Eric Goins) practice, and asks if he treats Tobias. Mayfield tearfully explains that he treats him because Tobias threatens his family. Black Lightning asks when his next appointment is, and Mayfield explains that Syonide calls him to stay open after hours. Mayfield tells Black Lightning that he can’t call Tobias, but Black Lightning hands him a phone to call him when Tobias calls again.

 

Kara Fowdy (Skye P. Marshall) shows Jefferson Khalil’s Instagram post attacking Jennifer. Jefferson goes to check on Jennifer, and finds her in the gym. He assures her that her bullies are lashing out because she is doing better than them. Jefferson explains that black culture is everything under the sun, and Jennifer tells him that people are already calling them out for the posts. Jefferson suggests that Khalil is lashing out because he’s hurt and advises Jennifer to give Khalil some space for a while.

 

A counter-protest blocks the confederate statue, and news footage says that a white nationalist ran over a student during the protest. Fowdy and Anissa talk about the student, and Fowdy says that she wishes someone would stop this madness. Jennifer tries to talk to Khalil but he is angry with her, and she suggests taking a break. He blames her for his condition and calls her Becky. Khalil tells her that he has nothing, and is frustrated that he did everything right. Jennifer tries to comfort him, but he yells at her. She tells him she’ll pray for him, but he tells her that she keep her prayers and orders her to leave.

 

Black Lightning gets a call from Mayfield, who tells him that Tobias is visiting him that night. Black Lightning promises he’ll be there, and Jennifer tells him that he was right about giving Khalil space. At night, a candlelit vigil is held around the statue. Anissa walks up in costume and smashes the statue with her powers before running away. In her car, Anissa calls Lynn and tells her that she wants to come over to tell the truth about what’s going on. Lynn tells her to come, and answers a call from Gambi pleading with her to stop Jefferson.

 

Jefferson stands on top of the building and flashes back to his younger self (Kaden Washington Lewis) witnessing his father’s murder. In the present, Jefferson watches Tobias and his entourage arrive and prepares his lightning strike. Gambi puts Lynn on the communication system and she reminds him of his family, warning him that he won’t be a good father if he commits murder. Jefferson tries to ignore her, but she tells him that her talk with Anissa helped her realize that she was mad about being second in his life to Black Lightning. She tells him that she can’t deny that Black Lightning is a part of him, and promises not to fight that anymore.

 

Lynn and Jefferson hear a crash at the lab, and Jefferson stops what he is doing. He tells her to hide and promises that he’s coming to help her. Anissa arrives at the lab and finds the security guard’s body in the lobby. She sees two men tying Lynn up and orders them to get away from her. One of the men shoots at her, but she stops the bullet with her powers. Anissa attacks both men and chases them out of the room.

 

As she goes to untie Lynn, Black Lightning arrives and mistakes Anissa as Lynn’s captor. He attacks her with his lightning and Anissa fights back with her powers. They continue their fight until Black Lightning knocks Anissa down. Once she is on the ground, Black Lightning realizes who she is and embraces her. In Gambi’s van, Lynn assesses Anissa’s injuries and Jefferson questions what she was doing. Lynn point out that Anissa was doing what he does, reminding him that their daughter has superpowers. Tobias assures Khalil that he’ll take care of him as they drive to his loft, telling him that he made the right decision. Khalil thanks him, but admits that he doesn’t know what he can do. Tobias promises that he’ll walk and Syonide promises that he’ll be powerful.

 

Gambi visits Lady Eve, who asks how he got past security. He reminds her that he taught her everything she knows, and she tells him that he would be wealthily retired if he had gone into business with her. Gambi reminds her that the Pierce family is supposed to be off-limits, but Lady Eve tells him that Lynn has been doing off-limits research. Lady Eve asks about the metahuman that protected Lynn, but Gambi denies knowing anything. She reminds him that they have a deal, and he assures her that he hasn’t outed Tobias yet. She warns him that Tobias’ secrets coming out means that his will as well. Anissa wakes up and Lynn comforts her. She turns over and sees Jefferson standing over her in the unmasked Black Lightning costume.